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 tar Trek" has never been like any of the other
science fiction franchises out there. It's always had a distinctive look, feel,
and vibe to its aesthetics and storylines that I find attractive. Also, I have
always considered "Star Trek" technology to be more feasible than most
films/TV shows. Which is not to say I think mankind will be zooming around in
spaceships anytime soon, but just that "Star Trek" makes it a point to
explain itself, even if it all comes out sounding like techno babble. For a
comparison, do you even know how those "hyperdrive engines" on
the "Star Wars" movies are supposed to work? I grew up watching the TV
show "Star Trek: The Next Generation", so the further adventures of
Picard, Riker, Data and the rest of the Next Generation crew has always been
closer to me than Kirk and company.
"First Contact", the 8th film in the
franchise and 2nd to star the Next Generation crew, is directed by
Jonathan Frakes (who also plays Riker). The movie also has the distinction of
being, in my opinion, the first full-blown "Trek" action film, even
though the movie still maintains those human elements that make the franchise so
special and unique. What I noticed most is how quickly "First Contact"
becomes a Last Stand in a Haunted House movie, with the Borg (a race of aliens
that "assimilates" -- that is, co-opts -- other races into their own)
providing the menace.
To fully appreciate the first 15 minutes of "First
Contact" one needs to have been a constant viewer of the TV show. Even
though the movie explains the context of the Borg invasion into Federation
space, it pays to know the full story. It took the TV show many seasons,
and many, many episodes to build up the relationship between Picard's crew and
the Borg, and the animosity that has developed between the two factions.
Needless to say, the Borg's invasion of Earth is thwarted,
but the Borg are clever and enacts a Plan B: Time travel to 21th
century Earth and kill an important scientist, thus halting mankind's future
progress and making conquest easier! Before you can say, "Hey, what about
time paradoxes?" the crew of the Enterprise has followed the Borg into the
past, only to have the Enterprise fighting off an invasion when the Borg beams
over!
With Picard and half of the crew onboard the Enterprise
fighting the sudden Borg infestation, the other half are down on the planet
trying to help that "important scientist" get his ship back together
and meet his destiny. But there's a problem on both ends: the Borg has almost
completely taken over the ship, and the scientist (James Cromwell) turns out to
be not only a boozehound, but also lacking in any self-confidence!
Under Frakes' direction, "First Contact" is
brimming with style. The Borg invasion of the Enterprise looks terrific, and the
usually bright corridors of the ship are turned into dangerous dungeon-like
hallways of neon green that is swarming with biomechanical humanoids with
machines for bodyparts. But while the action onboard the Enterprise is gloomy
and filled with dread, the sequences on the planet is comedic and very grounded
in human elements. Frakes and the screenwriters manage to switch between the two
very different parts of the movie without missing a beat.
Like Pierce Brosnan in "Die
Another Day", the actors in "First Contact" have been at
their roles for so long they don't even need to "act" anymore. This is
second nature to them and they all acquit themselves well, even though it was
obvious nondescriptive dialogue was spread among the regular crewmembers to keep
everyone happy. The movie, of course, centers on Captain Picard (Patrick
Stewart), who has to deal with his seething hatred for the Borg before it
destroys him.
It's hinted in the ads for "Star Trek: Nemesis",
the 10th in the franchise and the fourth for the Next Generation
crew, that the film may be the last trek for said crew. This may very well be
the case, considering that the "Trek" movies and TV shows are really
glorified hour-long (or in the case of the movies, 2 hour long) commercials for
the sea of "Trek" merchandise out there. Of course, if
"Nemesis" does good box office business, I'm sure the Powers That Be
will change their minds quickly enough...
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