I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

Movie Review: "Star Trek: First Contact" (1996)With "The Next Generation" at the cinematic peak of their powers with newly-crafted "Enterprise NCC-1701-E" after "Generations" (1994) crashes, comes this nearly-perfect 105-Minute-Editorial by film cutter James W. Wheeler, who makes idealistic use of darkly-"Borg"-infused camera footage by cinematographer Matthew F. Leonetti under directions of also-starring as Commander Riker, actor Jonathan Frakes directing far-out into pushing the character of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, strongly as in shape-of-a-life portraying actor Patrick Stewart, to confront his inflicting demons from a former complete "Borg" assimilation in the television-season-three finale furioso "The Best of Both Worlds" directed by Cliff Bole (1937-2014) stretching a "high-rise" cliffhanger scenario between June 16th 1990 to season-four-reopenings on September 22nd 1990 with "The Best of Both Worlds - Part II" towards further regards to never-seen-before Picard's mecha-alterego "Locutus", which convicted-actions thrills onboard of a Riker-commanded "Enterprise".Director Jonathan Frakes makes use of his years of experience in the universe of "Star Trek" initially-created by U.S. Texan Gene Roddenberry (1921-1991) for the legendary three seasons from 1966 to 1969 starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy (1931-2015), when this motion picture from Paramount Pictures marks the highlight of "The Next Generation", secretly inhabiting "Star Trek" wisdom in dialogue in the middle of action-packed war-zones from Planet Earth with encounters in favors of warp-speed-engine inventing character of Zefram Cochran, with pleasures for an-old-republic as an ocassional pub-brawl-included actor James Cromwell, when supporting character Lily, given face by Alfre Woodard, receives absolution on well-written, razor-edged "Star Trek" mission fulfilled with Picard sharing the far-future-concept of "Everyone Working Daily Within Their Abilities With No Further Wages Needed" in ultra-stark visions of 24th century clean-sighted starship metal-runs against escapology-themes of substance-infusions of a still-all-too-present abusive enjoyments of the late 20th to early 21st century, when "First Contact" becomes a superior science-fiction winner event movie - not only for the "Trekkie" in all of us.© 2018 Felix Alexander Dausend (Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC)

So much to love about this movie: - The wonder of space exploration and the fictional history of the first warp drive. Hearkens back to the Wright Brothers and the first ever flight - As the title suggests, an amazing theme to talk about the first time ever meeting other intelligent life - Time travel, the drama around changing historical events in the balance, and a great villain - Entire cast at the top of their form, plus great directing from Frakes - The music is epic and perfect for the themes around humanity, exploration, and wonderNo question the best TNG movie. In my opinion easily the best Star Trek movie ever. On the list for one of the best science fiction movies as well.

I feel bad for not having seen an episode of any "Star Trek" series. I especially feel bad for not watching what some people consider to be the most significant or sophisticated show, "Star Trek: The Next Generation". While "Star Trek Generations" did introduce us to them in film, its main problem was that it was too rushed. This, on the other hand, is just paced perfectly. I felt like the length of this film was just perfect. It went on just as long as it needed to. This is another movie to feature time travel. While I personally didn't like it as much as the fourth entry (which also featured time travel) this is still a film worth looking at.The best parts are probably how each of the characters gets a fair amount of screen time and they contribute well to the story. Maybe I would have to be more familiar with these characters to understand their struggles. We get some great scenes with Picard, especially when he shows such rage. The Borg are great villains in this. I simply love the effects in this movie. Everything is so wonderfully detailed and the costumes are so exact. The Borg Queen is also great as a singular villain. It's weird how the "Star Trek" villains aren't really that well known. I'm glad to be introduced to such a popular series of characters.For me at least, this was the first time I saw these guys as actual astronauts! You know, with how they actually used space suits. We even get a nice title drop, which seems pretty obvious for something so popular. I also love the idea of enemies who can adapt. I feel bad that the original series had a lot of better movies. I watched this as a marathon for the Star Trek franchise's 60th anniversary! Yep, you might as well call me a fan. ***1/2

Star Trek: First Contact is often considered to be one of the best Star Trek films and the best films featuring The Next Generation cast. This statement is justified because as someone who has never watched any Star Trek involving the TNG cast it does stand alone side the best 'Trek' films.Star Trek: First Contact is set six years after Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) had been rescued from the Borg and he is stilled plagued with nightmares and flashbacks. Now the Borg have started to invade the Federation and the battle is only won by the Enterprise's late intervention. However the Borg have a trick up the sleeve and travel back in time to conquer Earth. The Enterprise crew is unaffected and it is up to them to travel back to stop the Borg conquest and help the legendary Zefram Cochrane (James Cromwell) who achieved the first wrap flight and made contact with an alien race.Like 'Wrath of Khan' 'First Contact' was a continuation of a critically acclaimed episode, but even if you haven't seen it 'First Contact' works on its own terms and finds that sweet spot to appeal to fans and non-fans alike and matching the two tones the franchise has straddled, dark and brooding and light-hearted and funny. The film has with a dark image of Picard being assimilated into the Borg and his eye about to drilled before waking up and all the half of the film that features the Borg is the most atmospheric. The Borg are great villains, a near unstoppable hive a races that have been conquered, a collective that all linked together who work as one unit.Picard's assimilation with the Borg is both an advantage and disadvantage. Picard knows how the Borg operates and their tactics, so knows how to fight them, but he desire for revenge make Picard irrational. It's like Khan who could have been free after capturing the Enterprise in 'Wrath of Khan' but his want for revenge against Kirk is his downfall. Stewart gave a passionate speech about not sacrificing the Enterprise to the Borg.The Borg's assimilation of the Enterprise makes for a dark and dank atmosphere compared to the more brightly lit environments of the Enterprise. It is this sector of the film where we saw the Borg Queen (Alice Krige), the voice and personification of the Borg collective. Her introduction was impressive, her human body being lowered into a cybernetic body, CGI effects that still hold up today. Most of the Borg Queen's interactions are with Data (Brent Spiner), trying to convince him to join the collective, making him more human to attractive this.The cliché perspective of Star Trek from non-fans is that it a slow, boring franchise that only appeals to a hardcore fanbase. "First Contact" blows that perspective out of the water - it starts with a huge space battle between the Federation and the Borg as the alien hive try to invade Earth and there are sprinklings of actions scenes throughout the film. One of the best is scene when three members of the Enterprise crew having to stop the Borg from creating a satellite dish - it was a tense scene that was similar to the assassination of the Klingon Chancellor in "The Undiscovered Country".The action on Earth where Riker (Jonathan Frakes), Troi (Marina Sirtis) and Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) help Cochran with the first warp flight is more lighter in tone. The more comedic approach combined with the time travel story, cultural clash and essentially revealing the future to Cochrane made this half of film similar to "The Voyage Home". Cochrane is hailed a hero by everyone in the Federation, a man whose action united Earth, made a scientific breakthrough and made his planet a player in galactic politics but the reality was he was a drunk, he wanted to make money and is overwhelmed by finding out what his future holds. It made the character more human as he has to accept his destiny and James Cromwell, being the professional that he is was brilliant at humanising the character as he drunkenly dances and having the deal with the weight on his shoulders."First Contact" is a film that works for both fans and non-fans alike, having action, being able to balance a dark plot with lighter moments and working as a continuation and a standalone film, being a strong sci-fi film in its own right.