Alice Krige and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek VIII: First Contact.

The even numbered Star Trek theory certainly holds true with this one.  Star Trek 8: First Contact, is far superior to Star Trek 7 and is easily the best Star Trek film to feature The Next Generation cast.  This should have been their first filmed adventure rather than the botched attempt to combine them with the original series actors in Star Trek VII: Generations.  It combines action with humor and highlights Star Trek's greatest villains since the Klingons, the Borg!

This isn't a movie that wastes a lot of time on back-story.  It jumps right into the action when we learn that the Borg (a race of cybernetic beings) are invading Federation space.  Before the Enterprise helps to destroy the Borg ship, a smaller Borg ship breaks away and goes back in time to conquer the Earth in the past.  The Enterprise follows and learns that the Borg have returned to 2063, the year that humanity made first contact with an alien race.  If they can  prevent First Contact, the Borg will stop the Federation from forming.

The plot then splits in two.  On board the Enterprise, Picard and Data must deal with an invasion of Borg who are seeking to take control of the ship, while on the Earth, Riker and his team must help Warp Drive inventor Zefram Cochrane make the maiden voyage of the first warp capable ship so that he can meet the Vulcans and keep history on course.

Splitting the story up in this way allows this movie to be both funny and dark.  On the planet, Riker, Geordi and Troi get some lighter moments as they learn that Cochrane, who is revered in their time, doesn't quite live up to their idea of him.  Troi in particular gets an amusing drunk scene.  These lighter moments break up the heavy drama as Picard faces the Borg and his inner-demons, while Data is flirting in a macabre way with the Borg Queen.

Like the most successful of the original Star Trek films, this movie was directed by a cast member.  This time by Jonathan Frakes.  He is definitely a part of why this movie is so good.  As the very first Star Trek movie showed, you can't just get any director to make one.  Nimoy and Frakes both knew their shows and their cast inside and out and therefore they knew what to highlight and what tone to set.  Reportedly Frakes' nickname on set was 'Two-Takes Frakes' due to his economy and speed when filming.  This quick pacing certainly carries over onto the screen.

Although I love this movie and it is one of my favorite of all the Star Treks, I do have a couple of minor complaints. 

The scene where Picard lures two Borg into the holodeck seems silly.  I know the holodeck scenes were a staple of TNG, but it seems out of place here.  Surely they could have come up with a better way for Picard to get what he wanted.

My other complaint is that while I think Alfre Woodward does a good job in her part, why weren't her lines given to a regular castmember?  She spends most of the movie tagging along with Picard and is given the big moment when Picard realizes how obsessed he's become.  Why couldn't  Dr. Crusher have been given those lines?  She's always been the most underused of the TNG characters, so why not give her more to do?  It seems like a wasted opportunity.

The problem with most of the Next Generation Star Trek movies is that they feel like extended episodes of the television show.  First Contact is the one time that it really feels like they made a Movie, with a capital M.

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