First Contact is, IMO, a snapshot of the time Star Trek needs to return to if it wants to survive. That movie had it all, at least for me. The action and atmosphere was cinematic, without losing that trademark ST touch. The characters were alternately funny and serious, and Picard's plight and inner struggle after being essentially mind-raped by the Borg was dramatically meaty. You had Alice Krige as the creepiest sci-fi villainess you can think of, the character banter was good, the action setpeices were thrilling (again, without losing that Star Trek feel). The score was fantastic as well, and the story worked well in its own terms, not relying on a Level 5 Geek Clearance to appreciate, while being interwoven into the series mythology enough that it does become a lot more meaningful if you know the backstory. God, I love that movie. Only others maybe in league with that in the series were maybe
Khan,
Voyage Home, and
Undiscovered Country. Now
shat's what I call Star Trek. I'm getting all warm and fuzzy thinking about it.
