ScreenRant called Star Trek: First Contact underrated but that’s not true.
Calling Star Trek: First Contact an underrated Star Trek film is like calling the Mona Lisa a nice doodle. First Contact may be the greatest Star Trek film, full stop. Granted, that’s a subjective opinion and one that some may not share, but what many will share is the fact that it’s one of the best to ever grace the screen.
So when ScreenRant called it “underrated”, it left me wondering if they’d ever actually seen it or the other films in the Star Trek canon. Realistically, maybe Wrath of Khan can be the only film that truly competes with First Contact. They’re two of the most celebrated, talked about, and viewed films in the entire catalog.
Heck, fans even celebrate “First Contact Day” every year. It’s becoming a bigger deal each and every year, and while it’s not nearly on the level of Star Wars’ May the 4th celebration, it is building traction in the age of the internet.
At least they agree First Contact is great.
At least ScreenRant agrees that First Contact is great because it is. It expanded the mythos of the Vulcans and really did a great job explaining how the warp tests influenced the future of the Federation. It introduced us to the best version of Zephram Cochrane, played brilliantly by James Cromwell, and it showed us the importance of what war and PTSD can really do to a man that’s seen by so many as bulletproof.
The near-dive into madness of Jean-Luc Picard was arguably the best depiction of him in his entire journey through Star Trek. Watching him lose his grip on the situation, and becoming colder and colder throughout the film, was magnificent. His actions at the time echoed the hollow motives of the hive-minded Borg, no emotions, not affection; just a job to do. That was Picard.
The stunning ability to have two different stories and several different themes all happening at once was perfect. There was the duality of Cochrane and Picard, two captains afraid to truly act in what would both be their finest hours. For Cochrane, it was about being afraid to fail and ruining what reputation he had left and for Picard, it was letting his reputation and anger control his actions.
There was time travel, historical back-story into the Star Trek we all know and love, new characters, and of course; space zombies.
It’s my personal favorite Star Trek film, and is truly the only competitor outside of Wrath of Khan to the throne of the “Greatest Star Trek Film of all Time.”
In my opinion, of course.