Daily Staff Writer

All of the Star Trek films have one thing in common; to fully enjoy them, viewers must be familiar with the television series.

To really understand the characters, stories and even the jokes, one had to be knowledgeable of what had occurred in the series. Star Trek: First Contact is no different. When judged on its own merits, it is an enjoyable film, with a no-fat, fast-moving plot and a solid story.

But Trek fans will get more out of it than newcomers. Admittedly, there aren’t many people out there who haven’t seen at least one episode of one of the four Trek series. But only serious fans will get the jokes, appreciate the cameos and comprehend the gravity of the story.

This time out, the Borg make a comeback. The baddest bad guys in Trek history once again try to assimilate the Earth into their hive-like Collective. Naturally, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the all-new USS Enterprise-E rush in to save the Federation.

But the Borg have a surprise waiting. They time-warp back to the late 21st century and attempt to stop the first warp-speed flight from Earth, preventing first contact with an alien race and making humanity an easy target to assimilate. So, the Enterprise follows the Borg ship through the time rift, and the crew sets out to recreate the future.

The plot of First Contact moves so quickly that the events recounted above occur in the first 20 minutes of the film. While this pace results in a movie that flies off the screen, it also gives little time for backstory or story exposition.

This may prove maddening for hard-core fans and newcomers alike. For example, fans will want to know what happened to Lt. Commander LaForge’s VISOR. And they will also want more info on the nifty new Enterprise. But newcomers will be equally puzzled by a couple of cameos from minor characters, and by a scene on the holodeck.

Also, the launch of the Phoenix — the first warp-drive ship — just isn’t majestic enough. The sequence just doesn’t capture the grandeur of the flight, one which initiates a new era for humanity. It just, well, happens, and the plot rolls on.

However, Picard’s hatred of the Borg is well-detailed, a good move since Picard is at the center of the film. And Patrick Stewart gives a performance worthy of his star status, a focused and intense portrait of a man both possessed and haunted by his past assimilation by the film’s villains.

Indeed, First Contact’s cast is its greatest asset. In particular, two Trek newcomers make impressive debuts. James Cromwell is great as warp-drive pioneer Zefram Cochrane, who doesn’t turn out to be the hero the Enterprise crew expects. And the downright evil Borg Queen, a new addition to the Borg Collective, is well-played by Alice Krige under a ton of latex makeup.

The special effects and musical score are both top-notch, and Jonathan Frakes — yes, Commander Riker – does an impressive job as director.

Fans will eat it up but complain and newbies will be a bit lost. But overall, First Contact is a good ride. It’s rated PG-13 for violence and general intensity.