Star Trek - First Contact (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)
by Jonathan Frakes
List Price:
Our Price: $5.72
You Save: $7.26 (56%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $2.25 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Patrick StewartDirector: Jonathan Frakes
Producer: Marty Hornstein
Producer: Peter Lauritson
Producer: Rick Berman
Writer: Rick Berman
Writer: Brannon Braga
Writer: Gene Roddenberry
Writer: Ronald D. Moore
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, NTSC, Special Edition, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 111 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-03-15
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Paramount
Movie Reviews of Star Trek - First Contact (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)
Movie Review: "First Contact" is a Home-run
Summary: 5 Stars
This goes beyond the fact that the movie itself is a great one. You have a well balanced time travel story along with TNG's own best-bad guy, the Borg. This was the first real 'Next Generation' movie and comparing it to the other flims, all the characters were used wisely and had their moments. The movie's own slate of characters, Cochrane, Lily, the Borg Queen, are all pretty solid as well. This was a flim for fans of Trek as well as those who knew nothing about Star Trek.
Now, what makes this particular DVD so great? The extras. I haven't been that impressed with extra features in the past. I thought the candid moments on "Generations CE" was pretty good. This was beyond good, it was close to shocking how much details and how many great features went into this release.
Commentary by director-actor Jonathan Frakes: Frakes' commentary didn't really impress me too much. It was nice to hear his opinion and how he was best fit for the job. It said a lot about the films; having a director who knows the actors and knows Star Trek. If you thought "Nemesis" and it's director, Baird, were off, the commentary made by Frakes and others really lets you know what went wrong.
Commentary by screenwriters Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore: This was one of my favorite parts. I liked their comments on "Generations" but thought this really sold the film. They went on about how the story was developed, including the earlier First Contact script that didn't work. They also made comments about how this movie went on to influence "Star Trek: Voyager" and "Enterprise" and made connections between this story and the entire story on how "Star Trek" came around.
Text commentary by Michael Okuda and Denise Okuda
Jerry Goldsmith: A Tribute: This was definately fitting for this release. Goldsmith's "First Contact" score is great and those involved talk about how Goldsmith was able to use the music to create an entirely new level to the story. It also reaches beyond Trek and talks about his influence on other flims.
The Legacy of Zefram Cochrane: This was fun. The Cochrane of the Original Series and this film are different. The writers and producers talk about why that is and the actor who played Cochrane steps in and talks about his role here and how he returned to play Cochrane in the "Enterprise" episode "Broken Bow."
First Contact: The Possibilities: I found this to be a little boring and odd. It deals with SETI and groups interested in E.T. life in our own solar system. The actor that plays Cochrane talks about his own speculations and work within this area.
Unimatrix One: Contains clips from not only the film but "Next Generation" and "Voyager." The actors (Frakes, Burton, Sirtis, McFadden) all give their opinion of the Borg. This feature was great because it took the time to show the evolution of the Borg from their first appearance to their last in "Endgame." Lots of "Voyager" clips and even some commentary on how they've been watered down. It's nice because we get to hear speculations of who the Borg were before their latest incarnation. There is also a part devoted to the "Borg babe" as she's called by Braga, Seven of Nine.
The Queen: Alice Krige takes the time to talk about how she developed the character. She's interesting to listen to but a bit repetitive after some point. She talks about her appearance in "Endgame" as well.
Design Matrix: Basically, how the Borg were developed and their movie makeover. Includes the actual body pieces as well as ships and vessels.
The Story: Talks about the development of the story and the producers and writers work on defining what the movie was and what it means outside the fact that it's perhaps the best of the "Next Generation" films.
The Missile Silo: At first, boring, but it goes into the search that went on for a missle silo in the U.S. that they could film in. Talks about missle silos and their purpose during the Cold War. Very historical and interesting. Also, they reveal some secrets behind the silo scenes in the movie.
The Deflector Dish: I'm not sure why this was included but it simply talks about the deflector dish scene and how the design of the dish came about.
From "A" to "E": I thought perhaps this would talk about the creation of the new Enterprise but it doesn't. It's sort of a brief look at all the ships and some design points.
The Art of First Contact: Here, the design and concept of the new Enterprise-E is covered in detail. Also, some is given on the design of the Borg vessel and the Vulcan survey ship.
Borg Queen Assembly: Takes the audience step-by-step into how they shot the first appearance of the Queen. Very interesting if not revealing the secrets behind one of the most startling parts of the movie.
Escape Pad Launch: Again, not sure why this had to be included. It's short and is from the art director behind the short and brief launching of the escape pods.
Borg Queen's Demise: Short and to the point, revealing how they were able to show the fall and death of the Borg Queen in the film.
The DVD's extra features, similar to others, also includes storyboards, photo galleries, and two trailers (the bad teaser and the actual theatrical one). It also includes some easter eggs which includes Ethan Phillp's appearance as the bar owner in the Dixon Hill part and one that takes you through the changing titles that were considered before they settled on "First Contact."
This is definately worth the buy. You get a great film and features that fully explore the Borg. What I was impressed by is how the actors (except for Dorn) had a chance to comment on the film and different aspects of it. Stewart, Spiner and Frakes definately have a lot to say throughout all the features but so do McFadden and Siritis who thankfully are given a chance to show they are fully aware of what's going on and their roles. Sirtis steps up and talks about the changing Deanna Troi that we see in the films. Definately fun to listen to. I enjoyed the many connections and commentary given on the Borg as they appeared in "Voyager" and "Enterprise." Having footage woven in from Voyager's coverage of the Borg made the features stronger, in my opinion at least.
This is definately one movie you should own. It's perhaps one of the best Collector's Editions released yet and thus far the best of the TNG era films. Next up, "Inssurection" in a few months.
Summary of Star Trek - First Contact (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)
VHS MOVIESimilar DVD Movies
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered CountryParamount; Release date: 2009-09-22; DVD
Best price: $6.99
Price in other shops:
Star Trek: The Motion Picture- The Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)Release date: 2001-11-06; DVD
Best price: $7.86
Price in other shops:
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan - The Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)Paramount; Release date: 2002-08-06; DVD
Best price: $5.98
Price in other shops:
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)Release date: 2002-10-22; DVD
Best price: $6.99
Price in other shops:
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)Release date: 2003-03-04; DVD
Best price: $6.50
Price in other shops:
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)Paramount; Release date: 2003-10-14; DVD
Best price: $13.50
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)Release date: 2004-01-27; DVD
Best price: $12.15
Price in other shops:
Star Trek - Generations (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)Paramount; Release date: 2004-09-28; DVD
Best price: $7.99
Price in other shops:
Star Trek - Nemesis (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)PARAMOUNT PICTURES; Release date: 2005-10-04; DVD
Best price: $6.90
Price in other shops:
Star Trek - Insurrection (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)Paramount; Release date: 2005-06-07; DVD
Best price: $11.02
Price in other shops: