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| Resistance is Futile. Borg-ified Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) goes bad in the new STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION Blu-ray release: The Best of Both Worlds. Images: CBS PARAMOUNT. |
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Starring Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner
Written by Michael Piller
Directed by Cliff Bole
Created by Gene Roddenberry
Now available as a feature-length movie Special Edition Blu-ray from CBS PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Reviewed by Scott Weller
“I am Locutus of Borg. Resistance is futile. Your life as it has been is over. From this time forward, you will service us…”
The United Federation of Planets is on the brink of destruction, and only Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his heroic crew of the Starship Enterprise can save the day against the invading threat that is the fearsome people and technology assimilating super-race known only as the Borg. But what are our heroes to do when their Captain is captured by the chilling cyborg collective- his knowledge and experience ultimately turned against them?
The stakes have never been higher for Gene Roddenberry’s iconic STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION heroes in their most thrilling and dramatic dilemma yet, in what will turn out to be the highlight story of the entire seven series run: the truly epic two-parter: The Best of Both Worlds, now available in a supreme feature-length presentation in superior re-mastered high definition Blu-ray from CBS PARAMOUNT.
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| A shocking discovery for the Enterprise crew awaits them on Jouret IV, as the story begins. |
In a third season of welcome character building and quality storytelling, this is the icing on the cake, and the true turning point adventure that firmly put the series on the map as a unique STAR TREK series in its own right. The late Michael Piller’s script for part one, originally planned as his last for the series, is easily one of the best ever episodes of any TREK series old or new, full of dramatic intrigue and antagonism from the human heart and the alien mind. Our main cast are superb throughout, led by the dignified and iconic presence of Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard, who gets a lot of credit for his performance in playing the eerie, possessed form of Locutus, showing the struggle between humanity and the cold, driven merciless advance of the single identity Borg machine. But let’s not forget Jonathan Frakes here as Riker-amongst his best acting work on the show-who does a great job keeping the drama and tension going as the Enterprise’s new Captain during the dark time of Picard’s kidnap (his previous doubts about wanting to take a command position having taken centre stage in part one, echoing Piller’s then real-life decision to leave the series).
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| A nightmare confirmed. Lt. Commander Shelby (Elizabeth Dennehy) knows the truth. |
Adding an extra dimension in the build-up to the invasion is a spirited performance from Elizabeth Dennehy, a serious stage actress at the time, who totally impresses as Lt. Commander Shelby. A firecracker bitch in Star Fleet clothing at first -right down to the way she confidently strides her admirable booty across the ship’s bridge and corridors- she’s determined to win Riker’s first officer seat on the Enterprise, and proving a whizz at analyzing the technology of the oncoming storm that is the Borg. Her scenes with off-screen friend Jonathan Frakes catch electricity and tenseness, delivering the acting goods, especially in part one, whilst her moment of glory in trying to rescue the Captain has us all seriously wondering why the hell they didn’t bring this great character/actress back for a few more episodes. Intriguingly during filming, her father, the equally respected character actor Brian didn’t actually think his daughter should be doing this type of television-I assume because the show was being made for syndication and as such not considered classy or important enough at that time. Oh, how THE NEXT GENERATION was to prove them all wrong!
Back playing the ships resident and friendly barperson, as well as a great listener, Whoopi Goldberg’s scene as Guinan in part one (whose character has prior links to the Borg) is brief but worthwhile and she has an even better scene with Riker in part two, telling the new captain how he has to let go of his feelings for Picard now that he has been taken over and compromised by the Borg. Finally, let’s not forget the great supporting role of the doomed Admiral Hanson (played by TV stalwart George Murdock), the old and wise friend to Picard, bravely leading a fleet of Federation ships into battle at those fateful coordinate references of Wolf 359.
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| THE NEXT GENERATION's greatest nemesis-the Borg-return. |
Originally curious on their first encounter with the Enterprise, deep in the heart of the Delta Quadrant, now on a wanton trail of deliberate analytical destruction within our galaxy, in order to assimilate and tear out the heart of the Federation, those fearsome Borg, created as the ultimate undefeatable enemy for the TREK universe by previous Season Two producer Maurice Hurley, are brought back even more deadly and purpose led than before, in a race against time into the heart of the Federation’s own now destroyed defenses. Let’s hope our heroes eat all their Weetabix’s this morning!
There’s tension and atmosphere in the opening episode, directed with flair by Hollywood series veteran Chris Bole, who gives the story added menace within a new set constructed to make the pale skinned enemies as terrifying and coldly efficient as possible, aided by sterling costume and makeup work by Robert Blackman and Michael Westmore. The finale scene, backed up with a dark re-imagining of Classic TREK’s main theme by Ron Jones (who also provides the story with his finest end of the world apocalyptic score), with Picard's eerily revealed as “Locutus”, truly remains one of the series greatest moments – one that certainly sent a shiver down my spine when originally watching it on holiday in the US, back in the summer of 1990.
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| Captured! The Borg take Captain Picard. |
There was also the very real possibility at the time, before the series lengthy future was established, that Patrick Stewart and Captain Jean-Luc Picard might not be back for Season Four, and this dread anticipation was another factor to the shows success and resonance with the fan base, causing much worry and lots of long fingernail biting for a lot of devoted Trekkers over the summer holidays.
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| On the Borg ship, Worf, Data and Dr. Crsuher look for the missing Picard. |
The ultimate STAR TREK movie that wasn’t (though a hugely successful sequel movie, First Contact, came from its seeds), part one of TBOBW also boasts the first end of season cliffhanger to a STAR TREK series, and its remains the best-the only problem is that the resolution after that original set-up, and the very long and anxious four month wait to see what happens next, ultimately leads to some mild disappointment in the way its wrapped up. Part Two’s first half gamely succeeds right up to the point where our heroes finally rescue Picard (in a clever, unexpected and satisfying way), but in its last act the momentum and tense atmosphere of the story flounders when it should have been pulse-ponding: I mean the stakes are higher than ever now-the Borg have reached Earth! Those last ten minutes needed additional funds spent on them from PARAMOUNT than simply previous effects footage from part one being re-used alongside the interesting but slightly underwhelming way Picard’s Borg implants are activated in sending the enemy ship’s collective to sleep- it should all have bigger and more spectacular than Part One.
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| The shocking sight of Locutus is revealed, and STAR TREK will never be the same again... |
Another part of the problem unfortunately goes back to Michael Piller himself. Having been asked to stay on with the series as a personal favour to Gene Roddenberry, the writer had painted himself into a huge corner from which he had to get himself out of, having originally planned to leave the series and let someone else work out the next steps from the original cliffhanger-no mean feat! Still, that so much of part two works is a sterling testament to him, with lots of magical nuggets of drama to enjoy, perhaps more so than in many later season episodes: character moments ring true and are further developed, generating genuine sadness with our heroes in losing their stern but dignified Jean-Luc, especially leading to Riker’s early doubts in taking the Captain’s chair. Then there’s the classic teardrop moment on Picard’s helpless face as he’s being assimilated-the man’s passion of humanity and individuality ripped from him, and the Enterprise crew seeing the immense destruction of the Federation fleet at the ominous graveyard that is Wolf 359. Terrific stuff to savour, showing us how THE NEXT GENERATION had become a mature and sophisticated series to keep an eye on.
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| Worf and Data make a daring rescue attempt of Picard in Part Two... |
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| ...as Troi and Dr. Crusher try to break him free from the Borg mind collective. |
The final scene brings the story to an underlying, chilling note: of a bruised and mentally raped Picard-possibly still containing a partial trace of the Borg’s interference and control of his mind- holding his Early Grey tea cup in stillful shock, then turning out to the window and looking towards the stars, contemplating events of the past and future. And perhaps something else…
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| The Enterprise attacks the Borg vessel with an anti-matter missile spread. |
The story that everyone fondly remembers 23 years on-Trekkers, cast and crew being blown away when that completed season three finale episode originally aired that June 18th1990, and rightly so- I personally prefer the episodes being shown in their original two- part form (rightly saved for the individual box set season releases), but this compilation movie works well enough for old and new fans to enjoy, and has certainly never looked and sounded better than it does in colourful and depthful remastering on Blu-ray. The bridge of the Enterprise finally shows its intricately designed and layered beauty, whilst the darkly lit, haunted house hallways of the singular Borg cruiser have never looked more metallically malevolent and full of shadowy enemies. The opening sequence of the story, with the ripped apart world of the Jouret IV colony, shows fine matte painting and set design detail I’d never previously noticed. The original model work for the episodes, unaltered though slightly enhanced, look superb and ageless (also making effective stock footage use of STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN’s Mutara Nebula in Part One). The 7.1 sound mix makes the most of composer Ron Jones finest hours, as well as the massive mixing of technology, weapons discharges and explosions that occurs over ninety minutes.
On the special features front, the main highlight is a fun, informative and lively documentary - Regeneration: Engaging the Borg, well produced by Robert Meyer Burnett, that goes behind the scenes on the making of this two-parter and the impact it would have on the series cast and crew, as well as the fans (including FAMILY GUY creator Seth MacFarlane!). Welcome contributions come from Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Elizabeth Dennehy, Michael Dorn, Ron Jones, Cliff Bole and many others. Plus, an enjoyable and behind the scenes packed trivia commentary from the fun assemblage of director Cliff Bole, technical and continuity whizzes Mike and Denise Okuda, and an enthusiastic Dennehy.
Additionally, the two episode’s promotional teasers with their end of the universe voiceovers and emphasis on big action clips are enjoyable and warmly nostalgic to see again. Though it’s a shame that a couple of the deleted scenes briefly shown in the gag reel couldn’t have been found and included too.
KOOL TV RATING: Holding itself high as a well made and acted piece of episodic television, and a true modern classic, The Best of Both Worlds is an unmitigated triumph for STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION- this special adventure now in the superior high-definition quality you’ve always wanted to see it in, along with a well produced set of extras.
Entertainment assimilation guaranteed! 4.5 out of 5
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