VFX HQ : ST:FC : BORG BATTLE

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BORG BATTLE

Just a few minutes into the film, Picard and the Enterprise enter an enormous battle with the Borg. Numerous Federation ships are engaged with the Borg, including "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"'s Defiant. The Borg cube was realized with 30" and 60" miniature models. ILM supervisor John Knoll was careful to give the impression of immense size with the Borg ship. If you look carefully, you'll see that you can never really see the cube all in one shot, a clever technique.

The Borg ship travels toward Earth.

The Enterprise fires its phasers on the Borg.

SHOTS PRODUCED BY INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC

The Defiant fires upon the Borg vessel.
SHOT PRODUCED BY INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC

The Borg ship takes on heavy damage.
SHOTS PRODUCED BY INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC

The Enterprise orders a massive assault on a specific area of the ship, and causes the Borg ship to explode, but not before firing off a Borg sphere. The new CG modeled Federation ships look great. Phaser and torpedo blasts are the best that the STAR TREK movies have seen so far. The only criticism I have with the sequence is that it was over too quickly. I would have appreciated a longer battle scene.

Picard's viewscreen reveals the massive battle (and a hidden surprise). SHOT PRODUCED BY INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC	The Enterprise fires some torpedoes at the designated spot. SHOT PRODUCED BY INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC
Federation ships hear Picard's order and begin firing on the ship. SHOT PRODUCED BY INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC	The assault mortally damages the Borg cube. SHOT PRODUCED BY INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC

In a desperate attempt, the Borg launch a sphere lifeboat.
Both the Borg ship and the sphere are
model miniatures miniatures.

The cube explodes as the sphere flies past the camera.
SHOTS PRODUCED BY INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC

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