Did Harve Bennett like Star Trek VI?

[Cyke101]

^
Wow that's interesting
must be the only time TOS footage appeared in cinemas. I guess for that reason alone the trailer was pretty special

We could maybe reframe it to say it's the only time TOS footage appeared purely in relation to a TOS movie/non-documentary. Everything else that's been mentioned has been for non-Trek properties. But then again, it just goes to show pop culture's fondness and affection for TOS, which is pretty heartwarming.

 

[Tosk]

And the music for "Amok Time" made an appearance in Futurama.

Except that's not TOS footage appearing in cinemas.

 

[MakeshiftPython]

After his heavy involvement with and promotion of STAR TREK V, Harve shouldn't be throwing stones ...

Wish I could find it, but there was a video made for a convention with him telling fans that "this one will be special" and that it's "the best Trek film we've made" and all other hyperboles. I never felt so embarrassed for anyone. I know producers always hype up their films, but the way he does it is cringe inducing, given what film he's talking about.

 

[Khan 2.0]

I think that video is on the DVD & BR (along with the press conference where all the cast are in costume) Think it was an in house video with Bennett talking to the promoters of TFF telling them it was going to be a blockbuster movie and it was better than IV and to go out there and sell the movie

 

[CorporalCaptain]

^
Wow that's interesting
must be the only time TOS footage appeared in cinemas. I guess for that reason alone the trailer was pretty special

The remastered version of "The Menagerie" was shown in theaters on November 13 and 15, 2007

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ErLgegZTJ0[/yt]

 

[Vger23]

The teaser and full trailer for Star Trek VI were better than the film itself.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

in the pages of the Trek VI Cinefantastique bennett sounded abit bitter about VI - 'sitting in a theatre watching the trailer for Trek VI you didn't get that electric shock that you did for other movies. on the contrary you got some titters, talk back to the screen, I was startled to find the audience restless'

In that same interview Bennett did say that he was impressed that his buddies were able to turn around the movie in as quick of a timeframe as they did (under a year, IIRC).

Going into pure speculation, he probably looked at seeing the movie itself as something akin to accompanying your ex-wife on a date. I know I wouldn't want to watch the movie if I were in Bennett's shoes. You either hate it because you think it's worse than what you would have done, or you hate it because you think it's better than what you would have done. There's no real upside. I'd imagine that he was able to enjoy the 2009 movie because he had some time & distance from Trek.

 

[CoveTom]

I'd imagine that he was able to enjoy the 2009 movie because he had some time & distance from Trek.

Actually, he's not a fan of the 2009 film either:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKGHF2B1eB0

 

[Lance]

Yeah, I remember Bennett being pretty rough on the 2009 movie, probably because he was still harboring his Starfleet Academy idea (and resented seeing somebody else do it).

Bennett apparently took his departure from Star Trek pretty hard. He claims it led to alcoholism and self-doubt, which is kind of sad given most of us would agree he revitalized the franchise in terms of motion picture success at least.

 

[EnriqueH]

Yeah, I remember Bennett being pretty rough on the 2009 movie, probably because he was still harboring his Starfleet Academy idea (and resented seeing somebody else do it).

Bennett apparently took his departure from Star Trek pretty hard. He claims it led to alcoholism and self-doubt, which is kind of sad given most of us would agree he revitalized the franchise in terms of motion picture success at least.

Where did you get this information, Lance? I've been rather curious about Harve Bennett's career, and have been kinda keeping an eye out for news about possible memoirs and haven't run into ANY information like this. Is it in a Starlog interview?

 

[JonnyQuest037]

I'd imagine that he was able to enjoy the 2009 movie because he had some time & distance from Trek.

Actually, he's not a fan of the 2009 film either:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKGHF2B1eB0

Thanks for the correction. Guess I was misremembering what I'd read upthread.

 

[Lance]

Yeah, I remember Bennett being pretty rough on the 2009 movie, probably because he was still harboring his Starfleet Academy idea (and resented seeing somebody else do it).

Bennett apparently took his departure from Star Trek pretty hard. He claims it led to alcoholism and self-doubt, which is kind of sad given most of us would agree he revitalized the franchise in terms of motion picture success at least.

Where did you get this information, Lance? I've been rather curious about Harve Bennett's career, and have been kinda keeping an eye out for news about possible memoirs and haven't run into ANY information like this. Is it in a Starlog interview?

UK magazine 'SFX', I think. I recall they did an interview with him a few years back which was about all his science fiction work (The Six Million Dollar Man/The Bionic Woman, Time Trax, Invasion: America, etc), not just Star Trek, and he must have been in a pretty candid/retrospective mood the day they talked to him.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

He also talked about drinking heavily after the rejection of "Starfleet Academy" in Shatner's Star Trek Movie Memories book.

 

[Khan 2.0]

Bennets StarFleet Academy VI script sure is taking its time as a novel or comic

 

[Mudd]

^
yeh Always thought it was too shmaltzy. Can understand Bennetts reservations at the time and non fans LOLing in cinemas (especially coming after V)...

Yep.

 

[EnriqueH]

Is Bennett still working on his memoirs?

I've been keeping my fingers crossed that it's going to happen.

Lance, do you know what issue? I'd like to read it.

 

[CoveTom]

I think Bennett is the best producer Trek has ever had. I really do. Yes, even more so than Gene L. Coon or Michael Piller. I really think he "got" Trek and did it better than almost anyone. And his pairing with Nicholas Meyer was a dream team. So sad that his time at Paramount had to end so badly.

 

[Doctorwhovian]

I think that the Enterprise going to warp that was projected over in the VI trailer was from the end of TMP (also used briefly in TWOK). With Horner's "Spock theme" (Which IMO sort of resembles some of TUC's score such as when they're on the glacier in Rura Penthe) and of course the fanfare.

Regarding TOS being used in cinemas, I think the most recent examples are footage from "Amok Time" in Transformers 3: Dark of The Moon (Which is a bit of an in-joke given Nimoy did voice-over work) and last year's "X-men Days of Future Past".

 

[EnriqueH]

I think Bennett is the best producer Trek has ever had. I really do. Yes, even more so than Gene L. Coon or Michael Piller. I really think he "got" Trek and did it better than almost anyone. And his pairing with Nicholas Meyer was a dream team. So sad that his time at Paramount had to end so badly.

I agree.

I'd add Nimoy to that dream team.

Bennett + Meyer= TWOK
Bennett + Nimoy=TSFS
Bennett + Nimoy + Meyer=TVH
Nimoy + Meyer= TUC

My Top 2 Trek films are TSFS and TVH, so I'm totally a believer in Nimoy's involvement bringing out the best in Trek (along with Bennett and Meyer of course).

 

[JonnyQuest037]

I think Bennett is the best producer Trek has ever had.

I'd still put Gene Coon over Bennett, but I wouldn't fight you too hard over your choice.