Conspicuous Absence of Trek XI in 2009 Film Preview Article

[ian_tee]

Just read this article from The Age newspaper (Australian based paper). The article is previewing all the geekfest type films of 2009. I found it interesting that Trek XI didn't even get a mention considering most other genre films were referenced.

I wonder if this is because of the lack of advertising for the film and just because here in Australia Star Trek is given very little respect.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/enter...1229998669545.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

 

[M'Sharak]

Just read this article from The Age newspaper (Australian based paper). The article is previewing all the geekfest type films of 2009. I found it interesting that Trek XI didn't even get a mention considering most other genre films were referenced.

I wonder if this is because of the lack of advertising for the film and just because here in Australia Star Trek is given very little respect.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/enter...1229998669545.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

Interesting, considering remarks here recently concerning what were thought to be surprisingly positive and visible responses by critics following the private screenings for the press in Australia just a few weeks earlier. Maybe The Age or Ms. Bunbury weren't invited to any of these? Or, perhaps more likely, someone (either writer or editor) has decided for whatever reason that Star Trek (2009) isn't a B-movie, as the article title seems to imply they're classifying the movies they do mention?

 

[Therin of Andor]

just because here in Australia Star Trek is given very little respect.

Thank goodness I live in a different Australia to you.

ST XI is NOT a "B" flick. In any case, she clearly says, "all these and more open over May and June", and she left out lots of other SF and fantasy films.

 

[ian_tee]

^ Are you implying that when the free-to-air networks used to screen the shows that they treated it with respect? Changing timeslots week-to-week with no warning, stopping and starting the various series at unexpected times, screening the episodes out of order.

In Australia I think the public in general denegrate Trek as a show for geeks and losers. I grew up in the UK and Australia - I noted quite a difference in the public's perception of Star Trek between both countries. Sure, in the UK people would give a gentle ribbing for having a like of Star Trek - but most people knew the various series and usually had an interested in at least one. Whereas over here I find that most people's reaction to Star Trek is negative.

 

[Nowhere Man]

The writter of this article sounds like a douche bag any way

 

[Orac Zen]

Eh. One article in one newspaper isn't much of a basis for concern about the movie or for making blanket judgements about Australian attitudes to Trek. I can't say I've encountered these negative reactions but that isn't to say they don't exist here. Or anywhere else, for that matter.

*** throws grain of salt over shoulder ***

 

[Therin of Andor]

In Australia I think the public in general denegrate Trek as a show for geeks and losers.

Never in my experience. No more than people denigrate anyone for anything, and in Australia that kind of good-natured ragging is always done with Aussie humour.

I grew up in the UK and Australia - I noted quite a difference in the public's perception of Star Trek between both countries. Sure, in the UK people would give a gentle ribbing for having a like of Star Trek - but most people knew the various series and usually had an interested in at least one. Whereas over here I find that most people's reaction to Star Trek is negative.

In that case, maybe you're overreacting to how Aussies rib someone, not the topic of the ribbing.

The only reason why TNG got no respect from the Nine Network is that the Seven Network took the rights for TOS from Nine in the early 80s. Nine was pissed. Seven was then offered the rights to TNG, but only after it had had a year out on sell-thru video, a lucrative deal between sister companies Paramount and CIC-Taft. Seven then got pissed, and refused to take TNG at all. Nine wouldn't buy it back, Network Ten and the ABC were broke, and then Nine Network owner, Kerry Packer (a huge ST fan), insisted that his network buy it after all.

The Nine programmers were now pissed with Packer, and were determined to bury the show, but then it won its late-night timeslot consistently, so the Nine Network found they had a unique hit, and could thus guarantee to advertisers that their ads would be in the top-rating late night timeslot, instead of running a possible third in prime time.

I have been in fandom since 1979, have run a national ST club of over 1000 members, appeared in two Nine Network ads promoting TNG, been part of magazine photo spreads in "The Australian" and "Sydney Morning Herald" newspapers, interviewed in "Ralph" magazine, and on national TV shows ("Today", "Good Morning Australia", "MTV", "Level 23", etc), and have not been badly treated by anyone in the media because I was a Trek fan. No more than they rag footy fans, "Star Wars" geeks, "Big Brother" fans, or lovers of Aussie drama.

 

[donners22]

The Sunday Herald Sun mentions it, and gives it a picture, as part of a two-page spread on the films to watch in 2009. It says that Trekkies may be "outraged" but non-converts will be drawn to a fresher, younger version of a "tired" series. Incidentally, it refers to it as Star Trek XI.

The Herald Sun has given terrific coverage to the film, whereas the Age has barely mentioned it.

Therin, either there's a heck of a lot of posters who are overreacting to a perceived negative image of Star Trek here, or your experiences are very much in the minority.

 

[Flake]

News of the World, Britains biggest newspaper, singles Trek out as the one to watch in 2009 and gives it a big two page picture, whilst things like Potter and Transformers 2 are reduced to a small paragraph.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Despite the article's title, there's nothing about the list of films mentioned that constitutes "B" movies or would make a mention of Trek out of place - nor does inclusion in the article appear to have anything to do with whether she "respects" a movie or not. Presumably it hasn't piqued her interest enough to make it into the article.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Therin, either there's a heck of a lot of posters who are overreacting to a perceived negative image of Star Trek here, or your experiences are very much in the minority.

I really don't think ST fans are treated any differently in society than members of any other group whose passion is misunderstood by the ill-informed masses.

Not many young people watched DS9, VOY or ENT, or went to a cinema to see INS or NEM. So they'll scoff at people who appear to have a passion for something they don't know. They probably think they understand "Star Wars" fans better because they, themselves, have at least seen a recent "Star Wars" film.

There have been people here, over recent months, saying that they can't even speak about "Star Trek" amongst their adult friends without being berated and scoffed at. My stance is, with friends like those, who needs enemies? People whom I can't trust to respect my quirks and foibles are not my friends.

 

[spoonunseptium]

Therin, either there's a heck of a lot of posters who are overreacting to a perceived negative image of Star Trek here, or your experiences are very much in the minority.

I really don't think ST fans are treated any differently in society than members of any other group whose passion is misunderstood by the ill-informed masses.

Not many young people watched DS9, VOY or ENT, or went to a cinema to see INS or NEM. So they'll scoff at people who appear to have a passion for something they don't know. They probably think they understand "Star Wars" fans better because they, themselves, have at least seen a recent "Star Wars" film.
.

I'm 18, watched all those(except INS), and nobody in my high school has berated me for liking Trek. It might be quirky, but among my peers quirkiness is generally accepted and mildly amusing.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Interesting the reviewer praises Avatar for the same theme that torpedoed the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still. I was pretty jazzed for Avatar but now I fear another self-important preachy misfire.

This statement is pretty hilarious: "Horror, sci-fi, thrillers and cult films take center stage in 2009." Yeah unlike 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005...

I wouldn't worry much about the opinions of a nitwit like that. I doubt the guy would "get" Star Trek anyway.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I doubt the guy would "get" Star Trek anyway.

A guy called Stephanie Bunbury.

nobody in my high school has berated me for liking Trek. It might be quirky, but among my peers quirkiness is generally accepted and mildly amusing.

Exactly. And yet your own positive attitude to life (like mine) probably also allows you to gloss over, ignore, or not even notice, subtle and not so subtle digs at you. I'm not saying no one is ever teased for liking Star Trek, but some people with huge noses never notice that the rest of the world feels a need to remind them of their big nose. Their positive attitude carries them past the moment.

Sometimes people are overly sensitive of criticism, and can see it everywhere because they're expecting to experience it. Bullying is about the inequality in a relationship, with one side deliberately exploiting what they perceive is a weak link. If the person being teased/berated/bullied/belittled doesn't even notice, the bully moves on to another target.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Gee, could it be that Australia is just as culturally diverse as America? That views and attitudes aren't the same all over? That they don't all talk like Paul Hogan and Steve Irwin, tossin' shrimp on the barbie, wrestlin' crocs, and chuggin' Fosters by the case?

 

[Therin of Andor]

Gee, could it be that Australia is just as culturally diverse as America? That views and attitudes aren't the same all over?

I dunno. Maybe that's why we sent George Kirk and Nero over to the US!

Oh, and no Aussies drink Foster's. It's an advertising stunt played upon tourists.

 

[Nowhere Man]

Gee, could it be that Australia is just as culturally diverse as America? That views and attitudes aren't the same all over?

I dunno. Maybe that's why we sent George Kirk and Nero over to the US!

Oh, and no Aussies drink Foster's. It's an advertising stunt played upon tourists.

You do carry giant knives and have Kangaroo's as pets, right?

 

[Therin of Andor]

Kangaroo's as pets, right?

My US penpal once asked me about the kangaroos. She wanted to know if we used them as a mode of transport.

"Have you seen the slope of their back. Where would you fit the saddle?" I asked, bewildered.

"Oh," she replied. "I guess I kinda thought you rode in the pouch..."

 

[Nowhere Man]

Kangaroo's as pets, right?

My US penpal once asked me about the kangaroos. She wanted to know if we used them as a mode of transport.

"Have you seen the slope of their back. Where would you fit the saddle?" I asked, bewildered.

"Oh," she replied. "I guess I kinda thought you rode in the pouch..."

You could ride in the pouch , oh I didn't see that last part , how funny would that be? about as funny as seeing someone get knocked out by one

 

[Captain Robert April]

"Hi-Yo, Skippy! Awaaaaaaaaaaaaay!"