Trek X! -What will make it a blockbuster?

[Stag]

...or more precisely, what will differentiate it from prior Trek films in order for it to be called a blockbuster?

To me in watching Trek movies vs. say a Star Wars movie or any summer release action movie called a 'blockbuster' there always seems to be a difference I can't figure out.

Is it the special effects quality? The number of SFX shots? The music? The script (not likely)? The epic quality of the story (although that needs to be defined better)? The actors?

I mean we have had TREK films with big stories - Khan (revenge) TVH (recovered Spock, time travel, saving earth from an alien) TUC (Klingon Federation intrigue)

We've even had big SFX films with big directors and long lasting musical scoring - TMP with Robert Wise.

Yet none of these seem to come across as 'BIG" films to me, they seem rather small and in some cases really well done, but never 'BLOCKBUSTER' in terms of feel. Is it because they are sourced from a TV show?

To me a big, blockbuster film (now, note I didn't necessarily say good film) are films like:

2001; Some of the Die Hard movies, Independence Day; Titanic, Star Wars 2,3,5 and 6; hell, even the last two James Bond movies felt 'Big' compared to their predecessors.

What do you think - what makes a BIG summer Blockbuster and do you think Trek 11 has it?

 

[dave_R_treker]

$$$$$$$$$$$
plain and simple

 

[Admiral Bear]

Nothing will make Trek XI a blockbuster, because erm. . .it's a film that will be lucky to make back half its stupidly huge budget at the box office.

You want a film that will be a blockbuster this year? Try Transformers - Revenge of the Fallen, a film which could realistically gross $1b globally.

End of.

 

[Devon]

Nothing will make Trek X a blockbuster, because erm. . .it's a film that will be lucky to make back half its stupidly huge budget at the box office.

Actually nothing will make Trek X a blockbuster on the merit that it was released 6 years ago and we know that it didn't do to well.

 

[Stag]

^That's exactly my point, AB!

I am sure Transformers has just as big a budget but is perceived as the bigger 'deal' for the summer movie crowds, why is that? It really is just as geeky as TREK, it is Sci-Fi an SFX driven drama, so what is the difference - why i one considered a ss\ure thing and the other not?

 

[Admiral Bear]

Nothing will make Trek X a blockbuster, because erm. . .it's a film that will be lucky to make back half its stupidly huge budget at the box office.

Actually nothing will make Trek X a blockbuster on the merit that it was released 6 years ago and we know that it didn't do to well.

What's a missed I between posters?

 

[Admiral Bear]

^That's exactly my point, AB!

I am sure Transformers has just as big a budget but is perceived as the bigger 'deal' for the summer movie crowds, why is that? It really is just as geeky as TREK, it is Sci-Fi an SFX driven drama, so what is the difference - why i one considered a ss\ure thing and the other not?

You don't have an appreciation of the baggage that the words Star and Trek have for the general non sci-fi watching public.

In the eyes of these people, Star Trek is for geeks. Transformers 2 will be for anyone who wants to see what looks like it's going to be a rollicking good action film.

Transformers will never have the negative connotations and geek baggage that Star Trek has always had.

As a rough calculation, the new Trek film will have to gross what First Contact did adjusted for inflation in order to cover its budget. I can't see that happening. I'd like to see it happening, I really would. But no.

 

[ALF]

Nothing will make Trek X a blockbuster, because erm. . .it's a film that will be lucky to make back half its stupidly huge budget at the box office.

Actually nothing will make Trek X a blockbuster on the merit that it was released 6 years ago and we know that it didn't do to well.

Looking forward to seeing what they do with the Remans. I just hope they don't do anything rash to amp up the tension, like say, kill off Data. Or something. Or use telepathic rape AGAIN

Seriously, it's $$$$$$$$$$ as Dave_R_Trekker indicated. The question is, has Paramount waited the right amount of time before bringing Trek back.

They wouldn't be so coy developing sequels already if they didn't know that it had a decent chance.

 

[datas_cat_spot]

The perceived "nerd factor" doesn't really have that much affect on whether people go see a movie. Otherwise, Star Wars, LotR, and comic book movies would suffer the same fate. Nobody watches a trailer and says "this looks really good...but it's for nerds to watch, not me". Who could've guessed children wizards, robot cars, pirates, and 2nd tier comic characters could ever rake in huge amounts of cash? What makes a blockbuster, are the correct proportions of action and humor along with appealing characters for the average moviegoer. For us hard core Trek fans, these proportions will not likely be the same, hence the intitial mass freak out. The jury is still out on whether Trek will deliver on these things but it certainly has the potential.

Also, there's nothing wrong with Trek's budget. They seemed to be smart with the money and stuck to it unlike some other movies I could mention. It's a "go big, or go home" type of mentality. Being that this is Trek's last shot, it wouldn't make much sense to be timid about it.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

The perceived "nerd factor" doesn't really have that much affect on whether people go see a movie.

Exactly so. There's a very high "self-loathing" factor built into a lot of the assumptions that Trek cannot be made into modern entertainment that will reach beyond the fan community.

 

[seigezunt]

Transformers will never have the negative connotations and geek baggage that Star Trek has always had.

a movie based on an 80s toy?

 

[PKTrekGirl]

Maybe it's just me, but I think Transformers has just as big an association with 'geekdom' as does Star Trek. And I think that Star Trek would have a much stronger appeal to women than would Transformers. Transformers, to me, is a teen to 20-something 'guy movie'. Now, that's a big demographic...but it's certainly not the only demographic.

And good lord....LotR's geek factor is even higher than Star Trek's - fantasy always has a higher geek factor than does scifi. Especially if it's something like LotR, which can be expropriated by the Renissance Fair crowd.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Really.

I mean...elves.

LOTR had a real aroma of Boomer counterculture about it that certainly didn't help. "Frodo Lives!" you know.

 

[Therin of Andor]

$$$$$$$$$$$
plain and simple

And good word of mouth.

 

[LLAP]

Naked people. Lots of good looking naked people.

 

[Kemaiku]

Naked people. Lots of good looking naked people.

Damn straight, its about time we had some Caitian nudity!

 

[S'kai]

Transformers will never have the negative connotations and geek baggage that Star Trek has always had.

Baggage??!! A film based on a toy ??? I am as likely to see that I am one base on a video game, e.g., Wing Commander.

 

[Lightinspire]

The very last scene you see the Nexus afar off and the older Spock in meditation and hears Kirk's voice..that is what it needs.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Millions of teenage girls suddenly falling in love with Star Trek and dragging their boyfriends to the theatre over and over again.

In other words, this thing hasn't got a prayer.

 

[datas_cat_spot]

Millions of teenage girls suddenly falling in love with Star Trek and dragging their boyfriends to the theatre over and over again.

In other words, this thing hasn't got a prayer.

Are you asserting that teenage girls are the driving force behind blockbuster hits, or that this movie will have such little interest from the young male demographic it will need to extreme interest from young females to compensate?