Weekend Actuals are In: A&D:46.5, ST:43 million

Discussion in 'Star Trek Movies: Kelvin Universe' started by superdeluxe, May 18, 2009.

  1. superdeluxe

    superdeluxe Captain Captain

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    I am just glad those that have been pounding the 'this will flop, it is still a flop' have disappeared. I miss odo's bucket.
     
  2. USS Gettysburg

    USS Gettysburg Captain Captain

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    That's because they have totally proved their point.:shifty:
     
  3. Squiggy

    Squiggy FrozenToad Admiral

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    JJ had doomed us all. :(
     
  4. Similitude

    Similitude Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Right, because what we need is Corporations making more profits and the people who make the movies making less.
     
  5. photon70

    photon70 Commander Red Shirt

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    Each second of screen time requires 26 frames.

    Each frame, depending on the complexity of what is being modelled in CGI can take hundreds oF man-hours.

    So for some movies, ie, Transformers, each second literally takes months of computer crunching to achieve.
     
  6. Borgminister

    Borgminister Admiral Moderator

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    Hey--corporations are persons too...
     
  7. Vykan12

    Vykan12 Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    It's nice that Trek is succeeding in the box office, but perhaps you guys should focus on the reason why. It is a summer blockbuster action flick, and with these kinds of results, who's to say the makers of the film aren't going to repeat this formula of shallow, action-centric storylines? It's not a good direction for Trek, no matter how profitable it may be.
     
  8. Borgminister

    Borgminister Admiral Moderator

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    Let's see, there was the heroic sacrifice of Kirk senior, the coming of age of Kirk junior under Pike, the struggles against discrimination by a young Spock, and the absolute loss suffered by Spock with the destruction of his home world and death of his mother.

    Not only that, this "formula" introduced iconic characters to a new audience succesfully, and paved the way for new exploits.

    I think you are wrong--Batman Begins was very plodding in its introduction of Batman, yet we had Dark Knight as a result. You don't know the "direction" of Trek by this movie.

    I've every confidence in the Supreme Court given what I've seen thus far. And look forward to the uncut DVD version.
     
  9. Vykan12

    Vykan12 Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    None of these did much for me. Kirk Sr was sacrificed at the very beginning of the movie, and TOS knowledge aside, we knew virtually nothing about him, so there wasn't much emotional impact to that sacrifice. Though even if there were, the movie doesn't even give you enough time to dwell on it, the same which can be said of Vulcan's destruction, and many other plot points.

    Kirk junior's coming of age would be a valid point if his character weren't so fiendishly implausible. His rise to command was the result of numerous coincidences, and rewarding renegade behavior, not exactly inspiring stuff.

    Spock's discrimination only lasted as a glimpse of his childhood, and as a passing comment by the Vulcan committee. After that, he was distinguished and respected by all of Star Fleet.

    I can agree with you on some levels about your last example, but again, Vulcan's destruction and his mother's death were moments that were hastily glossed over because of the movie's relentless pace. Aside from Spock's punching Kirk, and some of his actions later in the movie, his only real expression of grief-based emotion was kissing Uhura, which was an under-developped and poorly executed relationship that only seemed to exist to make Kirk jealous.

    Or rather, it used some lazily constructed plot points to erase 40 years of cannon. Not that I have a problem with that, but they need to handle Trek far more delicately than they did in this movie.

    I personally find The Dark Knight a tad overrated, but that is another discussion entirely. Sure, we cannot predict what future Treks might be like, but there's a decent chance it's going to have to either follow or recover from some of the awful storyline choices that this movie made.
     
  10. Cdr MacDuff

    Cdr MacDuff Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    Thats my main fear as well.

    Star Trek was a good movie, but the main storyline was about the old TOS crew meeting each other again. Spock and Kirk in particular. With that gone the main villain storyline was pretty thin. I wish the next movie will have a bit more depth. Many movies have good storyline but still much action and CGI.
     
  11. Doomsday

    Doomsday Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    Here here!

    If there's one thing this recession has proved, it is that the much-maligned, often demonized corporations are the EMPLOYERS of us regular stiffs.

    When corporations cease to make money, either because of oppressive taxation, or just because of slowing economy, corporations must lay off people(among other things) in order to stay in business.

    Some of you might think this is unfair, and point to lay offs as proof that the corps are "out to get the regular guy". But I am a payroll professional, and I can tell you that salary/benefit expense is usually the #1 expense item on any P & L. So "reductions in force" are the quickest and fastest way of getting out of the red.

    When corporations do well, they start expanding and hiring more people.

    Companies are not the enemy. Sometimes their is no enemy, really, just the normal cycle of business. But often government intrustion into the private business(however well intentioned) ends up hurting more than helping.
     
  12. Borgminister

    Borgminister Admiral Moderator

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    I appreciate your point of view, but I think there are those who will deliberately try and put a negative slant on things to suit there preconception of the movie, and others who will "gush" about an imperfect movie to the point of absurdity. Although I've not read any "this is an Oscar-worth masterpiece" type statements here.

    I loved the movie, and felt the events cited more deeply than you--perhaps that is because I'm not only a long-time fan (which you are too), but went into the movie excited and wanting to like it. I know how badly this had every right to turn out, and you know what?

    It didn't. It did exactly what it needed to do, and left me highly optimistic about the next movie.

    That, and with a smile on my face and an extra bounce to my step. At 50.
     
  13. Devon

    Devon Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    They can't repeat it when they haven't done it yet. :techman:
     
  14. Similitude

    Similitude Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I totally agree that if Movie companies are not making a profit on these movies then Actor/Director/Producer Salaries should be reducded. HOWEVER, it is clear they ARE making a profit even on those with huge and bloated budgets. Thus I have no problem with Actors/Directors and such making large salaries as the companies are raking in the money off of their work, so everyone wins.
     
  15. USS Gettysburg

    USS Gettysburg Captain Captain

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    Yes because saving the planet from a giant soda can with whales, finding Spock, and stopping a rogue space satellite were huge themes. The movies have never had the big messages. If you claim the previous movies had heavy handed themes then Star Trek had big themes.
     
  16. Borgminister

    Borgminister Admiral Moderator

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    And you've got to be careful about being ham-handed and drama-queeny and sledgehammer pedantic in exploring any such deeper themes anyway.

    Plus, with Mr. Lindelof on board with the next one, the plot should be more byzantine. :p
     
  17. Norrin Radd

    Norrin Radd Vice Admiral

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    It's true that the plots of the movies have never been too "deep", which is not necessarily a bad thing. It has to be accessible for the general audience. Usually they save the "morality tale" stuff for the TV shows, which is as it should be, IMO.
     
  18. flemm

    flemm Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Eh, compelling themes don't have to bludgeon the audience or get in the way of the movie's entertainment value. TWOK is a scenery-chewing action flick on one level. On another level it is about confronting mortality. The fact that it works on both levels is what makes it a great movie.

    TVH is Star Trek at its most accessible, funny and endearing. The movie also has a message about the sanctity of all life and humanity's responsibility as caretakers of the planet. The movie works because it doesn't take itself or its message too seriously.

    FC is a battle against the Borg, but it is also about what it means to be human in the most extreme circumstances, faced with a ruthless enemy (Picard) or a momentous moment in history (Cochrane).

    The point being: a movie can be exciting and have deeper themes as well.
    Abrams' Trek did have some deeper themes than simply "the crew coming together," but so much was crammed into two hours that nothing was really explored to the fullest.

    I'm not really too concerned, though, because I have high hopes that the sequel will improve in this area. Simply put, the sequel won't have to tell the origin story, and it won't have to include a connection to the "Prime universe," leaving room for a more elegant plot and more time spent on compelling ideas.
     
  19. USS Gettysburg

    USS Gettysburg Captain Captain

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    I agree there are motifs. But, IMO, I concur that the good stuff is in the TV. The movies are a vehicle to get people interested in Trek and maybe get them interested in TV. (See early movies to TNG) Trek had motifs as well. Torture, responsibility to your destiny, what are we if our history were to change?, vengeance and its consequences, the importance of friendship and teamwork. Those, like the other movies described are more motifs than the themes we get in the hour TV of TOS,TNG, etc.

    It is also completely unfair to put this movie down because it is an intro film. It is a reboot, that is what is needed. We got the back story so that we get the good stuff later.

    And if you guys are worried about themes I dare you to go to http://lostpedia.wikia.com/ and see all the amazing stuff JJ and his crew have done in the past six years.
     
  20. Borgminister

    Borgminister Admiral Moderator

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    Um... QFT? Nicely put.