A bunch of old people running around

[Norrin Radd]

I'm not an ageist, but I think one of the problems with recent Trek films, in terms of lack of box office, were that they were about a bunch of old people. Fundamentally, young audiences don't want to see films about old people. They don't fit the action/adventure film mold.

 

[Deckerd]

I don't think middle-aged audiences want to see films with old people running about either.

 

[Brady]

I'm not an ageist, but I think one of the problems with recent Trek films, in terms of lack of box office, were that they were about a bunch of old people. Fundamentally, young audiences don't want to see films about old people. They don't fit the action/adventure film mold.

It's the characters we love though. I'd give anything to see Titan rendezvous with Enterprise on the big screen. Just one more.

 

[john titor]

I'm a young person and I didn't consider the TNG crew "old" whatever that means. Eg, someone can be old at any age either in appearance or attitude. Though granted the TOS crew were getting on by V but by that time they were legendary so their age contributed to their status.

 

[Deckerd]

The Next Generation cast were past it by the time the plug was finally pulled.

 

[john titor]

How were they past it? Because they looked older???

 

[Deckerd]

Because they were older. ST TV shows have a 'look' which is basically a cast of good looking people doing exciting things every week. When they get past it, the big screen is a lot less forgiving than the small screen. This is why the new movie is so popular with non-Trek film goers; it's full of good looking young men doing dashing things.

 

[john titor]

They didn't look that bad.

 

[Brady]

I really think it's because the movies sucked.

 

[Norrin Radd]

They didn't look that bad.

Data was looking too human and Riker needed weight watchers more than ever.

 

[QuasarVM]

I take it your not a fan of the movie "Space Cowboys" then?

 

[Falcor5]

I'm not an ageist, but I think one of the problems with recent Trek films, in terms of lack of box office, were that they were about a bunch of old people. Fundamentally, young audiences don't want to see films about old people. They don't fit the action/adventure film mold.

It's the characters we love though. I'd give anything to see Titan rendezvous with Enterprise on the big screen. Just one more.

Plus the advantage of a Titan movie is other than a few characters (like Riker etc...) you can cast young actors to play the other crew members since we have never seen most of them before.

 

[Whoa Nellie]

Warmest Wishes,
Whoa Nellie

 

[BriGuy]

I don't think middle-aged audiences want to see films with old people running about either.

I'm 37, and really have no interest in seeing movies about high school age angst anymore. Can barely stomach such movies I used to love when I was that age. They're just so inconsequential.

 

[RyuRoots]

I'm not an ageist, but I think one of the problems with recent Trek films, in terms of lack of box office, were that they were about a bunch of old people. Fundamentally, young audiences don't want to see films about old people. They don't fit the action/adventure film mold.

I'm a young man of 20 years, and I can tell you with certainty that watching Picard and the rest of the TNG crew were nothing I would describe as "films about old people". And frankly, I think a seasoned more mature main is WAY more fun to watch. The fact that Picard wasn't slowing down despite getting on in years just makes him that much cooler to me.

 

[Newspaper Taxi]

I think it wasn't so much the age of the characters but the fact that the movies were so determined to make them into action heroes when the show they originated from was more used to slow and thoughtful story lines. Star Trek: First Contact came off as an action movie with a sense of natural-ness; The Borg are a great monster/enemy. But I didn't get that same feeling from Insurrection, and especially not Nemesis. Because the action is contrived and out of nature for the show you're more likely to be taken out of the story and notice little details. Details like the fact a 60 year old man can effortlessly gun down a horde of Remans and yet these guys somehow overthrew the uber-paranoid planet of Romulus.

(Although I'm sure adding a couple of young sexy new characters to the mix wouldn't have hurt box office records any. )

 

[Penhall99]

I've never bought all the "They are too old" crap. If the story is good, people will watch and enjoy it.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I really think it's because the movies sucked.

That certainly didn't help.

 

[Ward Fowler]

OP: That's a relatively recent way of thinking. There was a time when the only entertainment that kids had aimed directly at them were saturday morning cartoons and disney movies. I grew up watching things aimed at adults like All In the Family and Hill Street Blues. Back then kids didn't have as much of a problem being entertained by older people.

 

[RoJoHen]

I'm a young person and I didn't consider the TNG crew "old" whatever that means. Eg, someone can be old at any age either in appearance or attitude. Though granted the TOS crew were getting on by V but by that time they were legendary so their age contributed to their status.

The TOS crew had gotten old, but they had also written that into their stories. From TWOK's "Young. I feel young!" line all the way to TUC where the characters retire! They knew they were getting old, and they worked with it.

TNG ignored it and had Picard playing Superhero all the time.