What do non-Trekkies want for XII

[Ryan8bit]

I posted about this in the Khan thread, but I didn't want to derail too much there, so I'm starting here. This thread isn't really Khan-specific, it's just about what some people who aren't Trekkies might want to see.

I feel like a lot of people who post here have lost the pulse of what the average Joe ticket-buyer might think. Sure, there's a lot of projection. Some will say what other people are saying just to bolster their own opinion, but I'm genuinely interested in what non-hardcore fans might think. Especially since I think I've been reading too many forums lately. I wanted to get the opinions of people who would never even want to come here because they are the general audience, right? And this is just a small sampling. It's not meant to be authoritative or any kind of fact to prove anything.

So I would casually work into a conversation about movies a few non-suggestive questions, which is the best way to get a fairly non-biased answer. I was kind of surprised by some of the responses I got. Here are a few conversations I had with various people. For those who didn't read the other thread, these are paraphrased.



Conversation 1
Female, 29, liked ST2009, is only a light sci-fi fan interested more in the typical crime and medical dramas

Me: What do you think the next Trek movie should be about?
Her: Does it have to be about the original series?
Me: Yes, the same crew in that time period.
Her: Uh, how about Tribbles?
Me: How do you make a movie about Tribbles?
Her: Ok, then Klingons.
Me: Well, some say the Klingons have been done a lot.
Her: How about Data? Is he around in this time period?
Me: ...no... There's a lot of speculation that the movie will be about Khan.
Her: Oh, the guy played by Charlton Heston?
Me: ...
Her: Shouldn't they do something different?

She also mentioned V'Ger, but as a joke since she hated TMP. I was kinda surprised at the comments like Data and Heston, but some people just don't breathe Trek like we do. It reminds me of how just a few days ago my dental hygenist had a "brain fart" but wanted to call it something from Star Trek and said it was a Vulcan Mind Meld. I just kept quiet...


Conversation 2
Male, 31, liked ST2009, is more of a Star Wars/BSG/Firefly guy

Me: What do you think they should do for the new Star Trek movie?
Him: Gee, there's so many things that they could do. They could do just about anything. Like maybe something with Klingons.
Me: I've read things that may suggest they might be doing Khan.
Him: Really? It seems almost too soon for that. Maybe they could make something about the Tribbles.
Me: How do you make a movie about Tribbles?

He also mentioned V'Ger, although I think he was kidding. Strange how Klingons and Tribbles are more on the consciousness of what was big for Star Trek.


Conversation 3
Male, 32, liked ST2009, isn't really big on serious sci-fi and is more into humor

Me: What do you want to see in the new Trek movie?
Him: It should be about that guy who died skydiving. Like a prequel.
Me: ...

I guess not everybody wants to give a straight answer!


Conversation 4
Male, 30, liked ST2009, is more of a horror movie fan and doesn't like most ST spinoffs

Me: What do you think they should do in the new Trek movie?
Him: I dunno. That's just not really my area of expertise. I only saw the latest movie once. That's something you would know better than me.
Me: Well, I only saw it once as well. So you don't really care what it's about?
Him: Nah, not really.
Me: Yeah, it's not the same as guessing what, say, the next Batman film villain would be.
Him: Right, I'd be more into that. I really don't have much to say about Star Trek.

So despite him liking the movie, he just really didn't seem to care about what they did. I don't think I mentioned Khan to him.


Conversation 5
Male, 64, didn't much care for ST2009, fan of the original series and a little of TNG but not really sci-fi in general

Me: They closed the Star Trek Experience right before the new movie came out, which might have been a bad move considering how popular it was.
Him: Eh, I didn't really care for it as much.
Me: Oh? What would you rather see in a Star Trek movie?
Him: I'd be more interested in seeing a story that parallels some of our country's problems today just like TOS did.
Me: Well, very few of the Trek movies actually do that.
Him: The one with the whales was pretty good. But aside from that, I'd love to see characters deal with great odds and achieve great things. I'd like to see some romance or something that actually motivates their characters into doing things.

To me, it seemed like he didn't care what the setting, plot, or villain was so long as it contained some core emotional elements. I actually mentioned Khan, but he has a tendency to change the subject and go on tangents, so he didn't really have anything to say about that. He was the first person I talked to who was more concerned with themes rather than dressings.


So that's all the people I've asked so far, but I plan on asking a few more that I can think of. If you want to go ahead and contribute to this thread, casually bring up the movie to someone who you know might have seen it and talk about the sequel. But try not to mention anything like Khan or Klingons first and see what they might say. I usually waited until there wasn't much more to say.

If you post something, maybe say why you might disagree with their assessment.

And please, I'm not interested in seeing joke interviews.

 

[T'Girl]

Non-trekkies want a generic sci-fi movie with lots of laser beams, explosions and maybe some nudity.

 

[Kosh Naranek]

Well I took my two sisters.
Oldest sis thought that Chris Pine was dreamy. So if any part of his uniform goes missing in classic Kirk fashion she shall be happy.
The other sister thought that Bones was a riot.
Neither could tell you the difference between a Klingon or a Romulan but both loved the new movie.
They knew who Kirk and Spock were and picked up on the rest.
So as long as the next movie has some semblance of a plot I don't see how they can go wrong from my sisters' point of view.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

Well I took my two sisters.
Oldest sis thought that Chris Pine was dreamy. So if any part of his uniform goes missing in classic Kirk fashion she shall be happy.

Well, I *am* a Star Trek fan, and I'd be happy with that too!

But I think most non-Trek fans really just want exactly what they got from the last movie - exciting action, witty dialogue, talented actors, cool CGI, and an interesting storyline that is not too complex or too heavily weighted with pre-requisite Star Trek viewing.

Like XI, it is the casual viewer that is going to make this movie successful - NOT the Trek Geeks who obsess over stupid stuff like the color of the transporter beam or whatever. And the casual viewer wants to be able to jump right in and hit the ground running when they step into the theatre. They do not want to have to do research on aspects of the Trek 'Verse before they get there...or after they leave, in order to understand the movie. They are not there to start a 700 episode career as a Trek Geek. They are there to watch a 100-or-so minute movie. End of story.

That is what JJ gave them the last time, and it was a huge success. And that is what they will be expecting to see again. And what I believe JJ should deliver.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I don't think non-Trekkies will even notice if there wasn't another movie. They don't have a "want" for ST:XII. But if you asked them, yeah like PKTrekGirls says they want a good movie! I now am lending out Trek series to several people who want to watch more Trek after seeing the ST:XI. These are people who have never seen Trek (it hasn't been on tv here in years). So at least a few people are on their way toward the 700 Trek ep geekhood, heh heh..

 

[Temis the Vorta]

My guesses of what they want: action, splosions, battles, romance, sex, hot babes in miniskirts, Kirk/Spock/McCoy rips his shirt, weird stuff in space and more splosions. They won't say they want that but that's actually what they do want.

Me: ...no... There's a lot of speculation that the movie will be about Khan.
Her: Oh, the guy played by Charlton Heston?

Me: How do you make a movie about Tribbles?

Tribbles run amok and threaten to eat the galaxy.

I'd love to see characters deal with great odds and achieve great things. I'd like to see some romance or something that actually motivates their characters into doing things.

Listen to that guy. It doesn't matter if it's about Khan, V'Ger, Data, Tribbles or Klingons, or all of the above mushed into a giant lump. They're looking for a good, uplifting story.

Plus splosions.

 

[Nerd unRage]

I would imagine Abrams and co will take the route they took with the first one, "Let's make a movie our wives will like!" They kept saying that over and over again in the commentary for the movie.

That and probably more flares.

Personally, I'd love to see more lines and a plot for Bones since he is my favorite character.

 

[I am not Spock]

I don't think non-Trekkies will even notice if there wasn't another movie. They don't have a "want" for ST:XII. But if you asked them, yeah like PKTrekGirls says they want a good movie! I now am lending out Trek series to several people who want to watch more Trek after seeing the ST:XI. These are people who have never seen Trek (it hasn't been on tv here in years). So at least a few people are on their way toward the 700 Trek ep geekhood, heh heh..

I'm with you. The non fans will just move on to whatever the next big hyped summer blockbuster is, because they don't live and breathe Trek like us lot do. It won't bother them too much if there isn't another one.

That said, though, I've heard many lapsed Trekkies saying the new film was great, and made them interested in the franchise again; and many non fans wanting to watch more after seeing XI. My two brothers want me to show them more episodes (I've got every Trek movie and episode on DVD) after enjoying the latest one. So XI did have an effect.

 

[JarodRussell]

What do non-Trekkies want for XII

I think this is a silly question. Non-Trekkie means that they are dispassionate about it, just like every normal person is at first dispassionate about any new movie that is released.

Then we have the Trek 2009 fan. People who didn't like or know original Trek but became fans of the new movie. And from those I also heard stuff like "I'd love to see Eric Bana again." - "How's that going to work, Nero died." - "Dude, it's scifi!"

And mostly if you ask real people who simply liked the movie and moved on, you'll get answers like "I don't care, as long as it is as much fun as the first!"

 

[Tribbles]

Me: What do you want to see in the new Trek movie?
Him: It should be about that guy who died skydiving. Like a prequel.
Me: ...

Thanks for taking the time to type all these out, Ryan8bit. It's interesting to see what casual fans expect from the movie.

 

[Ryan8bit]

And the casual viewer wants to be able to jump right in and hit the ground running when they step into the theatre. They do not want to have to do research on aspects of the Trek 'Verse before they get there...or after they leave, in order to understand the movie. They are not there to start a 700 episode career as a Trek Geek. They are there to watch a 100-or-so minute movie. End of story.

Agreed. But then, do you reference the first movie still? How does one get around that this is still a sequel and that there may be reference to at least the first movie? I suppose 2 hours is much more acceptable than 700.

Me: How do you make a movie about Tribbles?

Tribbles run amok and threaten to eat the galaxy.

I thought since they also mentioned Klingons that it could be when the Klingons set off to annihilate the Tribbles. But that's sort of a downer!

Listen to that guy. It doesn't matter if it's about Khan, V'Ger, Data, Tribbles or Klingons, or all of the above mushed into a giant lump. They're looking for a good, uplifting story.

Plus splosions.

Honestly, I think he couldn't care less about the CGI, but he is in his 60's. I agree with his opinion that there needs to be some substance underneath, however I'm not sure that's what the majority is yearning for. There wasn't a whole lot of it in the first movie and it did just fine.

What do non-Trekkies want for XII

I think this is a silly question. Non-Trekkie means that they are dispassionate about it, just like every normal person is at first dispassionate about any new movie that is released.

Well, by Trekkie I mostly meant more of the hardcores, like people who post on forums or buy all the DVDs. People who still have some interest in Trek but only a passing one. Ultimately they are the ones that make up the largest portion of viewership, and they will help elevate the movie status so that more will be made.

 

[Kosh Naranek]

The movie actually made a Trekkie out of my best friend.

Poor thing had listened to me rant for years about Star Trak and the greatness of Alan Rickman. Rickman she could understand but never Trek.

I tried to get to her to go see the new movie in theaters, repeatedly. She flat out refused to go.

I got her to watch it when I bought my DVD. She loves it!

Now she is recording all Trek showing up on TV and wants me to come over and start watching my DVDs in order with her, TOS and on...

 

[Temis the Vorta]

The non fans will just move on to whatever the next big hyped summer blockbuster is

Plenty of summer blockbusters flop* if the word of mouth is unfavorable.

*Although with foreign revenues added it, they often make money anyway, go figgure.

 

[Agenda]

I think they want more romance, i.e. s/u.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

I don't think non-Trekkies will even notice if there wasn't another movie. They don't have a "want" for ST:XII. But if you asked them, yeah like PKTrekGirls says they want a good movie! I now am lending out Trek series to several people who want to watch more Trek after seeing the ST:XI. These are people who have never seen Trek (it hasn't been on tv here in years). So at least a few people are on their way toward the 700 Trek ep geekhood, heh heh..

I'm with you. The non fans will just move on to whatever the next big hyped summer blockbuster is, because they don't live and breathe Trek like us lot do. It won't bother them too much if there isn't another one.

That said, though, I've heard many lapsed Trekkies saying the new film was great, and made them interested in the franchise again; and many non fans wanting to watch more after seeing XI. My two brothers want me to show them more episodes (I've got every Trek movie and episode on DVD) after enjoying the latest one. So XI did have an effect.

You guys do make a valid point. I think the movie did gain some momentum for Trek fandom in general - my two nephews, for example, starting watching some of the TOS and TNG reruns on TV as a result of the film, and now know a little bit about the Trek universe - especially the 24th century as they liked TNG more than TOS (due mostly to production value issues).

I certainly wouldn't classify them as Trekkies or anything. But they have a greater level of knowledge...and higher opinion of Star Trek than they used to, before they saw the film and some of the TV episodes.

I do think they actually 'want' XII. But if XII was never made, they would move on to other things without losing a moment's sleep over it. There is just too much other stuff out there for them to see.

Although both of them are huge fans of the TV show related to The Last Airbender...and HATED that movie with a passion.

So quality of production does matter to them - even with regard to things they already love.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Non-trekkies want a generic sci-fi movie with lots of laser beams, explosions and maybe some nudity.

That's no more or less true than asserting that trekkies want a movie with lots of empty pontificating about the obvious, long slow shots of spaceship models and endless gibbering about the simpleminded politics of make-believe rubber aliens.

 

[Pauln6]

Non-trekkies want a generic sci-fi movie with lots of laser beams, explosions and maybe some nudity.

That's no more or less true than asserting that trekkies want a movie with lots of empty pontificating about the obvious, long slow shots of spaceship models and endless gibbering about the simpleminded politics of make-believe rubber aliens.

OMG - it's like you opened your mouth and my ideal movie just spilled out! Well, ok, you pressed a few keys at any rate... I would hope they can afford CGI aliens though.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I think they want more romance, i.e. s/u.

The girls do. Some guys, too, tho they'll never admit it.

There are some standard things that people expect in a big budget summer popcorn flick in return for their $10. Action, romance, maybe a bit of humor, eye-popping visuals and the hero(s) win in the end, by some definition. None of those require that the movie also be dumb or disrespectful/inconsistent with Trek tone and Trek lore (note I didn't say "cannon," just so as not to open up that can of squirmy invertebrates again).

 

[Therin of Andor]

When the Klingon scenes were dropped from the first film, I recall JJ saying he loved the designs that had been achieved and he thought it was a plot direction the next film might explore. The general public associate Klingons as the main ST villains, so I'm expecting Klingons to make at least an appearance.

But yeah, people I speak to, many of whom claim - with such enthusiasm - that they are "not a Star Trek fan but I loved that new movie..." are just curious that the next film will be as entertaining as the last one. And in 3-D.

 

[Ryan8bit]

I've tried asking more people, but I find I'm not getting very concrete answers.

One guy I asked recently:
Male, 30, Liked the new movie

Me: What do you think they should do for the next Trek movie?
Him: Uh, I dunno. *laughs*
Me: Uh... well, I heard that they might do Khan in the new movie.
Him: Really? Hmm. I thought they would have just gone and picked something new. Wasn't that the whole point?

What he brought up was a good point that I hadn't mulled over yet. Are they doing Star Trek over to tell new stories or to do twists on the old ones?