Does anyone think that Beyond was something of a missed opportunity?

[fireproof78]

I highly doubt it would make anywhere near what Paramount would want, but I just watched "Bridge of spies" the other night and thought that if TPTB wanted to make a compelling Star Trek movie, they could make something more akin to a political or socio political thriller. You could still have action and space battles, but do something more like what TOS did and use the sci-fi setting as a cloak for allegory.

Again, I realize most in this crowd, and most people in general would likely frown upon that. But just look at how successful the new "Planet of the apes" movies are (In terms of storytelling), they're good because they examine the emotional character interactions and 'politics' of their fictional world. And in doing so evoke real emotional stakes and reactions from the audience.

Modern Star Trek just needs better writers, people with something to say. Hell, our modern world has plenty of fodder for allegory, one needn't look any further than the news.

Trek 09 did well with that, so I hardily agree. That is usually when sci-fi is at its best. I honestly don't think there will be the frowning that many think there will be.

 

[Smellmet]

I highly doubt it would make anywhere near what Paramount would want, but I just watched "Bridge of spies" the other night and thought that if TPTB wanted to make a compelling Star Trek movie, they could make something more akin to a political or socio political thriller. You could still have action and space battles, but do something more like what TOS did and use the sci-fi setting as a cloak for allegory.

Again, I realize most in this crowd, and most people in general would likely frown upon that. But just look at how successful the new "Planet of the apes" movies are (In terms of storytelling), they're good because they examine the emotional character interactions and 'politics' of their fictional world. And in doing so evoke real emotional stakes and reactions from the audience.

Modern Star Trek just needs better writers, people with something to say. Hell, our modern world has plenty of fodder for allegory, one needn't look any further than the news.

I would love this also. A tense cold war type thriller maybe.

 

[Shark]

Trek 09 did well with that, so I hardily agree. That is usually when sci-fi is at its best. I honestly don't think there will be the frowning that many think there will be.

I don't agree that Trek '09 did that, but that's just my opinion.

 

[Robert_T_April]

I think I like Beyond more than I would under normal circumstances because Into Darkness set the bar so low. I loved Beyond when I walked out, I was so surprised how good it was after ST 2009 and Into Darkness. It still doesn't hold a candle to the likes of Wrath of Khan, Search for Spock, or Voyager Home.

Actually, I don't think any Trek movie held a candle to The Undiscovered Country

 

[fireproof78]

I don't agree that Trek '09 did that, but that's just my opinion.

And that's totally fair. It wasn't a sledgehammer of a message designed to drive home its point like a lot of Star Trek did. It was more subtle, woven in by performances and hints of what could have been. Honestly, I think I enjoy Trek 09 more because of knowing the Prime characters, and what might have been.
Star Trek 09 is all about the importance of fathers, which takes center stage with Kirk and Spock Prime and Spock and Sarek.

I think this will only become more apparent as the film ages.

 

[M-Red]

Selfishly, I enjoyed BEY more than any other product that Trek has produced in quite some time.

I'm sure TPTB wanted the bottom line to be more lucrative, but the film was everything I was hoping a rebooted STAR TREK would be when JJ-Trek was first announced. BEY should have been the sequel story to '09.

It wasn't a missed opportunity for me. I'm just glad they made it.