Impact on the Franchise

[AJ86]

Would you say that JJ's movie has had a positive effect on the franchise in that it will attract substantially more fans, or is the move to a more generic action movie format alienated older fans, and just attracted a set of fickle ADHD generation ones that will leave once Sucker Punch is out?

 

[6079SmithW]

Hmm. Both. It had a positive effect in that it jump started the dying Trek franchise and opened up Star Trek to a lot of people who didn't care or know about it before. Old fans were rejuvinated and new fans were created. On the other hand, some old fans felt alienated/betrayed and most of the casual "ADHD" audience will just go see the next one because it is a big summer action flick and move on once this incarnation has run its course.

Overall, I think the positives far outweigh the negatives and even if casual movie goers don't become trekkies they still contributed to the franchise's revival with their dollars. The movie brought the fun, excitement, and adventure back into Trek.

 

[Sci]

Would you say that JJ's movie has had a positive effect on the franchise in that it will attract substantially more fans,

It already attracted substantially more fans.

It saved the franchise. That's ST09's effect on it.

 

[sevenstars]

Multiple choice? I pick B.

 

[F. King Daniel]

After the faliure of Nemesis and the cancellation of Enterprise, Star Trek was dead. The only new Trek was the monthly novels, which are read by approx. 2% of the fanbase. Activision sued Paramount to get out of their Trek videogame contract, after Nemesis' reception doomed their Elite Force II game. The official website, Startrek.com, was shutting down.

The new movie has upset a few old Trek fans, but no more than TMP and TNG did in '79 and '86.

Don't mistake the constant bitching by a minority of die-hard internet fans as anything representative of the real world.

 

[Alienesse]

I can personally testify to the impact of JJ's movie on the Star Trek franchise, and especially on rekindling people's taste for the original series. Seeing the movie actually made me curious about TOS and sort of opened my sensibilities to that older part of Star Trek that I had previously ignored out of an ignorant assumption that a 60s show couldn't present much interest to me in the 21st century. I'm sure there are others like me who've discovered the original Star Trek through the new movie and that's something to be grateful for, because TOS is a fantastic show and people should see it.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Personally, I think the movie had the biggest impact on Trek as a movie franchise and that it introduced Kirk and the gang to people who may never have really paid attention to TOS before because they thought Trek in general was boring, silly, or only for nerds...

 

[SPCTRE]

The only new Trek was the monthly novels, which are read by approx. 2% of the fanbase.

I know this is derailing this thread somewhat, but is that your guesstimate or did you read that number somewhere?

 

[Captain Pike]

It seems to me the impact has been overwhelmingly positive.

The movie isn't perfect, it has it's plotholes and inconsistencies with Star Trek canon, but as a piece of entertainment that's not just accessible to the man in the street but was a widely acclaimed commercial and critical success, I don't think it can be seen as anything other than a triumph.

For me personally, I was wrapped that they finally gave us a decent TOS based movie (well, the first decent one since TMP, imo). Sure, there are things that annoy me like Delta Vega and Kirk's meteoric rise to captaincy, but in the end it leaves me with a big satisfied grin on my face.

 

[F. King Daniel]

The only new Trek was the monthly novels, which are read by approx. 2% of the fanbase.

I know this is derailing this thread somewhat, but is that your guesstimate or did you read that number somewhere?

It's a number I've heard in the Treklit forum (my memory's a little rusty, but it was definitely <5%). Sales figures for the novels have been a closely guarded secret for years and years.

 

[SPCTRE]

The only new Trek was the monthly novels, which are read by approx. 2% of the fanbase.

I know this is derailing this thread somewhat, but is that your guesstimate or did you read that number somewhere?

It's a number I've heard in the Treklit forum (my memory's a little rusty, but it was definitely <5%). Sales figures for the novels have been a closely guarded secret for years and years.

Interesting, thanks

 

[thumbtack]

Viacom has already determined and published it's impact on the franchise. Although it's not something the OP would care to hear.

 

[Shatnertage]

^ Huh?

I think, as Sci said, it saved the franchise and really opened up some possibilities.

 

[Dar70]

I dont think it really saved the franchise. Maybe the movie franchise but not the tv series franchise. I thought the film was awful but was not surprised that it did well. Consdering that many that went to see it thought it was a complete reboot.(which we know isnt really true) I doubt the next film will do as well.

That said I expect the series to top out at 3 or 4 films at best. Then what???

Regardless though, I myself am done with any new Trek. I have no desire to watch nuTrek that is set in a pocket universe. I still find it funny that so many who were outraged with Enterprise and Nemesis, (especially over stuff that nuTrek is saturated in) have accepted nuTrek so easily.

An overly emotional Spock, Ugly Ship, pocket universe etc.
It doesnt feel like Trek.

Enterprise and Nemesis were much better than nuTrek IMO.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

The movie saved the Franchise, period.

There's only one Star Trek property, one "franchise." If this movie had been unsuccessful, that would have been pretty much the end of it. Since it's worked out so well for Paramount, there now exists the possibility that CBS Paramount will at some point take an interest in producing Trek for television again.

Most people who went to see it - devoted trek fans or not - could not have cared less whether it was a reboot, a retelling, or whatever other label people want to nitpick over. They care that they were entertained.

If it tops out at three movies - well, that's three more movies than anyone had a reason or right to expect four years ago. And they they'll probably restart Trek again, just like Spider-Man or Batman.

 

[Dar70]

The movie saved the Franchise, period.

There's only one Star Trek property, one "franchise." If this movie had been unsuccessful, that would have been pretty much the end of it. Since it's worked out so well for Paramount, there now exists the possibility that CBS Paramount will at some point take an interest in producing Trek for television again.

Most people who went to see it - devoted trek fans or not - could not have cared less whether it was a reboot, a retelling, or whatever other label people want to nitpick over. They care that they were entertained.

If it tops out at three movies - well, that's three more movies than anyone had a reason or right to expect four years ago. And they they'll probably restart Trek again, just like Spider-Man or Batman.

They should have done an acutal reboot than instead of the ridiculous shoehorn that we got. I would have gone for that much more than this. Trek wasnt even gone that long (under 2 years) and they already greenlit nuTrek. They didnt even let the franchise begin to die. No thanks to a new series either if its set in a pocket universe. Again I cant believe the complaining we got for Enterprise and the praise that comes from this film.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

They should have done an actual reboot than instead of the ridiculous shoehorn that we got.

It's a difference that makes no difference unless one squints real hard.

It's true that the premise and approach of JJTrek is very similar to that of Star Trek: Enterprise, but the execution was much more daring and successful - it reached out, grabbed and grew the audience, where Enterprise was unable to. I guess what was required was for the folks in charge at Paramount to loosen their grip a little bit and to let new people bring a fresh angle of attack to the thing - try as they might have, the same folks who'd been managing the Franchise for over a decade just weren't able to break out of certain creative ruts.

 

[Devon]

They should have done an acutal reboot than instead of the ridiculous shoehorn that we got. I would have gone for that much more than this.

That's all personal preference stuff. Regardless of if it was a reboot, alternate reality, etc., obviously had little to no negative effect on the end result. A film with an 80-90% approval rating from Trek fans and general public, the most successful Trek installment in history, etc.

 

[Listener4]

I am not a fan of the new film. I find it extremely overrated, mediocre at best.

At the same time, it did result an energy and excitement that Trek has not had in a long time. Something Trek needed to stay alive.

I'm glad there's going to be new Trek, but at the same time wish that someone else was doing it.

 

[Dar70]

They should have done an acutal reboot than instead of the ridiculous shoehorn that we got. I would have gone for that much more than this.

That's all personal preference stuff. Regardless of if it was a reboot, alternate reality, etc., obviously had little to no negative effect on the end result. A film with an 80-90% approval rating from Trek fans and general public, the most successful Trek installment in history, etc.

Yes i understand that. I am still puzzled by it. I dont know maybe some were so hungry for new Trek, that they excused the same things that were criticized for Nemesis and Enterprise. Maybe people wont be so forgivable with the next film.

Still I think it would have either been smart to start the whole thing fresh. No worry about continuity, no major suspension of disbelief when it comes to the look of the actors. I dont see why that approach lost out to a pocket universe.