The Sobering Effect of the Star Trek XI Trailer

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

I'm a huge Superman fan, and that's a concept that is reinvented time and time again, often successfully. As each new variation arrives, we are free to accept or reject them as either: a) true to the core concept of Superman, b) quality entertainment in their own right, or c) both.

As am I, see the avatar and sig, and that is exactly the approach I take with both Superman and Trek.

In fact, I've come to approach Superman with the attitude that if it has the basics and the story is good, I don't care if everything fits within a "continuity." It's the same attitude that I've applied to Trek since Enterprise came out. If it's good, it's good. If it's bad, it's Voyager.

Hell, I have my favorite iteration of Superman (well, a few). I have my favorite iteration of Trek-- the original series, hands down. But if there's a good story that features those characters and that setting, that's all I need. I don't care if it matches 100% to what has come before.

I've said it once and I'll say it again... screw canon!

 

[biotech]

I wanted to see the film before the trailer came out, I want to see the film even more now, everyone I have shown the trailer too also wants to see the film.

At the end of the day, isn't that enough?

Not everyone will enjoy this film, but you cant make a film that everyone will enjoy.

The number one film at the box office is titanic, never seen it, never want to, just not interested, just my opinion, not one shared by the millions that made this a sucsess.

Rapidly heading to number 2 is mama mia, saw it, loved it, not everyone's cup of tea, but enjoyable to millions never the less.

There will never be a trek film that appeals to all trek fans, because we all appreciate different aspects of the franchise.

But for some of us who remember when there was only one show, when Kirk, Spock and McCoy where the biggest heroes around, this is the film we have been waiting for.

And for me, may cant come soon enough.

 

[c0rnedfr0g]

I agree with the OP. when i first saw the trailer, i was like "wow, this movie will be awesome" but at the same time felt something essentially Trek, perhaps the essence of Trek, was a bit lacking. Not missing entirely, but then again I would say some of the more recent incarnations of Trek, on any sized screen, have been a bit lacking. a franchise as huge as Trek is sure to be saturated with both good and back aspects, depending on each individual's pov. so, take it for what its worth; maybe you'll like it and find it captured what you believe to be trek perfectly, and maybe you wont. but surely some people will

 

[Capn Flukie]

Sam sober? What the hell???

 

[Lapis Exilis]

I wanted to see the film before the trailer came out, I want to see the film even more now, everyone I have shown the trailer too also wants to see the film.

At the end of the day, isn't that enough?

Not everyone will enjoy this film, but you cant make a film that everyone will enjoy.

Well, exactly. When you ask isn't that enough - no, it isn't for a lot of people because all anyone really cares about is whether or not they themselves like it. Since some will inevitably not like it (and among those will be people who are quite enthusiastic right now and those who are utterly skeptical), to them, it isn't nearly enough, because they want something they will like.

 

[Finnegan]

As far as the trailer not "feeling" like TOS, perhaps that is because it is just so new--not yet savoured and reflected upon after the initial knowing of the thing. How many of our "classic" favorite music albums started out that way? For me, they became that after repeated listenings and discovering what was attempting to be said. If JJ's version is of good quality, and respectful of the core elements of Trek, I think it will just grow on you and then become comfortable--like a well worn pair of bluejeans, or a favorite record/CD.....or TOS.

 

[Dale]

I actually quite relate to what OP is saying here. The impression I'm getting is that this will bear only a passing resemblance to what I've always known and loved as Star Trek. My interest is driven by curiosity more than anything else.

 

[Lord Lunacy]

I guess what I'm saying is that I was happily getting drunk on the infinite possibilities of this capturing the look and feel and magic of the original show, fueled (intentionally) by the comments of many of the creative types involved.

This was going to re-capture my childhood, make me young again, and enlarge the size of my penis.

Then, I saw the trailer and sobered up, realizing that this was just a movie.

Which is all it was ever going to be.

"Galloping around the cosmos is a game for the young Doctor. "

Admiral Kirk, James T.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

This movie belongs to the next generation...

 

[Finnegan]

"This movie belongs to the next generation..."

I thought TNG was over with?

 

[LaxScrutiny]

Stupid as this sounds, I'm going to go see it for no other reason than it says 'Star Trek' on the front.

Nobody is sneaking into my house, stealing my TOS and replacing them with something else. TOS is still there, unchanged.

This is a new movie, a new show. It's not supposed to be the same. If I want the same, I'll watch my old recordings.

If it has a phaser and it makes me think about something for 30 seconds, I'll be happy. If I'm not happy at the end, well I wasn' happy at the end of Nemesis either.

 

[Franklin]

Everyone here was obviously smitten enough by Trek in some form strongly enough to become a life-long fan.
For the older folk among us, TOS itself was the entry point. Day one. The 1960s. Metaphorically, it became my friend. A good friend. It grew with me, and in 1992 we parted ways. To continue the metaphor, I went on and made new friends (TNG and such).
Now the old flame is coming back. She wants to meet again. But she's obviously going to be different. Hell, I'm different. Will the old chemistry be there? Am I foolish for expecting it (I think that's the realization Cogley came to for himself)? After all, I've had plenty of friends since we parted. Some were even better. Some now are more suited to where I am in life at this moment. But nevertheless, she's back. I didn't ask for it. I thought it would never happen. But I will go see her. Just to find out if any spark is still there.
And after that two hour meeting, despite all the changes, I'll either feel at least some of what I felt before, and welcome an old friend into a new relationship, or I turn to the screen and say, "Let's do lunch sometime," and that will be the end of it.

 

[shipfisher]

But it doesn't really feel like my Star Trek.

Perfectly summed up methinks. I felt this too. I'm enthusiastic, I'm happy etc. but you're right - there is this feeling that "Wow, our 'age of Trek' is over." but at the same time "Something new is beginning." I've had this feeling before with other franchises, but Trek was one of the last to be untouched until now so the emotional impact has a much bigger "wow" factor.

Your post backing up the sentiments of the initial post is as far as I need to go in this thread. The trailer took me basically to the same place as you two.

I'll certainly watch and almost certainly enjoy this film, but perhaps as a sort of convert to the general audience JJ is obviously (and wisely) going for.

A fond fairwell to Trek as we knew it and a warm welcome to what's coming. Welcoming the future is part of the Star Trek ethos anyway.

 

[Nardpuncher]

Yeah, I'll never read a book I haven't read before.

I only eat at restaurants I've been to before.

I don't listen to new music.

I never go anywhere I haven't already been to.

New actors? New story? New art design? Nah, I'll just stay home and watch my old dvds.

Again, dude, just because someone thinks a movie spaceship looks funny or that the bridge is too white or whatever doesn't always mean they are some sort of rigid dogmatist unable to ever try anything new in life in general.
Go off the internet right now and go tell someone that you're more 'open-minded' than Samuel T. Cogley, then when they ask who he is and why you think so...see what they say.

 

[3D Master]

To me it's different.

The teaser and the first little tidbits made me look upon her like a girl in a bar - while being totally drunk.

And now, every tidbit I learn more about it, including pictures and said trailer has me seeing more warts, crooked noses, and stuff. As if something jolted me out of the drunkenness and I've since been taking black coffee as I need to be as sober as I can get. And whenever I turn my head at the girl, fat rolls emerge, yellowed, food-stuck, twisted teeth, and more such stuff.

It quickly gets to the point where I want to run away screaming and thank god for whatever jolted me out of my drunken stupor.

 

[shapeshifter]

 

[Captain Robert April]

TOS' ratings, when analyzed by current criteria, would've had Star Trek declared the Number One show on NBC back in '69, and were actually higher than TNG, at least initially (eventually, TNG's numbers did get a bit higher). At least until the first run syndication got more crowded with Hercules, Xena, and Babylon 5.

Also of note is that "Turnabout Intruder" garnerd a 8.8 rating, its lowest point, which was somewhat higher than Enterprise's premiere.

 

[AlanC9]

I watched "Encounter at Farpoint" and got so angry about continuity errors that I didn't watch for most of two seasons.

What continuity errors?

 

[DeafPoet]

Also of note is that "Turnabout Intruder" garnerd a 8.8 rating, its lowest point, which was somewhat higher than Enterprise's premiere.

And if everyone only got three channels in 2001, that would be germane to the discussion.

 

[Michael]

I watched "Encounter at Farpoint" and got so angry about continuity errors that I didn't watch for most of two seasons.

What continuity errors?

Yeah, that's something I'd like to know, too. Maybe the fact that they switched red and gold for the uniforms.

 

[Richard Baker]

It was a well engineered Trailer with a lot of visual impact. Rapid cuts, flashy imagery and a dramatic soundtrack. It looks like a great film to see in the theater.
There is going to be a lot I willnot like about this film- I am more hardware than character orientated in SciFi. It does seem a bit odd to have a film based on a classic series then try to change everything you can which involves the original series. Find cast members who can look like the original actors and have them act completely different. I know they are supposed to be young and early in the career, but in the Star Wars prequels Obi-Wan acted like Sir Alec Guiness being young.
There is a lot of time between now and when this movie opens next year. We will be shown a lot of pieces of the films, more ship shots, more trailers. From what I have seen it will be a hell of a movie. I just don't know if it will be Star Trek other than in name...

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