Why isn't Star Trek a big movie franchise?

[johnjm22]

Most big movie franchises these days are franchises that appeal to kids. Star Trek doesn't really appeal that much to kids.

The current iteration of Trek is also too silly to appeal the Gravity/Interstellar/Martian more adult crowd that wants to see new fresh science fiction.

Star Trek is stuck in between.

 

[The Wormhole]

If my memory serves me right, the first season or two of the BSG reboot had silent space battles except for the 'in cockpit' shots.

Your memory does not serve you right, BSG always had sound in space. Ron Moore explained that soundless space scenes was something that was considered, but when they showed the 2003 miniseries to test audiences, everyone complained that the lack of sound in space was distracting, so they added sound to them, but as mentioned above, it was muffled.

Movies have changed and most major tent pole franchise movies no longer tell single stories most are a multi-movie story arc and that is something ST09 should have picked up on.

No, plenty of movies are still stand-alones, even the ones that are part of ongoing series. Although the MCU has a highly developed continuity interconnecting everything, each movie essentially tells its own story. Ditto the DCEU. And Star Wars is about to launch the Anthology Series, a new movie series which will consist exclusively of stand-alone movies.

 

[Smellmet]

Most big movie franchises these days are franchises that appeal to kids. Star Trek doesn't really appeal that much to kids.

The current iteration of Trek is also too silly to appeal the Gravity/Interstellar/Martian more adult crowd that wants to see new fresh science fiction.

Star Trek is stuck in between.

I think you have a good point there, though I would argue that it appears to be mainly adults that are watching Trek on the big screen these days, probably a similar Gravity/Interstellar/Martian crowd that you describe. Maybe they ought to go after this group some more?

 

[Captain of the USS Averof]

I wish we had a new Star Trek movie that was more hard sci-fi like the current Gravity /Interstellar /Martian line of films.

 

[Khan 2.0]

Maybe its time to go 'all TMP' on the next one

 

[Smellmet]

Maybe its time to go 'all TMP' on the next one

That would be one of my Star Trek wet dreams.

 

[johnjm22]

I would argue that it appears to be mainly adults that are watching Trek on the big screen these days, probably a similar Gravity/Interstellar/Martian crowd that you describe. Maybe they ought to go after this group some more?

That's what I'm saying though; it's mostly adults that are already somewhat familiar with Trek. Gravity/Interstellar/Martian grabs general audience adults that Trek doesn't, and Trek simultaneously fails to grab the kids that are going to see Marvel/DC/Pixar movies.

It's stuck in between. It doesn't attract a big enough portion of kids, and it doesn't attract a big enough portion of people that want to see mature science fiction.

 

[Relayer1]

They've been sailing close to superhero territory (especially some of Beyond's set pieces)

Yeah, and it's an issue. That's not part of the Trek environment and it kills the suspension of disbelief.

 

[Tenacity]

I wish we had a new Star Trek movie that was more hard sci-fi like the current Gravity /Interstellar /Martian line of films.

Thing there is while Star Trek has usually had "science trapping" it isn't a science show, it's about people, and interactions, and how events effect them.

The tag line of TMP was the Human adventure is just beginning, not the hard science adventure is just beginning.

 

[Smellmet]

That's what I'm saying though; it's mostly adults that are already somewhat familiar with Trek. Gravity/Interstellar/Martian grabs general audience adults that Trek doesn't, and Trek simultaneously fails to grab the kids that are going to see Marvel/DC/Pixar movies.

It's stuck in between. It doesn't attract a big enough portion of kids, and it doesn't attract a big enough portion of people that want to see mature science fiction.

I'm agreeing with you, my point is maybe they should be going for the more mature general audience, as if they went the other way if would be just too dumbed down - as much as I loved STB, I think that pushed things as far that way as I'm willing to tolerate.

 

[urbandefault]

I'm agreeing with you, my point is maybe they should be going for the more mature general audience, as if they went the other way if would be just too dumbed down - as much as I loved STB, I think that pushed things as far that way as I'm willing to tolerate.

Hmm. I just watched Beyond again yesterday, and I still think it's the best of the three.

 

[Khan 2.0]

That would be one of my Star Trek wet dreams.

lovely but yes after so long giving us a khan like villain (literally every movie for the past...what..8 films?) maybe its worth a punt on an eerie TMP/2001/Sunshine/Interstellar type space mystery thriller

 

[Smellmet]

Hmm. I just watched Beyond again yesterday, and I still think it's the best of the three.

I loved Beyond, I'm not knocking it. It's a massively entertaining film, possibly the best of the three in my ratings too (I've only seen it twice), but you can clearly see it's pitched at the Marvel crowd, but they saw fit to sprinkle enough Trek in there to satisfy long time fans like myself also. I wouldn't want to see the action/stunts/humour dialled up more than what I saw here though.

 

[Smellmet]

lovely but yes after so long giving us a khan like villain (literally every movie for the past...what..8 films?) maybe its worth a punt on an eerie TMP/2001/Sunshine/Interstellar type space mystery thriller

Bring it on I say.

 

[johnjm22]

I'm agreeing with you, my point is maybe they should be going for the more mature general audience, as if they went the other way if would be just too dumbed down - as much as I loved STB, I think that pushed things as far that way as I'm willing to tolerate.

Okay, I understand, and I agree.

I want ST to be more mature as well. I want a good character drama in the context of a more realistic science fiction setting.

Going the more mature route, is the only thing they have left to try IMO. They've already tried making it for the FF/Marvel crowd.

I'm keeping a close eye on this movie Arrival. It's a Paramount film. Clearly, the studio didn't expect much of it, but so far it appears to be passing expectations, even though it had a fairly limited release. It's not going to be an international mega hit, but maybe Paramount will learn something from this; that general audiences do like more mature science fiction films as well. Not everything has to be a silly comic book movie. (Edit: I haven't seen Arrival yet, but I'm assuming it appeals to more mature audiences).

 

[Smellmet]

Okay, I understand, and I agree.

I want ST to be more mature as well. I want a good character drama in the context of a more realistic science fiction setting.

Going the more mature route, is the only thing they have left to try IMO. They've already tried making it for the FF/Marvel crowd..

Me too. They've done the overblown blockbuster thing now. Time for a change.

 

[fireproof78]

I loved Beyond, I'm not knocking it. It's a massively entertaining film, possibly the best of the three in my ratings too (I've only seen it twice), but you can clearly see it's pitched at the Marvel crowd, but they saw fit to sprinkle enough Trek in there to satisfy long time fans like myself also. I wouldn't want to see the action/stunts/humour dialled up more than what I saw here though.

I don't see that at all. As much as I like Marvel, there are very few moments that grab me in those films the way the character moments in these films have.
It might not have the same seriousness as some of the predecessors but that's ok. I find it changed enough that it can engage multiple people than just myself, who grew up with Star Trek.

 

[Captain of the USS Averof]

Thing there is while Star Trek has usually had "science trapping" it isn't a science show, it's about people, and interactions, and how events effect them.

The tag line of TMP was the Human adventure is just beginning, not the hard science adventure is just beginning.

Oh, I completely agree with you that Star Trek is more about the human condition and less about hard science fiction.

It's just that lately the motto of movie Trek is: "These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission, to explode strange new worlds..."

 

[fireproof78]

Keeping up with the times, man.

 

[Khan 2.0]

It's just that lately the motto of movie Trek is: "These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission, to explode strange new worlds..."

To seek out and destroy new civilisations... to boldly go where no bozo has gone before