ALL SCI-FI

bulldogtrekker

Does Star Trek need its old fans?
Den of Geek

As Paramount hunts for a director to replace Roberto Orci on the next Star Trek movie, is it time to win back more core fans?

The departure of Roberto Orci as director of the as-yet-untitled third film in JJ Abram's rebooted Star Trek continuity has cast a little doubt on the future of a franchise that has already spent a lot of time on unsure footing. Although Star Trek's new cast is undeniably packed with talent and the look of the films has been both technically and aesthetically stunning, the stories have arguably failed to capture the same newly-invigorated feeling. Both movies have been watchable blockbusters by current standards, but for all their budget and star power, neither has arguably been close to reaching the iconic heights of Star Trek at its best.

Admittedly, that may be a biased assessment. If you grew up with the original series, or Star Trek: The Next Generation, or even latter spin-offs like Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise, then of course Abrams' take on the franchise -- one that explicitly sweeps aside old continuity - faces an uphill struggle. One might argue that it's not just acceptable to alienate the existing audience when attempting to court a larger one, it's actively necessary.

Despite its attempts to link the old continuity with the new one, Abrams' Trek was never primarily aimed at the franchise's hardcore fans, but at general audiences who needed only the baseline levels of cultural familiarity with Star Trek to enjoy it. Rather than being aimed at existing viewers, it was aimed at those who wanted to see a big name director doing a big name sci-fi blockbuster. ......

LINK:
http://www.denofgeek.us/movies/star-trek/242126/does-star-trek-need-its-old-fans

Pow · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:35 pm Post subject:

Good question. I'm a fan of the original ST series since I was a teen when it first debuted.

Followed ST:TNG,ST:DSN,ST:V,ST:E too.

Cannot warm up to this new movie version at all. Friend of mine, same age & a fellow fan, enjoys it. Go figure?

Bud Brewster · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:35 pm Post subject:

_____________________________________

Pow: Thanks for crystallizing an important question. I've been frustrated for years by the fact that the fun of TOS just never made it to most of the movies and the other series -- with the exception of the 2nd and 3rd TNG movies and many of the episodes of Voyager.

I know some folks will want to beam me out into space for thinking that -- but that's just how I feel.

The new movies are rousing adventures, and they work up a good sweat trying to give us all the beloved Trek trappings, but somehow the Prime Directive just isn't there:

. . . to boldly go where no man has gone before, to find out lots of cool stuff, and to only interfere with the alien cultures when the audience is just itchin' for you too!.
_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

orzel-w · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1865

The hardest audiences to please are (1) those who had read the original book before seeing the movie; (2) those who were first exposed to the original TV or movie version during the time their hormones were at or near their peak and are now old farts.
_________________
...or not...

WayneO
-----------

Bud Brewster · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 12:03 pm Post subject:

________________________________

Much as I hate to admit it, Wayne the Wise has stated the problem quite succinctly . . . Sad

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Pow · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 10:54 pm Post subject:

I'll always be a big old fan of Star Trek and its various iterations with the exception of the Abrams monstrosity.

Should movie studios decide to go in search of a fresh & younger audience and compromise the franchise horribly, I'll walk away from their productions. I'll remain a devotee to the ST productions I've enjoyed, and hope and pray that one day some savvy writers & producers will do ST the justice it deserves.

Gord Green · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 11:34 pm Post subject:

You can't go home again!

Yeah, Wayne called it right on. I can watch the new versions....and maybe even enjoy them somewhat...Mainly because I guess I'm forcing myself to.

I think I prefer the old originals for the same reason I love the old sitcoms, DICK VAN DYKE, HONEYMOONERS ETC. They take me back when "Sense of Wonder" was a sparkle in my eyes and a doorway to my imagination.
_________________
There comes a time, thief, when gold loses its lustre, and the gems cease to sparkle, and the throne room becomes a prison; and all that is left is a father's love for his child.