Will good reviews and media hype taint your opinions of Star Trek ?

[Mikey]

Just wondering if good reviews and all the hype for the new Star Trek movie subconsciously will make you enjoy it --- even if you might not.

The reason i'm asking,
This kind of happened to me a few times in the past.

When I seen Superman Returns I thought it was an excellent movie -- because everybody seemed to like it -- so did I.
It wasn't until I watched it again, I started to see a lot of bad stuff that went by me the first time.

I'm not saying the new movie will be bad or good.
I'm just using it as a current example.

Does the media subconsciously tell you what to like and not like ?

If it sucks, will you admit it right off the bat ?
Or will you need the media to tell you it's ok not to like it.

[trekman101]

If I like a movie...I like a movie...good or bad,whether it gets good or bad hype.If the movie keeps the general public entertained...it will do fine.I do believe all the hype will make true trek fans look at this movie real hard....make them think if they really like it or are just seeing it through rose colored glasses.

[Sideshow Spock]

T1K, in the Onion/Trek movie thread that Hulk started, you said, "If it is a hit movie, then I know I wont like it."

If it's a hit movie, you won't like it. If others like it, is it just becuz of the hype. Or the media. If they don't like it, will they even admit it.

I don't think most people are subject to these convoluted scenarios. I'm going to like or dislike the movie based on what I see on the screen for two hours; not what the box office does, or what a reviewer or cover of a magazine says.

To do otherwise just doesn't make any sense to me.

[Mikey]

Then why was the first Hulk movie so popular in the media and even on Mego Museum ... then a few weeks later everyone started saying how much they didn't like it ?

[MIB41]

If a film is getting good buzz, I typically look for the rationale behind it. If the popular reasoning fits with what I would like about that film (or genre'), then I might be encouraged to go see it. But once the house lights go black and the film rolls, it's just me and that movie. When I get up to leave the theater, the hype that surrounded that film will either make me feel suckered or justified in buying the ticket. But it does nothing to impact whether I liked or disliked the movie. A perfect example would be as recent as Wolverine. The movie's subject matter interested me, but the early buzz was negative. Since I was interested, I ignored the buzz and went anyway. After I saw the film I was more than a little perplexed by that negativity. In my book it was a well made film. But don't get me wrong. I can be interested in a subject and come out hating it with the popular consensus, but it's for my reasons, not the majority vote. With Star Trek the early buzz (and the reasons behind it) have me interested. Since I am not a big 'Trekkie' I would initially have no interest in this film. But I like what people are saying about it, so I am encouraged and will go see it. But it doesn't mean I'll come out liking it. I might love it. I might hate it. I have no idea until I get in there, but the marketing department has done their job. I want to buy a ticket.

[Sideshow Spock]

Then why was the first Hulk movie so popular in the media and even on Mego Museum ... then a few weeks later everyone started saying how much they didn't like it ?

Hulk Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes

Seems to me the media was pretty split on 2003 Hulk. I would say the consensus was the film was neither particularly good or bad, but somewhere in between. I know that's exactly how I feel about it, and I'm sure many people here would agree. I feel the same way about 2008 Hulk. And 2006 Supes.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Actually, I don't think Ang Lee's Hulk ever had good buzz once it was released. And Superman Returns buzz was mixed. To me, Hulk is just a bad movie, period. Total misfire. It's unenjoyable for the most part. Superman Returns is a good movie, but a franchise killer. No one wants to see the next movie like this, it was not the movie they should have made to restart the franchise. I disliked Hulk from the beginning. I've only watched it all the way through once. Superman Returns, I liked but had mixed feelings about some of the directions they went in. I still do. I can appreciate what they got right, and even what I consider wrong because it was well-made coherent movie.

Fans and critics loved Iron Man and Dark Knight, and I agreed. Many fans and pretty much all critics disliked Wolverine (some fans before even seeing it), and I disagreed. I base it on my own experience. I sometimes like movies more or less upon a second viewing, but my overall opinion usually doesn't change much, and it isn't swayed by what others think.

Star Trek LOOKS good to me. I want to see it. I'm going to have a hard time accepting new actors in these roles, but it looks good enough for me to give it a shot.

Chris

[Adam West]

I don't think it will affect me one way or the other.

I am there purely for enjoyment and generally enjoy movies if my kids enjoy them. It is going to be the die hard Trek fans that will criticize every aspect of the movie (continuity issues, a beacon light misplaced on the Enterprise, and other nitpicky stuff)...basically the same stuff that happened when Spider-Man was released. I am a die hard comic reader and did see all of the differences between the comic and movie but still loved it anyway.

[Mikey]

I used Hulk as an example off the top of my head, but thinking about it I should have used Planet of the Apes (the new movie)

When it was released they had a media frenzie... toys, great reviews, a new modern take on an old movie, etc

Most people were "into" the movie before they'd even seen it.
It even had Charleston as a guest star...
Sound familiar ?

In the end,
The old fans didn't care for it, and the new people liked it for about 5 minutes.

Today, POTA the new movie is unloved by everyone.

[Werewolf]

I think hype can certainly influence the general movie going public. (Just look at the success of that crappy Blair Witch movie.) But I think the hard core Trek fans will be more objective, or you could even say harsh, than the general movie going public and the media.

The hard core Trek fans can be a strange lot. They went to see STTMP dozens of time at the theater just to discuss in detail exactly what they didn't like about it. Personally, I actually liked STTMP when I saw it as a kid and still do. I feel it's under appreciated. But that's really a nerdy discussion for another time.

[Captain]

In the case of Trek films....and this one more so than others...I usually go in with a very discerning eye, despite any media or fan fueled frenzy. Actually, thats not entirely true. The classic series crew's films I went into as a wide eyed fan boy. I even liked 5 when I first saw it, and didnt pick it apart until after the video came out...even then I find points I like. I was never a big TNG fan, so there films I would scrutinize. If they werent up to snuff, I never made any allowances for them (as I have with 5). If it stinks (like the last two) then it stinks!
This new film will be watched very carefully by me. I know they have set it outside the regular trek Universe we all know and love, so that gives it some leeway, but at the end of the day, it still has to fit into certain parameters of the Star Trek mold. If it doesnt, I wont make excuses for it, and will chastice it as I would any other film I dont care for.
If it does fit into the mold, then I will accept it as Trek.

[HardyGirl]

Actually, all the hype is confirming my opinion. After all is said and done, I think this one will fall flat on its face like the new POTA movie did. Try as they might, no one is going to recapture the magic, innovation, the wonderment that is original Trek. I still think a different incarnation of Trek could have been used. If they wanted that "young" vibe, they could have gone w/ an Academy thing; maybe the relative of an original crew member of TNG, DS9 or Voyager to tie it together. And I'm still ticked off that no one made cool premiums for the other movies other than cups and glasses.

[jessica]

Actually, all the hype is confirming my opinion. After all is said and done, I think this one will fall flat on its face like the new POTA movie did. Try as they might, no one is going to recapture the magic, innovation, the wonderment that is original Trek. I still think a different incarnation of Trek could have been used. If they wanted that "young" vibe, they could have gone w/ an Academy thing; maybe the relative of an original crew member of TNG, DS9 or Voyager to tie it together. And I'm still ticked off that no one made cool premiums for the other movies other than cups and glasses.

A different incarnation would have been nice and thoughtful, something you don't see nowadays. I really hate remakes (except for a few that surprised me). I don't know what to expect, just hope it will provide some good entertainment for a few hours.

[Sideshow Spock]

I used Hulk as an example off the top of my head, but thinking about it I should have used Planet of the Apes (the new movie)

When it was released they had a media frenzie... toys, great reviews, a new modern take on an old movie, etc

It didn't get great reviews. In fact, the bad reviews outweighed the good:

Planet of the Apes Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes

Sure, there are similarities in the blockbuster hype and re-booting a franchise (altho Trek and POTA are apples and oranges), but I don't really get the relevance. Whether or not the new Trek film stands up for people down the road, only time will tell...

[Sideshow Spock]

You folks are missing the genuine enthusiam and delight many of the reviewers have in their reviews:

No spoilers:

Star Trek Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes

For any summer blockbuster, let alone a Star Trek pic, these kinds of positive reviews are a very rare breed.