In Gene Roddenberry's own words...

[Mikey]

Now I know how the Jews felt when Christianity broke away

Oy vey

[Hector]

[huedell]

I'm just observing there's a new trend these days,

You can include Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, James Bond and Batman into this mix.

There's a new sort of SUPER-FAN emerging.
These SUPER-FANS seem much more angry than their distant past cousins.

Many fans of these movies/shows have no tolerance for anything or anyone that doesn't think their new incarnations are the bees knees.

It's not that the fans of the new movie in question are "angry" that people
would say that the new movie sucks or that it isn't the "bees-knees"
that you're seeing occur online and elsewhere----

---what you're seeing is merely the "new movie" fans
frustration towards the narrow-minded old-schoolers that have damned
the new movie without even giving it a chance.

This frustration of the new movie fans isn't a "SUPER-FAN" mentality but
merely plain observers (casual, hardcore and otherwise inbetween) who
don't get why the hardcore immovable old-schoolers are cutting off
their nose to spite their face.

And, sadly, THAT truth is "interesting" enough to start bickering on boards
like this.

You could offer that one might just be happy the franchise (in this case
the STAR TREK franchise) is getting a new lease on life....or at the very
least, that one might not insult the new movie without even seeing it---

but apparently that simple logic is asking too much of the hardcore old school fans who are a more ardent and defined group---certainly a group
more fitting to be called "SUPER-FANS" than the group of random fans
simply scratching their heads at the hardcore old-schoolers antics.

[darklord1967]

When it comes to The Batman mythos, I am as "old school" as it gets.

With each big-budget Batman film that was produced since the '89 Keaton film, I knew beforehand that there would be major liberties taken with the character.

It didn't stop me from at least giving the films a chance.

It seems Trek "old Schoolers" don't wish to "...boldly go where no..." pervious Trek film "... has gone before..."

So sad since that IS the cornerstone of Trek philosophy.

[mego73]

I can understand the sentiments of T1K and Hardygirl in an overall fashion. I often bristle at the remake that promises to be "Bigger, better and bolder" then the original. That's pretty presumptuous, if the original is a classic. Worse than the "3B" promises is the "making it relevant to today" promise. You know, changing the emphasis on The Day The Earth Stood Still from "cold war" to "Global Warming" for instance.

I don't take to remakes and re imaginings very kindly(kind of natural since I really prefer lots of shows and movies that are decades old to the ones now). But if the buzz is good and the love for the original material is enough, I give it a shot.

And that's what I did for Star Trek.

Now, what did I want out of this Star Trek movie?

Well, I wanted to enjoy it, and I did. I wanted to feel like Star Trek (as indefinable as that may be) and it did.

I also wanted a platform to have new Kirk and Spock Trek in the future. I wanted Kirk and Spock Trek, much like James Bond or Dr. Who to have a future beyond the original actors and actresses.

"There will never be a better James Bond than Sean Connery", most Bond fans say. But they still find lots to like about most of the succeeding Bonds.

So, it can be for this new crew of the Enterprise.

Finally, what I want out of this Trek movie, is a gateway for the kids of today to Star Trek. Yes, we can show them the old show (even with the updated effects) and they can fall in love with it like we did. But a modern Kirk and Spock Trek, that is of their moment is the best way to connect them to all things Trek. Besides that, since classic Trek is not shown that much on TV anymore, it takes parents who are fans to initiate them to Star Trek. This movie can reach kids of parents who are not Trek inclined and bring them into the fold.

If this movie can create a whole bunch of new young Trek fans, then it has really done it's job. I think the movie I saw can do that.

I love this movie, even though my most cherished Treks is the original and animated series. But I see this movie as the beginning of some young fans most cherished Trek that induces them to search out all the other fine Trek that is out there.

[Hector]

You make an excellent point, Mego73...by kids embracing this new flick first...they will become new Trekkies...they will carry on the tradition...and by embracing the new...they will certainly start paying attention to classic Trek...it's a win-win situation...we all win.

[shellhead]

Mego73 hit it right on the head. I took my whole family to see it at the IMAX showing, and everyone loved it ! My wife and I are huge fans of the original series, and my kids have watched it on DVD so they knew who every one was supposed to be, and we all thought it was incredible !
Like Mike, I too am a bit of a hardcore original series fan, altho that includes the animated series as the forth and fifth seasons. I honestly think the new film is closer to the feel of the original series then anything that has been made thus far.
After viewing the new movie, all the kids wanted to watch the original series, and my four youngest kids broke out their MC trek figures to watch with them.
So if you ask my family if this is real Star Trek, you'll get a resounding HECK YEAH !!

[Sideshow Spock]

^Speaking of shellhead, the movie reminded me a lot of Iron Man. It had a good story, good action, and a lot of humor and characterization; all of which made Iron Man stand out last year. The whole enchilada. You can't really ask for more from a popcorn flick, especially one that has so much to live up to.

If I had to say one negative thing about it, it's that the first 40 mins or so dragged a bit for me. Nothing serious, but I did get a bit restless..

[Timothy2251]

The Mrs. and I caught the new Trek earlier today (hey, it's my birthday, I wanted to see it, etc.), and as a life-long lover of all things Trek, I was very pleasantly surprised by what I saw. I can't wait to see where they go with the franchise now, and it's been a very long time since I felt this way.

Now, on a lighter note, I've noticed there's no roving band of Paramount employees that are breaking into Trekkie's homes to take back all the DVDs and videos of all the previous Star Trek series. My Trek novels are still safe. My Trek Encyclopedia, magazines, hey even my EMCE repros aren't going anywhere. So, since all that stuff will always be available, not only for us, but for generations to follow, I think it's OK for them to update/reboot things and play with the concept a bit.

Oh, and we better see some Klingons in the sequel. Maybe a Gorn or two as well. And more starships!!!

[huedell]

Timothy's post that mentions the new EMCE figures made a point apparent
to me that I didn't think of before...which is the HUGE parallels
between "new mego" collectors (EMCE, etc.) and the "old school/vintage only"
Mego collectors

--all the positive reasoning of those supportive of the new figures
and the negative reasoning of those thinking that "new" equals "invalid"
rings quite simillar to the "movie going" old vs. new stances.

I've never come to a conclusion why anyone needs to rain on the parade
of a new generation of toys that provide a huge amount of joy for the people
that support them MERELY "on principle" of the toy being a new version---

...and I'm pretty sure I won't ever understand the "movie" equivalent of that.

[mego73]

You make an excellent point, Mego73...by kids embracing this new flick first...they will become new Trekkies...they will carry on the tradition...and by embracing the new...they will certainly start paying attention to classic Trek...it's a win-win situation...we all win.

Exactly. Say what you will about the Star Wars prequals. The fact is, they did thier job, they brought in new blood and extended the fan base. Some of the old fan base may have been turned off by them but Lucas has said he made the movies for the kids of today instead of the fans of yesterday. Frankly, I think it is possible to please both crowds at the same time and in his own way, Lucas was trying to do that. But it is a difficult thing to pull off and it clear he was aiming for the young fans and the older established fans were secondary.

With Star Trek, I think a more balanced effort was made. A tightwire act of bringing new fans in and pleasing old fans. It's not an easy thing to do and no matter what some people in both camps will be disapointed (and some won't even afford it an opportunity. I'm not only talking about Trek purists but non Trek fans who will always associate Star Trek with Geeksville). But I am amazed this film is as successful as it is in hitting all the bases that long time Trek fans look for and pulling off the attraction it seems to have (for the moment) outside the Trek fanbase.

I think the secret lies in that JJ Abrams was not a fan, but the people that wrote the script were big fans. It brings sort of a counter balance to the development of the movie.

[Hector]

Amen brother, amen.

[Werewolf]

My feelings: And forgive me, this migraine is making me a weensy bit cranky.

Stop trying to create this division that doesn't exist. The old school trekkies not accepting it nonsense. The vast majority of really hard core old school Trek nerds have been gushing over the movie. So, seriously, enough with that crap.

And stop bagging on the handful of people that don't like it. Whatever their reasons are for not liking the movie is their business and there's nothing wrong with that. So, get the hell off their freaking backs.

[Hector]

Cry me a river.

I'll state my opinion...don't like it...move one.

[Hector]

Besides...I have not forgotten your smartass comments to me some time ago.