The new Star Trek movie is...

[Ed_Laprade]

I liked it. Didn't think it was the greatest thing since sliced bread, but entertaining and definitely Trek. What worries me is that they do have a font of knowledge, not just for history (some of which might not be affected by these events, being too far away), but science and engineering as well. So there should be plenty of changes coming up fast in the new timeline. But I'm willing to bet that they don't.

 

[Richards]

True, Ed, but failing to take into account the ramifications of such technological advances is part and parcel of the Star Trek universe that goes all the way back to the original series' episodes...otherwise the Enterprise would have stocked up on that drink-it-and-you-move-really-fast water and be able to make near-instantaneous repairs during every battle, and all landing parties would get a dose of that super-strength telekinesis serum that Bones devised in "Plato's Stepchildren."

Likewise, I'm fairly certain that the fact that this current Enterprise and crew have the ability to

Spoiler

transport people and items onto a ship traveling at warp speed from astronomical distances away

will not translate into the Federation

Spoiler

transporting hydrogen bombs with short-fuse timers into enemy Klingon vessels during times of war from several solar systems away

any time soon.

Johnathan

 

[Ed_Laprade]

True, Ed, but failing to take into account the ramifications of such technological advances is part and parcel of the Star Trek universe that goes all the way back to the original series' episodes...otherwise the Enterprise would have stocked up on that drink-it-and-you-move-really-fast water and be able to make near-instantaneous repairs during every battle, and all landing parties would get a dose of that super-strength telekinesis serum that Bones devised in "Plato's Stepchildren."

Likewise, I'm fairly certain that the fact that this current Enterprise and crew have the ability to

Spoiler

transport people and items onto a ship traveling at warp speed from astronomical distances away

will not translate into the Federation

Spoiler

transporting hydrogen bombs with short-fuse timers into enemy Klingon vessels during times of war from several solar systems away

any time soon.

Johnathan

All so true. (And let's not forget the Andromedans fix of the ship that would have allowed extra-galactic travel.) Which is why I often wonder why so many fans howl about 'continuity'. They never had any!

 

[Umbran]

This is starting to look like an FBI report on alien life.

Yes, but that's just because

Spoiler

Redacted for security reasons

I am going to fork this into a spoiler-filled spectacular for discussions of the plot and such, okay, folks?

 

[horacethegrey]

Wow. I thoroughly enjoyed that.

This new Trek has some real energy to it. Something the franchise has been lacking since The Voyage Home. In fact, without the familiar characters, starships, and all the familiar locales, I'd say this was a different scifi franchise altogether.

But while the direction and pacing may not feel like classic Star Trek, it's still Trek through and through, primarily because of the familiar faces and actors who brilliantly portray them. Everyone in the cast was great, but special kudos ought to be given to Zachary Quinto for his dead on portrayal of Spock. Honestly, it was like seeing Leonard Nimoy in the role again (and he was in the freaking film too damnit! ). Quinto played the part true to the character without it feeling like an impression. And additional shout outs must be given to Chris Pine (for his young and cocky Kirk), and Karl Urban (for his hilarious portrayal of McCoy, though I'm a bit peeved he didn't get much screentime, I want more Bones damnit!).

I don't give a damn if this is an [sblock]alternate reality[/sblock]. I'm not gonna bitch like some hardcore Trekkies over such a minor quibble. JJ Abrams has made me a believer again. Let's hope the new 5 year mission of the Enterprise will deliver more fine films like this.

 

[Pbartender]

The original Star Wars film made the equivalent of 1 billion dollars (adjusted for inflation) in just its initial run in 1977. As good of a film as this might be there is no way it will come even close to those numbers. That kind of cultural acceptance is what made Star Wars what it is today.

I was curious about this assertion, so I looked it up...

Star Wars: A New Hope made the equivalent of 1.1 billion dollars in the U.S. (adjusted for inflation) over its entire lifetime as a movie (32 years). It's first weekend was more along the lines of 70 million, adjusted for inflation.

Star Trek made 76 million during its opening weekend, so its in the same league... And its twice as much as any other Trek movie (First Contact made about 30 million in its opening weekend).

 

[Umbran]

Star Wars: A New Hope made the equivalent of 1.1 billion dollars in the U.S. (adjusted for inflation) over its entire lifetime as a movie (32 years). It's first weekend was more along the lines of 70 million, adjusted for inflation.

Star Trek made 76 million during its opening weekend, so its in the same league... And its twice as much as any other Trek movie (First Contact made about 30 million in its opening weekend).

Careful about that comparison. Back in 1977, the release and viewing pattern was notably different. "Opening weekend" was not usually such a big deal, and a decent movie usually remained in theaters for far longer. So, while the $ amounts might seem in the same ballpark, in a relative sense it may be that Star Wars had a *huge* opening weekend, while the new Trek is merely good.

 

[Pbartender]

Careful about that comparison.

I wasn't the one who started the comparison.

But you're right, and so a better comparison...

Other, more recent movies, that have made betwee 70 and 80 million on their opening weekends:

Star Wars Ep. II: Attack of the Clones $80,027,814
I am Legend $77,211,321
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix $77,108,414
The Da Vinci Code $77,073,388
The Simpsons Movie $74,036,787
Austin Powers in Goldmember $73,071,188
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King $72,629,713
Star Trek $72,500,000
The Lost World: Jurassic Park $72,132,785
Fast & Furious $70,950,500
300 $70,885,301
The Transformers $70,502,384
The Incredibles $70,467,623
Finding Nemo $70,251,710

(And I know the number for Star Trek is lower than what I previously reported... It depends on whether or not you include Thursday evening's ticket sales or not.)

 

[Brown Jenkin]

Careful about that comparison. Back in 1977, the release and viewing pattern was notably different. "Opening weekend" was not usually such a big deal, and a decent movie usually remained in theaters for far longer. So, while the $ amounts might seem in the same ballpark, in a relative sense it may be that Star Wars had a *huge* opening weekend, while the new Trek is merely good.

As an example of this difference Star Wars spent 22 weeks (non-consecutive) as the number 1 movie in 1977-1978.

I am not sure if Star Trek will remain number 1 next week against Angels & Demons, and it am fairly confident that it will fall by the following week when Terminator: Salvation opens the following week. By mid-summer I expect that most people will have forgotten the the new Trek for the most part.

 

[Mallus]

I am not sure if Star Trek will remain number 1 next week against Angels & Demons, and it am fairly confident that it will fall by the following week when Terminator: Salvation opens the following week.

Almost certainly. The real question is how big the drop-offs will be, and how long it lasts at the theaters. All signs currently point to "a long time by today's standards".

By mid-summer I expect that most people will have forgotten the the new Trek for the most part.

Well, I'll probably have stopped raving about it by then . But seriously, it's going to be one of 2009's biggest films, and it's already a big story for having exceeded expectations, both critically and financially, and guaranteed the continuation of the franchise on the silver screen.