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MONDAY AM: Paramount is reporting that Sunday's grosses were down only 23%, or $21.2M, so that Star Trek ended the weekend with $79.3M.
SUNDAY AM: Official Paramount figures for Star Trek's North American grosses: Thursday Pre-Midnight $4M, Friday $26.8M, Saturday $27.4M, Sunday estimate $18.3M. (...The studio took $3M of Paramount's $7M previously attributed to Thursday's 7 PM-Midnight screenings and moved it to Friday's take because the grosses were for 12:01 AM shows.)
Friday-Sunday $72.5M. Total Opening $76.5M. Star Trek passed Fast & Furious as the 2nd biggest opening of 2009 behind only X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Cinemascore was an A. Exit polls show that the audience was 60%/40% male-female, with 65%/35% over/under age 25.
Weekend Top 10
1. Star Trek (Paramount) OPENER [3,849 Theaters] Wkd $72.5M, Cume $76.5M
2. Wolverine (20th Century Fox) Week 2 [4,102] Wkd $27M (-68%), Cume $129.6M
3. Ghosts Girlfriends Past (WB) Week 2 [3,175] Wkd $10.4M (-32%), Cume $30.2M
4. Obsessed (Universal) Week 3 [2,602] Wkd $6.6M, Cume $56.2M
5. 17 Again (NL/Warner Bros) Week 4 [1,903] Wkd $4.4M, Cume $54.1M
6. Next Day Air (Summit) OPENER [1,138] Wkd $4M
7. The Soloist (DW/Paramount) Week 3 [2,090] Wkd $3.6M, Cume $23.5M
8. Monsters v Aliens (DWA/Paramount) Week 7 [2,185] Wkd $3.3M, Cume $186.8M
9. Earth (Disney) Week 3 [1,794] Wkd $2.4M, Cume $26M
10. Hannah Montana (Disney) Week 5 [2,301] Wkd $2.4M, Cume $74M
SATURDAY 10:30 PM: Sources tell me that Paramount's Star Trek did $26M Saturday. That's 9% more than the J.J. Abrams reboot made on Friday, which is a surprise and demonstrates that the pic is widening well beyond its rabid fanbase of Trekkies. I hear the studio is now confident the 3 1/2-weekend total on 3,849 theaters will reach $75M (which includes Thursday night's $7M screenings and Sunday estimate of $18M). The 3-day weekend totals $68M.
Insiders tell me Fox's X-Men Origins: Wolverine added $11.6M Saturday, which was +40% from its $8.2M Friday, for a $28M second weekend. The movie will have made nearly $130 domestic in its first 10 days of release.
FRIDAY PM/SATURDAY AM: The North American opening for Paramount's No. 1 Star Trek grosses Friday was $24 million from 3,849 theaters. So, adding in the $7M from Thursday 7 PM-Midnight screenings, the reimagined space odyssey has made $31 million so far. My studio insiders say the total weekend number now could easily reach $72M. "But it still has a shot at $75M if it gets any bump on Saturday," an exec explains. To put that in perspective, a domestic weekend total under $50M would have meant the pic didn't attract a new and younger audience and relied instead on the franchise's older but loyal fanbase of Trekkies. It was risky for Paramount to market the movie as "not your father's Star Trek". But the critical reviews for JJ Abrams' reboot are 96% positive.
I hear the studio is celebrating international figures already: how "it's pretty spectacular" that Star Trek's Friday debut in the UK, Australia, and Germany made almost the same as Fox's X-Men Origins: Wolverine's in those territories last weekend. Star Trek opened day and date in 54 countries Friday, and the goal of this new pic was to finally attract more filmgoers overseas. "Remember, this movie franchise has never done $100M international before," an exec reminds me last night.
No. 2 was Fox's X-Men Origins: Wolverine which made $8.2 million Friday (-76% from a week ago) from 4,102 theaters for a projected $28M weekend and new cume of $131M. It crossed $200M today in worldwide grosses. No. 3 was New Line/Warner Bros' Ghosts of Girlfriends Past with a $3.1M Friday (-46% from a week ago) from 3,175 theaters for an expected $10.5M weekend and new cume of $30.5M. No. 4 was Screen Gem/Sony's Obsessed with $2M Friday from 2,602 theater for a predicted $6.5M weekend and new cume of $56M. No. 5 was Summit Entainment's Next Day Air with only a $1.4M opening on the bottom end of expectations from 1,138 theaters for maybe a lousy $4.3M weekend.
FRIDAY 10:50 AM: Sources tell me that Thursday screenings starting at 7 PM, including midnight shows, made approximately $7 million for Star Trek. "There was a big core fan turnout," one of my insiders says, "so you can't extrapolate to weekend numbers." Nevertheless, it's a great start. (Photo by Jim Stevenson of trekkies buying tickets at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood.)
But there are still cautionary words around Hollywood that Star Trek could still wind up the next Watchmen (i.e. disappointing) because of the built-in fan base, the big presales, the Imax heat. I don't get such talk. Way different movies, especially with JJ Abrams' reboot garnering all those critical raves. As for today, expect early matinee numbers to be very high. But Hollywood won't be able to get a real handle on Friday's figures until the late afternoon or early evening. As for international where the reimagined Star Trek really needs to show strength to set it apart from the disappointing foreign takes of its predecessors, rival studios are telling me the overseas openings "weren't that hot". And, remember, Star Trek's budget was $165M. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, Fox's X-Men Origins: Wolverine will cross $200 million worldwide today as it starts its 2nd week in theaters -- amazing. The global box office is on fire!
THURSDAY 2:45 PM: Now some of my box office gurus are upping their estimates, predicting Star Trek could do $75 million this weekend with $8M or even $9M tonight. That's very aggressive.
THURSDAY 12:30 PM: Sure the tracking services are saying Star Trek will only make $50 million for the 3-day weekend. But even Paramount is convinced that JJ Abrams' reboot of the TV/movie franchise will get up to $60M. And based on my reporting Hollywood generally is thinking at least $65M, not even counting the $5 million that could be generated starting at 7 PM tonight when Star Trek officially starts screening in selected areas around North America. There's no doubt this is a difficult pic to gauge since it's been 7 years since the last Star Trek actioner Nemesis hit theaters, and nearly 30 years after the first in the movie franchise Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and a lifetime from the original TV series aired 1966-1969.
Meanwhile, the reviews have been surprisingly and uniformly great with 90+% positive on RottenTomatoes.com even from the "cream of the crop" critics. Comparative films are other reboots like Batman Begins which opened to $48M on June 15, 2005, and Casino Royale which opened to $40.8M on November 17, 2006. Both reinventions of franchise films had trouble harnessing interest in the younger male segment at first and were strongly driven by older males. But Paramount's strategy by opening today at 7 PM is that this will allow Trekkies to come out Thursday then go to work on Friday and tell people how much they liked it and thus allow word of mouth to spread into the weekend and boost the original $50M three-day estimate.
Let's be frank. This new Star Trek is expected to do solidly, and maybe even spectacularly, in its 3,800 domestic theaters. But what really counts with this reboot is foreign. The pic is opening day and date in 54 countries this weekend, but some key markets are opening later: China on May 15th, Japan May 29th, Mexico June 5th. The fact is that Star Trek has done virtually bupkis overseas over the years because the scifi franchise never caught on. And Paramount has set out with JJ Abrams to change all that. I think that's an achievable goal because the old Star Trek movies started "in the middle" so to speak, assuming that audiences knew all the backstory. But Abrams' version smartly starts at the beginning so international audiences as well as young North American viewers can get on board from the beginning.
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I’m sticking with $75, but WILL include tonight’s take in that total. Even $65 mil is a major coup for a franchise that historically doesn’t do well in cinemas.
$77.4 million
I am predicting a $76.2 Million to $81 Million Dollar
total take B.O. range for the weekend. I think this film is going to Warp Factor 3 !
I think the word is out that this is a different film from the others. I think it will do very well, 70 million domestic. I think it will do well overseas too. Again, I think they’ll realize it’s not just for trekkies and go see it.
I say 85 at least, considering how the dreadful Wolverine is doing.
As a foreigner, I never got the hype surrounding Star Trek. This one, though, is different. Everyone I know who saw it, loves the film. I expect big foreign numbers!
Still, I have no clue what that one sheet stands for? Who designed that?
Expect even bigger grosses. This puppy has everything going for it, including kick-ass trailers and huge audience expectations. I think the general public (not the Trekii) think this is the one Star Trek film anyone can go to. And they will in huge numbers.
Expect bigger grosses.
Wow, I thought they were aiming higher than that. Didn’t Wolverine do like 80? I would expect this to do at least that, if not more.
I think the hardcore Trekkies are going to hate this movie, and their hatred will be a good thing.
“Star Trek” goes where no Trekkie has gone before – into the mainstream.
From the Monday press screening, it’s hard to gauge its real popularity, but the public who watched it with reviewers were young and generally lacking dorkiness. No one was dressed in a Starfleet uniform and I counted less than ten out about 350 that appeared to be over 40. It was also relatively well balanced between males and females, although there were no groups of young women there to see it like there were for some of the guys.
This is just one anecdotal observation, but it’s hard to imagine this movie taking in LESS than Wolverine.
72.5 including Thursday
If Twitter in combination with the magazine covers and the great buzz any indication – and how would I know one way or another – $65m may be conservative.
While they haven’t played him up, is it possible Chris Pine – who scored opposite Anne Hathaway in the second Princess Diaries movie I was stuck watching portions of ad naseum because of my soon-to-be stepdaughter – will draw in a few younger females?
I saw it last week and it is first-rate, very commercial and broadly appealing. Given the quality of the content and the brilliance of Paramount’s promotional campaign, it’ll do 80-85 this weekend.
I’m sticking with high 50’s for the three day weekend.
$58m
Let the wildly unrealistic fanboy fantasy box office number game begin!
Really Harold? “I think the hardcore Trekkies are going to hate this movie.”
There’s overwhelmingly positive support coming from much of the pre-existing Trekkie community. J.J. Abrams, Orci/Kurtzman and Paramount have done a wonderful job of being accesible to previous fans and assuaging fears that this film will be sacriligious.
And they have been very clear and honest that their goal is to make a movie accessible to the main stream, while not excluding the original supporters of the franchise.
http://trekmovie.com/2009/05/07/some-mainstream-media-continue-to-misundersand-and-misrepresent-trek-fans/
I wouldn’t be surprised if this film’s worldwide gross is as much or more than other films’ combined first-release grosses.
I saw the film on Monday night in NYC and it far exceeded my expectations. I went into hoping it would be good and came out blown away by how awesome it was. I even teared up at one point. The Spock- Kirk relationship is done brilliantly and well played. This is a perfect summer blockbuster film with an optimistic and intriguing story. JJ Abrams made an amazing film which will appeal to all ages men and women.
I think it takes in $100M this wknd (Th.-Sun) and is the highest grossing film for 2009. Mark it down. If you’ve seen it you know.
I think everyone is low-balling this one. I’d say 90 at least..
you’re right, Harold. i hated it. but then i fight the good fight.
Here in Bangkok, it opened Thursday. I saw the 7pm show and the theater was 50% full. The movie is not being marketed as heavily as Wolverine and ‘Angels and Demons’ in the local market.
Hard to gauge how well it will do overseas.
( and as a fan of Star Trek – it was a great movie. I don’t buy the hard core fans will hate it argument. )
I’m starting to wonder if this may go into “The Dark Knight” territory.
Why? Because it is fucking well made. Simply that. It is well made, well cast, wonderfully designed. IT LOOKS GOOD IN THE TRAILERS. And by that I don’t mean “cool” or “hot.” It looks like a good piece of film-making. What an amazing hand to be dealt for a marketing department – hot young actors in a film that totally makes sense, with a huge budget (no rubberoids here) and SPFX to spare. They have no scabs to cover over. Nothing. Every message and every review except Roger Ebert (or sadly, you know….) is positive. 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. Un-be-fucking-lieveable.
That’s why the Onion spoof is so on the mark. J.J. Abrams has taken a franchise that only had one really good film (Kaaaaaahhhhnnnnnn!!!!!) and made a motion picture for the ages. (In reality, this film is the one that deserves the title: “Star Trek, The Motion Picture”.)
The under-25s are going to see this is a kick ass film, THE kick ass film of the summer. In their hearts, they may want to see “Transformers 2″ but in their minds, they know it will probably make less sense than :Transformers 1″. Even without Megan Fox, kids a bright enough to know they’ll get two great hours of fun and thrillrides here (the parachute scene alone looks like ass.) They’ll come out in packs.
I really believe that on Monday morning, the studio will be hiring new accountants to hide the massive profits from the gross percentagers on this film.
I realy think this film is JJ saying “Wait for it……. wait for it….. and here they come…. now….”)
This will easily beat Wolverine’s opening last weekend.
My guess is $80.8m (Thurs-Sun).
I agree with everyone else, this movie will have pulled in 85-90 million end of Sunday domestic.
10:30dest time. just back in from the first 7 PM showing. Star John R MI. They tried to hype it as first showing in the country. The fifty or so people in line laughed at that.
The first act was sort of disappointing. But by Act 2 around 20 minutes in it picked up and by Act 3 I was salivating for the next 8 movies. JJ A had the audience going with his version of Star Trek. Bones was great, so was Sulu and Chekov, they kicked ass like in the STNG pc game. Kirk, well he made everyone else just so much better. Scotty was great too and Uhuru, well let’s just say the surprise will be on all of you. Eric Bana was great as the antagonist. So, with Trek fans etc I’m going on a limb here and saying the film makes 120 million the first four days.
The only thing that rocked better than this film which will crush Wolf boy was the preview for GI Joe Cobra, as someone shouted out after the GI Joe preview. F**k YEAH. I don’t know why the studio pushed this sleeper hit to August. The preview for GI Joe made me want to leave out and buy my ticket.
The crucial youth demos are still going to avoid this like the plague no matter how much J.J. and co. tried to sexify it up. Star Trek will forever be associated with the dweeb fringe and will thus always be a niche property. They’ve never been true event pictures and they never will be. People expecting Dark Knight dollars are delusional. I think at the very best it will eke out 200 mil domestically. Coupled with the worldwide grosses it will see a nice profit and justify more sequels but it’s not going to become something Paramount primarily leans on to appease their shareholders.
Just back from an IMAX showing. Being a trek nerd, I was primed to hate this, but gotta say, it really is a good film.
Little bit of a drag in the middle, but the rest was pure entertainment. I think anyone who sees this will like it.
Not sure how it will open, but I believe it will have the WOM to hit $200M domestic.
Went in thinking 45M-left thinking 100M. WOW!
Okay… I’m going to get shalacked for this…but…get ready for it….
$90million +
Why do I say this? Originally I was thinking 85, but im giving it an extra 5 because…
….Tyler Perry is in it. Trust me, i dislike the man’s work as much as the next guy but you can’t ignore his pull. If 1/4 of his loyal followers go see it because he’s in it. Extra $5million.
Let the Leland bashing begin.
Love,
-L
Ziggy, you are wrong.
This filml will Twitter on Friday night all over the continent and Saturday will be huge. Kids are smart enough nowadays to know when a film is good. They turned out for The Dark Knight, despite the shiteous films Warners made on Batman previously. They instinctively knew Transformers would be a blast, even if the last 30 minutes (after Steven Spielberg told Michael Bay “Okay enough character development, knock yourself out, kid”) is sound and fury claptrap. They smelled out Live Free or Die Hard which really WAS their daddy’s action series. They’ll come to this.
Just came home from the 7 pm IMAX version in my local theater.
Fucking awesome! Loved it, loved it, loved it! And I’m an old fart who watched the damn original series in the 60’s as a kid.
Like where it went, like the new concept and how they got there and will go see it again this weekend.
Loved Bones best – his take on McCoy was on point to the original work done by DeForest Kelley. Pegg as Scotty was great too.
JJ just have one question (it’s okay to call you JJ right? HA) – when’s the sequel start filming? I’m ready for the next installment!
For those who doubt that an archtypical “nerd” favourite can go mainstream, I have 2 words: DOCTOR WHO. Very much the UK equivalent of TREK (but with goofier aliens), WHO was relaunched a few years ago as a big-budget primetime series- and became the hottest thing on Brit TV, complete with the kinds of spin-offs CSI spawned at the peak of it’s popularity.(Only real difference is that, unlike J.J. Abrahms, the man behind the DOCTOR WHO revival- QUEER AS FOLK creator Russell Davies- is a lifetime fan of the series…)
Obviously, the commentators putting down the hardcore fans (like myself) simply don’t get that Trek was much more than Kirk, Spock and the gang. Hell, even Roddenberry thought it was folly to look back when given the chance to bring Trek back to TV. We loved the concepts, philosophy and the vision thing so much more than the trivia everyone associates Trekkies with. We DIDN’T want to look back with this film. We wanted to go forward, go beyond anything we’ve ever seen in the series yet.
And yeah, JJ truly proved what a hack he is with this film. He essentially took what he loved about Star Wars and ported it over to Trek, totally ignoring what gave Trek its soul. He did the one thing Trek fans always feared. He gave us Trek 90210, and all the witless fools raving about how good this movie probably will be first in line for Transformers and GI Joe, telling us how great going to the movies is once again.
For the record, the multi-plex I was at tonight was running it on multiple screens, and only one showing approached even being half-full. Every other aud in the place screening the film was less than that. Given what I saw, I was not surprised to see a midnight screening cancelled when I left.
I was in that same theater last year to witness the crowds for Iron Man, Indiana Jones and The Dark Knight, all of which played to capacity crowds on multiple screens from the very first showing. Even Sex & The City attracted bigger crowds than what I saw tonight.
As for the marketing geniuses at Paramount, it looks like a number of fans listened carefully when the ads told them this wasn’t their grandfather’s Trek. They decided JJ’s Drek wasn’t worth their money.
I’m not sure about the weekend box office, but I think ST’s longevity will surprise people, because, in my opinion, people are going to watch it, love it, rave about it and then bring their friends. I’m extremely excited to see this, but my friends and are waiting until next week because it’s not like we’re worried it’s going to disappear and we don’t want to have to deal with opening weekend insanity.
Wow, filmlover24/7, which film did you actually see? Did you see the special joke screening that Sasha Baron Cohen was running with a piece of shit version of the film? Because you certainly did not see the film I saw.
And by the way, as sad as this may come to a Trekii like yourself, the studio doesn’t really care if you like the film or not. You aren’t their audience anymore. They have a mainstream si-fi/action film. They don’t really need you. So go somewhere off into the corner and moan about the perversion of the sanctity of the original vision and watch them reel in all that money from mainstream audiences.
Shatner was right. Get a fucking life.
I am not a Trekkie. I never watched a full episode of Star Trek. I knew the characters because, well, everyone does. I saw thet movie tonight and thought it was top-notch. I think they will beat the estimates for the weekend. However, I think this movie is going to have a strong second week due to word of mouth and second viewings. Just watch.
WGAMember, relax, I think your member is about to explode? Are you still bitter over losing a job to a nerd?
Not all movies are for everybody, yeah, some people hated Titanic, imagine that, doesn’t mean that most of the world didn’t eat it up.
This girl has wings. Ziggy, Trek may forever be associated with the dweeb fringe but that “dweeb fringe” kept the franchise alive for decades.
It’s going to fly because the the jocks are going to hear the nerds say it’s really great… blow them off until one of them sees it and goes, “Oh, hell yeah!”
The people I saw in this flick were too young to have seen a Trek before that they knew and haven’t been polarized by SNL skits. Sorry, champ, but the younger generation doesn’t want to be defined by the older. If they find the inspiration in it, they’ll go.
Including Thursday, opening weekend probably under 100mil but it breaks 300m domestically.
I’m not a Trekkie. But I know the characters. And the main thing bringing me to this is JJ Abrams. Alias, Lost, Fringe, Mission Impossible 3 (the only good one) are reasons I am giving this a chance. The trailers look great. They look like they cast all the right folks. I’m getting to the theater tonight and I have never seen a Trek film.
A lot of people I know are doing the same. And the 90% on Rotten Tomatoes is a good thing.
To WGA Member – If the (lack of) crowds I saw yesterday for Star Trek at one of the most popular theatre chains in the area is any indication, I will be surprised if this puppy makes more than $50 mil. From all the raves I see here over a totally unoriginal story (where are all the critics who generally show up to bash this stuff?), I expected to see crowds equivalent to what you’d expect to see for one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. I would’ve agreed that Paramount did what they had to to get a mainstream audience, even at the cost of sacrificing the intelligence, heart and soul of the original. That may yet prove to be the case, but let’s see if the final result is due more to higher ticket prices and more theatre screens running this thing than – y’know – real demand by a larger number of people to see this.
exactly, exactly, exactly….
Saw it last night, although it has its problems plot wise, it gets the job done. The cast of the Enterprise were awesome. You actually cared about their plight. It’s just a straight up good time at the movies. It’ll do over 80. I’m definitely seeing it at least 2 more times.
Yeah, I guess people have decided to go for dumb popcorn. I was shocked how stupid I thought this was. Tons of action and fury that didn’t make any sense. Who knows, though, people gobbled up Transformers, which I thought was aweful, I’m sure this will attract an audience.
I am a hardcore Trekkie. It sounds to me as if the people who made the film have bought into the hype and don’t really understand the old show characters all that well.
Example: In the old show, Kirk was a shy, “stack of books with legs” when he was younger, not a womanizing hellraiser. And, whatever Roddenberry told people, the original Star Trek universe was a place where Kirk was at the mercy if meddlers from Starfleet, and the Federation was always one evil robot away from destruction. It was not a utopian universe.
But it sounds as if, in addition to writing a good script, the writers did a great job of getting themselves out of the continuity straightjacket. So, I think most fans will like the movie, even though the new version is a lot different from the old version.
As for the box office: my prediction is that the new movie will bring in about $60 million this weekend and about $150 million overall, but that, one way or another, it and the sequels will bring in the equivalent of an average of $20 million per year (in 2009 dollars), in various media, over the next 100 years. And maybe the REAL return is that some of the kids who see the movie will take math, science and engineering a little more seriously, and that some of those kids will grow up to make our future more like Star Trek and less like Soylent Green.
To whoever said that Star Trek 2 was the only really good Trek movie, I’d also offer that Star Trek 4 and Star Trek: First Contact (TNG movie with the Borg) were also very good. In fact, FC is the best of the TNG movies by far.
As a big Trek fan (Not a Trekkie though, I just enjoy sci-fi and the ideology of a future without poverty, disease, or war behind the Trek franchise…never owned a costume or pointy ears) I can’t wait to see this movie.
All I know is, my 15-year-old, who never took any interest in the original STAR TREK series, is fully revved up to see this movie. And I, who grew up with the original series, liked some of the eps, but was never a hardcore fan and do not view the old show scripts as Scripture, am totally intrigued to go with him and see what JJ has done.
So I think Par has a multi-generation crosscut proposition here, and doors will be blown off this weekend.
Are they folding in their 7pm on showings from last night (5pm at arclight in LA)? If so, it could be 90M for the weekend, although they can’t do that…but they may try.
SPOILER ALERT
A Spouse… of course the Kirk in this movie is different. Isn’t this supposed to be a different reality because things were changed by the Romulons? I could be wrong… but that’s what I got.
I liked it.
I think that Onion story needs to be posted every couple of links. I’ve always liked Trek but what’s amazing is that these hard cores with their complaints completely discount all the effort that went into actually being respectful (and mining from) all the existing films and material. They actually just want to feel betrayed at this point like it’s some defacto badge of honor. There is a ton here for the longtime fans and it is 100% accessible for everyone else too. The grousing is completely self serving.
One thing to consider about the Thursday numbers. I saw the movie last night and have told a few people today. Almost all of them said the same thing: “I thought it opened today.”
In fact, I would not know about it had I not seen a sign (very small one) at the movies last week saying there were shows on Thursday night.
Saw this at the local multiplex last night. On two screens for each showing, plenty of seats in both. I’m guessing $65+ million for the weekend, based on this info.
This is a summer popcorn movie, pure and simple. If you think about some of the story paradoxes to any degree, you’ll dislike the movie. As long as you have a bag of popcorn, and just go along for the ride, you’ll love this flick.
if your sources are correct and it’s overseas is soft then game over. par lost. too bad. looked like a good flick.
I’m old enough to remember the original series on TV and am not a hard core fan by any stretch of the imagination. I saw Star Trek last night and I can tell you this movie totally ROCKED! Each and every one of the actors did the old Star Trek proud. Special kudos to Chris Pine (Capt. Kirk) and Jeremy Sisto (Spock) and, of course, to JJ Abrams. This movie could have gone so wrong but it didn’t. It’s a wonderful prequel. May this franchise live long and prosper!
Outstanding Movie!
We went as a team morale event and I intend to see it again. There has been a steady buzz about the movie all day. Especially today when the second half of our team went and saw it.
No negative comments from anyone who saw it including spouses!
I saw it 2 weeks ago. Once again its cool to be a trekkie or trekker thank you JJ Abrams. I did not even expect what happend to vulcan happen. Did anyone els?
Saw it this morning with a admittedly older crowd. I suspect it will open (relatively) big, but fade out after that. Well made, definitely. The casting alone deserves an Academy Award and the first 45 minutes are wonderful.
Once in space, this is just another Star Trek, but, MAN, is this storyline confusing! WTF! I don’t see how the non-Trekkie will be engaged in this movie.
Star Trek II remains the best in the series — J.J. should have called Nick Meyer for a polish.
100 Million quatloos
I just saw the new star trek and it is probably one of thee best Star treks ever made. The plot is solid, the special effects are great, the actors are all excellent(The actor who plays Dr. McCoy is dead on target, so much so that it is almost funny)It has enough twist to keep it interesting. I did notice a new occurrence starting to happen, people won’t leave the theater until all of the credits are over. I think this is the Ironman effect, people think that they are going to miss something.
I think the reaction here shows that the movie is going to have good legs. Even though I’m a Trekkie, this is the first Trek movie or TV show that I’ve considered seeing since ST: VI, and it’s the first movie I’ve really WANTED to go see in a theater since Iron Man. If I’m interested in seeing it, then I think it’s going to draw huge crowds.
I saw the original series in 1966 and have been a fan ever since and this movie did NOTHING to diminish my love for Star Trek. The key was Spock who very nicely tied in the old and new. This movie rocked! My kids absolutely loved it and are planning on going back tonight to see it. Surprisingly they did NOT like Wolverine for some reason? But my 18 year old said it was better than Transformers (until of course the new one comes out probably). JJ Abrams and the new cast did an excellent job! Gotta go watch it again now with my son.
When is Frogs III coming out again?
I’ve heard enough of the old trekkies crying. I’m an somewhat old trekkie (43) and I realize that sometimes you have to re imagine tired things. Not that trek was that tired but take Galactica for example. The hardcore fans cried and cried and yet, it was one of the best things on TV lately. I have not seen the movie yet but from looking at the trailers, how much did they really re imagine it? Then there are those that have to point out every little continuity problem throughout the entire franchise. To this I simply evoke the words of Shatner on SNL: “GET A LIFE!”
I just got back from seeing the first screening today and LOVED it! I was skeptical from the trailers, but they do the film no justice. It’s fun, it’s got great action, nice inside jokes, and a solid cast. I suspended (almost) all disbelief, and bought the whole storyline, save for a few minor quibbly things that didn’t get in the way of my overall enjoyment.
Being a pretty big Trekkie already, I was ever hopeful for this reboot, and now I’m just waiting for the next film…hopefully this time, involving a certain Andorian as the original script for this film did…;)
I saw it last night, and judging by the three packed IMAX screens and the reaction of the audience, we’re looking at a $90-95 million opening domestic cume, without a doubt (word of mouth accounting for an enormous surge)..
Just saw the film and I was disappointed. I think it will do well though.
I am still waiting for the next true original sci-fi film. These retreads and remakes are soulless and fake at their core.
But I keep forgetting we no longer care about that. LET’S TALK BOXOFFICE! Okay, $82.3 million
I’m going for the $700billion opening weekend. Yes, I know… I’m joking. I am a Trek fan, but I have not always liked the movies. I am jazzed about this one… especially being on the back of Transformers. I think it will surpass expectations… simply because of the people I have spoke with who do not really follow the Trek story line who are going to see it because of the trailers. I predict it will truly be the “Star Trek for everyone”. There are those Trek “purists” who will not see it because it is not one of the original franchise movies, BUT I think they’ll eventually see it for the curiosity factor.
Most are really low balling the opening weekend, It will go between 100-110 million, watch and see.
Then try re-imagining it so it’s not some new stupid thing.
Starfleet High School gang on a road trip.
Clovertrek monster
This piece of crap is pathetic.
I estimate the movie will make $100 MILLION QUATLOOS!
I have been a big Trek fan since the 80s I saw the movie Thursday Night and love it !! Better than any of the other movies made to date. Well worth seeing more than once. I already can’t wait till it comes out on Blu-Ray Disc.
I’m guessing $1 (employing the Price is Right strategy).
Saw a 1:50p showing today.
Fantastic movie! Spectacular feat on everyone’s part in making it.
Not many present during out screening, but it was lunchtime, away from the city core (DC) and that multi-plex theater is showing it 21 times today.
This old movie star – who had retired from the biz – was stopped by a fan and asked for an autograph. “I’m sorry, I don’t do autographs” the star said. “But I’m your biggest fan” the guy pleaded.
“I know, my dear” she said, “but you see, I don’t need you anymore.”
That sort of sums up Paramount’s feeling toward the Trek fanatics. Sure, they provide a fan base that will turn out for anything with phasers and pointy ears, but the world audience is so much bigger and to get them, they need to break a few hearts and a lot of the context rules.
Sons of Spock can bitch till you are blue in the face, but
They just don’t need you anymore
Where are these packed houses? Not at the theaters my friends went to last night or this morning, that’s for sure. My one friend told me the crowd he saw it with was mostly adult males, very few women and zero teenagers. (Wha–? They don’t skip school anymore?) One of my friends is female who said she liked the film, but also said there was no more than a dozen people in the theater. I said she must be joking, but she was serious.
And here’s my point: it doesn’t matter whether I liked the film or not, but where are the crowds like there used to be for the summer blockbusters last year for the very first shows? Check the ticket availability for Arclight. Only 1 show at the Dome today and 1 show at the Dome tomorrow that’s sold out. That’s it. Contrast that with last summer’s hits, all of which sold out numerous shows at that theater when they opened. Somebody’s gotta be doin’ some serious book-cookin’ to get these numbers to add up.
Didn’t like it.
I’m so sick of hack writers using “time travel” as a lazy plot device to avoid actually inventing something original or clever. Sadly, it smells like the same stupid script idea the 1998 movie remake of Lost in Space used!
Using “time travel” is baloney. Lost, Star Trek, Whatever. Can’t think of a meaningful plot? Written yourself into a corner? Want to inject an old 1960s actor to serve the boomer demographic? I KNOW! Just use the ol’ “time travel” creative crutch and wrap it up.
A guy two rows next to me actually “boo’d” the screen.
I’m a Trek fan and I’m not going. I spent thirty years following a series over 4 shows (didn’t like the last one), learning the intricacies of the Trekverse along the way. Now, they want me to forget everything, abandon Canon and the good friends these characters and the ongoing Universe have become and embrace the Trekverse that a non-Trek fan has created.
No. Not gonna do it.
I can watch space ships blow up, space suited characters fight and supernovas explode on any number of Science Fiction Shows. But there was only one show where you knew Kirk couldn’t drive stick and that Spock had to wait for Ponfar or that there was such a thing as the Temporal Police and a Temporal Accord.
JJ Abrams can stuff it.
Wrath of Khan – Best Star Trek movie
Trouble with Tribbles – Best funny Star Trek-original
City on the Edge of Forever – Best serious ST-original
This new movie will earn 90+ Million this weekend
It will be top grosser this year, 300+ million…
I find it interesting that the two negative comments on ST — Chris and filmlover24/7 — both mention Transformers as being in the same sort of vein.
About seven feet to my left is a well-known alumnus of the Star Trek NG production crew. He attended a sneak preview about a week ago, and ended up walking out after an hour… and his main point of dislike was that the movie was too much like Transformers in its sloppy execution.
I’ve not seen it yet, but I wasn’t surprised to hear this result from him, even as the gate receipts pile up; the socialized education system has had one more generation since 1980 to work its “magic” on the increasingly dumbed-down mainstream, and good science-fiction as I understand it is just about finished as far as movies and TV are concerned.
I have to admit, it is thankfully still rare to see a scion of that mainstream get all self-righteous about it (”anotherWGAmember”, I’m looking at YOU).
Who gives a Rats…..loved it…
Will see it again….happy for all in the cast and crew…and the audience clapped wildly at the end at the 4:15 pm showing..
The Thursday night showings were added at the last minute, and many people might not have known of them.
I saw it Friday afternoon. By far the best Star Trek movie ever–and I had lots of love for a few of the earlier films.
The Star Trek franchise has been successfully rebooted for a new generation.
What a horrible film. So many plot holes, paint by numbers character scenes and horrible, horrible dialogue.
I felt like I was watching Transformers.
But, hey, that’s the formula. Big booms, crappy everything else makes money.
filmlover24/7, confirmed what I thought about Trek after watching the trailer.
Something I posted on this blog about StarTrek in April…
“I haven’t ran into anyone who is excited about Star Trek, granted, I haven’t been to bestbuy in two months.Personally, I don’t think Wolverine or Star Trek will be the biggest blockbuster of this year.The bootleg copy of Wolverine made me rethink seeing it,and Star Trek looks like a cross between the Star Wars prequels and that terrible new 90210″
$120 million easy for the three-day weekend. I mean, come on. What else is America going to do this weekend? Work overtime?
Well, I for one didn’t see alot of the past Trek stuff, as when I was younger I spent my weekends having sex, and beating up nerds like most of you commenting on this movie.
But nonetheless, I going to see the movie tomorrow, and I look forward to it. Especially since I have been heartened by the comment that, not many trekkies are going to see it…GOOD! I think your mom wants you to clean your rooms this weekend anyway.
30-40m, 50 max counting Th. Abrams is soooooo over-rated. Cloverfield sucked. The cast is nothing special. Critics? LoL!! What do they know? They trashed Wolverine, looks like nobody cared what they thought.
I know I loved it, am a trekkie, no uniform – but I recognize Klingon when I hear it.
To speak to the broader audience, I saw it Thursday night with my 70 year old mom and 80+ year old step-dad.
Mom liked the original trek and none of the others, step-dad never has ever watched ANY trek.
They both LOVED IT!!!
Saw it for the 2nd time today, planning on a 3rd before the weekend is out.
This movie is so very different than all the movies and series that came before it. Abrams certainly brought some very new ideas to this and hopefully will continue to do so in the future.
Yo, Seerak, thanks for looking at ME. Do you see what I’m doing? This one’s for you, bubbie.
I figure 100M. As Nikki says, the box office is on fire. Anything less and we’re going to have to start dissecting what Paramount’s marketing did wrong (which, BTW, seems to be nothing.)
Given a choice between Trek and the drecks (GIJoe and Transformers II) I’d pick the former any day. I’ll bet I’m not alone.
150 Million Quatloos that the attempt to build a younger trekie following will fail.
200 Million Quatloos that the older Trekies will hate this movie.
100 Million Quatloos that the movie will contain no big-haired busty women in fake fur bras.
Hey, WGAmember… Whoa, Nelly!!! Fuckin LOVED that brutal smackdown of filmlover, homes!!! Day-ummm!!! The way you ripped my boy a new one about how “the studio doesn’t need you anymore” was just FANTASTIC! How I the hell I ever lumped you in with all those noodle-dicked, open-minded “free thinkers” dumb enough to believe that intelligent people might still disagree, I will never know. What the fuck was I thinking?! Who’s the ‘tard now?! (I am, goddammit, I AM!!)
Anywho, just looking at you marching up and taking your place in the arms of the majority makes my heart swell with pride. CONFORMITY ROCKS, WGAMEMBER! AND SO DO YOU!
I was just at the 4:05 showing of Trek at the theaters in Bellevue WA (Lincoln square)
PACKED! Every show selling out.
I’m thinking $100 million for opening weekend. I’d not be surprised if they ran round the clock showings just to meet demand.
I still want to see a scene where the characters from the original series attend a donkey show in 20th Century Tijuana, and explain its significance to Spock. If Data is in the scene, that would be good too.
Oh, and one more thing. It is truly odd to hear Abrams and Co. constantly dismissing forty years of franchise history as “niche” in order to set THEIR version of Star Trek apart as mainstream. Because that is pure bullshit.
The original series may’ve languished in the ratings dungeon but the original MOVIE — while admittedly awful — was at the time the single most expensive movie ever made. Yes you read that correctly. And I’m not convinced the bean counters over at Gulf & Western would’ve gone ahead and spent 50 million in 1979 dollars on a project with strictly limited, “niche” appeal.
I saw it today at the 3:00 pm matinee. I am 55 and I was sitting next to a 70 year old grand ma with her grand kids, a group of 16 to 40 year olds, and in front, several Mom’s and Dad’s with their kids from 9 to 12.
I liked it. The new actors can really act and they did not stray too far from the original movies. Paramount socked me for vhs P&S, Vhs WS, Dvd, Dvd special edition, and the special limited edition edition, and now bluray. Yes, they got me for all I was worth, but it was worth it. I say go, you won’t be disappointed.
This film is phenominal! I loved it!
I was surprised, I have been a fan since the late 60’s (ST was one of my early memories as a child)
That being said, I have not paid to see a Star Trek movie since “Wrath of Kahn”, truth be told…
So, to all of the geeks and all of the critics I would like to say that this movie rocks!
I loved it, and my 15 year old son loved it.
So go see it- it is a fun, wonderful film…
… go enjoy it…
geez where is the faith folks? Your all wrong, this one is gonna bust a nut and go north of 100 mil!
I took my son for a matinee, a huge theater, was approx 70% full.
I have enjoyed Trek growing up, but I am not a Trekkie by any means, I couldn’t tell any cool trivia from the original or secondary series.
This movie was fantastic. The audience gave it, I kid you not, a rousing applause and standing ovation, I couldn’t believe it, I don’t think I have been in a movie theater with a standing O since Star Wars, in 1977.
It will do very well.
Ehhh…the new trek is ok. I think the bright moments were when they mentioned Budweiser and Jack Daniels by name. Nice to know those are still around in 300 yrs.
J.D…..you are soooo right….lol
Ric Starnes
Concord,NC
I watched Trek shows and movies over the years but I never became a diehard Trekkie on that account. I look to them for ideals, challenges, characters and stories about man in space, simply that.
I saw “Star Trek” today and I thought it is absolutely fantastic. Solid acting, great FX effects, plot is fairly good (but time travel theme is getting tiresome) and the world of Star Trek, from JJ Abrams’ perspective, is refreshingly different from the Star Trek of old. And that’s a great thing! It is the most “down-to-Earth” Star Trek movie ever, though not figuratively speaking.
The movie was made for everyone, not for the diehard Trekkies.
In a scene between the old Spock and the young Spock, when the old Spock gave the hand sign of live long and prosper, I half-expected the young Spock to go “gangsta” with the hand sign in return, being hip and all. Hahahaha.
Saw the movie early Friday evening. Multiplex lot was half empty and all three Star Trek theaters had plenty of seats. Crowd skews older. Although it is generally a good flick, I’m not sure it’s going to have wide target demographic appeal. Script and cast spend way too much time paying homage to character eccentricities only Trekkies will appreciate — instead of breaking the mold like in Dark Knight. Too, often the chuckles coming from the audience were from older dudes (like myself) appreciating lines like the first “My God, Jim” by Bones. And the script is lazy. At one point the writers couldn’t figure out the logic of their own plot and actually had Spock telling himself not to try and figure it out (translation: audience, this is a plot hole big enough for a Klingon invasion, so Spock is telling you to look the other way). A good movie for the genre, yes. A great movie for the genre, no. On a scale of four stars, it’s a three.
I have been ‘Trek’ fan since childhood when TOS was first aired in the late 1960s (though my mother insisted on watching “Bewitched” most of the time), and I loved this movie. Though the plot had a few problems, the CGI was neat and the characters the writers, the actors and the director developed were simply awfully fun to watch! Not only was I entertained, but this movie contained what I felt has always been the crucial gift that “Star Trek” has given us and so many have copied since…
For me the most memorable character was Anton Yelchin’s portrayal of Chekov, which was simultaneously cute and inspiring! What made it memorable and what provided me with the most memorable line of the movie was when, during a difficult situation, Chekov suddenly left his post to run to save the day, exclaiming all the way, “I kin do dis! I kin do dis!” The way he said it, with the distraction of a self-absorbed genius who had no doubt of his own abilities and strength of character, was simply fantastic to behold. Certainly this type of reaction is often portrayed in movies, especially action movies, but this seemed so genuine and so…it was just a pleasure to watch. For me, this has always been the often imitated gift of the original “Star Trek” and I was so glad to see that gift keeps on giving.
I’m a long time Trek fan, watched it from 1966 onward, and I loved this film. I felt it was true to the characters and series. Yes, it was more action oriented than cerebral, but it’s also an origin story. I think the haterss will be in the minority.
I had no problem with the time travel plot device. As opposed to how time travel is used in most cases, our frame of reference didn’t change. Yes, there were flash-forwards, but we didn’t actually move through time. We didn’t return to a point in the future to see how things had changed by interfering with them in the past. We simply watched how things unfolded in the present due to outside influences. Furthermore, it allowed at least some semblance of continuity with past Trek canon by giving a reason as to a reboot. Instead of simply wiping the slate clean and starting over, there is now an explanation as to why things might proceed differently if this new Trek is to continue.
I’m a pretty die-hard Trekker, I admit that. I’m also the kind of Trekker that would rather see a reboot and continuation of the franchise then spend the rest of my days watching reruns. If that means I have to drop the Simpson’s comic book guy persona and deal with some changes in Trek canon, so be it.
I see a lot of articles above comparing to Transformers. I have to agree. The plot made absolutely no sense. The villain hangs around and waits TWENTY FIVE YEARS for Spock to show up (even though it was an ‘instant’ for him) and does.. what in those 25 years? He’s mad his family and others died.. well, you had 25 years to .. you know, do something about the anger. But I guess he just hung around and did… nothing. Or something, who knows. What the hell was that? Bad writing, the only way they could make him appear at the beginning of the movie and again 25 years later.. and the time travel thing creates a huge impossibility; yes, we wipe away all of the past… but that means the future the villain and Spock came from doesn’t exist.. so.. oh, never mind.
The writing was lazy, as someone in another forum pointed out, an entire sequence was stolen from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory for pete sake. And a gigantic mulcher as a way to do.. what, mulch water? Did that make any sense to anybody? What the hell was the point of that.
Appreciated the blatant ad for Kirk picking up his Nokia phone by Verizon in his convertible. And ordering Budweiser Classic in the bar. Nice touches. I guess corporate enterrise survived the third world war that created a gigantic desert and cliffs in IOWA.
And this passes for decent screenwriting? Lots of things exploded and looked pretty. Good looking women wore scanty outfits. I guess I should just ignore everything else.
Loved the film. But there is no way it will be a money-maker. No sold-out shows and plenty of seats (this was a 7pm showing on friday).
Shocker–it will make about $47 million for the weekend. $53 million if you count the early shows.
I’m predicting $73,109,102.75 total weekend gross, possibly $77.00 more if the Cineplex 12 in Vidalia, Georgia can fix the foam seat pad in Row 12, Seat 3 before Saturday evening, when the repair guy is supposed to show up.
Had watched the original series with my dad back in ‘66. Im a ‘trekkie’ whenever a new movie comes out. But in my 48 years, I have been to only one convention.
The parking lot was pretty empty. We didnt have to wait long at all. The theater was maybe half or two thirds full. To me the movie was good, but not fantastic. With the Quantum Reality storyline, they can start over and do anything with it that they want.
I’m not a trekkie geek but I do like all the series. However, this seasoned citizen must point out two HUGE holes big enough to fly an Enterprise through.
First, in the prequel, a young Spock sees his mother murdered by a nefarious Romulan device sucking the life out of Vulcan. Seems to me that in the original series with Shatner and Nimoy, his mother was alive and well. There was no explanation for the time juxtaposition of these events.
Second, in the prequel, Leonard Nimoy speaks about space as a place to go “where no ONE has gone before.” In the original series the phrase was “where no MAN has gone before.” If you were in the prequel time frame, that would not have changed.
As for the movie…computer graphics were astounding, the actors were “spot on” in their characterizations, and you’d better bring your earplaugs. That soundtrack was LOUD!
Do people really need to use the “F” word in describing a movie? Geez people, learn some English!
My kids are taking me to see this on Mother’s Day. I grew up with the original, loved TNG, like DS9 and Voyager. Hated Enterprise.
A lot of people are forgetting that Zachary Quinto (Spock) has a HUGE fan base from “Heroes”. He is the most popular actor on that show, and seems to be born to play Spock. I think Quinto will bring in a lot of non-Trek fans because of his “Heroes” fan base.
My kids saw the midnight showing and loved it. They said that some of us original Trekkies might not like it. But I will wait and hold judgment after I see it Sunday. Everyone I’ve talked to who’s seen it has loved it, regardless of age or past Trek experience.
Just saw it. Great flick on a number of levels. However, like all sci-fi, don’t look TOO closely at plot devices. Time-travel-based theme has become very worn-out plot device, but they handled it well. On the other hand, anti-matter really isn’t a practical energy source (magnetic containment only works on charged particles like positrons and you can’t squeeze too many of those into one container — like charges repel). And what about “beaming” down to the planet’s surface? Sorry, physics just doesn’t support the concept. So time travel is the least of my concerns.
Hey!! It’s just entertainment, right? Not really. What makes this franchise so popular is its compelling bigger-than-life characters and the moral choices they make. This film thankfully follows a philosophical thread that began in 1966. Note important scene concerning Kirks cheating to beat the Kobioshi Maru battle simulation. Why? Because he can’t accept defeat — so he changed the rules of the game. I first learned this lesson when I was 14. How many times have I thought, “What would Kirk do?”
You can watch the original TV series with its cardboard sets or todays latest offering with multi-million dollar digital special effects; they both tell the same stories, like those ancient Greek tragedies or Shakespeare. It’s the moral story at the core that really grabs us. Everything else is just fun fluff.
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It Is Great!!!! The Audience clapped at the end..They loved it. I caught a matinee at 1pm for $6.75 and its the best money I’ve spent lately. I am not a Trekkie
but I have liked Star Trek since the TV days. If you see it you will not be disappointed. I have always thought it was better than Star Wars with the bs light saber fighting like swords. STAR TREK RULES!!!
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Saw the IMAX presentation tonight and as a old time Treckie I have one word to describe the new Star Trek movie; AWESOME.
Just left the theater. WOW!!!! This ranks up there as either the #1 or #2 Trek movie in the series. Very edgy and they melded the storyline into the Trek history very well. Way to go, guys !!!!! Five Stars from a Trek fan from day 1.
lol @ the fan-geeks who thought this had a shot to put up Dark Knight opening weekend numbers. the last star wars doubled this sum four years ago too when tickets cost probably about two bucks less. it’s a respectable chunk of change but hardly anything to hold up against more proven properties that have broad appeal across all demos. it probably could’ve cracked 100 million easily if any of the primary audience who saw it had the capability of bringing a date with them…HAHAHAHA! see you in june when transformers II leaves this opening in the dust.
I’m not sure why everyone keeps bagging on the older movies’ box office. Star Trek IV’s box office, adjusted for inflation, would be well over $200 million today. Also, when adjusted for inflation, it wasn’t even actually the most successful film of the series: The Motion Picture was.
Nemesis bombed because Stuart Baird f-cked up in almost every conceivable way on it, so it sucked.
I saw Star Trek today and it was great! Abrams did a fantastic job putting together the crew. I can see where even if you never watched Star Trek, you would find it wonderful. Definitely, for those who watched Star Trek before, it was great to see how they all met and how they developed their personalities. This would have to be the best one they ever did…really great cast, plot, and of course, seeing Nimoy is always a plus.
Just saw the film and liked what I saw! I liked the connections between the characters; very well played out!
Didn’t suck but not as good as I expected it to be from the reviews… So many of the FX shots were like the third act of Transformers… i.e. “what the hell is going on?”
I loved it……works on so many levels, and the nice thing?? The very dry humor between Kirk and Spock is here also…easily the best movie of all of them…I hope they do another, and another, and another….cast also was great..
Just came back from the 11pm showing at MovieTowne in Trinidad, W.I. and it was almost at full capacity. The earlier shows were sold out.
I absolutely LOVED the movie. The cast was brilliant, the storyline coherent and smart, the dialogue was sharp and the graphics were amazing.
On my way out of the theatre, and in the bathroom after the show, people were raving about the movie. I think its going to have great legs overseas, well atleast here. Star Trek was NEVER “cool” here btw, so this is a huge turnaround.
For those of us trekkers who liked the film (and I really, really liked it), our concerns with box office seem to ask, “Will it be successful enough to spawn another well-written, well-developed sequel?” Does this film need to be a “massive hit” ($300,000,000+ b.o.) or plain ol’ “hit” ($200,000,000) to justify Paramount’s spending another sizable chunk to spawn a follow-up? And by “more,” I mean fare on the level of II, IV, VI, VIII, and now perhaps the best (or second best) of ‘em all, XI. I understand the XII is being fast-tracked… but will it be a reliable Trek adventure? In times of recession or depression (tumult, even), a viable source of entertainment depicting a future so bright (and morally (and technologically) advanced) certainly adds a bit of gloss to the lowdown. More, please.
Congratulations, Nikki. The hardcore fan base, which is on a mission to attack the movie on all sites, found Deadline Hollywood, should help with the hits.
Saw it yesterday, huge theater, big city, packed. Audience loved it. I loved it, surprising myself. Perfect summer movie. Well done.
Denny Crane!
you people are on crack. the authors of ‘transformers’ and ‘xena’ at their hackneyed best. awful, just awful!! a serious TOS fan here, too. oh good lord the hubris of abrams.
there’s no repeat viewings for me, not even to hiss like i felt like doing at my screening. 7:50pm show, 70% full, 30-50 demo mostly.
really, they should’ve named it Star Trek: Insidious
and anotherWGA, we get it: you’re a member of the Guild. did everybody notice that he’s a Guild member? because he is.
This movie was awesome!! The character interaction was superb..
I hated it…
In two hours, this movie literally destroyed 43 years of Star Trek. This is undeniable..
Now I know how DALLAS fans felt when they learned that an entire season of DALLAS was nothing but Sue Ellen’s dream…
Movie will gross 265 bucks
A good movie, somewhat hokey like the series, weak acting by many, but true to the spirit of the show, including an ensign toast.
CG was amazing…bringing my rating to 4 star.
Can’t wait till the next one.
I weep for the future of film if people are actually saying this Trek film is some kind of quality product.
I was shocked by the incredibly poor script. This isn’t a film. This is a series of great set pieces and nice little character moments linked together with a barely non existent story. That does not a film make.
And I would advise Paramount to temper there celebrations regarding the Int. grosses.
As old Aristotle once said. One swallow does not a summer make.
I’ve watched Star Trek since the original TV series. I don’t wear ears or uniforms, but I’m a big fan. One of the rare kind that likes Star Wars too.
This movie won’t pull in Dark Knight numbers, but it will exceed expectations. J.J. did an awesome job acknowledging the past and restarting the franchise (Was that a slight nod to Galaxy Quest when Sulu couldn’t get the ship into warp drive?)
Bottom line, I think this movie will restart the franchise in the movies and on TV. It’s SciFi, not comic book hero, so don’t expect Dark Knight numbers. But this was the best Star Trek ever. Yes, better then Khan.
J.J. made a Star Trek that looked like a movie instead of a TV show. The first movie had visual wide screen appeal, but the story wasn’t very good. The other movies looked like expensive TV shows. This movie looks like, acts like, and feels like a high energy movie.
I hated it so bad that I hope no one will see that crap. Star Wars is way better!
You guys do realize this is just Star Wars: A New Hope put through a Star Trek lens right? Right? Am I the only one seeing this?
Don’t get me wrong. I’m a long-time Trekkie and I liked the movie (except the Transformers-like joke in the beginning, but what can you expect from the hack writers of Transformers).
When I was leaving the theater and I was thinking about the story structure and various throughlines, it occurred to me that this movie is Star Wars: A New Hope repackaged.
Stay with me…
Starts with space battle where people leave in escape pods (check), cut to farmboy looking for his destiny and who likes fast things (stealing Uncle Owen’s car…check), Mos Eisley Spaceport Bar fight (check) – mentor meeting – refusal of the call (check) – Death Star (check) – seemingly hopeless rescue mission aboard said Death Star (check)- Death Star plans stolen (only its called something different) – Award ceremony at the end (check).
Look, there’s even a retractable sword, a sword fight, and a little person in what looks to be a reptilian Ewok suit!
Also, to all the die-hard trekkies out there that don’t want to see the movie. Go see it! It is fun! TWOK it ain’t, but only one of the jokes is as lame as “SPOCK’S BRAIN’. Just think of the first half as one of the fun episodes like “A PIECE OF THE ACTION”, with hotter women, and the second half sort of like “BALANCE OF TERROR” … well sort of, it has a romulan anyway.
R.D. Out.
Man, for all its flaws, this is still a pretty damn good flick. Its all set up for the main characters, very much like the original Star Wars, you just know that in the second movie, shit is going to go down. The next movie needs a really tight villain, follow the Khan model, give us someone whom we can’t wait to see get their comeuppance in the end. Holy shit I can’t believe I’m saying this but…TREK IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The movie was simply silly.
A horrifying disappointment!
It made the V’ger movie look good.
Great Movie … Action & Suspense Filled ..Go see it !!
This movie is galaxies better than Wolverine. It should be making more than just $75m. I’m guessing it’ll have better staying power though.
Good popcorn flick, won’t see it at theatre again. Probably will get the DVD and watch it while reading a book and look up for the cool scenes.
Weekend BO $77.5 is my guess. Will drop off about 50% next weekend, then die, and be on DVD by Labor day.
Say what you like about the nerdiness of Trek fans. All I know is this article’s photo shows a dude going to the movies with three girls. That’s a playa of Kirk proportions.
I don’t buy the hype.
Whether one of these summer blockbusters is praised to the skies by critics, or slammed, the entertainment value turns out usually to be pretty much the same….approx. 6.5 out of 10.
Am I the only one to notice this?
I haven’t seen Trek or Wolverine. Critics love one, hate the other.
My prediction: both will have almost identical entertainment value when you finally see them, if you haven’t already. Both movies will be “ok”, mildly “entertaining”, “watchable” even. But neither one will “SUCK!”, and neither one will be “AWESOME!”.
That’s just my experience.
Hype means nothing. If you’re over the age of 14, all these movies are totally forgettable.
What’s the next overpraised blockbuster? Terminator: Salvation? Transformers 2?
What’s the next slammed blockbuster? GI Joe?
All three movies will seem exactly the same to you. Watchable nonsense. Nothing more.
will people over 50 like this? Fans like me who was always a fan, loved all the TV series, but was not happy with the last series Enterprise. I really usually hate remakes, and this looks like a redo remake.
Here in Poland where a bunch of us are attending a friend’s wedding, the fuckers at UIP Poland have decided to release Star Trek (one of the year’s major and eagerly anticipated films, mind you)in only a small handful of cinemas. The reasoning is that the film won’t make money in an Eastern European country where the TV show was never shown. Yet Dragonball apparently got a wide release. Go figure. Guess we’ll just have to wait till we get back to NY to catch the film, or drive about 200 miles to a cinema that’s playing it. So much for date and date worldwide release. Can anyone at Paramount ring up the head honcho of UIP in this country and find out what the pinhead Polak was thinking. Apparently the local film websites are running hot from outraged fans.
I gotta say, I am definitely not a hard core trekie, but I do have some reluctance when it comes to making “new” versions of old favorites. That aside, the movie was so-so for the following reasons
1) The bridge was way-way over done over the top. Not to compare it necessarily to the old Trek, but being a military person, there is deffinitely a “keep it simple stupid” way of designing things. At best, it looks like a Vegas casino at worst, an electronic nerds wet dream.
2) Uhura and Spock seem to spring instantaneously into a romantic love affair from nothing. True, it led to a few chuckles later, but there was no developement, no reason for the first kiss to take place. It was like a bunch of writiers were smoking something and said,”Dude, let’s give Uhurah the hots for spock. Awesome”
3) Checkov was way over played and still managed to look like window dressing. He was the nick of time guy when there really was no need for it. His attempts to be humorous were ill concieved by the writer or over acted by the actor.
4) The fight at the drill was soooooo contrived. Sulu happens to have a sword to fight a gut with…you guessed it a sword. In a movie set way off in the future, you would thing the baddies would have guns? It was a forced opportunity to reference past movies.
5) Forced references to past movies: why? It was my understanding that this movie “Is not your daddy’s Star Trek.”, yet the pay exceedingly high homage to the cliche’s, catch phrases and characters of the old Trek. If you are gonna do it as new, do it.
6) The Vulcan kids picking on spock made NO SENSE! On a planet where emotion is taught out of it’s people, why would there be “school bullies”. Mind you, the movie itself extolls the emotionlessness of the people, so what possible motivation was there for the taunting aside from emotion?
7) Only two characters stood out among the crowd, McCoy and Scotty. The actors or the writing made them sparkling gems in a field of coal. They were the only ones who were utterly believable. Kirk and Spock were so overdone by the writers/actors, I had trouble believing they could exist.
Seriously, I would put this in the same “Ughh, you’re kidding right?”, category as Star Trek the Motion Picture. It was like cotton candy for the mind. Sure, on the surface it is tasty, but under that, it is still air spun sugar with no real meat. I might keep it on the shelf for giggle in ten years, but I would have to find it on a sale rack and reduced for clearence.
Some people like filmlover24/7 are just jaded. I’m another fan from the beginning (Sept, 1966..8pm Central on NBC right after Daniel Boone) and was uncertain of what Abrams actually had in this new Star Trek “prequel”.
Had me wondering at first….this ain’t the right Star Trek, nothing makes sense! By mid-point, it was starting to fall into place, and as the credits rolled the first thing said was, “the bastards made it work!”
This one will have a MUCH larger appeal than just us old Trekers…I applaud JJ Abrams for an excellent first attempt, and look forward to the new adventures of Kirk, Spock (and hopefully another cameo by Nimoy), Sulu, Uhura, Scotty, Chekov, et al. GOOD JOB!!
This movie was great and even within all the action had some hot sexy scenes thrown in the mix…and I grew watching old Star Trek episodes…
A must MUST see film …and I most likely to be seen again.
JD and Ric. Or RE and Tard. Based on your comments it pretty much shows WHY you should stick to watching junk like Stargate not Star Trek. And as for those nerds you beat off (beat up? yeah, right) it must suck to see that they now sign your pay checks. But then again, I don’t know of many nerds who manage gas stations.
Saw the movie last night. Like the new Kirk as a bit more of a pirate than the original. The new spock looks so much like him its eerie but it a bit more of a hard ass. The new McCoy has nailed the part better than anyone else on screen. The new Uhura is different as there is far more to her charactor than the original. The new scottie is even more entertaining than the original. The new Chekov is a bit of a dud but nobody’s perfect.
I saw it last night (Friday) with my wife, and 5 other family members. I have been a trek fan my whole life (I’m 25) and I grew up watching original series with my dad. I not a geek or a nerd, rather more a jock. I don’t know why everything has to be split into geek or nerd and everyone else. Just because of cool technology and science? Me thinks it’s because the typical jock nation just isn’t smart enought to figure out time travel paradoxes and quantum singularities. The future belongs to the intelligent. But I digress… The movie was awesome. I don’t know why people on here complain about the holes in the plot. There were no holes, just things that there wasnt time to explain fully. The story works if youre smart enough to follow it. The characters were awesome. Our theater was absolutely packed, and my understanding is that all of the showing were sold out through the weekend. We had to buy our tickets 3 days in advance. Our theater gave it a round of applause at the end. I am a huge trek fan, and I own all the seasons of all the series and every movie. I noticed the different route that this movie is going but hey…why not? We exhausted one timeline, so whats wrong with creating a new one? I agree with DaFunk, it’s better than watching re-run after re-run…
The movie is outstanding — for the couple of people disappointed it’s not breaking records, this situation isn’t all that different from BATMAN BEGINS.
That movie didn’t open huge either, made $200 million total domestic, which was respectable but nothing amazing. What Nolan had to do was win over audiences who thought the Batman series had gone south, and get fans AND non-fans energized by his take. It didn’t totally happen theatrically — it happened after word of mouth, video, and DVD. By the time THE DARK KNIGHT came out, that audience was there.
STAR TREK’s case is the same. The fanbase was down after the last movie and the TV shows, and you have non-fans who would never go to begin with. Therefore, Abrams has to win people over the same way Nolan had to. This TREK may not make $400 million but it doesn’t need to — given the quality of the film, the reviews and how most people love it, word of mouth should let it carry for weeks and make enough to support a sequel.
When the follow-up comes out, I guarantee you it’ll have a much larger base than this movie does, because by then everyone — even the disbelievers — will know how outstanding the film is.
I really enjoyed the movie – Abrams did a great job
EW is reporting 29.3 mil for Trek on Friday (not counting Thursday) which means it’s got a solid shot at hitting 80…
I’m an original Trekkie, or Trecker, which ever convention you prefer, and I loved this film. It is a much better back story then the insipid “Enterprise” of the past year. I thought using Nimoy to tie the two together was a great idea, and the time travel theme is certainly consistent with past Star Trek episodes.
I watched every show in the original series with friends and loved the opening of the second series with Spock going home to resolve his marriage.
It is the moral dilemmas of Star Trek, along with the relationships among the characters that make this is timeless series. It postulates a better humankind that overcomes its “money as a goal” and “war as a means of diplomacy” past. I’d be happy to live in the Star Trek future universe.
I loved the movie…have about half the series on DVD and all of the movies on DVD.
The comment about “…your mother wanting you nerds to clean your rooms this weekend” cracked me up.
And the weekend gross estimate, except for the megaplex in Vidalia, GA had my wife and I laughing for a few minutes.
Just a thought on the numbers. I live in N.C. and Duke, NC State and the entire UNC system of universities are graduating this weekend. How much effect will events like these have on an opening take?
Iam the ultimate Trekkie and viewed this “new” Star Trek. The story line fell out of warp drive. Come on! Old Spock just happens to be on the same Freezing planet that Kirk lands on and they find each other. Young Spock involved with a crew member!Scotty with a pet alien!True Trekkies will realize they have been bamboozled for a new “hip audience” and a “new Star Trek” franchise has been spawned. Please tell me they could not find a cameo walk on for Shatner. Give me a break! Anybody out there agree with me?
Star Trek has come full circle.
The world is ready to look at the “future”.
The youth are already there.
One Billion or more worldwide with more to come.
Saw the movie last night, more rokken than Dokken. I was a fan of Trek growing up, not a trekkie by any means, but loved the original and TNG and thought this movie was really well made. At this point all the “trekkies” that are bitter are the same people who would cry foul because Nimoy’s ears weren’t as pointy in the new movie. Star Trek gave a lot to pop-culture and to us technologically with it’s imagination, allow it to continue to give to a new generation and stop hoarding it like your heirs to Rodenberry’s estate. Fact is this is a very well made movie and the story is great. It’s only going to pick up steam because the word is out that it’s a story that non-trekkie’s can enjoy. I don’t think it tops $90m opening weekend, but in the long run it will bring in a nice haul. I hope a sequel is in the works already.
I was married the year Star Trek began on NBC. It was outstanding, not for the cheesy spfx, or.. the.. acting.. by.. Wm.. Shatner.. , but because of the dreams that Star Trek engenders. The ideas and ideals that ST proffered, in the bigoted land of 60’s TV, were dangerous and worthy of the best ideas of Brecht, Miller, or Moliere.
My son, a recent college graduate who cannot be called a Trekker by ANY means, saw the new film Thursday night. His one word critique was,”awesome, deep, f***ing amazing spfx, Dad – you MUST see this!”
Take from this what you will. As a professor of Theatre and Film, all I can say is that I am looking forward to seeing the beginning, all over again, on Sunday.
How come all the actors have weak chins and hi voices?
Too much soy milk at birth? They should call it Fem Trek…
i have seen it twice already, it is a hugely fun movie! Pure escapism from the recession flu! Theatres were 3/4 full for the opening shows here in Central Alberta, but I predict it will pick up as word of mouth gets more out to it.
I am not a “Trek” fan, but I found this film to be exciting, funny, and hugely entertaining. The film has its flaws like the silly laser Gun battle or the out of place bikini sex scene, or the similarity of “Starship Troopers” which I liked, but Director Abrams seems to know exactly when to pull it back into the “USS Enterprise” with its smartness. The young cast did a great job and the reason “Star Trek” is boldly going to become one of the biggest blockbusters of the season. Count on it.
My wife and I saw the movie last night and loved it. We are in our early 50ies and I first saw Trek as a kid in the 60ies but my parents didn’t let me watch much of it. Like many of the long time fans I’ve paid BIG bucks on trek in the past – purchased all of the TOS eps on VHS as they were released and have all of the movies, some on VHS, Laser Disc, and DVD. I WILL buy a Blu-ray of this the day it comes out. I expect it will do very well at the box office but I agree with the Batman comparisons – the next one will be even bigger. I found the new actors wonderful in their roles. While the time travel plot line has been beat to death by Trek it worked very nicely here to establish a new time line where anything can happen. This is also a time travel first – establishing a new time line that isn’t ‘corrected’ by the end of the film. As it sits now, only the ‘old’ Spock knows what was and how the current time line’s events vary from his original time line. This opens the door to so many possibilities.
As far as plot holes go, very little of it was a problem. The criticism of the 25 years the villain waited around for Spock to appear; so? We are talking about an alien here. Once apron a time humans use to go on sea voyages that took years to complete – we didn’t always have such short attention spans. A seasoned SF fan could defend ALL of the so called plot holes rather easily. The only nit I’ve picked was the parachute jump from space … drogue chutes or portable retro thruster would have been nice before they deployed the full chutes…
Jay, I’m in North Carolina as well and I don’t see the graduations having much effect on the grosses. From the comments on these boards, most of those attending Star Trek appear to be teens and 40-somethings who grew up with the show. Buzz wasn’t very strong for this among people I know and it’s possible college aged kids have been taught that “trekkie” is code for “nerd.” It may take a week or two of solid reviews and word-of-mouth to get that demographic to the theatres anyway.
Just got back from seeing Star Trek. I have been a fan since 1976. Never really like William Shatner but loved the rest of the cast. This movie rocks! We saw it at an IMAX and the theatre was packed. I have not seen a movie move this fast since Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Did I say this movie Rocks! Loved all the characters and they linked up everyone very well. Eric Bana was superb as Nero, best Star Trek villain yet, minus the borg of course. If you have not seen the movie see it, and then see it again. This is a guaranteed winner. I am thrilled that Star Trek lives again. I am hoping JJ Abrams does another one.
Longtime Trek fans opposed to this out of some pre-formed principle will be depriving themselves – the movie is much more reverential and inclusive (like 100%) of all previous canon than you seem to believe…and Abrams did it in way that is completely accessible to the uninitiated (but I still think the long time fans will get much much more from the movie). Spite yourselves if you must but it would be a shame for this team not to stay together for a few more.
I’ve seen every original episode, every TNG episode, every Enterprise episode, every original and TNG movie, most DS9 episodes, and even a few voyager episodes. I love the movie, so for anyone that says the fans won’t…
On the other hand, my kids 17, 15, 10, and 5, think the shows and original movies are “lame”, but they lined up begging to go to this one, and I didn’t hear a peep from them the entire movie, once it was over, all I got was, when can we see it again.
We went to the 10:30 am showing this morning, and it was about 50% full. Walked out at 1pm and the lobby was a mad house with line after line waiting for their start times. (And I live in dinky ville)
Clearly the red hot trailers, the great reviews, and all the secrecy surrounding the storyline up to this point led to this film becoming a one weekend international blockbuster. But, I think it’s all the favorably strong word of mouth coming from non-trek fanboys that will lift and sustain it to box office record totals over the course of the summer.
Okay, forgot this one. Why would a starship be put under the command of individuals who just graduated from a military accademy. Check this, would you put a cadet/ensign just out os Annapolis in any real position of command authority aboard an aircraft carrier?
As to, the only holes in the plot were there because there was no time to explain them properly in the film? Then why include them in the film at all?
The writers in this used every schtick to sell this bucket of monkey chow to a “mainstream audience” without really doing what they were hired to do…write a good movie.
Save your money and send a clear message to Hollywierd. Quit relying on the title of the movie, the special effects and the prequel mystique. Write good, telling movies.
I go to 3 maybe 4 movies in the theater per year. I was a huge fan of Star Trek Voyager and STNG, I watched the original series as a kid. I really liked this movie, it kept my attention and was a visually very appealing. To all the trekkies who are whining about it not conforming to the original spirit, seriously get a life. To the morons complaining about the mentioning of Budweiser and Jack Daniels welcome to the real world of modern movie making economics. The filmanistas that are crying about the plot dynamics, what the hell did you think you were going to see? If you go into this movie with the appropriately lowered expectations and just sit back and enjoy the ride you will end up applauding with the rest of the audience members like I did when the credits started to roll. Haven’t seen that in years!
I’ve seen every Trek movie there is and I’m sure this is great, but I’ve grown weary of the PC movie industry and it’s seemingly lack of originality. It’s the same politics as the 70s and it’s the end of the first decade of the new millenium. The world has changed, but they haven’t an original thought in their heads in that industry and can’t seem to construct an original thought for so long it all looks stale. All they have it older ideas or ideas based on the books. I think we’re done here.
I’m a SciFi fan, I’ve always liked both Star Trek (all but Enterprise) and the original Star Wars films and I really liked this movie.
My husband really enjoyed it too. My 14 year old daughter was thrilled to see ‘Sylar’ in a vehicle and story that is entirely new to her. She loved it.
I think it was an ingenious reboot — it first hit me that something different was happening when Spock’s mother wasn’t there in the transporter.
So I feel kind of like ‘Spock Prime’ I remember how it used to be. Now going forward – things will be different and that’s both a little sad and exciting for the characters, the story and the franchise. I thought it was very respectful, but its diverged and to me, that’s OK.
80 million this weekend with much better domestic legs than Wolverine with foreign BO about the same, would be my guess.
Just got back from a 3:40 screening here in a mid sized city in the midwest/Great Lakes. The theater has IMAX as well as 3 regular screening every hour. Parking lot was full which I have never seen before at this newer theater. Especially odd on a nice spring day here in the midwest when we really look forward to getting out once the winter thaws. The IMAX showings were sold out all day. We arrived 45 minutes early and about 20 minutes before showtime an usher came in to announce that the showing we were in was sold out so everyone need to scout in toward the center to make room for everyone. I have never been in sold out show at 3:40 in the afternoon before (7-8 PM showings yes and then only what became the BIG picture of the year). Wide range of demographics too…young, old, women, men.
Basically, what I’m getting from most of those who loved this movie is they did so because of the flash, pace, humor and action while saying they were never really diehard fans to begin with, totally missing the point of what Trek was all about to begin with.
What it says to me more is that they prefer their stories on a simplistic level rather than engage on a higher level that made many of the original episodes inspiring to so many. (Ever wonder about the people who design most of the tech our society deals with on every level? Chances are every one of them grew up with Trek and were inspired to pick their career path because of the show. At least every tech-head I know did.)
Here I was ready to buy Kirk being a changed person as a result of the alternate reality created by the Romulans. However, Abrams and his writers depict Spock’s chronology growing up on Vulcan virtually letter perfect (with one flaw) with what had been established over the past 43 years. Then, at a key moment, they chuck all of that and do a 180, giving us a totally character with no explanation or reason other than to serve the plot of the story. At that point, given with what we are shown, Spock would have embraced his Vulcan side, not emulate his father’s actions.
Which brings the discussion of the film to its basic level. With this story, Abrams has essentially blown up the Trek universe. There is no reason to get involved with the original series, Next Gen or any past version simply because in the timeline established with this movie, none of those stories happened. Check out the classics that can never be: Amok Time, Journey to Babel, Where No Man Has Gone Before, Balance of Terror and Next Gen’s Sarek, among many other episodes. Paramount has essentially said to potential buyers, “These are strictly for entertainment value, but don’t get hung up on where it fits with the new movie. We’re only catering to the new crowd when it comes to new material.” Hell of a way to grow a fan base.
This is not a remake or retro. This is a NEW movie, new plotline, a new beginning. It is kick-A, optimistic and fun, with a lot of salutes within it to the old series for the old time fans. How many of the old trek fans choked up on seeing this movie, I know I did, and it still was rockin’ so the younger movie goer’s don’t need to know anything about the old series to enjoy it.
Does anyone care that we are being given a Trek without Vulcan?
Does anyone care that 43 years of Star Trek has been erased?
How many Star Trek episodes now will never happen?
The one thing that made Star Trek rise above all else is it’s consistency. It’s attention to detail…
And, now, we are supposed to believe that a LT can rise to Captain of a starship, based on ONE heroic action?
Talk about suspension of belief.
This new Star Trek is mindless entertainment. Nothing more.
First a brief note to Eileen:
I am not rubbing in being a Guild member. I started using the name during the Writer’s strike, which I was forced due to the illness of my late father to spend far away from my fellow WGA members in Canada. Since I couldn’t “walk the line” I spent a few hours every day prowling the web and writing the most cutting comments I could against the studio prowls who were bullshitting on this site and many others. That’s where “anotherWGAmember” came from. Since it seems to piss off some people, I’ll find something else to use from now on, although I am very proud of my Guild membership and have sacrificed a great deal to pursue a life of letters and celluloid.
I have seen the film and I loved every minute of it. Hell, I loved the sproket holes. Sure, it has holes in it, but so did “Batman Begins” and we all know what followed that film. This is a serious attempt to bring “Star Trek” back into the mainstream – and remember, Trek was originally envisioned as “bringing science fiction to the general public, a sort of ‘Wagon Train to the Stars’” when it ran on Thursday nights in 1966. It’s only in the intervening years that the show has become the property of guys in cheesy Federation uniforms and bad rubber ears. The network (and yes the Great Gene) never intended this as anything other than mainstream. Paramount discovered they could make tons of money off the Trekii and the words Star Trek became associated with glasses, not getting laid and overly technical conversations in Klingon.
JJ has decided – I think quite rightly – to make a film anyone can enjoy, without a degree in Kol-i-nar.
Hopefully, with careful cultivation, these wonderful actors will grow into the roles and the next two films will be amazing. Sisto is perfect as Spock and Pine gets Shatner: at the end of the film he struts on the deck like a walking penis – yes Bill is a bit of a dick – and has that tiny curl of the lip down while adding so many new colors to the character.
This is a great summer entertainment; not perfect, but far better, I’m sure than the other five big films that previewed in trailers before it began.
Hey,Kurt, if you watched the movie closely enough, you’d have noticed that the entire Federation fleet was massing at a very distant point when Mr. Tattoo Face’s ship came out of warp above the defenseless Vulcan. The Vulcan’s sent a distress message and it was decided to instantly graduate the entire military school and put then in the ships that were being built on earth at the time.
In 1941, with the Germans at the gates of Moscow and Stalingrad, the workers in the tank factories finished whatever tank they were working on and the then training classes of military students drove them out of the plant, up to the front and into battle. This also happened to the West Point students at the start of the Civil War, the Imperial Russian Military Academy students during the Revolution, the Officer Taining and pilot training classes in Britain following the Blitzkreig in 1940…I could go on and on but hopefully you get the point.
I’d call the plot a fusion of Moby Dick and A New Hope.
Bana as Ahab… don’t you see it?
Spock as Moby Dic…
The ultimate vengeance a whirlpool of disaster…
Particularly targeting San Francisco Bay?
The villain is stuck to the singularity the same way Ahab could seek no other whale: absolute obsession.
Nyota Uhura’s love interest preceded Kirk’s arrival…
Of course the laws of physics don’t operate in movie land. I got over that forty years ago.
BTW supernovas are triggered by a gravitational collapse — so adding even more magic singularity juice would amplify the blast.
So forget the science and focus on the characters and the fun.
I will agree that the latest generation of film editors needs to get off the crack; way to many jump cuts in all the latest efforts starting with Lucas.
My I-MAX was seriously crowded at !!:35 AM and the parking lot was packed when I left.
Abrams earned his nickels on this one.
Enjoyed the movie. Been around long enough to have seen Star trek in the 60s. After some crap movies like Nemesis, this was great! My wife could not believe I was dragging her to see this and she came out of the theatre raving about it. Been a fan forever. I was disappointed with yet another time travel plot but they did okay with it. They addressed a severe problem of Trek continuity that was choking creativity in the previous series and movies. The movie was enjoyable and will breathe life back into the franchise. Probably the last Trek movie I enjoyed was First Contact. I am also one of the rare fans of Enterprise. Go see this movie. You will love it.
I thought it would have been a much better movie if they used federal bailout money and had the Obama administration write the script and hold everyone’s salary below $250,000
Just saw the movie this afternoon.
WONDERFUL, EXCITING, EXCELLENT
A Spouse wrote (way up there) some comments about how Kirk wasn’t portrayed correctly. None of them were, really and this version of the franchise has a pass on any continuity with what we (trek fans) have been told over the years. Nero goes back in time and totaly changes the lives of our main charactors. Some crazy “butterfly effect” going on here. It’s a wonder they ever meet.
In the end I left the theater thinking it was okay and what’s with all the water pipes (that Scotty get’s beamed into)??? Does the Enterprise have a waterpark in it now? Being a fan all these years of the technology and the thought one day this stuff will come true, I was a little let down with the lack of ship design.
AMAZING FLIM! Period. The BEST thing about the movie (IMHO) is the great characterization the “background” crew get. Each character gets a moment to shine. Sulu save’s Kirk’s butt. Chekov saves both Kirk and Sulu. Mr. Scott is once again briliant and funny and Uhura is… need to be careful here, not only about as attractive as it gets BUT she’s briliant as well.
The rest of the film and the three “main” character in Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. GREAT as well!
Don’t be hating! Is it perfect? OF COURSE NOT BUT it’s an amazing ride AND a MUCH NEEDED breath of fresh air.
May the new TREK “Live Long and Prosper”… had to say it!
“Why would a starship be put under the command of individuals who just graduated from a military accademy.”
To quote Galaxy Quest (the best Star Trek movie until now) – “Have you ever SEEN the show?” That bit was lifted directly from Star Trek 2 “The Best Star Trek EVAH” according to the lore.
One of the nice things about this new film is that there are great moments that pay direct homage to earlier films and the show without being hokey. It starts over from the beginning and it does it WITHOUT UNDOING ANYTHING THAT CAME BEFORE. Brilliant. Each character is given their moment to shine and each actor does a wonderful job without being a cartoon or caricature of the original. It’s not a perfect movie but its a damn near perfect Star Trek movie.
Congratulations to all involved.
I can’t believe people are still asking whether ST has legs beyound the hardcore fanbase. The film is absolutley remarkable, it’s stand alone spectacular; story, direction, cinematography, acting, score!
Side note: People that compare this to Watchmen with regards to built-in fanbase vs. new audience are off their heads – 1. J.J draws his own modern day cult crowd 2. Watchmen required reading the graphic novel to appreciate it, also it kind of sucked. My opinion of Watchmen is like getting your favorite sushi roll with a Big Mac on top.
The more interesting conversation is, what will be the drop off to next weekend. I say %37 or somewhere in the $50MM range.
Can you Vulcan!!!
A
I’ve been a Trekker since the original show aired in the 1960s and still think the original show was the best of all the Trek universes. That being said, the beauty of ST and the reason it still lives, is its ability to adapt to new audiences. Mr Abrams gave us a wild ride, and while he may have ruffled a few canon feathers here and there, overall I thought the movie was terrific and well worth the credits spent. I intend on going back for a second and probably a third look.
I did see a huge plot hole–but I won’t mention what it is. No point in perhaps ruining someone’s fun.
The Great Bird of the Galaxy is up there somewhere, smiling widely. His baby will live on for another half century at least.
Thanks to my sweetest of all husbands for taking me to see it.
having seen the movie, as a former (but no longer) trekkie, it was glorious. It turned star trek into something that anyone can be entertained by, but without butchering the soul and feel of trek. I loved every minute of it, and I truly do see this as the future of the franchise. Oh, did I mention that I was always a TNG fan, and I hated the original series? Yeah, the movie converted me.
As much as I wanna support JJ and the franchise, and everyone involved…seeing these kind of numbers come back on a remake only drives the nail further into the coffin for original content.
I know I sound like an old man… but I’m not. Sure some will say a healthy bounty like this will get distributed across a multi-platform of other kinds of movies (independents, etc) but let’s be honest… that’s not gonna happen.
Am gonna start chasing the remake rights to Mama’s Family and 227 before it’s too late!
Hated it.
Weak. Over-hyped and just not a big deal.
In two weeks it will be forgotten.
its a move! for gods sake jim… its just a movie! loved all the previous, looking forward to all the new to come. i liked this one too… will be seeing it several times i am sure. its the only game in town folks, learn to enjoy it.. they ain’t make’in anything else.. grab your popcorn and have some fun… I hope it does vey well, then we will get another one sooner than later
) qb.
Yeah…something tells me that a movie with 96% positive reviews isn’t going to be forgotten in two weeks. Imbecile.
Betrayed.
Enjoyed the movie while watching it- especially the clever bits of how the characters first met- but woke up the morning after feeling betrayed. Wow. They just revamped the entire ST timeline, anything’s game from the early timeline forward. What a great franchise opp. Gee, thanks JJAbrams for figuring out a way to make $ off the new version. Wonder how Gene would feel.
let’s be honest.
most of the people accounting for the box-office bump here – newcomers in particular (’Dark Knight’ purists? ‘Transformers’ fans? girlfriends?) and the 18-29 demo – would get antsy in their seats if forced to watch “City on the Edge of Forever” or “Balance of Terror.”
they would, wouldn’t they?
Comment for Bob..
Yes, it’s JUST a movie. Yes, Star Trek was JUST a TV Show…
And the bible is JUST a book.. Yet, how many BILLIONS of people have used that simple book as a basis for a set of values, morals and beliefs?
For many, Star Trek represented a set of worthy values, morals and beliefs.
To put it in perspective, imagine the uproar if, in an effort to bring the bible more into the mainstream, the entire basis of the bible was changed to show that it was Adam and Steve, instead of Adam and Eve and that Christ was actually a female lesbian..
Don’t you think that those billions of people who base their beliefs, their morals and their values on the bible would be a tad PO’ed that their entire belief, moral and value system was fracked with so badly??
Yes, Star Trek is JUST a TV show… But, you must allow for the fact that, for some people, it was so much more.
Filmlover24/7 and Michale,
(SPOILER ALERT)
How did this blow up the Star Trek universe and/or erase everything? The film went out of its way to say that the continuity of the Star Trek universe to this point has been preserved, and that we are in an alternate reality (Like the difference between Earth-1 and Earth-2 to put in terms of DC comics — with no Crisis on Infinite Earths to destroy the previous universe’s continuity.) If a new fan wants to learn more about this old Spock they’ve just seen, they will now go back and watch the original show and movies and be entertained. Heck, they then might want to watch the Next Generation and all the other series that took place in that universe. And if another new fan just wants to enjoy the new series without having seen the old series. they can do choose to do that too (although they’ll miss the great inside joke about Admiral Archer’s beagle.)
It wasn’t perfect (ice monsters? Really? And Scotty has a co-worker who is an Ewok? Yuck.) But it had a big heart, comedy, suspense, and was just a ton of fun, and has me excited for the next one.
filmlover24/7:
Your assertion that this movie erases or does away with all previous Trek is patently incorrect. You need to pay closer attention. If anything it works overtime to take its place alongside and within it all.
I am a 50 year old fan of the TOS, and have liked the later versions of Trek over the years. I went to the movie with an open mind, exspecting to see a new take on an old story. Some of it was true to the TOS, some wasn’t. The plot was nosence, just stupid for too many reasons to go into here.
The Kirk charactor showed no leadership quilities, and had no military bearing. Being the most junior Ensign on the ship no one would have taken orders from him. Advancing him 5 grades to captain was absurd, and an insult to every officer in the Fleet who had to bust his ass for years for each promotion. Mr Scott was funny but he sounded like a nut, not a master enginer.
Destroying the USS Kelvin in 2239 would have no effect on the time line, different Enterprise design, the age of charactors, Kirk 8 years younger Chekov 3 years younger and so on. Imploding Vulcan was pointless, No story line was advanced by it. Since the Federation didn’t destroy Romulus what is Nero getting revenge for? Since the Supernova is a natural event how will destroying Federation Planets prevent this from happening? How did Nero learn how to use “Red Matter” since Spock came up the tech? How long will Earth survive now that there’s a Black Hole in our solar system?
Now combat in Star Trek is just like combat in Star Wars. No more ships phaser banks, just little anti fighter type guns around the sauser section. Hand phasers fire Star Wars type pules, rather then beams. What the hell is the Turbine Room for? Is that feed water we see? Is the Enterprise now a steam fired ship with boilers?
I could just go on and on. It was even dumber and more illogical then “First Contact”. This is what you get when you give a project to some one who has no interest or feel for the original material. Abrams said he wanted to make it more like Star Wars, and he did. They will make money on it, my hope is they do a better job on the next one. Sorry it’s a slim hope but it’s all I have.
P.S. I really wanted to like this movie, and it did have good elements in it, but over all it sucked.
How exactly is 43 years of Star Trek being “Erased” when it’s totally explained in the film that everything in this film and what’s to come is an alternate reality? So everything that happened before happened. It wasn’t “Erased”. These new films are apart of an alternate timeline. You will still have your older stuff. It’s still there to watch on DVD.
I never ever seen so many crybabies in one place. I am a huge fan of John Carpenter’s Halloween. When it was remade, I watched it, hated it, and just remembered that the original was still there for me to see.
People really need to get a fucking grip. You should be happy that JJ & Co. made the most accessible Sci Fi movie I have ever seen. I went in not knowing anything about Star Trek to completely loving the film.
Don’t be mad because you have to share these characters now. Trust me, I’m not trying to crash your little conventions. I’ll be too busy waiting to see how JJ will piss you off more with the sequel.
Since reading your nerdy over the top reactions is fucking hilarious.
It was a great action adventure movie; it was NOT a great science fiction movie.
Time travel is a lousy way to take beloved characters and repackage them for a generation of morons who want their heroes young, attractive, and flawed. I was never a trekkie growing up but it seems the Enterprise has been hijacked by rejects from a frat house. Kirk has not earned his leadership of the Enterprise, Spock cannot control his emotions. I could go on. I hear people say enjoy the ride but rides go up and down and round and round but in the end they never really take you anywhere. The movie was fun at parts but not close to great.
To George Glass & B
I understand what ya’all are saying and am gratified to see that ya’all understand that what was depicted in the movie is not the “real” timeline.
However, that is small consolation to those who followed and believed the messages of the “real” Star Trek.
As I mentioned before, would the billions of Christians in the world be satisfied that THEIR belief structure was intact, if it was decided to make the bible more “mainstream” by changing Adam & Eve to Adam & Steve and making Christ a female instead of male?
Why bother messing with the Trek “legend” anyways?? Simply create a new ship with a new crew?? It certainly has been done before and surpassed the original by a wide margin…
Seriously, what will Star Trek be without Vulcan?
This is nothing but Star Trek 90210.. It’s a great movie. It probably will do fine..
It’s just not Star Trek and anyone who is a true fan of the phenomenon will know this…
Michale
The new Star Trek movie is great! Am a devoted Trekkie who enjoyed all treklore and have no problem with the timeline disruption. Even Bradbury played with it “A sound of Thunder”- or even Ellison’s “City on the Edge of Forever”, the greatest stand-alone TV episode ever written for the original Trek.
To all those bemoaning the alternate timeline:
The major characters have found each other regardless-perhaps God didn’t take too kindly to Nero rolling dice in the Universe-
Vulcan will reconstitute as a colony planet- its influence maybe even heighted in the Federation ranks as the survivors no longer see being insular and above the fray of most Federation issues–
Spock will probably turn to logic to get in touch with his lost homeworld’s identity (survivor’s guilt)and evolve into the Logical Spock (who, remember, embraced emotion on more than a few ephiphanous occasions) and will evolve into Spock Prime–
Kirk will mature as his swagger gets tempered by responsibility and he realizes there just may be some “no win scenarios”, but we’ll have fun watching him cheat the devil as he and the rest of the crew evolve into the people they might have been in another reality–
As to those bemoaning the allusions to the original “Star Wars IV” storyline–all literature is derivative, including this age’s great literature, which IS Cinema–get over it. Clever and serious the next movie will be, but the fanbase needed new blood, and this movie delivered one. Be Thankful for that and don’t despair–you’ll get your “Dark Knight” version of Star Trek–and J.J.Abrams will be the reason for it.
And P.S.–great popcorn movie and a love letter to the parents and Grandparents of the new fanbase who grew up with the show.
Now, go buy the Digitally-remastered TOS with the 21st century SPFX and the DVD of this for your LCD’s and Plasmas and breathe a prayer of Thanks for another generation of TREK.
Enjoy the movie!
I’ve always been a big Star Trek fan although I’m not fanatically crazy. This was an awesome movie in all aspects and it remained true to the original series in many ways, but not all. I will see it again, and perhaps, I’ll find something that I didn’t the first time!
Star trek had a great story to tell and the show was not just about Kirk and Spock. In my opinion, this movie did not carry-forward the essence of Star Trek which was to create allegories that challenged the political and cultural realities of the time. Issues such as war and peace, sexism, racism, imperialism, equality, materialism and human rights (among others).
Also, two may pretty Hollywood faces that detracted from the true Star Trek. Had a flashback to 90210 in outwear space.
I found true Star Trek “essence” lacking in this movie especially a time where people are looking for a new direction and a better world – “to boldly go where no one has gone before”
The whole point of the older loyal fans is.
If you are gonna change it so much. Then why not just go ahead and make a “NEW” movie series rather than tag on to old. Be original.
Folks,
I went and saw this at the 10PM showing on Thursday to a packed house. Everyone gave applause at the end because it IS a well made movie. To understand the back-story about the antagonist (Nero) and his obsession with Spock, you must read the 4-volume comic book that was put out.
I’ve been a die-hard fan of the show since I was a kid and saw “The Wrath of Khan”. Does JJ’s vision hold water to canon? Somewhat. If you are rebooting a franchise that has a huge history and following, you have to pay homage to the existing fan base to some extent. The other adventures in the cannonized Trek universe have been attempted (TNG, VOY, DS9, ENT) with mixed results. I agree that the use of time-travel is an often-used literary/plot device, however in the case of this movie, it’s absolutely necessary if we’re going to try something new but familiar. With the alternate timeline, future writers and directors can begin establishing a new canon and writing new stories for the crew. This is exciting.
I do not feel dismissed or upset by this iteration of Trek. C’mon people, accept this for what it is – a different interpretation of the characters that has the capability to grow into a very successful part of the Trek franchise. For those that think the characters were too shallow, write a novel building up the newly-revitalized Trek universe and submit it to Pocket Books for publication. We have the opportunity to build-on and embrace Trek in a positive way – let’s not squander it with petty arguments about it not holding up to the original.
Anonymous — May 10, 2009 @ 2:18 am: “Yes, Star Trek was JUST a TV Show… And the bible is JUST a book.. Yet, how many BILLIONS of people have used that simple book as a basis for a set of values, morals and beliefs? For many, Star Trek represented a set of worthy values, morals and beliefs.”
LOL! That’s hilarious!
Someone go create a church based on value, morals, and beliefs of “Fast and Furious,” “Old School,” or “The Departed” since that makes about as much sense as what “Anonymous” writes above.
I knew the hardcore Trekkies would prove me right, despite the claim of “Defensive — May 7, 2009 @ 2:50 pm.” The hardcore Trekkies hate the movie – which is good since their enjoyment is inversely proportional to everyone else’s enjoyment. If they loved the movie, it probably wouldn’t do well.
I hope that Abrams radically redesigns the Starfleet uniforms for the next movie. Maybe recast Khan as a woman. I’d love to see the Trekkie reaction to that. Perhaps they will sit in the street and light themselves on fire in protest.
Trekkies. So dramatic! So irrelevant.
ROFL @ B5…
Its time to move out of your mothers basement, find a job, a girlfriend, and open your eyes to the real world.
I grew up in a household where we always watched Star Trek together, movies and shows. I loved what JJ did with this. I liked his ‘interpretation’ of the characters. To me, there is NOTHING that is so sacred that it isn’t open to be re-interpreted going forward. If you don’t like it, don’t see it. But don’t give me this, “Destroying the USS Kelvin in 2239 would have no effect on the time line, different Enterprise design, the age of charactors, Kirk 8 years younger Chekov 3 years younger and so on” bullshit.
To all you crybabys…its FANTASY! Its not, I repeat, NOT, real. Its a great story, a fun movie, and will without a doubt breathe new life into an otherwise stagnant franchise. All of you conventioneers should be happy, with most of you probably dying off from either old age or a lack of sunlight, at least now you might get some new blood to attend.
I loved it and can’t wait to see it again. Thanks JJ for making an enjoyable movie!
JJ Abrams is Godlike. He is the only master of film left in Hollywierd. (Sorry but Speilberg’s best days are well behind him). This may be the best movie of all time. PERIOD. I loved Uhura , finally a smart woman on the big screen (very very rare).
I freaking loved it. I am a longtime trekkie and thought the casting was excellent.
Holly
someone adroitly pointed out that an early scene in the movie serves as an unwitting metaphor:
the Corvette represents all the greatness of Star Trek that came before. and it’s driven off a cliff by a little snot who wants to take it out for a spin.
Well logically wouldn’t Nero go back in time and evacuate Romulus? Why the elaborate scheme to hurt Spock when he could use that same technology to save his people. But I still like the new characters. I think it will take more films to develop the relationships and for fans to gel to it. But this is what we expect with blockbuster films. On the small screen it would be a totally different Star Trek, the more intimate Star Trek that makes Trekkies the fans they are.
I’ve grown up enjoying star trek. I’m not old enough to have watched a lot of the originals just enough to know all the characters and to appreciate some of the great lines in the new movie: “Dammit Jim, I’m a doctor not a physicist” I’ve enjoyed TNG and DSN, and even some of Voyager. I’ve also liked a lot of the movies. Maybe I just don’t take Star Trek as serious as lot of people and just appreciate it as some of the best escapism entertainment. That’s what I love about star trek how they combine the almost probable with the probably impossible. They sprinkle in some humanism and top it off with action. And the new movie continued a long in this fine tradition. In fact many of the things that other commentators have disliked were actually some of the things I really loved. For example I loved the water turbine scene because not only did it provide for some comedic action but it also helped bridge the sci-fi with a little bit of reality. Because it only makes sense for humans to be able to live in a ship of that size that there would be a water system in place. Also I loved all the lens flare. People may say it was overused but it just set the mood of Space for me. Anyway I loved the movie for so many different reasons and I would hope that people would go and give it a chance. It is a thrill ride that I think any who goes in with an open ride can appreciate it for what it is.
Holy crap, @Anonymous.
You did not try and prove your point by comparing changed in Star Trek to changes in Christianity. That is insane logic.
Seriously…any credence the pro-old Trekkers had was just tossed out the window by Anonymous.
To WA_Trekie -
How many people who see the film do you think will pick up the comic or have already read it? I can guarantee you the sales generated by that mini-series translates to 1/100 of the audience who’s seen the movie this weekend alone. (Comic book sales these days aren’t anything what they were 10 years ago, let alone when DC Comics had the franchise under their control in the 80’s and 90’s.)
Why do we have to have a new canon for the original characters? That’s like saying Gone With The Wind or Casablanca needs to be redone because today’s audiences can’t relate to these period pieces. How many times have people on these boards moaned and complained Hollywood does nothing original, yet show up here to rave about the Star Trek Greatest Hits Redux?
If you enjoyed the opening segment, that is clear proof Abrams and company could have created an entirely all-new all-ORIGINAL Trek that would have garnered the same rave reviews. You didn’t need Kirk and Spock and the others to get your audience, as both Next Gen and Deep Space Nine proved. What Enterprise proved was that most Star Trek fans didn’t want to look back, they wanted to look forward.
The people who come on this board and say see “we’re right and you’re not” are missing the point of the big picture. Read Nikki’s analysis. Look at the male/female breakdown as well as the under/over 25 age of the filmgoers who saw this. That is not the same audience who saw The Dark Knight, Iron Man and Indiana Jones, which pulled in a greater number of kids as well as women. Notice no film records were shattered with this release, unlike last year when records seemed to be dropping like flies on a weekly basis. Also, as Nikki acknowledges, Trek’s opening was only the 2nd biggest since The Dark Knight. She didn’t even acknowledge anything before that because Trek would have come down quite a few notches in comparison. Look at Sex & The City, which replied on an almost exlusively female audience alone for it’s opening. In comparison, is Trek’s first weekend really that great? For a summer blockbuster, it remains to be seen.
As for petty arguments about the film not holding up to the original, unlike most TV shows, the fans of the original series have a sense of ownership that fans of other series don’t. Without the fans of the original series fighting to keep the show on during the original run – when there was no internet to get out the word – let alone fighting to bring the series back during the entire decade of the 70’s – even with the success of Star Wars and the naming of the first space shuttle Enterprise – there is no Next Gen and so on, and there certainly isn’t Abrams’ film. Hell, no one would care if all the film was a remake of an old show that didn’t spawn anything between now and then. To give you some sense of how little Paramount thought of the show and its prospects after it was cancelled back in 1969, they offered to sell Gene the rights to the entire series for $150K. Think about that. Would any studio today think about unloading any of their shows to any creator/producer for pennies on the dollar? Likewise, that first film back in 1979 attracted bigger audiences than this one did. I know, as I stood in line for hours on the 2nd day to get in to a midnight showing, as every show before it was sold out. This weekend, I could have gotten a ticket just about anywhere for a seat without standing in line.
As one poster above stated, the dispiriting aspect about this film and its possible success is that less originality in films will be the result. I believe one can create new and different and – yes – commercially viable material if one really has the desire to do so.
Re: Tim
Next time, please pay attention to the film before you call it a plot hole. The villian’s ship came through portal. He calculated that he need to wait 20 years for 2 reasons:
1. He need the material aboard the 2nd ship for his plan to work.
2. He wanted the person aboard the 2nd ship on hand to feel what he personally feel, which is the death of his home world.
Since he has nothing but time, he wait for the 2nd ship to show up before going about the rest of his plan.
I have watched the various versions of Trek since the original episodes aired on TV. I don’t go to the conventions etc. but I am a fan.
I saw the new film on Thursday. I thought it was a good effort and enjoyed it somewhat. I purposely did not read or watch anything concerning the new film before it came out so that I could watch it on it’s own merits.
Once the full plot of the time travel/ alternate universe was fully revealed, it seemed okay until the end when there really was a cop out in my opinion.
It’s not that the movie couldn’t stand by itself as a good film, it’s more that I was hoping to see a brilliant way of making the original story line jive with this new “episode”. I was hoping the writers/producers would do something extraordinary, kind of like what Kirk or Spock would do to save everybody “in the good ol’ days”, but for us fans, that kept Trek going for so long.
Overall, I guess its a lot like Lord of the Rings or Dune in that its very hard to make such a complex story translate to the big screen.
In that alone, Trek fans should be happy that the Canon has gotten to that status.
And who knows, maybe the next film will be about a rescue of the original time line to save the vulcans….. it would be “only logical”.
I don’t care how much the movie did this weekend. Or the reviews.
I just want to know who the hot chick is on the right in the picture.
I am a pretty big fan of Star Trek. I liked the movie. I thought it was exciting, funny and fun. Sure, it isn’t terribly deep. But, being that it is an origins story, I don’t really care. I think the casting was great. Loved Karl Urban as McCoy, in particular. Yeah, there are some plot holes. But, time travel stories do usually leave some plot holes. (Which is why I don’t usually like them.) I’ll live with it this time, because the movie was otherwise very fun. I am about 50-50 on the alternate timeline device. The hardcore fan inside me is a little upset that no established Trek history has to be adhered to in any future movies. I mean, I LIKED that Trek history. But, on the other hand, this is kind of freeing. It allows them to tell some different stories. And really, there is already an established alternate timeline within the Trek series. Does that alternate timeline diminish my emjoyment of Star Trek? No. So, I figure this one won’t either. I DO hope that any sequel will be a bit smarter in script and maybe focus a bit more on the morality and philosophy that Star Trek was known for.
In the “old days” (’60s), there was a dearth of convincing special effects, so they made up for it with interesting storylines; currently, the special effects are top-notch but the storylines suffer.
When these two aspect stop trying to eclipse one another, we may get the “perfect” sci-fi movie.
Oh wait, Kubrick already did it.
Have fun arguing.
I consider myself an ultra-orthodox Original Series fan and yes, of course, there were many things about “Star Trek 90210: Fast & Furious” that disappointed me, but there were also many pleasant surprises as well. All in all, it was a great movie with an excellent soundtrack.
My kids were disappointed that there were so many holes in the back story of the characters; they would like to have seen more character development. However, they were Harry Potter fans and understood that you can’t cram every detail from the books into the movies.
Box office? Hard to say. I don’t think it will do as well as say Iron Man or Transformers because people had more spending money back then…more people had jobs.
$235,305,065
$192,719,413
$163,411,342
$212,328,918
The grosses, adjusted for inflation, of the first four Star Trek movies.
Harold, you’re back! And you’re still picking and choosing your examples to describe an entire community of diverse people you haven’t even tried to understand!
I wish I could paint everyone with as broad of a brush as you do. Then I could just judge people on stereotypes, and not have to get to know any of them.
You must live a very easy life this way.
I don’t know why everyone is bitching about the lack of packed houses for this or a lot of other films. I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We have over 60 screens in this city. Each theater has at least four copies of this film playing with four shows a day.
That gives people across the city at least 20 showings to choose from. I haven’t seen a full house for any successful tent-pole film in over ten years regardless of the time of day I attended.
Sold-out showings don’t equal success anymore and half-full auditoriums don’t equal failure. With so many showtimes and screens you can catch the film at your leisure and at a price that suits you… as opposed to one print playing at only one theater and waiting over a week to get into see the film because you had no choices due to constantly sold-out shows.
@InformedViewer
The fact that you cannot allow that there may be people out there who take to heart the morality, values and beliefs that are engendered by Star Trek as much as religious people take to heart the morality, values and beliefs that are engendered by the bible simply shows me (and everyone else) that you know very little about Star Trek.
Or the bible, for that matter.
Michale
You would think someone killed Star Trek or something!
OMG, I’m an original Trekkie since “Man Trap” premiered in 1966. I love the original characters. And I could pick at nits, but that’s just it. They are nits!
This movie recaptured what Trek was about in my youth. (Granted, with a LOT bigger budget and no cardboard sets!) But it was fun to see my heroes alive and vibrant. I have grown old with them. And I shall always love Kelley, Nimoy and Shatner. But I am glad to see the characters in their prime again.
My kids liked it and are now looking at reviewing the old Trek videos. So I am very happy with the result of this movie.
And to all those old Trek fans who think it is sacrilege… That is the nature of science fiction… It’s heresy and that’s what it’s supposed to be about!
I predicted it would do 80 and it did 79.3, man was I WAY off…
Hey, DaveM… you have a remarkable point in your post.
As someone who goes between the Midwest, LA and NY a lot over the year, I see a different view of the movie bix: NY considers it the bastard child of Broadway, LA is obsessed over it to the point where people who don’t see movies opening weekend are ridiculed at work, and the Midwest just looks at movies for what they are…. just entertainment.
The panic and paranoia of LA gets pushed on all other venues, thus the 20 showtimes a night you get in Grand Rapids. 12 would be a better fit, which means that 8 screens could be used to show other offerings… but LA functions on a Big Business (meaning screen count, etc.) and not a Smart Business (meaning margins).
This is one of the reasons why Hollywood is friggin’ broke. The Big Studio Model doesn’t work. Big screen counts, big audiences, big advantage taken from investors, big ego…
That’s a pretty staggering taking for the first weekend.
To everyone who attacks Trekkies, or Trekkers, for their loyalty to canon, we apologize for your pea-sized brains not being able to comprehend an appreciation for logical narrative, overall cohesiveness to a secondary world’s structure, or wanting such a world to stand for more than cash-whoring, summer blockbuster braindead hackwork. It is fortunate that I for one do like these things, and can properly hate this movie; if I didn’t, I might actually consider killing myself, to fix that kind of problem.
LAST!
I’m not a hard-core Trekkie but I loved the original show (TOS) as a kid. As with any remake, I was filled with dread when this movie came out, thinking it was going to wipe away the foundation established by all the previous shows, books and movies. It did. I’ve had a couple months to think about this movie and decided that it’s not all bad.
Over the years Star Trek evolved from a cool military-based action show into a heavy-handed, elitist depiction of a socialist utopia (see First Contact). By the time Enterprise came out it had collapsed under its own weight and nobody cared.
Sure, I have my disagreements with details about the movie–especially that damn headache-inducing handheld camera effect on a big screen–but the changes were needed. Abrams broke the franchise away from its self-made quagmire and made it fun again. I’m ready to buy tickets to sequels.