Given these, the economy and limited spending power, the average person might likely select something he or she feels is more slam-bang and more likely entertaining–based on past TREK films, TREK is a secondary choice. By putting the film in the circle of other winning films, I feel Paramount has possibly erred. Sure, it’s easy to think that a 160 million budget, JJ Abrams, a new cast, a summer release, will erase the past, but I see no evidence the public cares about these things; they want to see a good movie and given past TREK films, it’s going to be hard to win them over; not impossible, but hard.

The last X-Men, Terminator, Da Vinci and TREK films were major disappointments–all movie franchises produce bad films, but people still come back to them. I feel TREK will have a harder task bringing in the audience than these other films franchises.

When movie goers look at that marquee to select a film to see, it would have been a lot better in TREKs favor if less direct competition was up there on the marquee to choose from.

Christmas ‘08 offered limited choices and less competition and would have been a better decision in my book. This may be a case where Paramount has over-valued TREK, which they have done before pitting Nemesis in the wake of LOTR). I’m glad they have confidence in the new film, but are they doing it at the wrong time and is the reason for the move really because of confidence, or because their ‘09 summer schedule is thin?

True, but the last several TREK films were disappointing too, so why doesn’t your logic apply to it as well?

Did Paramount move TREK to May, ‘09 because they really think it can make more money, or did they move it because they are thin in the summer ‘09 blockbuster department?

Yes captain_neill I will be attending despite the lack of STTE. I figure a lot of the new cast will be invited to the con and that’s always fun. I love seeing the actors’ first con appareances. Quinto has handled it so fabulously.

I will probably just do the Preferred Weekend thing though next year. No experience, no need for the party. Save myself some $.

Will you be heading to the convention again? Next time we will def have to meet up.

Was kicking myself for not meeting up.

Did you say you were in Captain’s Package?

NEILL

Wolverine is part of a franchise I will never trust again without overwhelmingly good reviews and lots of personal reassurances from friends who know my tastes well. Unless that happens, it’s a _maybe_ rent, _maybe_ ignore entirely.

A new Terminator flick would, in my eyes, benefit greatly from my utter lack of high expectations and my general lack of investment in the setting. I’d probably see it expecting some lightly amusing summer-movie crap and pleasantly surprised if it was anything other. 100% chance of a ticket sale with me if I had nothing better to do that night, because it doesn’t _need_ to be a good movie to satisfy me. Sad but true.

His big minus in 2009: He can’t fly. Even Batman “flies” using his cape, and flying provides a chance for FX, and oohs and aaahs in the cinema.

Trek’s big “undecided” is the overseas market. Certain EU member states will run to see this, but China, Russia, the Middle East, SE Asia, Africa, South and Central America? in these territories, it amounts to a full franchise launch, I’m afraid.

I don’t think people are saying the movie will be bad, they are just concerned that no matter how good it is, it won’t perform as well as we need it to do, to keep the franchise going. Paramount spent a lot of money — too much in my opinion — and it will have to be simply HUGE to make a profit. Too many eggs in one basket.

I don’t have interest in X-Men yet even I want to see Wolverine because I like the actor. I thought T3 was an abomination yet because of the machine war and again the actor, I want to see this too. I’m just not sure Trek has that mainstream appeal. I work in the Criminal Justice system and encounter pretty much every type of person from the criminal, the crazy, cops, firefighters, doctors, attorneys, teachers, construction workers and more and since there’s always a lot of Court downtime, I engage in small talk. Often it turns to movies and tv. I’ve been sneaking Trek into conversations lately and it has kinda worried me that Trek is so off the radar. What also surprised me is that many don’t know who the hell JJ is. Apparently a lot of folks can like a tv show or film but never care to find out who made it. (weird but then I guess that’s what separates us “fans”)

Captain_Neill — I’m sorry I missed you too!!! I had a blast at the con and I loved Nimoy & Quinto on the stage, It was even better than the Grand Slam earlier in the year. But I did see you cause I had my binoculars checking out folks who asked the questions. I remember the exchange with Malcolm!