past momentum of the pre-existing fan base. You have had months teaser leaks to the fans. You have forums like FR but dedicated to Trek. We even have fan based productions. Star Ship Exeter comes to mind which has the same production value and quality as the original series. Of course it has the same production value and quality as the original series. (it is still pretty good for what it is)
I noticed the serious cross generational attendance. Many Fathers and sons were in the theater. Many whole families with children who probably only know enterprise at best.
I think the shrinking revenue was a direct result of the “oprafication” of the trek stories. Voyager could have been called the Cheese and Whine series.
My greatest hope on this new incarnation is that it continues to be a family friendly experience. It was GOOD to have a movie you could take the entire family to an actualy theater, overpay for popcorn-candy-drinks, and walk out not feeling ripped off by hollyweird.
(BTW I did notice the young spock fight scene was an almost copy of “yesteryear” from the animated Star Trek. Of course variations of spock as captain alternative timelines have appeard in a number of the paperback books.)
I just hope the suits protect the franchise from collapsing into political correctness preachiness that drove much of the fan base into indifference.
For the record, I am looking forward to 2011 for the next installment. (then again with the drek hollyweird puts out it may be the next time I actually go into a theater)
But all that “momentum” resulted in last TV show getting under 3 million viewers an episode and the last movie getting total grosses of 67 million. That’s not momentum, that’s an anchor. Trek has been bleeding fans as every new show or movie found a way to annoy another section of the fan base, and meanwhile the large history has proved daunting to new fans. That momentum resulted in there being no Trek of any kind in production for the first time since the mid-70s. From the fits and starts to create Phase II which finally resulted in the first movie through to the cancellation of Enterprise there had always been some sort of Star Trek in the works. But then in 2002 for the movies and 2005 for TV the momentum of Star Trek ran out.
One of the big points of this movie, from Paramount’s point of view, was opening up to a new fan base. Trying to get some momentum again. That generational attendance is a sign that the succeeded. A lot of the people I’m talking that have seen and loved this movie classify themselves as not Trek fans or former Trek fans. My mom had gotten tired of the franchise, too preachy, too much talking, not enough happening, she wasn’t going to see the new movie, then I saw it and was blown away and convinced her to give it a shot. She loved it, she said it’s the return of Star Trek.
I think as long as Abrams is tied to it things will stay on a good course. He’s shown no fondness for soap boxing in any of his other projects, he likes action, he likes intrigue, he likes hot chicks in scanty costumes.
Next time I’m going to a theater is Memorial Day, Terminator Salvation, finally the post Judgment Day war against the machines.