Hey, Paramount Pictures! I have a bone to pick with you!
I just saw the most recent commercial for the new Star Trek film. You know, the one with the fighting and the jumping and the naked women and the sex and the lasers that go ‘boop boop boop’. Well, amongst all the fighting and the jumping and the boom-chick-a-boom I saw the following words fly across the screen:
This Is Not Your Father’s Star Trek
This bothers me umpteen ways. Not only has the phrase ‘This is not your father’s…’ been totally overused, but it implies that the original version of the show that this prequel movie comes from is an antiquated piece of science fiction. Well, it is, but that’s beside the point! See, I don’t know about the pre-pubescents that populate your promotions department, but for the rest of us, our father’s Star Trek was our Star Trek as well.
Where do you think we got our interest in the series? We spent our weeknights or weekend days watching repeats of Star Trek on our local television channels (for me, it was WPIX in New York). Many times we did it beside our father, whom we asked incessant questions to because, as we were so young, we had no friggin idea what was going on. But, we liked the phasers and the fighting and the scantily clad women that traipsed across the screen.
Without our interest in ‘Your Father’s Star Trek,‘ there probably wouldn’t have been such a resurgence of popularity in the series during the 70s, or the huge outpouring of good tidings in movies like Star Wars. I mean, who went out to see all of The Original Series movies — even the bad ones? Who shat their britches when Spock appeared on Star Trek: The Next Generation? Who peed their shorts when Star Trek: Deep Space Nine honored the classic ‘The Trouble With Tribbles’ episode? We did — the ones who actually saw the original episodes in the first place!
So, why the use of that tired phrase … other than your lack of originality, that is? Perhaps you used it to highlight the fact that this cast wasn’t even a hint of a gleam of an idea when the first wave of Star Trek popularity crested. Or, maybe you wanted to make a clear distinction between the 1960s version of the show and the fast and slick 21st Century movie of the same name. Or, the most logical reason, you wanted to attract the young ones who rarely step away from their Xbox/Facebook/Myspace/Twitter universe.
Okay, I’ll give you the last reason. But, I need to let you in on a little secret: the majority of your audience is not going to be the Twitter crowd. It’s going to be me. Or, rather, the Woodstock-era generation of kids who grew up with the original series and are now parents in their own right. We’re going to be the ones paying the $150 for a movie ticket and popcorn and constantly comparing what is taking place on screen with the young Kirk and Spock to the way Shatner and Nimoy played the roles four decades ago.
And, possibly, we’ll be taking our fathers along, as well.
Clacked by Richard Keller 
on Apr 18, 2009 @ 13:00 EST5EDT
Well said. I haven’t ever completely watched any of the Star Trek series all the way through, but I plan on seeing the movie.
“Okay, I’ll give you the last reason. But, I need to let you in on a little secret: the majority of your audience is not going to be the Twitter crowd. It’s going to be me.”
Bingo. When will they learn that Star Trek isn’t Star Wars, it will never be as popular with “non-fans”. Star Trek failed because they did the same crap over and over and tried to please the idiots that won’t watch the movie anyways. I can’t wait to see this movie bomb because they over estimated how many “non-fans” will show up and how many fans they pissed off.
I respectfully disagree. For better or for worse, JJ has said several times that he’s not making this movie for Trek fans.
Yes, tried and true Trek fans are going to see this. But, if they’re the only ones, its not going to succeed. I went and saw Insurrection and Nemesis because, as a fan, that’s what I’m supposed to do.
They’ve marketed this for bringing in a new audience. I think the film, what I know about it, will appeal to that audience. And I can’t wait to see Oreo eat those words :)
What I’m at least saying is that they are overestimating how many new fans will be going to see the movie. So if you don’t get any new fans, and you piss off all the old ones there is no chance for this movie to make money.
Also the most cost $150 million to make, unless it has a $75 million opening weekend I don’t see the movie making money until DVD time because of the jam of summer movies.
I never watched the original Star Trek series. Ok, sure I saw an episode here or there, but probably only a handful and never really ‘got’ it. I also never watched any of the original cast movies.
I plan on seeing this movie though. I hope it will be good and I won’t be confused since I don’t really know much other than the character’s names, and then not even all of them.
I’m not sure if I’m supposed to be offended by “Not your father’s Star Trek” or not, based on my particular age (I did give a visible frown), but I’m sure that it was not a good idea to put that in the advertising. It’s never a swell idea to alienate any part of your audience, even if the goal is targeting a new audience.
At any rate, I look forward to taking my son to the movie, and I’m guessing it will be very successful.
I am definately going to watch it. Anything “Star Trek” will definately command my interest. I’m doing to take Tyler-8 with me too. Then….when he is big enough to walk, I’ll take him down to my Kentucky farm and take him fishing. After that, a little football practice. Then, back to Cincinnati for chess lessons (if it is not to early). This boy is going to be a lady charmer (just like his old man). What do you think Aunt bsgfan….Uncle Dorv…?
A charmer for sure!
Have you taught him to drive yet? :)
Tim-8 must be filling out a bit now right? I bet he’s so cute! Have you tried making a phone call on his foot yet? They love that!!
That should read Tyler-8!
Not that my parents are big Trek fans by any stroke, but its one of the few movie franchises that they cared enough to go see on opening day. So, until after Generations, they saw (and thus I saw) every movie on opening day. I always thought it was a nice tradition, and I hope when its time for a little Dorv, that we have something cool like that.
So go for it, Tim-1 and Tyler-8.
(On a side note, I’m just watching Revelations in my whole series watch through of BSG. Note to self: Don’t let little Dorv watch anything this dark. Or, any scenes of the Eights in the Basestar doing yoga. Not until he’s older).
Thinking about Tim-1’s “command my interest” and Dorv’s “nice tradition” – I recalled how I was in terrible trouble with my dad, one day, when I was a kid. My brother told my dad he would have a talk with me, while my dad decided how best to kill me. Instead of that talk he took me to see The Voyage Home. I remember being so grateful to have a couple hours respite from my impending doom.
My big brother taught me to love Star Trek, and Sci-Fi. He also taught me to dig foxholes, and has always been supportive of me. So I guess my feelings for the Star Trek franchise are oddly tied to my loyalty for my brother. And, like I said before, I will definitely take my son to see the new movie.
Ah yes bsgfan2003, “Voyage home” was one of the better of the ST movies. I remember when it first came out I was skeptical about the plot….Whales??….but it really was a good movie, and it gave a lot of closure to the story arc of the movies of that time. Oh bsgfan2003….you conveniently omitted the reason you were in so much trouble with your Dad (LOL).
Dorv, when your little Dorv comes along, it will change everything for your life in the most joyful ways. You will be a fantastic father.
Innocent as the setting dove!