Tyrphanax said:

Gregatron said:

I think a big reason that the Nolan Batman films (which, in my opinion, are largely terrible BATMAN films--pretentious, dark, violent, and embarrassed by the source material) have been so successful is because of the public's name-brand recognition of Batman, and because self-loathing fans were all too eager to forget the campy Schumacher films, and wanted to see Batman be "dark" and "cool" so that they would look "cool" for liking it. "See? See? We're cool! We don't like those stupid, campy comics! We like this dark and violent Batman! See how cool we are?"

Same with TREK. "See? See how cool we are? We don't like that goofy, cheesy old TV show! TREK is finally cool now, because it's dark and fast and sexy and funny and big-budget!"

I genuinely hate this argument whenever anyone uses it. I can never roll my eyes hard enough.

Roll your eyes until the blood comes, but that's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

I'm convinced that Nu-TREK wouldn't have been anywhere near as successful if it was released as Generic Summer Sci-Fi Film X. Same with Batman. And maybe even the same with the SW prequels.

I've grown very weary of Hollywood hotshots coming along and twisting intellectual properties that I love into brainless action-fests that could not be more different than the source material.

But self-loathing fans--and general audiences who don't care--keep voting with their wallets. I guess fans are willing to accept even the most ridiculous perversions of various IP, because they're just happy to be getting it on the big screen to begin with.

As bashed as it was by fans and critics, STAR TREK- THE MOTION PICTURE was an honest attempt to make a TREK film. And I think it's a much better TREK film than Abrams' ode to STAR WARS.

And, God help me, I think that freaking BATMAN AND ROBIN is a better Batman film than THE DARK KNIGHT RISES.

Batman is not a quitter!