danny_boy said:

But you are entitled to your opinion...

Thank you. I'll keep that in mind.

I won't address every bit of your response because I'm trying not to take us too far off-topic. However, I do want to address the Star Trek film references. I should have been more clear in explaining when I think the franchise veered off course.

I have no issue at all with any of the TOS films and I like and own a few of the TNG films. However, when I was sitting in the theater and saw this scene; https://youtu.be/NKFMWhxJask I very nearly walked out. For the Star Trek franchise, this scene was my 3PO telling campfire stories to plush toys moment. It's when I knew it was time to part ways.

I didn't bother with Nemesis when it was released. I saw a bit of it on cable about a year ago. Like Insurrection, it looked and felt like a 1990s TV show.

For me, Star Trek2009 was a welcome return to characters and story. I haven't seen Cloverfield beyond a few minutes, nor have I seen MI3. Shaky-cam is a guaranteed no thanks in my world. I don't chase the story around the screen trying to figure it out. I won't work or struggle to watch a film.

Abrams received an enormous amount of grief over the flares in Trek2009. I suspect they'll be all but absent in TFA. He understands what the fans want and the original atmosphere of the 1977 film.