dwhitney@uok.UUCP (07/03/84)
#N:uok:8400055:000:1977 uok!dwhitney Jun 19 23:42:00 1984 This week, Star Trek 3 dropped nearly 31% in ticket sales. It has grossed $45.9 million in 17 days release, but this big dropoff has kind of put a question in my mind..... Star Trek:TMP made, all totalled, about $175 million, despite poor reviews. I can remember lines for that film at some theaters literally went for blocks into residential areas (longer for either Raiders film, for example)..But once the film had been out a while, and the reviews started coming in and throwing the film in the dumper, the lines shortened and the film's release ended quietly, with many fans disappointed. In 1982, enter Star Trek 2. The lines were long, but not as long as ST:TMP. Many had expressed opinions in fan magazines that they had lost interest in Star Trek because of the frustration in TMP; ultimately, while the reviews for Trek 2 were much better than that of 1, but not perfect, Wrath of Khan was around for awhile, but it, too sort of faded away unnoticed. (Save for the Spock death material, of course) Now, 1984, and we have Star Trek 3. From the reviews I have read, the vast majority of critics feel it is the best of the films. Some have said it was the best of all the Trek films; others say it was too much like a TV episode. My question (finally) is this; considering the big dropoff in 3 just over two weeks release, and that some fans are coming out of the film kind of disappointed, (and many folks here on the net seem more concerned with picking apart the film instead of enjoying it), I am wondering this: Is the fandom for Star Trek starting to weaken??? Is anyone really looking forward to Star Trek 4? Or, are fans just kind of waiting for it all to die off, or what???? Back when the rumors of Trek revival started stirring, about 1975, Star Trek was EVERYWHERE. Books,manuals,buttons,clips,etc. But you don't see much stuff anymore, or it's kind of hard to find. Well?? What is the verdict??? David Whitney !ctvax!uokvax!uok!dwhitney