I didn't get where I am today with product placement

[threemonkeys]

It was blast from the past time yesterday.

First up was Reggie Perrin - a remake of the classic The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. First you have to ask the question - why did such a great show have to be remade in the first place? Opinions will differ on that one, but once you accept that it has happened, you can see that the remake is well done with a lot of respect and even love for the original. It isn't an exact copy but retains so much of what was important about the old one while reworking it where necessary for the world of today. There is also rework so that it matches Martin Clunes in the lead role.

Except that they ruined it with a laugh track. Not an ordinary one but an extra loud and intrusive one. It really bugged me. Even if, as a producer, network or whatever you decide that a laugh track is necessary (as it isn't here), at least do it properly. There is plenty of subtle variation possible with the technology. None of that was on display here. Some idiot CJ type manager somewhere has to be to blame.

Then there was the new Star Trek movie. Crass product placement, plot holes, atrocious physics (even by Trek standards) would make you doubt how good it could be. But that same quality of respect and love for the original comes into play here too. This time it is those things and a good healthy dose of fun that makes it easy to get past the annoyances and just enjoy the film. Then there was the characterisations and the spectacle. OK, so not perhaps a great movie but a very enjoyable one and a good way to spend a cold wet Sunday evening.

Comments

[catsparx.livejournal.com]

That new Trek movie has totally reignited my passion for Trek. I won't hear a word said against it... :-)

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

Then it did its job.

I'm old enough to have seen classic trek when originally shown and at the time it was hugely important to me. I've never entirely lost that passion even if time has worn it down somewhat.

[catsparx.livejournal.com]

I didn't find Trek till years past that point on weekday afternoon reruns. I liked it a lot but didn't experience it as revolutionary & by then it was cheesy and dated. Next Gen was more interesting to me. And don't get me started on Star Trek TMP -- man, what a boring dirge of a film! Watched it again on deev last night. I actually fell asleep!

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

Yep, it is amazing that the franchise survived TMP. I remember it did stunning box office on its opening weekend before the word got around. That meant it made enough money to make a second film and Wrath of Khan saved things. Despite my detail level reservations, this new movie could well have that same effect as Wrath of Khan.

[catsparx.livejournal.com]

agreed. I reckon we'll be Trekkin well into the future with this one

[dalmeny]

I am one of a small minority who actually enjoyed TMP.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

To be honest, I've never watched it again. I saw it when it first came out - desperate for it to be good. Then afterwards going away thinking that things were all over and that was all the Trek that there would ever be.

[darthsappho.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed the novelization - it actually references Kirk/Spock in a footnote.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

Fascinating. ;)

I rarely read novelisations unless I know that the author is pushing the boundaries of information well past what is contained in the (shooting) script. I suppose that counts.

[stephen-dedman.livejournal.com]

I remember reading an account of the making of Star Trek II which said it was made largely because they already had the sets, costumes, models, etc., left over from TMP (the new uniforms had to fit over the old TMP uniforms, which could be dyed). I don't remember whether a draft of the script had been commissioned before TMP was released, or whether the stars were also contracted for more movies, but it wouldn't surprise me. In effect, it was so cheap to make that it was expected to make a profit even if the only people who saw it were those who hadn't been put off by TMP!

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

That makes a lot of sense. The sets created for Wrath of Khan were pretty cheap and there weren't many effects shots. All of which meant the film stood or fell on the strength of the script which was probably to its advantage.