Star Trek vs. Star Wars (and a collection of memes)

Oh man, I WANT ONE!

 

Agreed, it does look pretty awesome!

 

Pretending to be dinosaurs and getting dinosaur toys is really where its at

 

Star Wars toy sales are massively down, there are reports of it all over the place (from various sources). Also, Galaxy's Edge at the Disney parks has massively under performed.

 

Unless they like Lego, then they just want the Star Wars sets for the blaster guns.

 

It’s saddening isn’t it that children are so much less discerning these days? Personally I’ve never seen the appeal of the Avengers as a whole (as you know the only Marvel hero I actually like is Thor and only because of the Norse mythology connotations). The others I really couldn’t care at all about

Oh yes, that was me all over when I was little. That and then later Lord of the Rings were the reasons why I didn’t get into Star Wars until I was 12

 

@Scalenex, that's a very interesting video. I confess that, to me, some of the statements feel a bit hyperbolic and some of the anecdotes seem almost "made up" (I can believe that someone wouldn't know about a specific actor, but a person who had never watched a movie or did anything fun is a little hard to swallow), but I still hear some truth in it. Thanks!

@ravagekitteh and @Lord Agragax of Lunaxoatl, I agree that the experiences we have as kids do tend to stick with us. This is true whether it's fun pop culture like movies, music and TV shows, or more traumatic events like divorce, war and pandemics. As we age, I think those experiences become strong emotional connections to the memories of our childhood, or the experiences themselves become part of how we develop. Either way, I think it's an aspect of how we identify ourselves, and we become attached and protective of those times. I'm sure the loudest protestors of the new SW movies are the original OT fans that were kids back then. It's no different than people saying "I've watched this show from the beginning" or "I was a fan of this band before it was cool."

I am an OT kid, so take this with an ounce of blue milk, but I think the OT is unique (out of the OT, PT & ST). Star Wars wasn't supposed to be a big hit, but it became one. Empire arguably elevated the story, characters and cinematography, and don't forget that sequels with continuing stories were rare at that time. Return really does show a "manufactured blockbuster" model b/c there was a lot more on the line. Despite that, I think it has enough high points to help the OT coast in for a solid finale.

The feelings for the Prequels & Sequels aren't as positive in part because I think they're all "manufactured blockbusters," so I question their legacy as individual trilogies. I know that doesn't automatically mean a bad movie, but, to me, it doesn't feel like the best starting place. Specifically, the Sequels story tends to cannibalize the OT (and the PT by extension). But that's probably something no successful, long-running franchise can escape (Star Trek, SW or Dr. Who). That said, the beginning and end of Phantom Menace and parts of Force Awakens I rather enjoyed.

To me, the most "Star Wars-like" movie of the 2000's was probably The Matrix (despite its sequels). A movie that wasn't supposed to be a hit, but became one. It had a deep-rooted hero story with similar themes (personal/mental/spiritual achievement over machines/autocratic authority) and inventive special effects. It captured people's inspiration for a while.

 

That's the gift that keeps on giving. I find it hilarious; the jokes/comments that have arisen from it are simply golden. How can you not like the idea of Trailblazer trailblazing her way to the nearest McDonald's? That isn't even mentioning the goldmine that is Safe Space and Snowflake. A normal person couldn't have written a better parody of the industry if he/she had tried!

 

I don't think that is the way it will happen. Their rabbit hole is infinite. It is with the rest society, normal people, that I place my faith. Eventually, they'll come to a realization that this stuff is completely insane and say that enough is enough. The strength lies with the majority. Once that happens, the SJWs will become powerless. I'm sure that some will desperately cling to their delusions, but it won't matter as they'll become social/political version of flat earthers.