Is it ok to be a sci-fi fan and not worship at the altar of Abrams?

That's cool, I already have enough movies to watch this year. All of them pretty much mentioned above.
On that note, there's a teaser for Indiana Jones that was just released: [www.indianajones.com]

Enjoy.

@Blackjack:
Yes.

@Blackjack: Yes. The man is a fraud.

Quantum of Solace will be coming out in November, not summer. And ain't that the worst movie title, like, ever?

@extracrispy:
Yes and does anyone know what the hell it's supposed to mean?

Great. Now he can cram even more crap into this film. The villain has already been reduced to a cameo, so how about a Klingon romantic subplot and a mysterious smoke monster?

Wonderful. Abrams magic is his ability to conjure hype without substance, and now there's a whole extra year for him to build it up.

Why do I fear the actual story will the in the ballpark of "Star Trek V"?

@ManchuCandidate: It's from an actual Ian Flemming story. And the movie begins minutes after Casino Royale so it's him dealing with is grief over Vesper's death as part of the overall plot. Personally, I like it. It's different.

And since when has James Bond fallen under the geek label?

@IntoAshes: Amen to that.

So, the studio is afraid that people will just not want to go out so often and see all the great "films?" I would go see Trek and Indiana Jones, but not the others. Besides, things jump to DVD in about a week, so what difference does it make? Serve'em up hot and fast then move on to the next one. Once they have the Trek sets up they should just bang out two or three movies. Keep the actors happy and there's already a built in market of hundreds of millions of Trek fans who would go buy it on DVD. It's an under-tapped franchise. A new straight to DVD Trek Franchise could keep one studio working 24-7. I bet.

There's no hate like Abrams hate.

I'll out myself: Star Trek is retarded.

Star Trek. sigh.... The original series, in it's day, was genius. NEXTGEN....we couldn't believe it...what had happened to the interplay between the characters? Oh sure, they TRIED...but.... Then came DS9...well, maybe there was hope, we thought....the whole subplot with Udo and the Dominion seemed so promising...but.... and then.... VOYAGER. After hitting the mute button incessantly with JarJar Neelix going off, we were left with..JANEWAY...and a lame attempt to bail the series out by bringing back the BORG and putting Jeri Ryan in a bodysuit. (okay, nice eye candy...but...PLOT?) And THEN... ENTERPRISE... oh..my..gawd...

We switched to BABYLON FIVE, but after season three, someone let all the air out of the writers... and then there was FARSCAPE...which, while admittedly lame in a number of areas, had some sparks of originality here and there...

If it hadn't been for DR. WHO reruns, I might've become another reality-tv show watcher...

The Star Trek Movies, with the exception of WRATH OF KHAN (and this ain't sayin' much) have all been cozy tributes to mediocrity.

We hardly ever rent science fiction movies. This is because Hollywood, with a very few exceptions, has never....really....GOTTEN IT...about science fiction. Period. Mostly pathetic writing and tons of special effects. Anyone who really appreciates Science Fiction knows what the real gems are - and how FEW they number.

I used to wish someone would take the great classics of science fiction and make them into movies. Nowadays...the thought makes me shudder...

@Macloserboy: When it started becoming all about the gadgets. Oh, and have you ever seen Moonraker?

@Kevin Kelly: And you do realize Casino Royale was a movement away from that, right?

@Hekkashesh: So much hate. I feel sorry for you =\

Perhaps you should become a science fiction writer so that you can do it right.
You mention there are so few examples of true science fiction, but you didn't actually give any. What do you consider to be examples of where hollywood has "gotten it" with sci-fi?

@Bluecell:

You're confusing hate with despair.

Also, I meant GOOD science fiction, not 'true' science fiction.

Examples of GOOD science fiction movies:
Forbidden Planet, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Time Machine (original), First Men in the Moon, Bladerunner, Silent Running, Fritz Lang's METROPOLIS, Akira, Dark City, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Solaris (orignal), Alien, Predator, Terminator, Contact, Jurassic Park, 12 Monkeys, Stargate, The Last Mimsey, Gattaca, Dark Star, Starship Troopers (true to the novel, for the most part.) Nod to AVP.

A few books/stories that would make good science fiction movies (if done properly - I hope I don't regret this):
CITY by Clifford Simak, SON OF MAN by Robert Silverberg, CREATURES OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS and LORD OF LIGHT by Roger Zelazny, WASP by Eric Frank Russell, STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND by Robert A. Heinlein, TAU ZERO by Poul Anderson, WORLD OF PTAAVS and RINGWORLD by Larry Niven, THE WITCHES OF KARRES by James H. Schmitz, THE STAR ROVER by Jack London, DRAGONFLIGHT by Anne McCaffrey, CITIES IN FLIGHT by James Blish, THE DYING EARTH by Jack Vance, THE STAINLESS STEEL RAT by Harry Harrison, GATEWAY by Frederick Pohl, EARTHBLOOD by Keith Laumer and Rosel George Brown, and nothing whatsoever by L. Ron Hubbard...

I could go on, but why take a chance on someone screwing up more than the handful I've listed here...?

As for my 'becoming' a science fiction writer...

@Hekkashesh: Good list. I especially like the "nothing whatsoever by L. Ron Hubbard" part.
I've never really read sci-fi novels, so I'll have to check some of those out.

As for movies, I agree with you for the most part. Gattaca is one of my favourite movies, and 12 Monkeys had some great performances...
They're redoing The Day the Earth Stood Still so that could be interesting. We'll see if it reinforces your argument against special effects. The original is great, so here's hoping they do it justice.

@Bluecell:

I really have nothing against special effects, mind you... It's just that they do not make up for a lack of good writing...

@Bluecell: Yes, for Gattaca & 12 Monkeys! [and Terminator, The Last Mimsey, Alien, Predator, Time Machine, etc...]

I'd also throw in Minority Report. It showed an grasp of time mechanics that is rarely seen on the big screen...

I love Star Trek and I kind of like Abrams. I don't think he's flawless, though. The Trek franchise does, however, need new blood, and Abrams might be the one to refresh it. Rick Berman and his shit machine certainly weren't going to crank out anything remotely watchable, anytime soon.

@Hekkashesh: What, no love for Firefly/Serenity? I agree with you on most points, though I thought Next Generation was pretty darn good, and lucky to be on for so long while doing its own thing.

One point in particular I have to agree and expand upon is the Borg. They took what made them so awesome and twisted and ruined it in the First Contact film. They essentially became Zombies with a brood queen, much less frightening (to me) than people forcibly coerced into doing their bidding through the liberal use of technology. What really nailed the point was the fact that you could still just barely make out the individual under the technology, reminding you of what they had once been. The fact that they had no leader was GREAT. But, as mentioned, they turned into pathetic Zombies with their necrotic skin and 'biting' abilities. Then along came Voyager to beat the dead horse. Then... THEN... Enterprise found said horse and had their way with it. :/

That's my beef with Borg.

@ideaman2020: I was gonna mention Minority Report. It's been a long time since I've seen it though. There's also The Island which is a pretty cool movie. In the post apocalyptic category, there's Mad Max and The Postman. I know a lot of people wouldn't agree with Postman, but I like it.
As for The Last Mimzy, I guess I just didn't get it. I mean, it was OK but it was ultimately a movie for children.

@thorshammer: I never really looked at the borg like that, but you're right. TNG borg were much better, especially the whole Locutus storyline. Regardless of all that, I'm still a fan of Voyager. But as for Enterprise, I watched the first season and then stopped. I still remember a headline reading "Enterprise goes where no Star Trek has before: Cancelled." I think they lost everyone with the "entire season is one continuous episode" strategy.

It's a shame for Scott Bakula =\ Quantum Leap is still my favourite TV show of all time. And since Enterprise is cancelled, I guess he's really got nothing to do anymore.
Great scifi shows: Quantum Leap, Eureka, Sliders (the first two seasons), Lost, Heroes, and Journeyman to name a few. Journeyman is the same as Jericho where I'm a fan of the show, but I can understand why it could get cancelled. At least the writers are back to work.