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Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud
I don't think it was any one singular factor but multiple factors. Four years between movies was a real detriment to the franchise. The original reboot, even with a lackluster story and mediocre villain, brought life back to an all but dead franchise. Paramount should have fast tracked a sequel to be in theaters no more than 24 months after the original. That wait really killed any momentum they gained with reboot.
Also, as previously discussed, the domestic marketing was horrid. Paramount should have had Star Trek blazing constantly on Showtime, Spike, FX and even on CBS (like a Sunday Night movie of the week) for months in advance. Instead, they did nothing.
Also, the whole "Is he or isn't he" Khan thing really worked against them. If they would have just come out said "Yes, it's Khan!", then they could have had a different marketing strategy, which would have included better trailers, posters, etc. When it finally became known to audiences, most people were like "meh".
Finally, I think that intelligent audiences have cooled on Abrams and especially, Lindelof. The Lost debacle was bad enough (with even George R.R. Martin chiming in at one point saying he didn't want to pull a "Lost" and **** up the ending of GoT) but Prometheus was just a killer.
Couple that with the word getting out rather quickly that this film was more of a rehash than something new a fresh (alternate timeline, hello?) and it was just too many factors for it to overcome.
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I agree with you on the marketing aspects of the film. Especially the "is he, isn't he?" stuff. But I'd made up my mind to see the thing as the credits for the first one rolled. So, it probably didn't bother me as much as it did others. Still, very weird.
However, I disagree with your statement about "intelligent audiences." Maybe you've cooled on Abrams and especially Lindelof (if you ever liked either of them to begin with). And maybe some of your friends have as well (maybe you're speaking specifically about "insiders" and people you know, in which case, I can't speak to those minds). But there are plenty of intelligent people who still enjoy their work.
George RR Martin has taken back some of the vitriol he spewed about LOST. Because he, like other "intelligent audience members" misinterpreted it.
And I'll also disagree that Into Darkness was more rehash than something new. There is certainly some rehash. I suppose there's enough for me to understand someone being turned off by it, but it's still minimal.