I went to see the new Star Trek film. Now, the film itself has already been discussed at great length, both on this site (http://moviecenter.us/news/2009/05/11/review-star-trek) and elsewhere, so I don’t really want to add to much to this, except to say that I liked the first hour or so a lot; it’s really fun to see all the characters that you know and, well, recognize, come together and meet up and become friends. When the action starts, it’s fairly standard fare, but hey, it’s certainly not terrible, which seems to be the basis of so much praise being heaped on it; relief that it’s not awful.

But really, I suspect that doesn’t really matter. Before the film, there was a trailer for the new Terminator film, and to a man, my friends and I all remarked that we’d be going to see it. Again, it’s not really going to matter what the critics say about how badly it stinks or anything like that; we’re going to go. It’s a new Terminator film.With Terminator Salvation and Star Trek coming so quickly back to back, it got me thinking.What are the franchises that we’ll go to see, no matter how much the new film has been panned?

Here are some; I daresay there are more…

Star Trek

Here’s the thing; quite a few of the films have not been very good. However, there’s something about the series that keeps you coming back for more. Also, for the record, I’d like to say that I really, really rate Voyage Home. I don’t even care how silly it is.

Star Wars

Actually, this one is going to be tested when and if they make another one (I’m not counting the animation, for obvious reasons). The last three, which are the first three, which may not be the last three, are about as confusing and underwhelming as this sentence. Seriously, the only thing that could have saved Revenge of the Sith would have been if Darth Vader had started tap dancing and they’d launched into a twenty minute musical number. Still, if they ever make Part Seven, I’m there, front row, two days before it starts.

Terminator

The first one gave me nightmares for about two years. It was a masterpiece of claustrophobia, of unrelenting, unexplained evil and assured destruction. The second one was pretty good, too. The third one? Well, I liked it. Millions didn’t. In fact, I don’t know anyone who did. Which is not to say I’m such a maverick, of course. Maybe I just like crappy films. Actually, that’s not an unreasonable conclusion.

James Bond

Hm, I’m seeing a pattern emerge here. Shooting, shouting, some sub intellectual justification. Be thankful I didn’t include the Matrix trilogy. Actually, that was awful.

So, let’s use this as a conversation starter. What franchises do you love, no matter how silly they get? Harry Potter? Spiderman? Lord of the Rings? What would they have to do to turn you off, and drive you away?