Absolutely! I was impressed with his performance as well, and I feel his character makes for a very believable bridge between what we see in TOS, and what we would eventually see in Chancellor Gorkon. Very well done!
It wasn't necessarily a JJ verse reference. In "The Way to Eden" Kirk talked Scotty down from a crotchety old bastard moment by noting that he (Krik) had gotten into some trouble at that age himself. He didn't say what kind of trouble, but why couldn't he have stolen a Corvette in that timeline as well? Nothing says he didn't.
Similar stories have even been published in fanzines over the years. This short story was one such example: Lightspeed in an 85 MPH Zone by D. G. Littleford
Except....let's be honest. It was a Trek '09 reference. I mean JC had a cameo in the movie it was pretty obvious that he was referring to that. I just don't get it, no matter what context it was being used in. It just felt out of place no matter how you look at it.
Geekly's surly tone notwithstanding, it's a very good point that the same effect could have been had by referencing "A Piece of the Action." I don't like the extra-TOS references either. If the point is to make you feel like you're watching Season 4 of TOS, having a hundred references to non-TOS Trek really cripples the immersion. I loved Enterprise and didn't despise the first JJ movie, but they don't really belong here (in my personal opinion).
Cawley's never been shy about his loathing of the JJ Abrams films. [yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbMVLtFGiy4[/yt] I mean, come on... I know it was done for laughs, but really guys? REALLY?
I thought it was a great little throwaway line. I love the Abrams movies, and I like that, even if James isn't a fan, the fact that it's in the episode shows a willingness to try and connect with every kind of Trek fan from new to old and everyone in between. Plus, I giggled.
Actually, I'm not. Anyone who has been friends with James Cawley on Facebook the past few years (last year in particular) can easily attest to his loathing of the JJ Abrams films. I have no doubt the video above is more than likely a tongue-in-cheek effort. I am not disputing that. But the intent is very much there, whether you like it or not. Cawley hates those films. And he's perfectly within his right to feel that way and do as he pleases with regard to that feeling. Pointing out, however, that "A" just happens to connect to "B" does not, in my not so humble opinion, constitute "reading a lot more than is actually there."
Actually, you are. As someone who is friends with James and has hung around him the past two years (as anyone in that position will attest) James does NOT "Loathe" the JJ Verse. It simply isn't TOS or Trek to him and he elects not to watch it. He gave it a chance...but in the end it didn't work for him. He still supports JJ and CBS, but, well, "it's not his father's Star Trek." IF you look around you will find these words are James - whereas you won't find him stating "I LOATHE JJ Trek". The video in question was a joke that was done as a special, exclusive thing for FedCon. If it was a "Vignette" that was presented as part of Phase II you would be well to read more into it. It was just supposed to make fans at that convention laugh.
People, you have to try to remember this was filmed in June 2009 - soon after James had filmed his part for Trek 09 and right after it was released. The original line was "I haven't seen flying that bad since I stole a shuttle as a kid." It was a reference to "The Academy Years" script. While filming, James chose to make it a reference to Trek 09 - AS A TRIBUTE. No one ever predicted it would take so many years to release this episode, or that Trek ID would, well, not represent TOS so thoroughly before the line was ever heard. So please remember, you are putting many years of reaction and history onto a throwaway line that simply were not there when the scene was filmed.
I ABSOLUTELY AGREE. Having just had the opportunity to watch this episode, Pony, your performance is, hands down, the best in the mix. You were regal and the perfect blend of tutor to an emperor/cohort and former esteemed warrior - with many nuances coming through. Given that you were ill and battling with the director to do this character justice, it is nothing short of a miracle. But you made it look easy. Kudos, and congratulations. You made K'Sia REAL...and that is an accomplishment. Thank you!
I knew it would take years, Phase II episodes usually take a long time to get completed and I totally understand that. It just seemed odd. I know James doesn't care for the films, and it just felt so out of place, I was just curious as to the reasoning. And personally I thought STID was fantastic and I thought it felt a lot like Trek. Fact is movie making and the styles that are used now are so different from low budget 60's TV I can see why some people who are as attached to TOS just can't see it, but to me there was a clear connection.
STID had absolutely none of the heart of Star Trek, and none of the sense of exploration. Even when the original movies did a revenge story ("Wrath of Khan"), it was more sophisticated than a bang-bang shoot-em'-up; the Genesis element gave it a sense of wonder and the social commentary Trek is so famous for. It's not that people "can't see it." It's that they don't like it. For the record, I thought the first JJ movie was at least somewhat charming. "Into Darkness" was a dreary exercise that was Star Trek in name only.
I'd rather not see this thread become a discussion about the merits of nuTrek. There's a whole forum for that.
His hair was shorter too. He didn't have any gigs lined up for July 4th as he usually does, so he was able to cut his hair and trim his sideburns. (You'll notice the same for Enemy: Starfleet) (he ended up doing charity gigs anyway...just wore the outfit from "G.I. Blues" so the audience didn't lynch him.)
Thanks for your thoughts on the direction of the edits. Would be interesting to see a different cut and whether that would affect my perception. As someone who's had written work interpreted and mashed up myself, I can appreciate that issues come up in translation. I liked Vic's performance myself, but obviously don't have any concept of his role in interpreting/changing the words/tone and whether it could have been done better.
Agreed, and I finally realized the word I was trying to describe Pony's performance. It's "dignified." K'Sia is a dignified, regal man, with strong ties to the Empire, and his own personal honor. Yeah, I can't say enough about his performance either. I didn't know he was ill! He certainly didn't show it. It takes serious dedication to be ill, get into costuming and makeup, and then spend all that time playing one's part, all the while feeling sick as a dog. I would love to see him in future performances. He was a delight to watch. I don't mind saying that if there are more performances like his in the offing, you guys will give the studios an even bigger run for their money. Yeah, I gush. Big whoop, ya wanna fight about it? [/Patty Tanager]
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!! It's no secret as to my being ill, I'm living with AIDS, not to mention I became ill with pneumonia during the later days of the shoot. I guess it's like being a doctor at the 4077th - when you're not operating, you're in the latrine with dysentary. You get kinda used to it, and try to not let it affect your work. I had a corner of the Green Room for naps (MOST of us nap there at some point during the long shoot days) and everyone was very helpful. Keeping a sense of humor helps, and there were a LOT of laughs on that show. As to the character's dignity, I will allude that the director and I saw it differently from each other. He wanted me to be very angry and disrespectful of the Earthers; whereas I felt K'Sia was interested in them while not fully trusting them. In my mind, I kept thinking of how Anthony Hopkins played Zorro, not that I could ever come close to Hopkins in terms of acting chops. But that's how I approached K'Sia. For us Star Trek book fans out there, I also kept in mind Dr. G'Dath from A FLAG FULL OF STARS, one of my favorite Klingons.