Captain Klaa - translator

Flying Spaghetti Monster · February 24 2013, 05:54 AM

Does anyone else find it really neat to learn that the Klingon who is in the booth running the Klingon Translation program (you can hear him say "...that Enterprise fired on Kronos One") is actually Klaa from the previous film?

Pretty awesome

trevanian · February 24 2013, 07:12 AM

Flying Spaghetti Monster wrote:

Does anyone else find it really neat to learn that the Klingon who is in the booth running the Klingon Translation program (you can hear him say "...that Enterprise fired on Kronos One") is actually Klaa from the previous film?

Pretty awesome

Thought it was cooler to realize he was the same actor playing the guy next to Peter Preston in the engine room in TWOK.

sbk1234 · February 24 2013, 08:05 AM

I feel bad for Capt. Klaa. He went from commanding his own ship to being a translator? That can't be a promotion in the Klingon Empire.

Kronos · February 24 2013, 10:59 AM

trevanian wrote:

Flying Spaghetti Monster wrote:

Does anyone else find it really neat to learn that the Klingon who is in the booth running the Klingon Translation program (you can hear him say "...that Enterprise fired on Kronos One") is actually Klaa from the previous film?

Pretty awesome

Thought it was cooler to realize he was the same actor playing the guy next to Peter Preston in the engine room in TWOK.

What a career path, spy on a federation ship to being a captain of a bucket of bolts and finally ending up as a translator.

Metryq · February 24 2013, 11:19 AM

Why is this 23rd century "UN" using live translators when Kirk used a hacked "universal" translator to talk to a creature they had never encountered before in "Metamorphosis"? Heck, even today's smartphones are getting into the act.

Yes, Klaa was demoted to furniture.

King Daniel · February 24 2013, 02:20 PM

Metryq wrote:

Why is this 23rd century "UN" using live translators when Kirk used a hacked "universal" translator to talk to a creature they had never encountered before in "Metamorphosis"? Heck, even today's smartphones are getting into the act.

Yes, Klaa was demoted to furniture.

Because Nicholas Meyer gave Trek a huge technological downgrade in STII and the movies carried on from there.

Tosk · February 24 2013, 02:58 PM

And because Meyer wanted to emulate Adlai Stevenson questioning Zorin about the Cuban Missile Crisis. "Don't wait for the translation..."

Mr. Laser Beam · February 24 2013, 04:00 PM

sbk1234 wrote:

I feel bad for Capt. Klaa. He went from commanding his own ship to being a translator? That can't be a promotion in the Klingon Empire.

It was probably part of Klaa's punishment for screwing up in ST V.

Sir Rhosis · February 25 2013, 12:29 AM

Not to get too nerdy (says a Trek fan), but didn't the translator have different forehead bumps to Klaa. Same actor, different bumps (said the nerdy...).

Sir Rhosis

FormerLurker · February 25 2013, 12:29 AM

In a state show-trial*, why would the Klingons be using a universal translator anyway? Live translators are much more show-offy and "special".

*Kirk and McCoy are accused of murdering Gorkon, remember.

Metryq · February 25 2013, 02:34 AM

King Daniel wrote:

Because Nicholas Meyer gave Trek a huge technological downgrade in STII and the movies carried on from there.

Umm...what? Let me think: warp drive, phasers, communicators, transporters and some new tech like the Genesis device. Were there some faxes or chemical powered rockets I'm not remembering? Really, I'm drawing a blank here—what "huge technological downgrade" are you talking about? Kirk's print book and spectacles? (The glasses were explained due to Kirk's allergy to retinox.) Was there the squeal of a 1400 baud modem from Uhura's comm station? Wooden wagon wheels on the Enterprise? Solutrean spear points on the photon torpedoes?

Therin of Andor · February 25 2013, 09:32 AM

Metryq wrote:

I'm drawing a blank here—what "huge technological downgrade" are you talking about?

Lots of little things:

Spray-n-wear clothing in TMP vs Jackets on clotheshangers (ST III)

Perscan belt buckles in TMP, gone by ST II

Wrist communicators in TMP vs return to TOS handheld in ST II

ST II's photon torpedo track grates...

Timo · February 25 2013, 10:56 AM

If anything, TMP was the movie to dumb down treknology big time. Suddenly, robust small spacecraft that had looked like something Flash Gordon or Dan Dare would be comfortable with (the TOS shuttle) were back to looking like fragile NASA hardware (the workbees and their container trains). Docking maneuvers took aeons, compared with the swift shuttle launch and recovery procedures of TOS. Sturdy space stations like K-7 were "succeeded" by 20th-century-realistic scaffolding. Getting out of the ship suddenly required docking ports and airlocks, with dedicated operating crew operating dedicated control consoles for said. And transporter rooms went from utilitarian staging areas with lots of vanity covering to techno-temples with exposed machinery and a glass booth to protect the operator.

I'm surprised the movie didn't insist on having the phasers spit out spent cartridges...

As for Klaa in STVI, a quick comparison:

ST V forehead here

http://movies.trekcore.com/gallery/a.../tffhd1946.jpg

ST VI forehead here only...

http://movies.trekcore.com/gallery/a.../tuchd1100.jpg

Any ideas on backstage pictures where the latter could actually be seen?

Timo Saloniemi

Tosk · February 25 2013, 11:09 AM

Therin of Andor wrote:

Metryq wrote:

I'm drawing a blank here—what "huge technological downgrade" are you talking about?

Lots of little things:

Spray-n-wear clothing in TMP vs Jackets on clotheshangers (ST III)

Perscan belt buckles in TMP, gone by ST II

Wrist communicators in TMP vs return to TOS handheld in ST II

ST II's photon torpedo track grates...

None of those indicate a technological backstep, just a preference. Just because something is no longer used, doesn't mean it no longer exists. Especially the communicators...when's the last time you saw a calculator wristwatch?

Timo · February 25 2013, 11:33 AM

...Of course, ST2 did have wristwatch communicators. But only on the Reliant crew.

And we never saw any spray-n-wear clothing or "perscan" buckles in TMP - merely a series of bad fashion choices. If there was any functionality to these items, it was off screen, off dialogue, like about 90% of the ideas regarding TMP.

Timo Saloniemi

February 24 2013, 05:54 AM	#1
Flying Spaghetti Monster Vice Admiral Location: Flying Spaghetti Western	Captain Klaa - translator Does anyone else find it really neat to learn that the Klingon who is in the booth running the Klingon Translation program (you can hear him say "...that Enterprise fired on Kronos One") is actually Klaa from the previous film? Pretty awesome __________________ Life of Pi is the most pleasant film I've ever not cared at all for.

February 24 2013, 08:05 AM	#3
sbk1234 Rear Admiral Location: Los Angeles	Re: Captain Klaa - translator I feel bad for Capt. Klaa. He went from commanding his own ship to being a translator? That can't be a promotion in the Klingon Empire. __________________ In all the history of the world, a riot has NEVER broken out at a Sci-Fi convention. "It's a fucking TV show!" - Gary Lockwood

February 24 2013, 11:19 AM	#5
Metryq Commander	Re: Captain Klaa - translator Why is this 23rd century "UN" using live translators when Kirk used a hacked "universal" translator to talk to a creature they had never encountered before in "Metamorphosis"? Heck, even today's smartphones are getting into the act. Yes, Klaa was demoted to furniture. __________________ "No, I better not look. I just might be in there." —Foghorn Leghorn

February 24 2013, 02:58 PM	#7
Tosk Rear Admiral Location: On the run.	Re: Captain Klaa - translator And because Meyer wanted to emulate Adlai Stevenson questioning Zorin about the Cuban Missile Crisis. "Don't wait for the translation..."

February 25 2013, 12:29 AM	#9
Sir Rhosis Commodore Location: Cincinnati, OH	Re: Captain Klaa - translator Not to get too nerdy (says a Trek fan), but didn't the translator have different forehead bumps to Klaa. Same actor, different bumps (said the nerdy...). Sir Rhosis __________________ Read my Star Trek script reviews at http://www.fastcopyinc.com/orionpres...les/unseen.htm Read "Origins" at http://www.fastcopyinc.com/orionpres...es/origins.htm

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ABOUT US

February 25 2013, 12:29 AM	#10
FormerLurker Captain	Re: Captain Klaa - translator In a state show-trial, why would the Klingons be using a universal translator anyway? Live translators are much more show-offy and "special". Kirk and McCoy are accused of murdering Gorkon, remember.

February 25 2013, 10:56 AM	#13
Timo Admiral	Re: Captain Klaa - translator If anything, TMP was the movie to dumb down treknology big time. Suddenly, robust small spacecraft that had looked like something Flash Gordon or Dan Dare would be comfortable with (the TOS shuttle) were back to looking like fragile NASA hardware (the workbees and their container trains). Docking maneuvers took aeons, compared with the swift shuttle launch and recovery procedures of TOS. Sturdy space stations like K-7 were "succeeded" by 20th-century-realistic scaffolding. Getting out of the ship suddenly required docking ports and airlocks, with dedicated operating crew operating dedicated control consoles for said. And transporter rooms went from utilitarian staging areas with lots of vanity covering to techno-temples with exposed machinery and a glass booth to protect the operator. I'm surprised the movie didn't insist on having the phasers spit out spent cartridges... As for Klaa in STVI, a quick comparison: ST V forehead here http://movies.trekcore.com/gallery/a.../tffhd1946.jpg ST VI forehead here only... http://movies.trekcore.com/gallery/a.../tuchd1100.jpg Any ideas on backstage pictures where the latter could actually be seen? Timo Saloniemi

February 25 2013, 11:33 AM	#15
Timo Admiral	Re: Captain Klaa - translator ...Of course, ST2 did have wristwatch communicators. But only on the Reliant crew. And we never saw any spray-n-wear clothing or "perscan" buckles in TMP - merely a series of bad fashion choices. If there was any functionality to these items, it was off screen, off dialogue, like about 90% of the ideas regarding TMP. Timo Saloniemi