Chris Pine: To Shat or Nat? That is the question.

Discussion in 'Star Trek Movies: Kelvin Universe' started by Spock/Uhura Fan, Sep 12, 2012.

?

Should Chris Be More Like The Shat or Nat? :D

Poll closed Mar 11, 2013.
  1. Come on, Chris, try to be more like The SHAT. :o

    10.3%
  2. I’m not sure. Maybe try a blending of both styles?

    5.1%
  3. I’m thinking NAT. Keep doing what you’re doing. :)

    84.6%
  1. Spock/Uhura Fan

    Spock/Uhura Fan Captain Captain

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2012
    Location:
    Where It's At.
    Okay, so my poll-craziness is coming to an end after this one, I promise! :D

    But I was thinking about how some people I’ve come across in the past wanted Chris Pine to be more like William Shatner in TOS. I’m not sure if that’s a good idea because, to me, William Shatner is to acting what Cher is to singing. They both have great followings, but their “distinctiveness” is hard to imitate without it seeming like a mockery.

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    That is why I was glad to see that Chris didn’t try to emulate Shatner’s style. He seemed to stay true to the character while giving him mannerisms that came across as genuine for Chris’ portrayal of the character. So, what do you think? Should he have tried harder to be more like the Shat, or was his performance just right. Obviously, once again, the writing had something to do with how the character was received, but I’m speaking strictly about Chris’ performance.


    Please discuss. :)
     
  2. Xaios

    Xaios Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2012
    I'd say no, for exactly the reason that you specify: only William Shatner can be William Shatner. Pine did a great job of channeling the essence of Kirk, a brash leader of men, without emulating Shatner, and it worked beautifully.
     
  3. Methos

    Methos Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2012
    Location:
    Hiding under Gaila's bed...
    yeah, i'm happy with Pine to carry on as he was... he doesn't need to imitate Shatner to do a convincing Kirk, he already did that... any further would just turn his acting into a mockery of Shatner...

    M
     
  4. Spock/Uhura Fan

    Spock/Uhura Fan Captain Captain

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2012
    Location:
    Where It's At.
    It's Alive!!! [​IMG]

    Thank you both. :) I was beginning to think maybe it was a bad question because the thread is so dead, but at least someone was willing to respond and put some life into it.

    I think William Shatner did a wonderful job as the James Kirk that grew up with his father as a guiding force, but Chris does a wonderful job as the somewhat renegade version that didn't have that luxury and misses it.

    I do wonder if as he goes through these movies if it won't end up being a blending of styles, though.
     
  5. R. Star

    R. Star Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2012
    Location:
    Shangri-La
    People are going to be comparing him to Shatner no matter what. If NuKirk is going to get out of Prime Kirk's shadow it's going to be because the writers come up with some good material AND Pine sells it.

    As things stand NuKirk is just Prime Kirk's alternate, less capable self in my opinion. Maybe the new movie will change my mind on that.
     
  6. Methos

    Methos Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2012
    Location:
    Hiding under Gaila's bed...
    *Has a truly, truly, bewildering mental image of NuKirk in a cheerleaders outfit cheering S/U Fan on*

    Riiiiight... excuse me...

    *runs to find the mind bleach*

    M
     
  7. Sindatur

    Sindatur The Gray Owl Wizard Admiral

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    Location:
    Sacramento, CA
    Considering where the first movie started at in Kirk's life, and the different upbringing, it would've been really wrong for NuKirk to be just like Shatner Prime Kirk in TOS. Shatner Kirk in TOS was already an established Captain of the Enterprise in the First episode, or course, he's going to be a much more confident and competent Leader than NuKirk, fresh out of the Academy, no experience as Captain. Those who say he should've been more ShatnerKirk-like make no sense to me.

    Since this movie has him already established as Captain of the Enterprise, I think there's definitely room to him to be more ShatnerKirk-like, at least by the end of the movie, if not early on, but, I don't think he ever needs...to...imitate...Kirk's....Staggered....Speech....Pattern
     
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2012
  8. Satyrquaze

    Satyrquaze Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2010
    I got the part where you said:

    And found myself voting NO then and there regardless of the validity of the statement.

    Seriously, if we could have Shatner shoehorned into the new Trek movie, I'd rather see Shatner himself play the role of Prime Kirk. And, I think the sanest among would agree that it would be a disaster.
     
  9. Gojira

    Gojira Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2008
    Location:
    Stompin' on Tokyo
    I think Chris Pine made an excellent Kirk. He can interpret the characteristics of Kirk without copying Shatner's mannerisms and acting style.
     
  10. Enterprise is Great

    Enterprise is Great Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2004
    Location:
    The Island
    The worst thing Pine could ever do is try to imitate Shatner. It would come off as a parody and more worthy of a Saturday Night Live skit than a Star Trek movie.
     
  11. Xaios

    Xaios Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2012
    The one point in the movie where I thought he was channeling the spirit of Shatner, he managed to do it without it being cheesy. It's the point at the end of the movie where he steps onto the bridge, takes a look around, and exclaims "Bones!"

    I got goosebumps at that moment. :lol:
     
  12. Kegg

    Kegg Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2009
    Location:
    Ireland.
    I love William Shatner's Kirk. I also love Pine's Kirk. Pine really made it his own, as written and directed it would have been very easy for Kirk to just be unlikeable - he is fairly dickish at times - but his impish grin, charisma and chemistry with Quinto really work.

    If it ain't broke, don't fix it, and Pine's Kirk ain't broke. Sure, I'd like see - and expect to see - him mature over the films, but that's not the same as having him transition into Shatnerian mode.
     
  13. Rhaven

    Rhaven Captain Captain

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2012
    Location:
    Rhaven in Boston
    I think NuKirk will always be different from TOS Kirk. Yes, they essentially are the same man, but NuKirk had a different upbringing. Losing his father and growing up without his influence will mold a different adult. Some things will be the same, some friendships will stay eternal and some things will be very different. It's that difference that peaks my interests.
     
  14. Spock/Uhura Fan

    Spock/Uhura Fan Captain Captain

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2012
    Location:
    Where It's At.
    ^ The difference in this case is what peaks my interest too.


    Did it look a little something like this?

    [​IMG]


    Oh, so sorry then. :lol:

    :guffaw:

    So, does that mean that I made the question too easy? Is it a "slam dunk," in a manner of speaking? I notice that the results are 100% "NO" as of right now.

    And I wasn't trying to be insulting when I made that comparison. I just meant to get across that they are distinct in what they do.

    http://www.myspace.com/video/saturd...st-voyage-of-the-starship-enterprise/33829799

    And one of the best parts is when they mistake NBC for Nabisco. :lol:
     
  15. Satyrquaze

    Satyrquaze Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2010
    Yeah, you may have made it too easy. My answer was always NO, but you adding that little tid-bit made it a "HELL NO". :p
     
  16. R. Star

    R. Star Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2012
    Location:
    Shangri-La
    Wait was that Pine?!

    Okay Paramount... when you audition news Trek actors, make sure they've never performed in drag in the past! This is becoming a pattern now! :p
     
  17. Spock/Uhura Fan

    Spock/Uhura Fan Captain Captain

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2012
    Location:
    Where It's At.
    Yes it was: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Kol7dFZHAk

    Enjoy. :p

    And what pattern would you be talking about?
     
  18. Kegg

    Kegg Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2009
    Location:
    Ireland.
    I think it may suggest there isn't a middle ground here.

    If you're not satisfied with Chris Pine's Kirk, you probably still wouldn't be satisfied with Shatnerian inflection. You'd probably want a Kirk played by a different actor, or written a different way, or just not at all (because Shatner is irreplacable). Those who can roll with Pine being Kirk however clearly don't feel he needs to cue up the Shat much.
     
  19. Spock/Uhura Fan

    Spock/Uhura Fan Captain Captain

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2012
    Location:
    Where It's At.
    That's a very good point. Perhaps I should have asked the same question I asked about Zachary and Mr. Nimoy--Whether or not the torch had been successfully passed.
     
  20. Galileo7

    Galileo7 Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2010
    Location:
    usa
    Agree.:vulcan: