Poll Thoughts on Ben Cumcumbers as Khan?
- Thread starter Lilia
- Start date
The difference in Khan appearances can easily be chalked up to Section 31 interference, and the two Cochranes due to aging (i.e. the ST:FC version is the "real" Cochrane, and the one from TOS was an idealized self-image that the Companion gave him when it restored his youth).
There was an IDW comic book that went into detail on this. But it was absolutely unnecessary. NuKhan gave all the information that was needed for the purposes of the story when he said, "John Harrison was a fiction created the moment I was awoken by your Admiral Marcus to help him advance his cause. A smokescreen to conceal my true identity."
I, for one, applaud the fact that the movie avoided a bunch of fanboyish exposition a la the later Trek TV spinoffs. What NuKhan said was all we need to know. Really, why would any more nitpicky details even be needed?
Kor
Last edited:
Ben as John Harrison - good
Ben as Khan - unconvincing
Ben as Khan - unconvincing
Its the 23rd century Indians can have Anglo names due to a very distant Anglo ancestor and still have a British accent. Check out Ben Kingsley's real name..
Indeed. They could have gone either way.
Not having known it before, I looked it up and startrek.com says that Khan's original script name was Harald Ericsson, not John.
Well, the name John Ericson was still likely chosen for STID after they decided to go with Khan.
I loved that line. It communicated a lot in a brief time. Decent writing on that point.There was an IDW comic book that went into detail on this. But it was absolutely unnecessary. NuKhan gave all the information that was needed for the purposes of the story when he said, "John Harrison was a fiction created the moment I was awoken by your Admiral Marcus to help him advance his cause. A smokescreen to conceal my true identity."
I, for one, applaud the fact that the movie avoided a bunch of fanboyish exposition a la the later Trek TV spinoffs. What NuKhan said was all we need to know. Really, why would any more nitpicky details even be needed?
Kor
I thought his american accent was pretty convincing in Doctor Strange. I think Cumby is really well suited to that sort of character. It's more about magic and the mind than brawn.
I just see Khan's vibe as different from Cumberbatch. Cumberbatch, even though he's considered a sex symbol, is sort of...effete. The only thing really macho about him is his voice (hence using him as the voice of Smaug). Montalban has that raging latin lover vibe. You always got the sense that every muscle in Khan's body was tensed and he would cold-cock you on a moment's notice. I just don't think Cumberbatch could possibly pull that off. They made him strong like a superhero but with Montalban you believed it just by looking at him because he was so toned and athletic (even in Wrath of Khan).
My mileage definitely varies. I thought that not only would Cumberbatch be able to pull it off, but that he would honestly do it just to spite someone, that murdering people meant little to him. Cold, calculated and concealing a menacing inner power.
I thought the Khan from Space Seed and the Khan from STID had more in common with each other than with TWOK Khan.
Thought about mentioning that as well.
Space Seed and STID Khan was cool, crafty and clever. You only saw the crazy through the cracks. TWOK Khan was pretty much all crazy.
The voice of reason.Does this look like the reaction of a crazy man?
I can't find it now, but I had read an article that explained how Cumberbatch as Khan makes more sense in-universe than Montalban because of British Empire rule over the Indian sub-continent... something something something.... Brits living there for centuries... something something something... Singh is just a surname, intermarriages... WWIII and British re-occupation of the land area, etc.
I can't recall, but that was the gist of it. It made sense when I read it. I'll edit and repost it if I find it.
I can't recall, but that was the gist of it. It made sense when I read it. I'll edit and repost it if I find it.
While I thought BC was good, I felt that he would have been a better Joachim, who would have a reason for seeking vengeance on Admiral Marcus for "killing" his friend and mentor Khan Noonien Singh. In the end, we would learn that Khan and the rest of his people were kept on ice, to be used for later. My bonus fantasy would be that Khan, having been awoken earlier than in the PrimeTime, was slowly taking over Starfleet from behind the scenes, using a few of the classic 'Trek villains (Korby, Daystrom, Mudd, etc.) in the process, setting things up for a proper showdown in a third 'Trek film. It would definitely explain the military bent Starfleet was going for...