Anyone else Prefer Pine to Shatner

[tomalak301]

I know how controversial this question is, but I wanted to ask it anyway. I saw the movie for the second time yesterday and one of the things I was thinking was how much I really loved the casting of Chris Pine as Kirk. I remember he was on one of the night shows when the movie came out (I think it was Letterman) and he was talking about the flack he got from people just because he was cast as the character Shatner created. After watching the movie, I can't wait to see Pine in the role again, probably moreso than any other character.

Don't get me wrong, I like Shatner but it seemed like the Shatner from movies changed from the Shatner of the series and I preferred the Shatner of the movies.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Actually, I liked Shatner early in TOS better than I liked him later. He had his moments in the movies, but he was best in the first year of TOS.

 

[clint g]

I like em both equally

 

[stonester1]

Same here. It's "Jim Kirk". Shatner had the task of playing a character. He created a beloved icon. Pine had the even harder task of stepping into the Starfleet issue boots of said icon, hoping his feet were big enough.

He did and they were.

Kudos to them both, for giving life to Captain James Tiberius Kirk.

 

[cubbie]

I liked Shatner is TOS more than the movies, but as others have already said, kudos to Shatner for making Jim Kirk iconic, and Chris Pine for stepping into those very large shoes.

 

[Kane_Steel]

Pine's Kirk is better.

Shatner never made Kirk as cool and badass as Chris' version.

Shat's over the top acting tended to drag his portrayal down....I prefer Pine's approach.

 

[Nardpuncher]

I see where you're coming from.
Pine is young and will likely be a better actor than Shatner.

 

[perigee]

I'm not choosing - but in Shat's defense, you need to remember that acting, as a craft, is organic. It develops. Check out the old silents, then the early talkies, the Vedy Vedy Quirky Whey they spoke in the films of the thirties. All of it is completely weird today.

Pine is a man of his time, and I love his interpretation - but I'm not gonna tear down Prime Shatner - he made the role and its His Kirk that will always be my childhood hero.

 

[miraclefan]

Same here. It's "Jim Kirk". Shatner had the task of playing a character. He created a beloved icon. Pine had the even harder task of stepping into the Starfleet issue boots of said icon, hoping his feet were big enough.

He did and they were.

Kudos to them both, for giving life to Captain James Tiberius Kirk.

I agree, but if I had a phaser pointed at my head to choose then I would say PINE is deffinatly the better KIRK. I'm telling ya, that kid has a STRONG future in the film industry!

 

[Overgeeked]

No.

 

[clint g]

Agreed. Also, while theyre playing the same characters...they really arent the same characters. Shat's Kirk was a 30 something year old starship captain. Pine's Kirk was a 20 something year old recent academy graduate. Pine's Kirk should be more of a risk taking action hero than the Shat's Kirk.

 

[Basil]

Actually, I liked Shatner early in TOS better than I liked him later. He had his moments in the movies, but he was best in the first year of TOS.

Agreed, though I think much of his performance in the first half of ST-TMP and ST-II is on par, even if by then it's a Kirk whose evolved into a cockier, more cynical man.

Pine is young, so he has plenty of time to lose sight of what got him into acting in the first place and turn into a shadow of his former self.

 

[M'Sharak]

Anyone else Prefer Pine to Shatner?

I wouldn't go that far.

I prefer seriesShatnerKirk (the one I used to watch in a brand-new episode every week) to movieShatnerKirk (who was never really quite convincing for me) and I think that Pine has done a great job so far as the younger, rougher-around-the-edges Kirk.

But prefer Pine to Shatner? Pine's good -- I think he's tapped into an essential "Kirk-ness" of the character -- but I'll want to see more before that's even a question I think it's time to ask.

 

[RyuRoots]

Pine's good -- I think he's tapped into an essential "Kirk-ness" of the character -- but I'll want to see more before that's even a question I think it's time to ask.

I'd have to agree with this, but if Pine keeps playing the character this well in a second or third JJ Trek movie, then heck yeah.

 

[Kane_Steel]

I'll put it this way.

I'd say Pine's Kirk made a better FIRST impression to me than Shat's did.

I think that's the only basis of comparison with the two; since Pine's Kirk is just beginning his journey.

 

[roguephoenix]

absolutely! pine's kirk seems to be more likable and has more charm. i never thought i'd like captain kirk >_< but now i am starting to.

 

[Kane_Steel]

I feel like I'm laughing WITH Pine's Kirk..

and was laughing AT Shatner's...

Breakout Performances:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b56e0u0EgQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAvRBDQqSmY

 

[Nebula1400]

Pine is definitely a better Kirk than Shatner. Shatner was good early in the first season of TOS, and he does have good comedic timing, but he's a lazy actor who simply interjects himself into his characters. Pine has managed to BE Kirk, without ever resorting to a lame imitation. He has to be a far more talented actor that Shatner in order to pull that off successfully.

 

[flightmech73]

Pine's Kirk is better.

Shatner never made Kirk as cool and badass as Chris' version.

Shat's over the top acting tended to drag his portrayal down....I prefer Pine's approach.

See that were I'm at. Shat had that overacting problem when some potentially serious and dramatic scenes just turned comical for me. Pine for me made Kirk the way I always wanted to see him. Don't get me wrong im still a huge Shat fan. But i really liked they new view of a great captain.

 

[Jedi Marso]

Captain Kirk was (and remains) a personal hero of mine. He's a man of compassion, a man who refuses to accept defeat, and above all a captain whose ship and crew come first- the Enterprise is always his first concern, and the welfare of his crew a close second. When did Kirk always get most fired up? Right after those famous words: "he's dead, Jim." Remember his "I'll never lose you!" speech to the ship when under the influence of Elaan's tears? Or whatever ep that was.

The Shat breathed life into that character and made him real. I enjoyed Pine's performance and I think he'll do well in the role in the future. But the Shat IS James T. Kirk.