Do you like the new Kirk?

[demolished_man]

Hi

Just seen the movie here in the UK and while I wasn't blown away I wasn't too impressed either. To put things in context I'm a big TOS fan, with Enterprise as my second fav series (go figure...).

My main gripe was the new Kirk. I'm not talking the actor or the look or the story, but the personality and character.

I always looked on Kirk as a rogueish charmer, but with a deep sense of responsibility, commitment and honour, someone diplomatic, someone you immediately warmed to and liked.

This new Kirk, deprived of his father when George is killed, seems to be wild and uncontrolled, fighting and womanising and I get the impression that he has a violent step-father who is a less-than-ideal role-model.

As a cadet he is arrogant and cocky, certainly not Captain material, and on the ship shows no respect for authority, rank, protocol, position or anyone's feelings. Once he assumes the Captain's chair, it's "I'm right and damn everyone else".

I don't want to diss the storyline but it does seem to me that this new Kirk has been made too unlikeable, and promoted to Captain for no sound reason other than ending the movie as Captian Kirk. He didn't even apologise for what he said to Spock about his mother.

Maybe a few years of experience, working through the officer ranks, understanding the chain-of-command and the responsibilities of a Captain, with some losses to give him some humility would help, but right now, I certainly wouldn't want to serve under such an arrogant, charmless, risk-taking Captain. He's straight out of the Academy - what on Earth does he know about running a starship and a crew?

Would you?

TDM

 

[Kpnuts]

I always looked on Kirk as a rogueish charmer, but with a deep sense of responsibility, commitment and honour, someone diplomatic, someone you immediately warmed to and liked.

Sounds like the new Kirk to me.

He's a bit younger, give him time. I'm sure he'll be what you want him to be in the sequel.

 

[blaXXer]

Hi
To put things in context I'm a big TOS fan, with Enterprise as my second fav series (go figure...).

See, and from that point on you fail as, what passes here for a respectable Trekker.

/or it ist "Trekkie"?

 

[Gertch]

I certainly wasn't convinced of his "Kirk" portrayal at first. But as the movie progressed, and especially after taking command, he was the Kirk character. Separate from the first but every bit as entitled. Although I did like the 'slightly over-corrected poster' standing stance at the end which always distinguished the first.

 

[24thcenstfan]

I loved the new Kirk. I thought Pine gave a very personable and dynamic performance. The character portrayal seemed to embody most of the qualities of prime timeline Kirk, but with a few small twists. This is a younger Kirk, who still has a lot to learn...but is showing signs of the future more "Captain-esque" Kirk that will come out in future movies I suspect.

 

[writergal]

I agree that nuKirk is more brash and wild than TOS Kirk, but bear in mind that he's younger and has had a different history than TOS Kirk, who had the steadying influence of his father to guide him. But his brashness and willingness to abandon protocol is what saved the Enterprise, and the Earth, and he does exhibit the same compassion as TOS Kirk at the end, when he offers to rescue Nero and his crew - it's not his fault that Nero turns him down flat.

Yes, I'll agree that this Kirk is not the steady, mature, totally put together Kirk we knew, but fortunately he has McCoy and Spock to help him, and I think it's Kirk's willingness to think OUTSIDE the Starfleet box that sets him apart and makes him special. Hopefully the writers will show him maturing into Totally Awesome Kirk over the next few movies and we'll end up with a new hero for our times. :-)

 

[Jeri]

I loved the new Kirk, and I watched the show on NBC, starting in 1966. I disagree that Pine's Kirk was not dedicated to the service. There is nothing in the film that indicates anything other than his desire to make a contribution and succeed. From the time he signs on, his acts are focused on service to his colleagues and Star fleet.

 

[An Officer]

Kirk never cared much for the chain of command.

You ought to look at this reboot like the Bond comeback with Craig... he only begins to resemble the Kirk we know, at the end of the movie - the point is, he's not supposed to be the polished product yet... he's supposed to learn more about himself and others as the sequels develop, and us right along with him.

You also forget that Kirk is a recognised gifted genius. He may be straight out of the academy, but he was born to captain that Starship. He was born right in the middle of a Romulan conflict in fact, it's in his very essence - very nice touch that. No one can do it the way he can. And the loss of his father, and slightly harsher AU environment, no doubt taught him even more resourcefulness... He will appreciate his new friends all the more this time around, I suspect.

Was it just me, or was his father even hotter than he is...? *Loosens collar*

 

[BenRoethig]

Hi
He's straight out of the Academy - what on Earth does he know about running a starship and a crew?

And I hope that's dealt with on screen.

 

[Bones2]

Was it just me, or was his father even hotter than he is...? *Loosens collar*

Certainly, in a manner of speaking. He pretty much got as hot as a person can.

 

[miniglik]

Was it just me, or was his father even hotter than he is...? *Loosens collar*

Certainly, in a manner of speaking. He pretty much got as hot as a person can.

And then he exploded...

 

[Chess Piece Face]

I love everything about him except 2 things:

1 - He did not play the Kobiyashi Maru correctly - he should have been more toned down. Have a twinkle in his eye because he knows something we don't - not that way over the top apple biting.

2 - He is not yet the serious, married to the ship, mental patient Kirk that I love from TOS.

Hopefully, number 2 will change as the character gets older and wiser. I just hope he does NOT stay the person he was in that Koybashi Maru test.

 

[Chess Piece Face]

Hi
He's straight out of the Academy - what on Earth does he know about running a starship and a crew?

And I hope that's dealt with on screen.

I think it would be cool to see him make a big mistake and feel guilty in the next movie - the way he did in Star Trek II with the shield code thing that cost lives.

 

[Jeri]

And then he exploded...

"Digitize me, Fred!!" (He should have.)

Chris Hemsworth ("George") is hot, alright. They have cast him to play comic book hero "Thor" in the upcoming film. We can see a lot more of him.

 

[Prons]

New Kirk is great. I'm excited to see how he will develop into the "Mature Kirk."

 

[An Officer]

And then he exploded...

"Digitize me, Fred!!" (He should have.)

Chris Hemsworth ("George") is hot, alright. They have cast him to play comic book hero "Thor" in the upcoming film. We can see a lot more of him.

Nothing as sexy on the silver screen as going out in a blaze of glory.

I hope Thor is going to be released this summer. I want to see a good blockbusters goddammit! Last summer was fantastic for blockbusters... *Sigh*

 

[Jeri]

Nothing as sexy on the silver screen as going out in a blaze of glory.

I hope Thor is going to be released this summer. I want to see a good blockbusters goddammit! Last summer was fantastic for blockbusters... *Sigh*

His short role as George will be hard to beat. My husband says Thor is pretty far down in the pantheon.

 

[An Officer]

Pine must have been amazing in his audition to beat out Hemsworth for the Kirk role - because Hemsworth looks far more Kirk-ish than Pine does, actually. Nevertheless, I'm still very happy to have Pine as Kirk. Wouldn't mind seeing more of his father though...

 

[Jeri]

I mentioned this before, but I really want to do a side-by-side comparison with George and TOS Kirk: in the scene where Captain Robau tells him "You're the captain now, Mr. Kirk," George is lit from below -- exactly the way Evil Kirk is in "Enemy Within." They are so reminiscent of each other in those scenes.

 

[M'Sharak]

I had no difficulty accepting Chris Pine's Kirk as a younger, more brash version of the Captain Kirk we saw in the original series, adjusted for an altered set of circumstances experienced in an offshoot of the original timeline. As far as I'm concerned, Pine sold the character, and that was James T. Kirk on the screen.

Hi
To put things in context I'm a big TOS fan, with Enterprise as my second fav series (go figure...).

See, and from that point on you fail as, what passes here for a respectable Trekker.

/or it ist "Trekkie"?

While I don't think I'd call Enterprise my second-favorite (I really don't bother with ordered lists of anything very much, to be honest, and especially not for Star Trek series) and it's not without its flaws, I did enjoy the show and won't mark anyone else down for liking it. Not fail, and screw respectability -- I'm a Star Trek fan.

Pine must have been amazing in his audition to beat out Hemsworth for the Kirk role - because Hemsworth looks far more Kirk-ish than Pine does, actually.

Did Hemsworth ever actually audition for the Kirk role? I had an idea that part was nailed down long before Hemsworth entered the picture.