It's like comparing apples and oranges. At least Pine looks set to continue showing alien girls that Earth thing called kissing.
When I've seen more of Pine in Trek and other things, then I might be able to say. The Shat has done Shakespeare, I think he can summon up subtlety when required.
Subtlety was definitely Shatner's strong point. When the episode
required subtlety, e.g., City on the Edge of Forever, then Shatner
was at his best. But when an episode allowed for broader emotion,
e.g. The Enemy Within, then Shatner couldn't hold himself back. He
chewed the scenery like a ravenous T Rex. Partly a sign of the times
perhaps, but also an integral part of Shatner's acting style, which I
can't say I fully appreciated, then or now.
He will always be the original James T. Kirk, and I liked him in the
role, but I never loved the character the way I loved both Spock
and McCoy. That is what Chris Pine brings to the role for me (as
someone else also said in a previous post). He made me not only
reappreciate Kirk but love the character as portrayed by Pine. It
is a great piece of natural acting, without overplaying it as Bill
Shatner sometimes did, IMO.
I also have to say I never found William Shatner all that attractive
even in TOS (though other female fans certainly did). And seeing
the picture of Kirk from TOS posted above only reinforces that
opinion. Shatner was a bit pudgy even in his 30's and not all that
well-defined muscularly. But Chris Pine is another matter. He is
*very* well-defined (no pudge anywhere on that body!); in fact
he's downright HOT. (I say this only in my capacity as an objective
female observer, BTW.)
William Shatner had his day, and he created an icon. But now it
is Chris Pine's turn, and I for one am anxiously awaiting his next
appearance as James Kirk.