Bana's Make-up in Star Trek XI

[Ro_Laren]

So isn't Eric Bana's character in Star Trek XI supposed to be a Romulan? If so, why doesn't he look very "Romulanish" on the official Star Trek movie web-site? For his pic, go to the Downloads section of the site. You'll see four icons- click on the last one (it is black and white).

Sure Bana looks like a mean villain, but where are the forehead ridges and pointy ears?? I see the pointy eyebrows, but that is all. Maybe JJ Abrams got rid of the forehead ridges to make Bana look like a more TOS appropriate Romulan??

 

[M'Sharak]

Sure Bana looks like a mean villain, but where are the forehead ridges and pointy ears?? I see the pointy eyebrows, but that is all. Maybe JJ Abrams got rid of the forehead ridges to make Bana look like a more TOS appropriate Romulan??

The exaggerated forehead ridges appear to have been done away with. It's been remarked-upon elsewhere that where you'd expect to see a point on the ear, there seems to be evidence of damage (from wounds sustained in a fight or some other injury or trauma? Who knows?)

It occurs to me that the angle of the pose in this poster image is reminiscent one we've seen of another Romulan and the higher contrast, light-and-shadow aspect reminds of this image, perhaps. Or maybe it's just me. I'm not even 100% sure that Nero is supposed to be full Romulan.

 

[Kelso]

Maybe they're throwing a bone to the continuity-obsessed fanboys by not having Kirk and crew meet an evil Vulcan-esque alien called a 'Romulan' before the events of BoT.

Or... maybe they just want him to look really cool.

 

[SonicRanger]

Chang "didn't look too Klingon" in TUC. The Andorians looked really different in TMP. And so on and so forth.

I think that explaining why Nero's makeup is somewhat different or between previous Romulan incarnations is exactly the kind of thing Abrams' and crew will stay away from. And they should! Just like GR and crew did in TMP. I consider the "Klingon ridge explanation" on ENT to be one of its biggest failures -- no one but the biggest of fanboys needed an explanation, and it was a huge setback for Trek's "fresh start."

Nothing will turn off a mainstream audience like "Well, Zy'tral, you see I am only half Romulan. I am also one quarter Reman and one quarter Klingon. See, my father was half Romulan and half Reman, and my mother was half Romulan and half Klingon. My paternal grandfather was the kind of Romulan with head ridges, but my materal grandmother was the kind of Romulan without head ridges. That is the reason I look this way."

 

[GothTrek]

I'm telling you, he's Klingon...

 

[datas_cat_spot]

I do kind of see some ridging on his forehead. I suppose he could actually be Klingon. Maybe a sort of "missing link" or undergoing therapy to restore them, who knows. I find the tattoos more interesting though.

All joking aside, it is possible his ear really has been chewed off or something. Maybe if you were to pull back and see the entire shot, you'd see that his right ear still has a point.

 

[Stag]

Maybe he has a nervous habit, instead of chewing fingernails he nibbles on his ear points.

I wonder if it was the result of torture or battle? The listing for Trek XI at IMDB lists several small klingon roles, maybe we'll see Bana fighting some Klingons in a flashback or something.

 

[Rii]

Or... maybe they just want him to look really cool.

It's not working.

Kirk, Spock, and Uhura look great, but Nero doesn't do anything for me there.

 

[Sector 7]

I still love their Master Plan... see sig line for explanation...

 

[M'Sharak]

Maybe he has a nervous habit, instead of chewing fingernails he nibbles on his ear points.

It'd be a neat trick, but I'm not sure I'd want to watch.

 

[GothTrek]

Maybe he has a nervous habit, instead of chewing fingernails he nibbles on his ear points.

I wonder if it was the result of torture or battle? The listing for Trek XI at IMDB lists several small klingon roles, maybe we'll see Bana fighting some Klingons in a flashback or something.

Never trust IMDB. It's a Wiki. You can actually add yourself as most any role on any film there.

Go ahead. Try it.

But I am telling you. He's NOT Romulan.

It was rumored very early on that he might be Romulan, but that was a fan initiated runor.

Trust me.

Nero is definitely Klingon.

 

[GothTrek]

So isn't Eric Bana's character in Star Trek XI supposed to be a Romulan? If so, why doesn't he look very "Romulanish"...

BECAUSE HE IS A KLINGON! LOL!!!

 

[Akiraprise]

So isn't Eric Bana's character in Star Trek XI supposed to be a Romulan? If so, why doesn't he look very "Romulanish"...

BECAUSE HE IS A KLINGON! LOL!!!

Aye. And if my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a wagon.

 

[GothTrek]

Jest all ye wish but all will soon eat their words.

Well, at least after May 8, 2009.

Nero IS a Klingon.

MWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Rii]

I don't care what he is, he still looks silly. Granted, no sillier than most previous Trek depictions of alien species.

 

[jgdst]

I think you're all getting distracted with the Klingon/Romulan debate.

The obvious answer as to what's going on can be summed up in one word:


KHAAAAAAAAAAAAN!

 

[Icy_Penguigo]

Why would a Klingon have a roman name?

Also, forehead-ridged Romulans = stupid

 

[Swarles Barkley]

Sure Bana looks like a mean villain, but where are the forehead ridges and pointy ears?? I see the pointy eyebrows, but that is all. Maybe JJ Abrams got rid of the forehead ridges to make Bana look like a more TOS appropriate Romulan??

Obviously Nero was in a tragic childhood accident involving a mechanical rice picker.

And seriously...have we seen anything (other than fan speculation) to indicate that Nero is in fact a Romulan? I honestly don't know. Anyone have any links to anything official?

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

If Anthony over at Trekmovie.com says Nero is a Romulan, he's a Romulan.

 

[GothTrek]

Anthony said that there was speculation that Nero is Romulan but that he was unable to verify it. That was some months ago.

Counter point: Name one Romulan with a Roman name. I just don't seem to recall there ever being a Roman senator or emperor named Tamalok...