Chris Pine should train with Kevin Pollack

[Bad Bishop]

I'm not sensing a huge groundswell of enthusiasm over the casting of Chris Pine as James T. Kirk. In fact, some people have used Pine's previous credits (like a film with Lindsay Lohan) against him. Obviously, Pine has to make believers out of some of us. And he's got his work cut out for him, because Shatner's boots aren't easy to fill.

If Pine is going to be embraced as the new Captain Kirk, then he (Pine) has got to channel the character in every way possible. I think it would be great if JJ Abrams recruited actor and comedian Kevin Pollack to work with Pine and teach him how to "do" Kirk the right way. Pollack, as you know, is king of all Shatner impressionists. No one (other than Bill himself) has ever captured the distinctive qualities of TOS Kirk, his mannerisms and delivery (you know, as in "to boldly go... where no man... has gone... be-fore...!"). All that stuff.

No one thinks that Shatner himself would ever stoop to coaching his successor in the role of Kirk. Shatner obviously craves a part in this film, but he may not be generous enough to impart his vast wisdom and experience to Pine. So the next best thing would be to bring Pollack in as "technical advisor." Pine will surely benefit from Pollack's years of performing as Kirk in various television shows and standup routines.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Maybe he's good actor who's never been in anything but crap? I'm willing to give him a chance.

 

[Dale]

I think Pine should be encouraged to portray Kirk, not imitate Shatner. His studies should be limited to watching TOS episodes with an eye on Shatner's portrayal so as to get the characters verbal cadence and mannerisms down. There are certain physical and verbal precedents set by Shatner that Pine should be encouraged to bring to his portrayal, but I don't want him up there doing a Shatner impression, and I certainly don't think he should be tutored by a comedian who plays Shatner-as-Kirk for laughs. I don't want that kind of camp.

Actors should act, not imitate.

 

[johnconner]

As long as he masters the judo chop and flying two-legged kick, all will be right within the Federation.

 

[GeorgeKirk]

johnconner said:
As long as he masters the judo chop and flying two-legged kick, all will be right within the Federation.

Don't forget about the Flying Butt-Slam from "Journey To Babel"

 

[Brutal Strudel]

Kevin Pollack's Kirk is like Dana Carvey's George H. W. Bush: people who do impressions of Kirk are really just doing Pollack. So yes, since Trek is already a copy of a copy of a copy, Pine should study Pollack assiduously.

 

[Samuel T. Cogley]

Pine should have multiple nylon wires attached to various parts of his body. Pollack should then hang out up in the rafters; hold the other end of the wires; and control Pine's body like a puppet.

Much care should be given to make sure both of Pine's feet are never off of the ground at the same time, as that always makes a walking puppet look unrealistic and should be avoided at all costs.

 

[scottydog]

Is Pine going to lose his shirt in this movie? If so, we'll all be looking closely. Does he have a younger-Shatner's build, bare chestedness, and pre-nascent potbelly?

 

[Dale]

Samuel T. Cogley said:
Pine should have multiple nylon wires attached to various parts of his body. Pollack should then hang out up in the rafters; hold the other end of the wires; and control Pine's body like a puppet.

Much care should be given to make sure both of Pine's feet are never off of the ground at the same time, as that always makes a walking puppet look unrealistic and should be avoided at all costs.

It beats the Muppeteering method wherein he'd have Pollack's arm shoved up his backside operating his mouth and eyes while another operator works his arms and legs with black sticks.

 

[STIntergalactic]

Pollack doesn't do that good of a Shatner. He does a pretty funny parody of him. Pine should really just go straight to the source.