Christopher plummer performance as chang best klingon performance
- Thread starter TEH BABA
- Start date
I found his performance to be campy and over the top.
More Shakespearean I'd say. A bit like Picard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPnDrKn0Z0Y&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPnDrKn0Z0Y&feature=related
CaptainHawk1
Commodore
Well, not for nothing, but Mr. Shatner is classically trained as well in Shakespeare.
Not to take anything away from Christopher Plummer, because his performance was spectacular, but it's unfair to say that his portrayal of Chang was the best Klingon performance. To do so implies that Klingons are one dimensional characters and are all exactly the same. You can't say that anymore than you can say that Shatner plays the best human (or even Captain for that matter but that's another debate).
Klingon characters in Trek have always been very diverse. Just look at the original three Kang, Koloth and Kor and how completely different each one of them was and how rich they were as characters. One of my favorite characters of all time is Martok and not because he's a Klingon but because he was such a brilliantly written and developed character and nobody could have played him like J.G. Hertzler. The same goes for Michael Dorn as Worf, Andrew Robinson as Garak, David Warner as Gul Madred (and Gorkon, too), Brent Spiner as Data, Leonard Nimoy as Spock and of course, Christopher Plummer as Chang (obviously, that's an abrbreviated list).
Star Trek has been very blessed over the years to have excellent casting directors who have sought actors who have their roots in the theater as well experienced Hollywood character ators. In my opinion, these "working actors" were always better choices because they were professionals who studied their character and felt it was there job to make those characters come to life and become believable.
So to correct the premise, Christopher Plummer played Chang better than anyone could have.
-Shawn
Shatner had his training, all good & well, but he does not come across as Shakespearean as Picard or Plummer.
I do agree with point 2 of yours, that being Klingons are not all one dimensional. They do have the warrior ethos in common however. I'd love to see a Trek movie where the Klingon Warrior culture is more explored like Japanese Samurai-Yakuza etc type movies occasionally do. Viking religion & culture would be a good sort of springboard for ideas.
I do agree with point 2 of yours, that being Klingons are not all one dimensional. They do have the warrior ethos in common however. I'd love to see a Trek movie where the Klingon Warrior culture is more explored like Japanese Samurai-Yakuza etc type movies occasionally do. Viking religion & culture would be a good sort of springboard for ideas.
Superb performance.
Second only to Gul Dukat as Trek's best villain.
Second only to Gul Dukat as Trek's best villain.
CaptainHawk1
Commodore
Neither is Plummer, so I'm not sure what nationality has to do with it.
I think Plummer just sounds cool. ^^
He was Christopher Plummer's understudy at one point, actually. There's a great piece about their time together (and a pair of particularly memorable performances between them) on the The Undiscovered Country Collector's Edition DVD. IIRC, Plummer actually signed on as Chang for the chance to act with Shatner again.
Instead of Shakespeare, he should have quoted Hammerstein and sung "Edelweiss."
Love his entrance on the transporter platform. How he immediately looks to lock eye with Kirk, and the delivery of that first line..."I have so wanted to meet you, Captain..."
"Cry HAVOC! And let slip the dogs of war! HAHAHA!" Cool.
I did like Chang, he brouht a cheesey kind of menance to his performance.
Ruthless, intelligent and cold.
However I would say he is the best Klingon in the movies. I still have Kruge coming in a close second :P (Honorable mention to Maltz just because
)
However the best Klingon performance for me is my favorite all time Klingon, Martok
However an honorable mention for best all time and all around is Kang. (Still love the extra ooomph he put into his backslap on Kirk while mocking the "Day of the Dove" Alien )
Ruthless, intelligent and cold.
However I would say he is the best Klingon in the movies. I still have Kruge coming in a close second :P (Honorable mention to Maltz just because
)However the best Klingon performance for me is my favorite all time Klingon, Martok
However an honorable mention for best all time and all around is Kang. (Still love the extra ooomph he put into his backslap on Kirk while mocking the "Day of the Dove" Alien
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