Did Kirk's rather *enthusiastic* execution of Nero bug you?

[Admiral Shran]

Yes, it bugged me. I wouldn't have had a problem with it, after all Nero did deserve it, if Kirk had had at least one scene where he regretted having to do it. Maybe something like....

Kirk: "I hate having to even come close to his level, but it was necessary."

 

[Cmndr J Crichton]

Kirk did offer assistance to Nero. It was Spock who changed, asking him what he was doing. Kirk is trying to offer Nero help, and Spock wonders why. Kirk asks if his plan is right, and Spock replies, 'No, not this time.' Then Nero goes on with his rant about not wanting to be saved. To which Kirk replies 'You got it.' He didn't just open fire and smile. Kirk tried the negotional approach, and Spock was the one who changed his mind. Rightly so, since Nero and his crew destroyed his planet.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Spock (In any Universe) can be pretty cold at times. He suggested Kirk kill Gary Mitchell. ( and he was right then too.)

 

[The Castellan]

Spock should have been the one to personally scrag Nero, I think, especially since he pretty much wanted to.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

This was one of my favorite moments in the movie, and was totally in character. These characters might be heros, but to have them squeaky clean simply because they are heros would dilude the end of the film.

 

[Alientraveller]

He didn't appear enthusiastic at all when he ordered Sulu to bombard the sinking Romulan ship.

 

[Penhall99]

Kirk.
Starfleet Captain.
Starfleet's finest.
....

Goofing on the guys he's about to kill...?

Not sorry for for believing he HAS to do it?

Has this alternate reality created a Kirk I can't look up to any more? Just another angry angsty texting post-teen that revels in his justifiable excesses?

Or did Nero REALLY ASK for it?

Did the scene bug me? Absolutely not.

In fact, it made me like the movie even more upon my first viewing. I hope there are many more scenes like it in the Trek films to come.

 

[stonester1]

No, Nero and his crew were none uniformed combatants who had committed acts of war. Kirks actions was just and practical.

Sharr

His actions, perhaps. But not his attitude. I LOVE this movie, and thought that Pine and Abrams nailed James Tiberius Kirk and everyone else. But that scene bugged me. Kirk is the sort of man who is willing and able to make the hard decisions. But he is never cavalier about it.

That and the quickie Captain promotion are the two points about this film that stick in my craw. Not enough to hamper my very high enjoyment of this film, but I hope they think more carefully about such things in the next one.

 

[Garm Bel Iblis]

Kirk.
Starfleet Captain.
Starfleet's finest.
....

Goofing on the guys he's about to kill...?

Not sorry for for believing he HAS to do it?

Has this alternate reality created a Kirk I can't look up to any more? Just another angry angsty texting post-teen that revels in his justifiable excesses?

Or did Nero REALLY ASK for it?

"yippee ki yay mother f*****"

 

[iguana_tonante]

Okay, this is a too much. Kirk made far more than a "cursory offer" of assistance. He stated clearly the situation Nero was in and made it clear Nero's only rational option was to surrender. Nero spat in his face, and Kirk saw to it that Nero and his powerful Borg-enhanced starship could not travel to another timeline. And Nero really had it coming.

I tend to agree. The action were justified, and Nero was a baaad muthafucka. Given that he personally killed billions of Vulcans, I surmise that he's probably the worst murderer in history.

I just wish they made more clear that, even given the damage, the Narada could have just reemerged from the black hole in another time or place, and Kirk could not have that. As is was, you could think he was shooting at a sinking ship, and that's not cool.

Personally I would have preferred a ending like Batman Begin "I won't kill you, but I don't have to save you." But it's a small point.

 

[thumbtack]

...But with a smile? Is that the message here? That killing evil is an enjoyable thing?

Are you referring specifically to Picard and his machine gun? Because the thread title references Kirk.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

<snip>
I tend to agree. The action were justified, and Nero was a baaad muthafucka. Given that he personally killed billions of Vulcans, I surmise that he's probably the worst murderer in history.

This. And don't forget he was on his way to killing billions of people on Earth and every other Federation planet.

Kirk attempted to help, Nero turned it down.

Buh-bye.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Did the scene bug me? Absolutely not.

In fact, it made me like the movie even more upon my first viewing.

It's the movie's "he cheated" moment - when the filmmakers thumb their noses a bit at the expectations of fans about these characters as paragons of morality and good judgment as opposed to emotional, unpredictable people. When was the last time a core Trek character did or said anything surprising? YMMV on the last bit.

 

[Tribbles]

I understand your point, Chrisisall, but Nero is much more than just some mugger on the street. As pointed out, he destroyed an entire planet-- billions of innocent lives lost, and he was all set to eradicate billions more. I'm thinking he'd get more than a slap on the wrist and life in prison for that if turned over to a justice system. Does that make it right for the heroes to deliver justice (or revenge, depending on how you look at)? I'm not sure, personally. There are various moral complications to navigate with that question...

However, I can say that Kirk taking Nero out didn't bother me for the fact that he did offer to save them. He didn't waste any time after a cursory offer, and I can't blame him since the man committed genocide. I didn't take Kirk's smiling as a response to Nero's death, but rather to the fact that he and his crew survived an extremely high-risk situation.

I say this, by the way, as someone who didn't care for Kirk in general. This was one of few moments where I thought, "Maybe this guy can grow into the kind of hero I admire."

 

[bbailey861]

No, it didn't bother me at all. In fact, I rather enjoyed it.

 

[Bruno]

No, but at least a hint of regret at what he felt needed to be done would have been nice.
When was the last time you killed a violent mugger that left you smiling, might I ask?

If that "mugger" had recently killed everyone in Toronto, had previously killed my father and his boss, and I had just stopped him from doing the same to everyone in New York, then killing him after giving him a chance to surrender and being soundly rejected probably would make me smile a little.

 

[Gecko of Gorn]

I thought the moment was great.

...Don't forget, Kirk did offer Nero a peaceful solution which was declined.

So Kirk simply went to "Fuck You!" mode.

 

[Chrisisall]

Okay, this is a too much.
Kirk saw to it that Nero and his powerful Borg-enhanced starship could not travel to another timeline.

Okay. The KEY point here is: The CRAZY amount of Red Matter released in the collision was NOT going to let Nero survive the event horizon. "Too close to the singularity to survive" was Kirk's quote, I believe.

Last Tuesday, when I was in Reno.

Ahhhh, Reno!

Yes, it bugged me.

It wouldn't have bugged ME if after Kirk stated his cursory assistance offer, he'd just let Nero's ship be crushed in the singularity...

Kirk replies 'You got it.' He didn't just open fire and smile.

Question is, why did he open fire at all? OH. For a grand mock-important Hollywood slam-bang finale.
I would have been okay with letting Nero simply be effed by the event. But that's just me.

Spock (In any Universe) can be pretty cold at times. He suggested Kirk kill Gary Mitchell. ( and he was right then too.)

Agreement here.

He didn't appear enthusiastic at all when he ordered Sulu to bombard the sinking Romulan ship.

Why sink what's sunk?

[Did the scene bug me? Absolutely not.

In fact, it made me like the movie even more upon my first viewing. I hope there are many more scenes like it in the Trek films to come.

Wow. Mad much?

I LOVE this movie, and thought that Pine and Abrams nailed James Tiberius Kirk and everyone else. But that scene bugged me. Kirk is the sort of man who is willing and able to make the hard decisions. But he is never cavalier about it.

In my mind, I edit out the firing of the ship's phasers & photon torpedoes- then it's all good for me.

"yippee ki yay mother f*****"

John, why does this always happen to us??

I just wish they made more clear that, even given the damage, the Narada could have just reemerged from the black hole in another time or place, and Kirk could not have that. As is was, you could think he was shooting at a sinking ship, and that's not cool.

Bad editing/film-making choices IMO.

Personally I would have preferred a ending like Batman Begins "I won't kill you, but I don't have to save you."

EXACTLY!!!!!!!

And don't forget he was on his way to killing billions of people on Earth and every other Federation planet.

Kirk attempted to help, Nero turned it down.

Buh-bye.

Sis, it didn't have to be like that.

I didn't take Kirk's smiling as a response to Nero's death, but rather to the fact that he and his crew survived an extremely high-risk situation.

Positively noted!

If that "mugger" had recently killed everyone in Toronto, had previously killed my father and his boss, and I had just stopped him from doing the same to everyone in New York, then killing him after giving him a chance to surrender and being soundly rejected probably would make me smile a little.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold."

Killing is never fun. It should never provoke a smile.
You must be very young.

Don't get me wrong peeps, I love this movie, but much like I skip the idiotic transporter accident in TMP, I will FF through the firing on the Narada to enhance my viewing of this flick.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

This is a put-up "debate", anyway. You're just automatically gainsaying anyone who feels differently.

 

[Voyagerian]

I think the OP's point is well-considered. Thinking about it, Jim could have just allowed Nero and co to go their final way, if the singularity-as someone said, created with tremendous volumes of Red Matter,was by far able to finish the job itself, while he and the crew watched, maybe with Nero 'spewing his last breath at thee' INW...but Jim did give him a chance to accept help. Not a mood-killer, pardon the pun ,for the film, but, again, well-considered.