Kirk/William Shatner Apprecation Thread

[Warped9]

StarTrekRcks, this isn't meant to be a shot against you but think about this...

What if there was a character you loved growing up as a little girl who you thought had some admirable qualities and then as you grew up some aspects of the character which were easy to parody became the 'stereotype', the 'checklist' for said character?

Now imagine that after awhile, they decided to make a new show or movie about your favorite character. You knew what the character was about but then when you go see this new interpretation it's based on the stereotypes instead of the actual character.

How would you feel?

As fans of Shatner's Kirk, the impression we got of Kirk was a strong confident leader with enough machismo and charm to spare for a whole starship. The stereotype was a skirt-chasing overly confident person.

The Kirk in the 2009 edition played more like the stereotype than the actual character we as fans had seen throughout TOS's run.

It's not that we think PINE was the reason for this disappointing interpretation but rather what JJ Abrams and his writers, Orci and Kurtzman, gave Pine to work with, which wasn't in our opinion, all that like the 'real' Captain.

This.

 

[startrekrcks]

I understand Shatner owned the role of Kirk for 40 years but I like Pine and Shatner's Kirk is there anything wrong with that.

 

[Kirk1980]

Rcks:

Not at all. You were asking for explanations and seemed to think (apologies if I misinterpreted you) people who didn't like the 09 Kirk didn't like what Pine did with the role. I explained it had more to do with the plot, the writing than anything Pine did.

And yes, it's perfectly fine to like both.

 

[startrekrcks]

Well to some people not all people like Chris Pine's Kirk guess that you won't pay to see more JJ Abrams Trek in the future anyway I like Pine's Kirk in my opinion your opinion obviously may differ.

 

[Warped9]

^^ There's another distinction here. Characters like Sherlock Holmes, Tarzan, Batman, Superman, 007, they're all characters that existed in literary fiction before they were translated to the screen. Of course everyone has their favourite, but none of the actors really owned the role because the character had already been long established before. And people still debate whether actors are respecting the original source materiel.

And TOS is not an obscure TV series long forgotten and being revamped for today. TOS has been with us constantly since it first aired. And unlike literary characters Shatner defined Kirk from the beginning. He wasn't reinterpreting anyone else. And the same goes for the rest of the TOS cast.

Imagine living with you father for forty some years. You know him in and out. Now someone comes along with a complete stranger and says now he is your father. Your likely reaction? Get the hell outta here! That's not my dad! I know who my father is.

Now if you want another take on this I imagine there's still debate on which Darrin was better in the original Bewitched TV series: Dick York or Dick Sargeant.

 

[startrekrcks]

are you forcing me to stop liking Pine's Kirk just because they have changed everything to you?

 

[startrekrcks]

I love Shatner as well Kirk is awesome, professional, no nonense kind of a guy is that what Chris Pine's Kirk lacked from just wondering.

 

[Warped9]

are you forcing me to stop liking Pine's Kirk just because they have changed everything to you?

You are not understanding something here. Either that or you're deliberately trying to provoke something. No one said you shouldn't like Pine's version of Kirk. We are are trying to explain why many fans might resist his portrayal.

Hell, I still prefer '50s era George Reeves as Superman, but I can live with it. That said anyone has gotta be better than Brandon Routh.

 

[Jeri]

Can we please keep this thread about Kirk/Shatner appreciation and not about Pine vs. Shatner?

 

[startrekrcks]

Sorry Shatner will always be Kirk, it is obvious that you prefer Shatner I know.

 

[Warped9]

People can resist change even when they know it's inevitable.

Shatner is now too old to play the Kirk of the TOS era. Someone else now has to do it. And as I said elsewhere Pine is okay, but I'd rather his Kirk was more recognizable as the first one we had.

Mind you I still wonder about those early rumours of Matt Damon as Kirk. That could have been interesting...

 

[EEE]

Now if you want another take on this I imagine there's still debate on which Darrin was better in the original Bewitched TV series: Dick York or Dick Sargeant.

There is nothing to debate on that issue. *wiggle-blink*

 

[Ssosmcin]

But "don't forget where we parked" is more Kirk-like? *wink* (As if either actor wrote the lines *grin*)

You're right, neither was "double dumb-ass on you." I didn't like the portrayal of Kirk in the movies after TSFS. They slid from Kirk into "Shatner" which bugged me.

The Kirk from the movies is light years away from the Kirk in the series.

 

[Iowagirl]

^ He's lovely! The way he's holding her and looking so intensely into her eyes is killer. Kirk's intensity is what he's got going for him, IMO. It can drill right into you.

Absolutely!

 

[RobertScorpio]

But "don't forget where we parked" is more Kirk-like? *wink* (As if either actor wrote the lines *grin*)

You're right, neither was "double dumb-ass on you." I didn't like the portrayal of Kirk in the movies after TSFS. They slid from Kirk into "Shatner" which bugged me.

The Kirk from the movies is light years away from the Kirk in the series.

Cant say that I agree. I think Kirk's character evolved away from the book pusher Gary said he was, to the 'sure of himself', able to look at humanity side of Kirk we saw from Khan onward...

Rob

 

[Jeri]

Absolutely!

Grrrrr! -- Jim's looking sharp in "This Side of Paradise." (Trek Core HD)

 

[Iowagirl]

Absolutely!

Grrrrr! -- Jim's looking sharp in "This Side of Paradise." (Trek Core HD)

Yes, he certainly is. It's the perfect mix - the eyes, the intensity of the look and on the other hand you have that infamous Kirk smile - can't beat it.

 

[Jeri]

Hawt!

 

[Warped9]

I'm a guy so no one take this wrong. But Shatner in his prime as Kirk, particularly the first two seasons, is way better looking and exudes a more convincing commanding presence than Pine does.

 

[KirkSpockTOSFan]

I love those pics,Kirk is so hot!