McCoy's Gorn Statement

[ManOnTheWave]

The cgi Gorn from Enterprise looked too much like a video game character to me. I much prefer a practical effect, and liked the Gorn from the Klingon prison in the 09 deleted scene. The shape of the face is different but the head ridges are pretty close enough to be recognizable. The only thing I'm not so hot for is the lack of insect like eyes the original had.

Delivering the octuplets. by Therin of Andor, on Flickr

Seven more to go.

 

[Andymator]

The cgi Gorn from Enterprise looked too much like a video game character to me. I much prefer a practical effect, and liked the Gorn from the Klingon prison in the 09 deleted scene. The shape of the face is different but the head ridges are pretty close enough to be recognizable. The only thing I'm not so hot for is the lack of insect like eyes the original had.

I have a pretty strong feeling that they were planning to CG in the eyes had they actually used it, as evidenced by the fact that they didn't even bother to put some kind of contact lenses on the actor.

 

[M'Sharak]

I have a pretty strong feeling that they were planning to CG in the eyes had they actually used it, as evidenced by the fact that they didn't even bother to put some kind of contact lenses on the actor.

I think you're probably right. In closer shots of the "Gorn" headpiece, you can plainly see the actor's eyes through unfinished eyeholes.

Edit:

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/_...alpha/en/images/b/b2/Barney_Burman's_Gorn.jpg
http://www.trekbbs.com/showpost.php?p=8151100&postcount=25

 

[Cyke101]

I quite liked Pacific Rim's approach to monster design. Yes, the monsters were all CGI, but they were designed to have the proportions of a suit -- to make it look like it could be a wearable costume -- if it ever came to actually building one for an actor to wear, both as an homage to old kaiju movies and as back-up for production if needed.

Frankly, I wouldn't mind it if a future Trek production adopted that philosophy for the Gorn if they decide to go down the CGI route. One thing about the Gorn in IAMD is that its flexibility and darkness not only disconnected it from the 60s design, but made it just plain difficult to see what the thing was actually doing. The fight with Archer was thus fairly unconvincing.

 

[Harbinger]

I would say they didn't care about trying to be consistent with the game. An earlier scene blatantly disregards to comics, so why not the game too?

I don't get the game's take on the Gorn anyway. Mainly because Enterprise is still meant to be part of the Abramsverse's history and the Gorn were mentioned in Enterprise. Yes, even in the Prime Universe, the episode Bound if you're wondering.

Well, I'd still have to ask why Khan looks completely different since apparently nothing should have been changed prior to Nero arriving. Also, to some degree, Klingons.

I remember a quote from McCoy saying something about how he delivered Gorn octuplets in Into Darkness. I don't remember if he actually did that in the game or not. Anyone?

During the Spelunking level on the Gorn-occupied planet, McCoy mentions via communicator that their camp site was attacked by a group of Gorn civilians. One of the Gorn turned out to be a pregnant female, who went into labor after being stunned. Bones says he had to perform an emergency c-section, and says the newborns "Almost took my hand off!"

This dovetails with the fact that Gorn morphology is pretty elaborate in the game; there are five or six subspecies/subtypes (enemy classes, basically) one of which is actually a feathered female. They have varying degrees of intelligence and it's implied in the background material that only the officer classes are even sentient, the rest are basically just trained monkeys with over-amped aggression responses.

Awesome! Much thanks on that.

 

[Harbinger]

After some YouTube searching, I found the quote in the game by Bones regarding the Gorn he mentioned in Into Darkness, as mentioned greatly by Crazy Eddie.

"Bones: .... Those Gorn are everywhere. Sulu stunned a pregnant female that tried to attack us. Then, like an idiot, I tried to perform an emergency C-section to save the little bastard. The slimy thing came out all teeth and claws. Nearly bit my hand off."

Kirk laughs about afterwards. :P

 

[Therin of Andor]

I'd still have to ask why Khan looks completely different since apparently nothing should have been changed prior to Nero arriving.

Soon to be answered in "Khan", the six-part mini-series by IDW Comics. Issue #1 has the change of appearance questioned. I'm supposing his face and complexion were changed after being awakened by Section 31 in the 23rd century.

Also, to some degree, Klingons.

Line up Kor, Koloth, Kang, the TMP Klingon captain, Kruge, Maltz, Kamarag, Klaa, Colonel Worf, Chang and TNG's Worf, Gowron, Martok and you have plenty of variety in skin tones, crests, eye-colour, etc, to allow for the unusual crest, piercings and eyes of that one unmasked Klingon in "Into Darkness".

 

[F. King Daniel]

I would say they didn't care about trying to be consistent with the game. An earlier scene blatantly disregards to comics, so why not the game too?

I don't get the game's take on the Gorn anyway. Mainly because Enterprise is still meant to be part of the Abramsverse's history and the Gorn were mentioned in Enterprise. Yes, even in the Prime Universe, the episode Bound if you're wondering.

Well, I'd still have to ask why Khan looks completely different since apparently nothing should have been changed prior to Nero arriving. Also, to some degree, Klingons.

Recasting and improved make-up. Remember Saavik and Zefram Cochrane? And the way Klingons changed throughout the old movies?

I'd like an explanation as to why Khan is white and his followers all Aryan in WoK. And how anyone ever thought a clean-shaven, waxed-chested man was a Sikh.

 

[ManOnTheWave]

I have a pretty strong feeling that they were planning to CG in the eyes had they actually used it, as evidenced by the fact that they didn't even bother to put some kind of contact lenses on the actor.

I think you're probably right. In closer shots of the "Gorn" headpiece, you can plainly see the actor's eyes through unfinished eyeholes.

Yes, the "bone structure" of the sunken eye sockets seem to invite the addition of something.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I'd like an explanation as to why... his followers all Aryan in WoK.

Greg Cox takes some time to explain this in his third Khan novel, "To Reign in Hell".

 

[Therin of Andor]

I have a pretty strong feeling that they were planning to CG in the eyes had they actually used it, as evidenced by the fact that they didn't even bother to put some kind of contact lenses on the actor.

I think you're probably right. In closer shots of the "Gorn" headpiece, you can plainly see the actor's eyes through unfinished eyeholes.

Keenser's extended eyes were added in post-production as a SPFX. I'd guess similar plans for the Gorn.

 

[Hartzilla2007]

I'd like an explanation as to why... his followers all Aryan in WoK.

Greg Cox takes some time to explain this in his third Khan novel, "To Reign in Hell".

Yeah but they never did explain what happened with Khan.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Yeah but they never did explain what happened with Khan.

Lost his tan.

They stayed indoors, mostly, after the destruction of Ceti Alpha VI.