What do you guys think of Quinto's comment that he is excited to put a "new" spin on the character Spock? Should the new actors put their own mark on these iconic characters or should they try their hardest to act like the originals? And, as professional actors do you feel they are somehow entitled to portray a character in their own special way even if that character's style is so important and so loved by so many. Discuss.....
New Spin on Old Characters
- Thread starter Nick
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New spin. But keeping the core essence of the original at key moments. I wouldn't expect to see some kind of impersonation, it would always seem off. Just embody the character, not shun it.
Daniel Craig's approach to James Bond is a perfect example of what I'd hope to see. He was his own man, yet still Bond.
Daniel Craig's approach to James Bond is a perfect example of what I'd hope to see. He was his own man, yet still Bond.
^^ Yup, the pretty much sums it up TK421. The last thing anyone should want is someone doing a Nimoy impersonation in the movie. Keep the core values of the character, make them recognizable and believable as the same person but allow the actor to do their own thing rather than impersonate somebody elses take.
Plenty of room to de-evolve the character of Spock. Let's have back the shouty version from The Cage complete with bushy eyebrows... 
Inevitably we'll either get an actor aping a previous actor or trying to carve out his own territory in an established persona. The latter is always better, I just hope that the new cast are talented enough to breathe fresh life into these classic space opera archetypes, which is what this movie is all about.
I just think that's his way of saying he isn't going to be aping Nimoy - that wouldn't result in anything good, and would also be a self-denigrating thing to say. I'm sure he was hired for having the ability to go beyond mere mimickry. He's got enough self-confidence and professional pride that he thinks he can evoke Spock perfectly well in his own way.
I wouldn't expect him to do anything strikingly wacky or uncanonical, so if anyone's worrying that statement means he'll screw up Spock, don't.
At this point, my sole concern about Spock is the hair - I think they really need to alter that Moe haircut look to something less laughable.
I wouldn't expect him to do anything strikingly wacky or uncanonical, so if anyone's worrying that statement means he'll screw up Spock, don't.
At this point, my sole concern about Spock is the hair - I think they really need to alter that Moe haircut look to something less laughable.
ChristopherPike said:
Plenty of room to de-evolve the character of Spock. Let's have back the shouty version from The Cage complete with bushy eyebrows...
I actually got the impression there might be something like that at work here. Just how Quinto mentioned at this point he's not compforable in his skin yet or something like like that.
Sharr
If you never bring anything new to a character, what's the point?
I keep wondering how much visually these characters are going to be updated. Will Spock be made to be more alien in appearence for example? Will his skin have a more green hue for example. Or will they go for the old school look of the TOS? They can do so much more now with visual effects than they could when the TOS was created. That would effect how Quintos approaches the character.
But as for your question, I think it would be better to allow the actors to make these characters their own, while making references to the basic nature of the characters as they have been portrated before now.
But as for your question, I think it would be better to allow the actors to make these characters their own, while making references to the basic nature of the characters as they have been portrated before now.
I think they'll probably keep Spock's signature look at least in general outlines - the pointed ears. The eyebrows and his haircut aren't entirely out of the possibility (and yes, I like that haircut ) but I wouldn't be counting on them either. While they may opt for a different shading of skin rather than Spock's sort-of yellowish complexion, I doubt it'll be a big change like deep green or ruby red. Maybe they won't tint it at all, or just make a much subtler yellowish tint. In all likelihood is ears will be smaller less curved, which is the norm for Vulcans since the TV show. Then again, as this film is going retro we may see a return to the earlier ear design. Or maybe a pointed ear design different from either one.
So new and different, and with clear similarities to the predecessor, I think that's what we're getting. And that's not just with the makeup.
) but I wouldn't be counting on them either. While they may opt for a different shading of skin rather than Spock's sort-of yellowish complexion, I doubt it'll be a big change like deep green or ruby red. Maybe they won't tint it at all, or just make a much subtler yellowish tint. In all likelihood is ears will be smaller less curved, which is the norm for Vulcans since the TV show. Then again, as this film is going retro we may see a return to the earlier ear design. Or maybe a pointed ear design different from either one.So new and different, and with clear similarities to the predecessor, I think that's what we're getting. And that's not just with the makeup.
If it's too much of an impersonation the movie will come off too much like a parody than a serious film.
The trick is that a GOOD actor (as opposed to the 90%+ of actors in Hollywood who are just talentless narcissists!) can play a character and make the audience think that he or she IS that character. It's the talentless hacks who come off as "parodies."
The question, then, is "is this guy a talented actor?" If he IS, he should be able to pull of Spock, AS WE ALREADY KNOW HIM (or at least as a younger version of the Spock we know, somewhere between The Cage and WNMHGB), without it being a "parody."
Of course, new spin and keeping the essence of the original.
Besides, Quinto will play a younger Spock. We don't know about how Spock was before "The Cage". How did he conduct his human side against his logical side? Why did he desobey his father order and enter in the StarFleet?
It's will be a interesting point to develop.
Besides, Quinto will play a younger Spock. We don't know about how Spock was before "The Cage". How did he conduct his human side against his logical side? Why did he desobey his father order and enter in the StarFleet?
It's will be a interesting point to develop.
Ah, but I think you're going to find that this is a "post Cage" Spock...
The casting merely confirms what I've been stating as my belief all along... this movie will have some "earlier" bits and some "later" bits, but the majority of the storytelling will be about Kirk and Spock in their late 20s, when both were senior Lieutenants... Kirk POSSIBLY a Lieutenant Commander, but no higher in rank... and a story of how Kirk impressed the powers-that-be enough to be given the captaincy of one of the most impressive ships-of-the-line in the Federation, well ahead of many older, more experienced officers.
SOMETHING had to happen that would make the brass say "This is our guy" even if they'd never met the guy face-to-face... especially when you consider the ILL WILL that promoting him over older and more "seasoned" officers would bring about throughout the fleet.
That's what this movie is going to be all about, I'm convinced.
Now, at the time of "The Cage," Spock was either still an ensign or a newly-minted Lieutenant. I lean towards him being an Ensign (due to his responsibilities and his general "greenness"... no pun intended!) but I can't recall if he was referred to by rank in "The Cage." In any case, he was in his mid-30s during TOS, and that means that in "The Cage" he was in his early 20s.
Unless Vulcan years are a lot different than Human years... ;-)
LOLChristopherPike said:
Plenty of room to de-evolve the character of Spock. Let's have back the shouty version from The Cage complete with bushy eyebrows...
"De-FLEC-tors, FULL intensit-EE"
TrelaneRetired said:
LOLChristopherPike said:
Plenty of room to de-evolve the character of Spock. Let's have back the shouty version from The Cage complete with bushy eyebrows...
"De-FLEC-tors, FULL intensit-EE"
I hadn't heard they'd cast David Tennant as Spock...
My friend, you seem awfully confident about your point of view.
Note that Quinto is 31, IIRC. Of course, there's hardly a rule that says a character has to be the same age as the actor, and he does still look pretty young, so he could certainly play your late-twenties character. But right now, I'm speculating more in the direction of early-thirties Kirk and Spock, just a year or two before WNMHGB, with Kirk being a Commander (in command of a smaller ship, perhaps), or maybe just after he received the rank of Captain. That's not really too much different from what you said, just a shade. Still, it's all speculation, of course (as you've said yourself) we'll just have to wait and see; to me, that's part of the excitement.
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