Shatner Has Not Seen Trek XI

[T-ravis]

Am I the only fan that thinks that the fact that he has not watched TNG, XI or read his own books makes Shatner even more awesome?

 

[cooleddie74]

I like Shatner for the most part...always have. But his standoffishness concerning so many TREK projects over the years is just laughable. How can he NOT have seen the new movie at least once in the last three or four months after having been directly involved in helping to greenlight Chris Pine as his successor? With all the press surrounding the Abrams movie I just don't see him NOT watching it at least once since April or May. Sorry. He's just lying.

 

[Karnbeln]

As a result, Shatner's comments left me wondering:

-Is Shatner not going to the movie out of spite?

OR

-Is he truly not wanting to see the movie because he cannot let go/accept that someone else is playing Kirk? (Which is fine by the way -- the man is entitled to his own private feelings on the topic. I have just found his public comments and attitude toward the movie to be a bit arrogant.)

While both options are plausible, I find it likely that he just doesn't care to see the movie. He's not interested. That he has never watched TNG shows that he's probably not a Star Trek fan. His interest in Star Trek is from the perspective of it being a successful project he was a part of. He may even like the show, but that doesn't mean he has to be a fan. He doesn't care to see a version of Star Trek with another person playing Kirk not because he feels like the part belongs to only him, but because without the incentive that it was a project he was a part of, Kirk doesn't hold a lot interest for him. And you know what? That's absolutely fine. More power to him.

We talk as though the only reason for Shatner to not see the movie is because he has an axe to grind. But it's possible he hasn't seen it for the same reason most others didn't, for the same reason I haven't seen Transformers or Terminator or GI Joe: He just didn't want to.

 

[KingstonTrekker]

As a result, Shatner's comments left me wondering:

-Is Shatner not going to the movie out of spite?

OR

-Is he truly not wanting to see the movie because he cannot let go/accept that someone else is playing Kirk? (Which is fine by the way -- the man is entitled to his own private feelings on the topic. I have just found his public comments and attitude toward the movie to be a bit arrogant.)

While both options are plausible, I find it likely that he just doesn't care to see the movie. He's not interested. That he has never watched TNG shows that he's probably not a Star Trek fan. His interest in Star Trek is from the perspective of it being a successful project he was a part of.

Perhaps he is only interested when he is making money from Star Trek?

 

[cooleddie74]

As a result, Shatner's comments left me wondering:

-Is Shatner not going to the movie out of spite?

OR

-Is he truly not wanting to see the movie because he cannot let go/accept that someone else is playing Kirk? (Which is fine by the way -- the man is entitled to his own private feelings on the topic. I have just found his public comments and attitude toward the movie to be a bit arrogant.)

While both options are plausible, I find it likely that he just doesn't care to see the movie. He's not interested. That he has never watched TNG shows that he's probably not a Star Trek fan. His interest in Star Trek is from the perspective of it being a successful project he was a part of.

Perhaps he is only interested when he is making money from Star Trek?

Perish the thought. An actor...only concerned with the money.

I think his interest in TREK goes beyond just cash and getting paid...but he's nowhere near as integrated into the lore of the franchise as other actors and actresses. Nor does he seem to care that much about anything not Kirk-related.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Well, here's a peculiar thought:

Has anyone ever seen or read about Shatner's favorite movies? Are there any photos of him at premiere events, for example, other than for a project that he's involved in?

Unlikely as it may seem, Shatner may not be much of a moviegoer period and may never have been. The only reference I've ever seen him make to films has been to express admiration for Spencer Tracy, with whom he worked.

 

[Winterwind]

when Shatner says he's never seen a TNG episode, he's basically admitting he didn't write the books (or conceive of their broadstrokes)

that is all

I agree with you. Shatner likely contributes some plot points, reviews outlines before the book is fleshed out, etc. However, I honestly doubt he is that involved in writing the books.

He dictates (via recorder) long passages of dialogue and action, noting where he thinks a technological explantion of some sort will be required, where later Star Trek background he doesn't have would be useful, etc. He's the driving force of the collaboration.

Exactly. It's not that unusual a writing process when multiple authors are involved. One person blocks out scenes, plot points, dialogue while another does the narrative/descriptive writing.

 

[MvRojo]

I agree with you. Shatner likely contributes some plot points, reviews outlines before the book is fleshed out, etc. However, I honestly doubt he is that involved in writing the books.

He dictates (via recorder) long passages of dialogue and action, noting where he thinks a technological explantion of some sort will be required, where later Star Trek background he doesn't have would be useful, etc. He's the driving force of the collaboration.

Exactly. It's not that unusual a writing process when multiple authors are involved. One person blocks out scenes, plot points, dialogue while another does the narrative/descriptive writing.

But how involved in the plot could he even be if he hasn't seen TNG. One of his early books dealt heavily with Picard and the Borg.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Exactly. It's not that unusual a writing process when multiple authors are involved. One person blocks out scenes, plot points, dialogue while another does the narrative/descriptive writing.

Yeah.

You can call that "writing" if you want to.

 

[darkshadow0001]

Just read this article on TrekWeb (originally from Time):

http://trekweb.com/articles/2009/08...onventions-JJ-Abrams-and-New-Trek-Movie.shtml

Let me state that I am a fan of Shatner. However, I was opposed to his involvement in Star Trek XI due to his character's death in Generations. I am also not in favour of him appearing in Trek XII. Now that Nimoy has effectively passed the torch, I hope that Trek XII will leave the Prime Universe behind and take off in new directions in the Abramsverse.

Shatner's comments in the article are confusing. JJ Abrams offered to arrange a private screening. Shatner said he declined because he did not want to be seen in public?? Going to a private screening???

As a result, Shatner's comments left me wondering:

-Is Shatner not going to the movie out of spite?

OR

-Is he truly not wanting to see the movie because he cannot let go/accept that someone else is playing Kirk? (Which is fine by the way -- the man is entitled to his own private feelings on the topic. I have just found his public comments and attitude toward the movie to be a bit arrogant.)

The cynical side of me wonders if he wants to buy Abrams dinner so he can make a pitch for his involvement in Trek XII.

What do people think?

I almost wonder if Kirk's character didn't die-out in Generations and this type of movie was made, that Shatner would even be in it. I can see Abrams' reasoning, though... Spock is so complicated and that the Vulcan lifespan is what made it possible for Spock Prime to be in the movie. Anything else would almost be pointless.

 

[Shatmandu]

People, people, people.

Attention to someone like Shatner is like air to a normal human.

If Shatner sees the movie and says he either likes it or doesn't, it's a story for a few days.

If Shatner doesn't see the movie, he'll keep getting asked about it over and over and it'll be a story forever.

Air.

"Shatner saw the movie and liked/didn't like it" is nowhere near as compelling as "Shatner's bitter."

Joe, forever

 

[Captain Randy Hall]

Let me state that I am a fan of Shatner. However, I was opposed to his involvement in Star Trek XI due to his character's death in Generations. I am also not in favour of him appearing in Trek XII. Now that Nimoy has effectively passed the torch, I hope that Trek XII will leave the Prime Universe behind and take off in new directions in the Abramsverse.

At least Spock didn't get killed with the torch like Kirk did.

But I agree that to bring Kirk back would have to be a major storyline in a movie or TV episode, which Shatner has said would be a way to draw his fans into the theater. Whether that's worth the trouble is the big question.

And of course, the new Kirk will hopefuly avoid the stupid, idiotic and demeaning way Kirk was killed. Now if the first part of the movie had been it, I could have accepted Kirk dying while saving the Enterprise. But killing Kirk twice in the same movie may be someone else's guilty pleasure, but not mine.

As a result, Shatner's comments left me wondering:

-Is Shatner not going to the movie out of spite?

OR

-Is he truly not wanting to see the movie because he cannot let go/accept that someone else is playing Kirk? (Which is fine by the way -- the man is entitled to his own private feelings on the topic. I have just found his public comments and attitude toward the movie to be a bit arrogant.)

So he is too angry or too proud? What a nice set of alternatives you've assigned to someone you've never met.

The cynical side of me wonders if he wants to buy Abrams dinner so he can make a pitch for his involvement in Trek XII.

OMIGOSH! Someone who wants to be in a movie is playing up to the director? Well, that NEVER happens in Hollywood!

What do people think?

I'll never understand the Shatner bashers. He was a huge part in a phenomenon unparralled in entertainment. We can guess who might have been better, but all we really know is that it happened with Shatner as Kirk. Period. End of discussion.

As for Shatner not having seen the new movie, I refer you to Leonard Nimoy, who says that Shatner is so busy with his various pursuits that he has to block off five minutes here to go to the bathroom and ten minutes there to have lunch.

And yet again, I have spoken with the Reeves-Stevenses, and I asked about the writing for the Shatnerverse. They told me that Shatner comes up with the basis for the story. (Which isnt always easy since he has severe arthritis in both hands. In order to do the "How many fingers am I holding up?" gag in Trek III, they had to use wire to keep his fingers together.) That's the reason he records his ideas and things like that. But I know that people who have never met him or his writing partners will say that he just gets a paycheck and doesn't worry about reality.

I'm still waiting for anyone to produce positive proof that he just allows his name to be on the covers and takes in his money. The Reeves-Stevenses have told me personally that Shatner is very involved in all stages of a book, but you folks in Hoboken won't believe it because you're mad at Shatner since he's a star and you aren't ... or something..

As to the height issue (you know you've made it when people argue about how tall you are), Shatner is about 5'9". Conan O'Brien has said numerous times that he's 6'5". And that doesn't include the fact that guests get chairs that are a lot lower than the host's seat. Add that to the fact that Conan was running around on his desk when the gesture incident happened, and there you have the height difference.

One of these days I'm gonna figure out this multiple quote thing and really be able to directly respond to things, but not today.

[Fixed the quote thing for you. - M']

 

[trevanian]

Don't forget about the tinnitis. That's enough to drive somebody crazy (crazy enough to perform ROCKETMAN?), and he's had a progressive version of it bugging him for awhile, apparently caused by some big bang on set (ARENA?) in the old days.

 

[Jeri]

Angelique Pettijohn told the story of auditioning for "Gamesters Of Triskelion" and after looking at the script saying to the casting director and producer - against her own better interests - that she didn't think she was right for the part. "This character is described as 'an amazon.' Look at me, I'm tiny."Whereupon the Trek folk laughed and said "honey, you haven't met Shatner - next to him you'll look like an amazon..."

Great story; thanks. She did, too!

Now film and television actors used to tend to be short, for reasons that aren't clear - Gore Vidal once famously (and with characteristic warmth and sensitivity) referred to them as "midgets with huge heads."

Nice to start the day with a laugh, thank you...

Don't forget about the tinnitis. That's enough to drive somebody crazy (crazy enough to perform ROCKETMAN?), and he's had a progressive version of it bugging him for awhile, apparently caused by some big bang on set (ARENA?) in the old days.

I have it; my ears have been screaming for years. If I'm awake, they're screaming. I generally ignore it, but maybe it makes us crazy insidiously. Garrison Keillor has it; he said he tried everything to get rid of it, including acupuncture. There's no cure. All I can figure is that medical researchers must never get it.

 

[JarodRussell]

Shatner hasn't even seen the full episodes he appeared in. Most of the actors in a TV show don't. It's work, they do that for a living, they don't have time to be fans of it at the same time.

Some of you sound like Shatner was personally insulting you by not seeing this new movie. Put the fan back in fanatic.

 

[startrekrcks]

well I love Shatner in the original series and he should catch a grip and just give the movie a chance what is his issues

 

[startrekrcks]

But it is his choice at the end of the day

 

[Borgminister]

Most of the actors in a TV show don't. It's work, they do that for a living, they don't have time to be fans of it at the same time.

I think the word you're looking for is "interest", not "time".

 

[JarodRussell]

I think the word you're looking for is "interest", not "time".

Works, too.

 

[CaptainKen]

Fascinating speculation on Shatner. He's friends with Nimoy, right? Why not watch the movie to see how Nimoy did? Why not after all these years be curious about how they include Spock in this movie?

I don't know. Something doesn't connect here. After becoming famous for playing Kirk, after approving of Chris Pine, after talking so much about this movie, why not see it?

I suspect the post-er who said Shatner gets more air-time if he says he hasn't watched it is probably onto something. All speculation, but that guess rings true for me.