My initial reaction when I heard about it, but I actually liked Urban's performance. Not as much as some, but those some felt he was channeling DeForest's spirit or something - he's not that, but he's good. IMHO.
The Casting for Captain Pike
- Thread starter Cpt Cullison
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Greenwood was great as Pike but his lack of resemblance--in temperament and physicality--to Hunter's Pike is one more reason I see this movie as a total reboot rather than an timeline that split off with the Narada's attack on the Kelvin.
MeanJoePhaser
Admiral
Liotta as Pike: "As far back as I can remember I wanted to be a starship captain..."
"You're funny, Nero."
"How am I funny?"
"You're funny, Nero."
"How am I funny?"
True.
Anyway, having rewatched "The Cage", yes, I may actually prefer Bruce Greenwood, but they're two very different roles - Greenwood is basically the Mentor Guy, Kirk's surrogate father figure who kicks some heroism into him. That he's named Chris Pike is basically a nod in the direction of those of us who know who Chris Pike is. Heck in sense-talking he's cutting into McCoy's valuable screentime, he's more Boyce than Pike there.
The original Chris Pike was a morally tormented leading man character, an all-American 1960s hero from his righteous indignation at his liberties being curtailed to his completely casual sexism (no women on his bridge, except Number because: 'You're different, of course'.)
I don't think Urban was great casting in terms of physical likeness, but I think that out of all the characters who were recast, he nailed his more than anyone else (yes, even Quinto). His first scene on that shuttle was just pure gold.
That says it better than I ever could. Thanks.
I should make it clear that my regarding Star Trek as a reboot enhances my enjoyment rather than subtracts from it. I think it's high time we junk "canon" (more accurately described as "continuity") and let this Trek be as independent from TOS as the monthly Batman comics are as independent of the Burton and Nolan movies.
I just wish someone had told Urban or Abrams that DeForest Kelley was from Georgia.
It might have been nice if Urban had at least attempted De's accent.
^ Eh, I think you get into dangerous territory there. If one actor starts imitating another actor's accent, it's not very far before they start initiating the other actor. And that just wouldn't work. Karl Urban needs to be faithful to the McCoy character, of course, but he doesn't need to attempt to be a carbon copy of DeForest Kelly. He needs to find the character on his own, and I think he did fine.
When I think of the original episodes, Kelley had a great range from being happy, sad, angry, relaxed, irritable and all sorts.
Urban's performance was a pale imitation of Kelley's irritable and/or angry McCoy where he barks every other line, with absolutely nothing else inbetween. From his first line barking and moaning angrily at the female in the pod, to barking and moaning angrily at Captain Pike when the CMO is killed, to barking and moaning angrily at Spock for his command decisions, to barking and moaning at the Starfleet officer who tries to stop Kirk from boarding the flight to the Enterprise... it's a one-note borefest throughout. He never deviated from it for the whole movie.
This is supposed to be the emotive and passionate human from the American south to foil Spock's logic. Did he even smile once?
Urban's performance was a pale imitation of Kelley's irritable and/or angry McCoy where he barks every other line, with absolutely nothing else inbetween. From his first line barking and moaning angrily at the female in the pod, to barking and moaning angrily at Captain Pike when the CMO is killed, to barking and moaning angrily at Spock for his command decisions, to barking and moaning at the Starfleet officer who tries to stop Kirk from boarding the flight to the Enterprise... it's a one-note borefest throughout. He never deviated from it for the whole movie.
This is supposed to be the emotive and passionate human from the American south to foil Spock's logic. Did he even smile once?
Did the script or the direction ever call for him to smile once?
It's not all just the actor.
Plus the fact that we had 3 seasons and 6 TOS movies, where we had a chance to see De Kelly's different range of emotions/acting. You can't jam all that in a single movie. Sure, De Kelly's McCoy was subdued at times, laughing at other times but I think he's best known for his arguments with Spock, yelling at Kirk and just plain old grumpiness.
Not to mention that McCoy just went through a bitter divorce, so naturally he's going to be bitching more than usual, especially when you throw all the events of the movie on top of someone that's already ticked off.
If you have one movie, which could mean the death of the Trek franchise if it fails, you may have to overplay some of the roles of the actors, at least from a writing perspective.
Hopefully future movies will see Urban show a different side of McCoy, the smiling, compassionate, sometimes humorous one.
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The rest of the cast, excepting Uhura although I'd put that down to the writing, managed to be at least passable.
One movie is long enough for an actor to pull off a decent performance that has more than one note and facial expression.
Plus the fact that we had 3 seasons and 6 TOS movies, where we had a chance to see De Kelly's different range of emotions/acting. You can't jam all that in a single movie. Sure, De Kelly's McCoy was subdued at times, laughing at other times but I think he's best known for his arguments with Spock, yelling at Kirk and just plain old grumpiness.
Not to mention that McCoy just went through a bitter divorce, so naturally he's going to be bitching more than usual, especially when you throw all the events of the movie on top of someone that's already ticked off.
If you have one movie, which could mean the death of the Trek franchise if it fails, you may have to overplay some of the roles of the actors, at least from a writing perspective.
Hopefully future movies will see Urban show a different side of McCoy, the smiling, compassionate, sometimes humorous one.
Fair point. The particular accent that Kelley had is pretty out-of-date already, anyway. It would have been nice to get a Georgia accent or at least a recognizable southern accent, at least.
Of course, I'm still disgruntled that they referred to Bones as a "Kentucky Doctor" on the commentary... Okay, its probably just better to ignore me.
Liotta hasn't looked like himself in more than a decade. Another sad victim of too much cosmetic surgery?
Well after watching the extras on the dvds, it isn't about what an actor looks like. It is his/her ability to show the essence of the character.
I think Urban nailed the essence of NOT Dee Kelley, but of Dr. McCoy. He wasn't cast to imitate DeForest Kelley. He was cast as Dr. McCoy, and I think he did a fine job.
In fact, JJ didn't want these 'new' actors imitating anyone. They wanted them to bring their own unique styles into play and incorporate, or find the essence of the characters. I think they all did a great job at finding nuances and mannerisms.
I think we all would be upset if they had cast these actors for ST XI and asked then to be imitations. NO ONE would ever have been able to imitate the TOS actors!
And as far as Bruce Greenwood as Captain Pike, I think he was a great cast. He pulled off a captain's authority and strength well.
I think Urban nailed the essence of NOT Dee Kelley, but of Dr. McCoy. He wasn't cast to imitate DeForest Kelley. He was cast as Dr. McCoy, and I think he did a fine job.
In fact, JJ didn't want these 'new' actors imitating anyone. They wanted them to bring their own unique styles into play and incorporate, or find the essence of the characters. I think they all did a great job at finding nuances and mannerisms.
I think we all would be upset if they had cast these actors for ST XI and asked then to be imitations. NO ONE would ever have been able to imitate the TOS actors!
And as far as Bruce Greenwood as Captain Pike, I think he was a great cast. He pulled off a captain's authority and strength well.
