True, this is arguably the first time TOS has been reinterpreted. But it had to happen someday. Why not now?
If it worked for those other series, it should work for TOS, too.
Why is ST09's altered timeline a problem?
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True, this is arguably the first time TOS has been reinterpreted. But it had to happen someday. Why not now?
If it worked for those other series, it should work for TOS, too.
I don't know. I think things are still pretty civil.
You're right, it was only a matter of time. But course not everyone will like how it will be interpreted, just as there are dissenters to how Batman and Superman and whatever else are interpreted.
Hell, I still prefer George Reeves' portrayal of Superman/Clark Kent to Christopher Reeve, Dean Cain and certainly Brandon Routh. Tom Welling isn't bad, but I'd like to see him actually as Superman to be certain. That said Erica Durance is my favourite live-action Lois Lane since Phyllis Coates.
Erica Durance was definitely better than Kate Bosworth, that's for sure! Although I still have a soft spot for Margot Kidder.
Who knows? Maybe twenty years for now, people will be comparing Shatner and Pine to the new Kirk?
I'd like to think so. TOS is too good to be treated like a museum piece, off-limits to reinterpretation.
I'm sure that's where they're going with the character - the reason for emotional stresses like destroying Vulcan and giving Spock a serious romantic relationship.
Ten.
It'll be a Trivial Pursuit question before most of us die - "How many actors have played Captain Kirk, and can you name them all?"
And I have never cared for Kidder's Lois and I found George Reeves Superman to be lacking. Chris Reeve is my benchmark for Superman.
ST-One
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Ten.
It'll be a Trivial Pursuit question before most of us die - "How many actors have played Captain Kirk, and can you name them all?"
William Shatner (who played the R. and the T. version), James Cawley (the The King version), Chris Pine (the 'get some more guys and then it'll be an even fight' version)... right?
I liked Routh. I hope he can get another chance to play that part again (if he wants to). Hatcher's Lane was quite good.
But I like the Smallville interpretations of these characters too - it's nice to have some variations to chose from
Almost. Jim Carrey played him in a skit on "In Living Color". And don't forget John Belushi on classic SNL.
Don't forget that Sandra Smith played him too.
ST-One
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I thought about adding Carrey, Pollak and Stiller to that list... but these are just impersonations
Yeah, but Smith wasn't an impersonation - she...was...Kirk!
Well, honestly, we haven't seen the TOS characters all together in live-action form since the early 90s -- almost 20 years ago. If we're counting the novels, comics & other licensed materials (which, let's face it, only the most hard core fans see), then yes, this statement is true.
I would also disagree with this. I think the TMP characterization of Kirk is certainly different from the TOS Kirk (For one thing, the TMP version of Kirk is wrong a LOT more often than TOS Kirk ever was). The subsequent movies went even further away from the series at times. Spock definitely undergoes a major characterization shift over the course of the first 4 movies. But maybe those were less noticeable to you because they were more of a steady evolution than the quantum shift that Trek '09 was. But I would say that Kirk & Spock have definitely been through a number of reinterpretations before this.
^^ I agree the characters changed over the years. After the first three films (which you could accept as an evolution of character as they aged) the performances became more the actors and less the characters, at least that's how it seemed to be. And in TMP the characters were supposed to be off...until they got back into their groove by the end of the film. But throughout all of it they were still immediately recognizable.
But since ST09 is supposedly using TOS as its primary template (well actually TOS as filtered through a Star Wars mindset) then it's fair that the nu characters are going to be compared with the originals as they were in TOS.
But since ST09 is supposedly using TOS as its primary template (well actually TOS as filtered through a Star Wars mindset) then it's fair that the nu characters are going to be compared with the originals as they were in TOS.
Yes, absolutely. By Star Trek IV & V, there was only a negligible difference between Kirk and Shatner.
And I would argue that the Trek09 versions of the characters aren't really any more different from TOS than the TMP versions were. Both were shaped into different people by their histories and experiences.
Take Kirk for example. The TMP Kirk became much more rigid, humorless, obsessive and stubborn because of his frustrations of being stuck in a job he disliked. The Trek09 Kirk became much more cocky, rebellious and (initially) directionless because of the lack of a father in his life. But they both learn something over the course of their adventures and (IMO) end up as something like the Kirk we saw on TOS.
If it makes you feel better, Warped9, just think of Trek09 as being something like Pottersville from It's A Wonderful Life, where it shows what a big difference one man's life can make. George Bailey = George Kirk.
I agree. TOS ends with "Turnabout Intruder," and whatever one thinks of ST:TMP as a movie it's a poor excuse for a continuation of the original series. It lacks the flair and sense of humor of the original, as well as the action/suspense aspects.
TWOK is better in that respect, mainly because it addresses the passage of time in terms of significant life changes rather than by plot foolishness like Kirk arm-wrestling some kid over the command of the Enterprise, though as a movie in general TWOK isn't as brilliant as some fans insist.
The Trek movies featuring the original cast were just okay - okay movies, okay Star Trek.
I'm happy to skip from "Turnabout Intruder" straight to Abrams's movie.
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I think the characters in the new film are a composite of what we've seen in TOS and the movies ( plus a few books). Which is a natural approach to writing a character whos been around for a few decades.
I thought about adding Carrey, Pollak and Stiller to that list... but these are just impersonations
And don't forget about Jimmy Bennett and whoever the baby was who played newborn Kirk.
True. So how many are we up to now - two on TOS and the movies, and three in this movie?
So at least five actors have already played James Kirk in canonical Star Trek productions. Cool.
So at least five actors have already played James Kirk in canonical Star Trek productions. Cool.
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