Quinto: There Will Never Be Another Leonard Nimoy December 26, 2007
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: ST09 Cast , trackback
Last week Zachary Quinto took a moment at the premiere of Paramount’s Sweeney Todd to talk about Spock, telling FEAR.net he was attracted to the “layers” of the character. He again praised working “in the shadow” of Leonard Nimoy and stated the new Star Trek was was “a new imagination but at the same time honoring the past.” See video below
FEAR.net interview with Quinto
NOTE: FEAR.net state a release date for Star Trek as Dec. 28, 2008. Don’t worry that is just a mistake.
Quinto at the premiere: Check out those brows
Extra Quinto video (warning: no Trek…actor talks to EW about his favorite plays)
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Comments»
It said that STAR TREK was coming to theaters December 28th… am I missing something?
‘honouring the original’ mmmm sounds like there is going to be some big changes to me!
Better brace yourself!
I’m not necessarily against changes, but they may, nevertheless, be hard to accept.
BRING IT!!!!!!!!!
What a humble guy!
I like his style ..very nerdy. hehe!
This is probably a unpopular opinion… I really like what the guy has to say..
He’s also a brilliant actor.
so there. :)~
My two cents.
The eyebrows and overall look are convincing. The voice, not so much.
Still, I can’t wait for the trailer to come out.
He sure seems gay, which I think is awesome!
That would make him… the third gay Trek actor? I can see some subtleties of it here and there, but it could mean nothing at all. *shrug* I know there’s Andy Dick and of course Takei, but I can’t remember who else if any. I’m sure there’s got to be more who at least kept it hidden.
I’m pretty sure he acts a lot different for the character of Spock. ;)
ok lets not get off on a tangent.
“There will never be another Leonard Nimoy”
Eventually, a true statement without ifs and buts.
I am very impressed with Quinto’s Sylar on Heros. Him and Hiro are my favorite characters. (Hiro just makes me laugh my ass off.) And you can’t even tell it’s the same guy who played in 24 that one season. I think he will play a terrific spock. I can’t wait to see it.
Quinto will do spock justice, but he’s right, Leonard Nimoy is irreplacable and no matter how the new movie does, he’ll have his place at the top of Trek Lore. God bless.
Some how i think Quinto will be great as Spock, but what he said about Leonard Nimoy it’s true and also there will be no another Shatner.
Leonard Nimoy is Spock
William Shatner is Kirk
He should throw up that nerdy glasses.
My audio was a bit off, but there are times when he moves exactly like Nimoy. There may never be another Nimoy Spock, but Quinto Spock isn’t going to be bad either. I wonder if he tries to sound like Nimoy on set, or we have to get rid of a much younger sounding Spock…
Like Valeris told SPock in Trek 6, she can never replace him, only follow him. Same with Quinto.
is it just me or does he look like a potential Clark Kent? Maybe bucking to trade his blue starfleet uniform for a blue suit and red cape in Justice League?
# 7, the THIRD gay Trek actor? Okay, Takei was the first, but who is the second?
17
Kirk’s son I forget the actors name. But who cares who’s gay anyway?
Straight, gay, sheep… who cares what you do in your privacy. Same as being one or the other is nothing to flaunt and proclaim publicly. It’s your business and isn’t mine, so don’t bother me with it… I really don’t care. It’s the consistent reminder (race, orientation) that we are different that maintains the separation. I’m not saying hide ANYTHING… but I don’t parade in public and on the news that I have a bad haircut, a big nose, and like woman. ;)
Tell me your gay and I’m like “yeah, so?” Tell me your asian or black and I’m like “yeah, I see that” … again, so?.
I think he will have a harder time playing younger Spock with Nimoy as the older Spock with the two of them in the same scene together, plus poeple comparing them also.
# 18 Merritt Butrick.
Would have been very interesting to see how his relationship with his father would have developed.
Sadly Merrit is no longer with us. Very sad.
“9. Iowagirl - December 27, 2007
“There will never be another Leonard Nimoy
Eventually, a true statement without ifs and buts. ”
Agreed.
The idea that they actually interact on the screen in the same scene is only an unsubstantiated rumor at this point. I think a lot of the plot points we have heard “leaked” are just “Of Gods and Men” confused with this movie.
It would be neat if they had Nimoy do all Quinto’s lines and dub them in, lkike Chris Reeve did for his younger-self actor, Jeff East. But, it will never happen. We’ll just have to get used to a different voice, unless he can muster a more Nimoy-like delivery.
Speaking of voices, and getting off into a tangent, I woke up thinking of a way for Shatner to be in the film. But ultimately, it would likely be considered not worthy for Shatner.
I woke up wondering if Nimoy or Pine would do the opening monologue, Space The Final Frontier….with Courage fanfare. I was thinking of how Transformers opens with monologue by original voice actor doing Optimus Prime. So it should be appropriate for Shatner to reprise that.
I’ve still to see the Quinto video above, but does it appear he has the pointy side burns?
This movie is sounding more and more like a reboot.
A good thing…IMO
HOW HARD IS IT TO DEEPEN ONE’S VOICE…?
I’m not worried at all about Quinto’s voice be naturally “higher” in register than Nimoy’s. If they’re going through the trouble of adding LARGER EARLOBES to Quinto’s make-up, then why can’t he train himself to talk a little “deeper,” to sound more like Nimoy?
Any actor worth his salt shouldn’t find this hard to do. And even if he doesn’t, well, who cares? Isn’t this supposed to be a younger version of Spock? Didn’t we ALL have higher voices in our teens and early-20’s???
…and there will never be another cast of actors that can match the magic of the original TOS roles either… but I hope to enjoy this movie anyway. Bring on those production design details!
#25 maybe they won’t start with the “space, the final frontier” speech. No need to. As the movie is a reboot from scratch why not do it at the end of the movie? Once all the elements of the new crew are in place and the Enterprise is correctly crewed it can more properly used then.
007 never uttered the “Bond, James Bond” line until the end of Casino Royale. ;)
Spock is the deepest and most interesting of all Star Trek characters. Therefore, I believe this is the most crucial casting. This is the one they have to get right.
@29 - I like what you’re saying… makes perfect sense.
With so many elements being brought in the film may have a long way to go before we even see the Enterprise, let alone have Pike ruffle Kirk’s hair and send him out on some 5 year mission with a “don’t forget to write and don’t go upsetting the Klingons now…”
#20
Agreed. Maybe, this is also the reason for Pine’s striking silence compared to Quinto‘s logorrhea. As the decision on Shatner’s involvement is still pending, Pine probably isn’t supposed to comment on his view regarding the character he’s about to portray. So, for now we don’t get the unique “first-hand” chance to compare Shatner’s and Pine’s varieties in approaching this character.
In any case, if they decide against Shatner, the challenge Pine has to rise to will fall off.
25
Not a bad idea, but just want to point out that in Bay/Orci/Kurtzman’s Transformers, the original voice of Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) actually played the role for the entire film, not just the intro.
SORT-OF OFF TOPIC:
Finally Netflixed TRANSFORMERS the other day… easily the WORST film I’ve seen all year. Certainly gives me pause about Orci & Kurtzman writing the new STAR TREK. Or maybe that had more to do with Michael Bay’s overbearing, juvenile influence…?
Not that im complaining……
But why is it ;
the only person we hear from or gets interveiwed , is Zachary Quinto ?
is there anyone else in this movie? LOL
The best thing that can happen is for people to debating who is the better Spock 20 years from now. That would mean that a whole new generation of fans have embraced Star Trek, and that the franchise is still going very strong.
Of course, for us Spock will be Nimoy. But if they do 8 new movies over the next 20 years, then, we should all be glad that Star Trek has prospered. And there will be a new generation of fans who just can’t quite picture anybody but Quinto playing the character.
Just like with James Bond, Batman, Superman, etc.
Or you could be the grumps who hang around here and want to see this movie fail miserably. All that will do is kill Star Trek forever. If you’re that possessive of the franchise that you’d rather see it die than be entertaining future generations, well that’s your choice. One that I will not share.
Did Leonard Nimoy Die?
The title of this article “Quinto: There Will Never Be Another Leonard Nimoy” made me think just that.
I’m so glad this wasn’t true.
Live long and prosper Leonard.
re: 36
“Or you could be the grumps who hang around here and want to see this movie fail miserably. All that will do is kill Star Trek forever.”
Star Trek that is not Star Trek is not Star Trek.
Re:33- Yes, I was aware of that minor detail! : ) Makes more sense if Shatner really is in the film. It would amount to a cameo, which is why I felt that film makers would nix the idea.
#38 So is Casino Royal not James Bond? Is Any Batman later than the original 1943 Batman serial not Batman? Are the new Spiderman films not Spiderman because they are not the cheesy 70;s productions? Is the Bogart Malteese Falcon not the Malteese Falcon because it was a remake? There will be Star Fleet, the Federation, the Enterprise, warp drive, phasers, and most importantly the spirit of hope for humanity, the wonders of exploration, action, and the message of tolerance and peace. It will be Star Trek don’t worry, sit back and enjoy.
#34 Transformers was EASILY my favorite movie of the year… I thought It was absolutely a hoot to watch!!! What didn’t you enjoy about it?
#40–well said. You and I are on the same page. Star Trek is about characters, not actors. It is about storytelling and a philosophy, not outdated special effects and cheap props. It is not about dated uniforms or bland starship paintjobs, either. It will be the success or failure of the film to deliver the essence of the characters and the proper quality of the story that answers whether it is worthy of the name.
Live long and prosper, Star Trek.
#38 - “Star Trek that is not Star Trek is not Star Trek. ”
But we don’t know that it’s not. Now if it were, as #29 theorized, a “reboot from scratch”, I could see the concern. But we’ve been told that it’s not, so I dunno…if it’s still definably within the Trekverse, it could stand a very good chance of being Star Trek.
At least until and unless I hear and can confirm something to the effect that they’ve crossed the line, I’m still willing to go with it.
Best,
Alex
#38-
“Star Trek that is not Star Trek is not Star Trek. ”
That’s funny… I could have sworn I heard the exact same thing while standing in line at a TREK convention… back in 1988.
It was Marina Sirtis’s first convention appearance in Boston and some woman behind me was going on and on about how STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION “was NOT ‘Star Trek.’” I remember thinking back then (at age 16) that she took herself and TREK in general far too seriously.
An argument could be made that TNG, DS9, VOY and ENT “aren’t STAR TREK,” but if TREK ‘08 has the Enterprise, Kirk, Spock, transporters, phasers, et al, then how exactly is it NOT considered STAR TREK…?
Yes, finally Nerdy cool. I really am warming up to Quinto. Gay or not, he’s a great actor. And that’s what should matter. Not his sexual prefrence.
#41 -
Trust me, I realize I’m in the minority where TRANSFORMERS is concerned… literally EVERYONE I know who saw it absolutely loved it; that’s the main reason why I finally broke down and Netflixed it a few weeks ago.
Without boring anyone with a long-winded review, all I can say is that “dumb fun” summer movies can STILL be well-made, if they’re well-written and produced. One could argue that the INDIANA JONES movies are the CITIZEN KANE’s of that sub-genre. But then there are movies that are so dumb, they simply insult your intelligence and are completely devoid of real characters, suspense and wit. That’s pretty much TRANSFORMERS in a nutshell.
Sure, if I were 10, I’d probably love it, but I could feel my brain cells start to leak out of my ears after the 15 minute mark. Couldn’t stand 2 minutes of any of it. Loud, obnoxious and witless.
RE: ZACHARY QUINTO…
And to throw in my 2 cents… so far, no one seems to be saying anything derogatory about Quinto’s sexuality (thank God), but in this day and age, why is this even a major issue with some people? Personally, yeah, I think there’s a good chance he might be gay, but even so, there is an enormous pool of talent out there of gay & lesbian men and women, especially in the arts. Some of the greatest actors/entertainers were or are gay, and they kick some serious butt… Elton John, Freddie Mercury, Rob Halford, Michael Stipe, Ian McKellan, Rock Hudson, Melissa Etheridge… even Kevin Spacey and Jodie Foster, if rumors are to be believed.
Never mind writers as diverse as Arthur C. Clarke and Oscar Wilde, or numerous backstage production people in film and theater. Being gay absolutely has no bearing whatsoever on God-given talent.
All I care about is whether or not Quinto is a) a great actor and b) makes a convincing younger Spock. The end.
#27 - HOW HARD IS IT TO DEEPEN ONE’S VOICE…?
Actually, it’s harder than you might think. The reason people have higher and lower voices has everything to do with the structure of the individual’s larynx. For anyone, there is a range of notes that thier voice is capable of and notes that are outside this range are basically impossible for that individual. Training and practice can increase the range somewhat but there will still be limits. So, if Nimoy’s voice is significantly lower than Quinto’s (and it does sound that way), they are going to sound different. Plus, there’s other factors like Nimoy being a smoker for decades (which tends to drop the pitch) and age (men’s voice continue to deepen into thier fourties) which set the two men further apart.
There are electronic means of altering pitch, but, if I were producing this film, I’d avoid using it because, if the movie is a success, I’d be locking myself in to having to post-process Quinto’s dialog in all the future movies - which would be more expensive and kind of pointless without Nimoy to match up to.
re: 44
“if TREK ‘08 has the Enterprise, Kirk, Spock, transporters, phasers, et al, then how exactly is it NOT considered STAR TREK…?”
Quite simple, I just decide. :)
#50
- Quite simple, I just decide. -
Bravo! (Insert applause)
#40 “So is Casino Royal not James Bond? Is Any Batman later than the original 1943 Batman serial not Batman? Are the new Spiderman films not Spiderman because they are not the cheesy 70;s productions? Is the Bogart Malteese Falcon not the Malteese Falcon because it was a remake? ”
Is Tom Arnold not Mchale (of Mchale’s Navy)? Is Ben Stiller not Starsky…or did he play Hutch? Is Jessica Simpson not daisey Duke? Is Gary Oldman not Dr. Smith? Is Will Smith not Jim West?
No they’re not. Not by a longshot. In my book anyway.
I’m not saying it can’t be done. But attempting it carries a very large and very real risk. The inevitable comparrisons to the classic series and cast will be prevelant at every showing and every review. I don’t envy them.
#49 This is true, however with the proper training, you can increase your range significantly.however it requires quite a bit of muscle control to hollow out the back of your throat, close off your nasel passages, speak from your deep core, etc for many takes on end, but this is what professional actors train for, amonst a lot of other skills to alter themselves to the needs of the part. Mr Q. will do a deeper voice just fine.
#42 what I meant by reboot from scratch was simply that it was going back to the beginning.
Sloppy language on my part, maybe, but I certainly don’t believe they are going to go over the top in reimagining Trek.
That would be needless, given that they have the greatest Trek characters to work from.
Even the writers of Transformers would struggle to hash up such brilliant personalities. Wouldn’t they? ;)
People need to stop freaking about about Quinto’s voice in these interviews. Even on Heroes, his voice is much deeper and stronger than his normal voice. It’s not nearly as high and soft as what we’re hearing here.
And let’s not forget, he’s playing a younger Spock. Even Nimoy today doesn’t sound the way he did during TOS. And certainly Shatner doesn’t sound like his younger self anymore.
sorry I meant #43 !
#51 Yes they are, just not well done, but that has nothing to do with the concept of a reworking of the original material and everything to do with bad film making. If you want to call out the film makers and actors for not being talented and therefore will lead to a bad movie then say that, but that is what those were bad movies, not bad concepts or characters.
All this speculation about Quinto and nonsense about his ability to “voice Spock is just that: nonsense. I watched some clips of him from Heroes and his voice is fine, as is his acting. As to his sexuality, who cares? Frankly, he and Nimoy are the only two points of interest for me in Young JJ’s Trek. Everything else about the film looks/sounds flushable.
#49 Wow, nothing to say to that stunning argument it says everything it needs to all by its lonesome. :)
@ # 57
I agree - it’s not important to me whether Quinto and Nimoy sound exactly alike. Far more important will be the delivery and presentation. I was just observing that matching voices is more difficult than one might guess - it certainly isn’t necessary for me to suspend my disbelief.
I do agree with Jonboc - recasting the whole thing is risky (even if it is necessary at this point). It will be a different dynamic, there’s no getting around that. Hopefully, it will be as engaging as the original. Who knows, it may even be better…. Nah, who am I kidding?
Transformers devoid of wit??
Guess you have to have a sense of humor to appreciate it.
So, back to this gay thing-
I hadn’t watched the video clip until after I read the above comments.
I now have NO comment.
Well if Abrams does his job right and the story is really strong, then the audience won’t have much TIME to dwell on comparisons between the casts.
Usually it’s only when a story is weak or uninvolving that my mind starts to wander and I begin nitpicking the casting and all the other little details in a movie.
#60 -
“Transformers devoid of wit??
Guess you have to have a sense of humor to appreciate it.”
I do have a sense of humor, but it simply doesn’t jibe with what Bay & Co. were trying to present. A Transformer peeing on a government agent; Optimus Prime saying “My bad”; the loud, onoxious schtick of the computer hacker who lives with his grandmother; and Shia LaBeof’s parents riffing on whether or not he whacks-off in the bathroom is just not funny OR well-written, IMHO.
But to each his own. Like I said, everyone else seems to like it. But if the script for STAR TREK 2008 turns out to be a dog, well, we’ll know where the warning signs started.
#62 I agree completely.
I was a fan of the Transformers series and animated movie. When I saw the live action film, I was taken aback at how bad the script was.
Let’s home Orci and Co. have a better go with this.
19# Tell me your gay and I’m like “yeah, so?” Tell me your asian or black and I’m like “yeah, I see that” … again, so?.
Interestingly enough I had the same reaction when someone pointed out Sisko was black for the first time. Then we got Janeway, a WOMAN. Again, so?
#50
Sorry, I meant #49! Didn’t mean to applaud myself…
#53 -
“#42 what I meant by reboot from scratch was simply that it was going back to the beginning.”
Ahh, okay. :) Yup, in that sense I completely agree. One of the producers described it as “Star Trek Zero” (in the comic book sense, apparently), which makes sense since of all the series, TOS was the only one that never really had a defined “starting point” as an episode. By establishing one, it gives the fans some cool backstory and the general audience a jumping-on point for all of Trek, which is in some ways what I suspect they mean when they’ve said that the fans and the general audience will see two different movies, even though they’ll be watching the same thing.
“Sloppy language on my part, maybe, but I certainly don’t believe they are going to go over the top in reimagining Trek.”
They certainly seem to be saying pretty explicitly that they’re not. I think that may be why there’s so much interest in the production design, because if there’s to be a significant “reimagining”, it’ll be there more than in rewriting the Trekverse.
(As for the language, I think it’s mostly because the words themselves have taken on so many different interpretations in the context of this sort of thing. After all, it wasn’t until comparatively recently that “reboot” even took on the connotation of “throw out everything but the most basic elements”.)
“That would be needless, given that they have the greatest Trek characters to work from.”
Indeed! :D
“Even the writers of Transformers would struggle to hash up such brilliant personalities. Wouldn’t they?”
I actually really liked “Transformers”, but to be fair, I was never a hardcore Transformers fan as a kid, and wasn’t steeped in the lore and style of the original material. So I just took the movie as a fun romp that was also possessed of a lot of flair and spectacle.
(To be fair, though, we already know from what they’ve told us that Messrs. Orci and Kurtzman approached Transformers and Trek quite differently, so the one may not be a clear pointer to how they’d treat the other.)
Best,
Alex
#51
I agree with you, its a gutsy undertaking, but I believe entirely neccessary for the franchise to continue to prosper
I think the problem here, is people seem to critique the concept of recasting, and not the actual examples so far. As mentioned by your examples, recasting has been hit or miss, there have been as many bad choices as there have been good ones. But I think it is better to look at which ones have worked because they more closely compare to Trek, in other words, big money franchises. Stuff like Bond, Batman, Spiderman, Trek, these are franchises with a lot of backstory material, that have endured for a long time because of their ability to modernize and spruce up the product.
Dukes of Hassard, Starsky and Hutch, great products, but I wouldn’t call them franchises.
I was a bit too old to enjoy Transformers in its original form(although I did take my kids to see the movie), so I would have to defer to more “expert” opinions.
As for Mr. Quinto’s sexuality, I would not care if he got off on Tellarite urine-are we not past such irrelevancies(IDIC)?
If he is a serious actor, he will appreciate the depth of the Spock character, and the evolution as well. It would not be appropriate for him to play the role as a Nimoy clone. He will need to approach Spock as a man who is uncomfortable in his own skin, and not as the more well-rounded Spock we have seen in later years. It took some time and exposure to(and friendship with) his mother’s people before Spock became the man we all know.
As I have stated, I believe Spock is the key to the new cast’s success, more than any other character–mostly because he may be the most difficult to play (not to mention one of the 3 most scrutinized). There are probably a dozen or so actors who could pull off Kirk and McCoy, but it will take the most serious and aware of men to play our beloved Spock.
Is Quinto doing STXI or “Peace, Love, and Understanding: The Elvis Costello Story”?
I agree the humor and dialogue in TF weren’t so great, but I still thought Bay and the writers created a pretty fun and engaging alien invasion movie overall. There was even a sense of wonder and magic in there. Not to mention a few badass action scenes.
That’s certainly more than a LOT of directors out there would have managed with this subject. It’s all fine to wish for a Spielberg or Jim Cameron, but more likely we would have ended up with the scifi hacks behind AvP or Riddick or who knows what.
#68
I agree with everything you said up until the end - I think the casting on Kirk is as important and potentially disasterous as Spock. If you miss on either character you’ve got a dead franchise (no pressure, right?). I think it’s very telling that it took Abrams & co. so long to cast Kirk.
In some ways the character is a polar opposite from Spock: emotionally effusive, very outward-focused but with a certain discipline at the core. In my opinion, it’s those characteristics that made Spock such an interesting role - without Kirk, there’d be nothing to contrast Spock against.
I think that’s a natural dynamic between Shatner and Nimoy: every melodramatic outburst is punctuated by a raised eyebrow, every coldly reasoned thesis getting tempered with a smile and a laugh. I’m pretty sure those guys understood that and used it with great success. It will be interesting to see if the Pine/Quinto dynamic attempts to recreate that or goes in some other direction.
Damn, December 2008 is a long way out.
#68
- As I have stated, I believe Spock is the key to the new cast’s success, more than any other character–mostly because he may be the most difficult to play (not to mention one of the 3 most scrutinized). There are probably a dozen or so actors who could pull off Kirk and McCoy, but it will take the most serious and aware of men to play our beloved Spock. -
I think you underestimate the character of Kirk, his complexity, his depth, his profoundness which is often deliberately hidden beneath his physical abilities and characteristics.
The like holds true for McCoy. His sulkiness, his grumpy attitude but
camouflages his sympathy with his patients, his sharp intellect, and his dedication to his dearest friends, Kirk and Spock.
And although I agree to you if you say that Spock’s indeed a very difficult character to play, I wouldn’t say that it’s more facile to portray Kirk or McCoy. On the contrary, all three men are analogically multi-layered personalities who have developed different techniques to cope with their conflicting traits.
IMO, it’s crucial to equivalently capture that in the film.
Transformers? I went in to the movie expecting nothing and got quite suprised that the wit and action were blended wonderfully. Yes, the effects were amazing but the story and acting were great. I cannot imagine how the movie could have been made better. Lots of fun. Why do people have to be so critical of every film? Did you guys think you were going to see Gone With The Wind?
Quinto is fantastic and will be huge after this movie. He understand humility and the actors that have come before him. This film will rejuvenate Star Trek for this generation despite what all the ‘crabs’ have to gripe about!
#71-I appreciate your eloquence and insight, but I think the Spock-McCoy dynamic is bigger than that of Kirk-Spock.
#68-I think Kirk is a wonderful character, just easier to portray. He is the consumate Alpha male hero, endlessly brave and loyal to those in his circle. McCoy is one of my favorites, but he is easier to portray as well. Bones never really changes. Even his sarcasm underlies a certain compassion and love for humanity. He is who you want your grandfather to be.
All 3 are key to the magic, but Spock is just the most complex. If they were to come up short, I think it would be there.
#62 “I do have a sense of humor, but it simply doesn’t jibe with what Bay & Co. were trying to present. A Transformer peeing on a government agent; Optimus Prime saying “My bad”; the loud, onoxious schtick of the computer hacker who lives with his grandmother; and Shia LaBeof’s parents riffing on whether or not he whacks-off in the bathroom is just not funny OR well-written, IMHO.”
Man, i gotta agree with that. It’s a whole different mindset that guffaws at that type of “humor”. And I don’t want anything even CLOSE to that type of “laughs” in StarTrek.
Having said that, these guys also wrote Mission:Impossible 3. If Bay were doing Trek I’d be very afraid, but these guys worked with Abrahms in MI3 and it was easily the best of the 3 MI movies and absolutely closest in spirit to the TV series.
Despite my misgivings about the need to revisit these icons again with a new spin, I DO remain cautiously optimistic and intrigued. My least amount of worry is with the writing and I don’t think we’ll see that juvenille type of humor of Transformers on this film. Nimoy signed off on it, that speaks volumes.
Sorry for the confusion. Obviously my would-be self-reply was intended for #72!
Hey why is there an ad for psoriasis cream on the right?
Totally clicked it though.
75
Hell, if the new Trek movie is only as good as Abrams MI3, that would STILL be lightyears better than the last few Trek movies we’ve gotten. ;)
#36 - Great post. :)
The videos won’t work for me now. Last night, I put off watching them until I could get my headphones, and now they’re down. :sigh:
But I definitely think Quinto will be an awesome Spock. No, there will never be another Leonard Nimoy. However, since they are recasting Spock, I think they made the perfect choice.
Okay, just got to watch the videos. I *love* the eyebrows! You don’t get to see them much because of the (awesome nerdy) glasses(hmm, maybe that’s why he’s wearing them?), but when you can see them, they’re great.
after listening to quinto..I have no idea what the film is going to be like..Maybe they are trying to pull off the impossible…and it will turn out to be impossible. Th film may even inspire a series that will only last 2 seasons..being brought to it’s knees by fans like enterprise. hen after alot of firings, we will soon get what us fans truly want.. A star trek series based 100 years after Voyager..and we will welcome Tim Russ as tuvok periodicly…that is my 2 cents today utilizing my $60.00 a month cable connection.
I just really need to put this out there. I like Nimoy. he did a fine job with Spock, but he is hardly a master thespian. He spent years lamenting his involvement in star trek (just like Shatner) while trying to get various other artistic endeavors off the ground and then went back to the well when he needed money because he failed at everything else. He has a long but mostly undistinguished TV and voice acting career apart from Star Trek, with his biggest directing gig (again outside of star trek) being 3 men and a baby. For those that think that a sign off of the script by Nimoy means quality, lets not forget that he “signed off” in ST IV and its cheesy, slap stick, hospital escape. Lets not even go into the Bilbo Baggins incident or his poetry :). As I said before, he is a great Spock and really enjoyable, and has garnered some success with his Photography in his later years, but his stamp of approval is hardly what makes me confident about the new film, rather its JJ Abrams’ endeavors that make this a good bet to be a great film. Not trying to bring down Nimoy at all, but i just had to give a different view than the near god like reverence I have read from many people.
I have the very bad feeling now, that the new Trek will something like this:
“We made our Enterprise 600 meters long, because 289 meters was too small for JJ. But it still have the same features (saucer, neck, pylons etc.)”
I think it all boils down to a good story, good acting, and the relationship the characters and actors of TOS had that developed over the 3 years TOS was on the air. The message of a bright future for Earth, spreading peace, friendship. with some action and decent plots ( for the 60’s) also made TOS popular. The new actors have their hands full–as well as the writers and Abrams.
And the special effects–the other character of Star Trek, The Enterprise. Without portraying her as a large, graceful ship–with movements to convey that size ( not this slipping in and out through space in all it’s CGI-cartoonish glory), this movie will be like some of the other Star Trek movies–entertaining maybe, but lacking enough chemistry of the TOS to make it 100% enjoyable.
One thing that’s funny to me is the “Transformer” writing concerns. That movie was made for the kids of the 80’s who watched that cartoon –which itself was silly–and for toy sales. The dialog was as good as that silly movie could get. Entertaining, yet really, really dumb.
#82. Who’s “us”, kemosabe? ;)
That’s certainly not what this fan truly wants. My first choice would be something set in between “Trek VI” and TNG, preferably closer to the former than the latter. My second choice would be a (faithful) adaptation of “Vanguard” to the screen. And my third choice would be an anthology series. 100 years post-Voyager doesn’t even make the top five. ;)
In general, though, I think it’d be better for quite a while to do periodic telefilms than a weekly series.
Best,
Alex
We need more chris pine in this thread
http://s2.supload.com/free/0022.jpeg/view/
http://s2.supload.com/free/0025.jpeg/view/
http://s2.supload.com/free/0023.jpeg/view/
There ya go!
Can’t wait for the chemistry!!
dec 25 2008
“Frankly, he and Nimoy are the only two points of interest for me in Young JJ’s Trek. Everything else about the film looks/sounds flushable.”
I won’t go so far as to say flushable, but I do agree that Quinto and Nimoy are the only things about the movie that give me any optimism about it. All the “oh gee, we’re such fans and its going to be so wonderful” remarks from the writers and people involved in the production … I mean, what else are they going to say? So until I see something to sway me, this Trek fan of 24 years is remaining firmly on the fence.
#66:
“By establishing one, it gives the fans some cool backstory and the general audience a jumping-on point for all of Trek”
This, for me, is the right way to go. I’d be happy, and the new kids will be happy. But, of course, if the film isn’t to be set in the existing Trekverse timeline, then I don’t see the point in doing the former so much. They should just reboot it totally, or not at all. ‘Re-imagining’ seems to be Producer talk for “We’re too scared to completely alienate the classic fans because we want them to continue buying stuff with ‘Star Trek’ written on it, yet really they’re a hinderance to the movie and I’d really rather be making what I want to make”.
They should make it canon or totally change it. Don’t hang around in the middle.
We still have not received are Christmas present from Santa abrams….
where’s the Cast Photo?
:(
I love how everyone who is well spoken and clearly intelligent is automatically assumed to be gay. I honestly have no idea what Quinto’s sexuality is, but I think a lot of people here are jumping the gun by making assumptions based on one interview. Anyway, even if he is, so what?
I’m looking forward to Trek 2008. Since you can’t bring back to original cast (and don’t get restarted on that Shatner nonsense), this is the next best thing. I hope it does well so I can see several more Trek movies in years to come.
My wish list for the new year…
No more references to someone’s sexuality… even if you are “ok with that”… why bring it up? It has no bearing.
Comparisons between Trek08 and Transformers.. Same writers, different directors… different kind of story. Because one was at best a “summer fun, popcorn movie”, doesn’t mean Trek will be too. This is apples to oranges. Trek ISN’T based on a kids toy from the 80’s with a storyline designed to sell more of the same.
and assumptions that what YOU believe is Trek is the one and only. You only get to decide what you like, not what everyone else likes.
My cranky, crabby rant.
Good Day.
i agree with Xai and I will also begin to enforce it. Unless it is the subject of or part of the article, there is no reason to divert threads into discussions of sexuality…just like there is no reason to get into religion or politics. If you ‘dont care’ about someone’s sexuality then why bring it up. and if you do care…certainly dont bring it up. I have had to ban a few people because of this and I do not like doing that.
So lets just give it a rest
#93
Bravo!
#89 -
I generally agree, and I think that’s a key point. I for one hope they’re going to carry through with what they’ve been saying since the original press release, and make a film that embraces the existing continuity, but I also don’t see how that continuity is any sort of hindrance. From what the writers and producers have said, I think the parts that are likely to cause the most angst among the fans are the ones which canonical Trek didn’t address, but for which the fans, collectively, came up with a backstory which might not be what the writers have decided to use. That’s where we, as fans, need to be open-minded enough to say, “Okay, they have a different idea, but maybe it’s good anyway.”
(Continuity-wise, that was what ENT ran afoul of, too. A lot of what were claimed to be continuity violations didn’t violate canonical Trek at all, but did run rather far afield of fannish preconceptions.)
From the look of things, it seems like a lot of effort is being made to ground “Star Trek” (2008) in continuity, even including heretofore non-canonical stuff like the names of Kirk’s parents. The statements I alluded to above and what’s been said since, that they’re not rewriting the fictional world, are encouraging. The only part that still has me nervous is that nobody has come out and said, “No, the reports that the events of the movie are going to result in changed history and a whole spin-off continuity are wrong.” If somebody tied to the production would just say that, I’d rest a whole lot easier (though poorer, as the money I’d save by not seeing an alternate-continuity film many times will instead go to the theaters, distributors, and studio for the many times I will watch an in-continuity film ;) ).
All that said, though the film may fall well within continuity in terms of the storyline and the fictional world’s events and situations and characters, I do expect some changes in the look of it, just because there’s no way they’re going to exactly replicate a 40-year-old TV show in a new, $130+-million motion picture. My hope is that they’ll take the iconic imagery and bring that up to modern specs (which I think is far less difficult than some folks seem to feel), but there’ll have to be some level of change, and I guess that might be enough for some folks to claim it’s alternate anyway (though Mr. Orci has already told us that much of the production design is very faithful to the original concepts from TOS). Personally, I’m willing to be somewhat flexible on that aspect.
I suppose the question then becomes, does making something “totally canon” allow for or preclude some changes in production design, and if it allows for it, how much falls within the realm of what folks will accept? That might end up being a very subjective thing.
Best,
Alex
re: 92
“and assumptions that what YOU believe is Trek is the one and only. You only get to decide what you like, not what everyone else likes.”
I think that is the point of most people’s criticism. They are expressing what THEY like or don’t like and it should be taken as such…and there is no reason for them to not express those opinions. I don’t think we should assume they are always trying to dictate to others. I certainly am not swayed by the opposing opinions unless something about them makes sense to me. So far most of it hasn’t.
As for the “canon” and “reboot” issues, I don’t think the announced movie can be considered anything but a “reboot,” even if there is some attempt to include items of continuity.
By my nature, I don’t understand how anyone can be too excited about this with the pieces of information that have been dispersed so far. They, of course, have the right to be excited if they so choose.
I can appreciate your “wait and see” attitude, Xai. I have a harder time with those individuals who have the “this is going to be the greatest thing ever” attitude. I guess I am generally in the “assume the worst and hope for the best” camp.
Personally, the fact that they are using different actors in those roles is abhorrent to me. I know they can’t make this particular film without recasting, but that doesn’t make me like that idea. I don’t need to see any more adventures of Kirk and Spock, etc. as played by others. I would rather go without new “Star Trek” than have it become some unrecognizable thing. You can say that a rock is a tree, but that doesn’t make it so.
For those that believe otherwise, so be it. Have fun for as long as you can.
They are making a new Star Trek movie
That I think will be not all that groovy.
Going back to the past
They’ve announced a new cast,
But who will portray LouAnn Poovey?
Wishing everyone here a Happy New Year!
96. Stanklin T. “Mr. Optimism” McFibberich - December 28, 2007
Stanky, you have never presented your opinion as a universal truth as a few others have and while we sometimes disagree in opinion, I appreciate your remarks.
A prosperous and safe New Year to all as well. Please use a designated driver this weekend when the Romulan ale flows freely.
I think he got those eye glasses off 1980’s Leonard Nimoy.
Horn rimmed glasses. Wait, he isn’t HRG, he is Sylar, so what’s with the glasses?
Stanky, I enjoy every limerick you come up with……fun to compose, don’t you think? :)
99 continuum
he’s hiding his lack of half an eyebrow. Attack of a wild razor I’d assume