Bana Clarifies ‘Cameo’ Comment February 11, 2008
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: ST09 Cast , trackback
A couple weeks ago Eric Bana, Star Trek’s villain Nero, stated that his role in the film was a ‘cameo.’ At the time TrekMovie.com noted that Bana’s usage of ‘cameo’ wasn’t in the traditional sense and that he had more than just a quick scene in the film. At a press junket today for his latest film The Other Boleyn Girl, the actor clarified his comment to assure people that he was still indeed the main villain in the film. Details below
Various sites are reporting on the junket, but Cinematical asked the question regarding if Nero was the main villain. Bana replied:
Well, I guess he kind of is, but I guess what I mean is that in the context of the roles I usually do, the weight is firmly on other areas, you know what I mean? It’s not one of those roles where you’re carrying the movie, is what I’m saying. I feel like I’m very much in a supporting role, not one of the main guys. So ‘cameo’ is a way of saying I don’t feel like, as I am in this film or some other films, where you’re clearly carrying a lot of the film. It’s a luxury to not be in that position. It’s nice to be offered a part like that.
On whether or not he is a Trek fan, Bana said that he liked TOS as a kid, but that isn’t why he signed on (from Cinemablend):
Even if I was crazy about the original series that wouldn’t have been enough to make me sign on to a film I didn’t want to do. I read the script and I went, ‘That is an awesome script.’ It was a very easy decision.
Bana tells MTV that he knows about Trek’s famous villains (like the Borg an Khan) and hopes he can make the grade:
I think that if I get compared to any of them [by the fans], I’ll be doing well.
The Other Boleyn Girl starring Eric Bana opens February 29, more at the official site.
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Comments»
Most excellent. He’s a great actor, too.
I’ve seen Bana in other roles and wasn’t that excited by his acting. Let’s hope he’s got the “right stuff” for this film!
I wonder if there will many ‘NEROS’ in the film… a young one, old one, dead one, etc. Perhaps Shatnet could be one of them.
cool!
#3 “Shatnet”
Uh, oh………don’t let the Shat hear that hybrid word, “shatnet”.
If he does he’ll probably create his own internet with every site you click on taking you to a scroll of his full bio and some live feed of him being interviewed by the latest wanker cyberkid! All Shat, all the time! Yowza!
I think he is a pretty good actor and I’m sure he’ll be fine. If he’s not lying about liking the script, then that’s good news. If he is, that’s not so good.
If I speculated on his role, which I’m doing right now, I would say that he shows up when you least expect it and does his thing, and then, phflumppt, he’s gone. Except when he dies, as I surmise.
The Shatnet would be awesome though!
#3 lol
I’m still uneasy over the whole Romulan thing. And the name Nero seems awfully uninspired–could they have gone with something not quite so easy? My main concern is that the first Romulan war allowed no visual contact between the two sides (according to canon). Where does that leave us?
I know I am one who keeps saying “Trust JJ” but they will have to be better at scriptwriting than what they showed me in Transformers. I sure hope so.
You want to see good Bana acting? Watch Chopper. Also, those other two clips in the other Bana post were far from his best or funniest. Try not to rely on the Hulk as your one example :)
He will be great, don’t worry. :)
Greets from Perth
#3, Sorry, but it looks like your typo is going to take a life of its own. Hold on, I’ve got a Kirk IM comin’ in….
Nero is a sneaky Romulan
So far, that’s the gameplan
He tries to kill off Kirk
Without even a smirk
If anyone can kill him, Nero can!
#12
Argh.
There once was a thing called the Shatnet
Every Trekker surfed through it, you bet
All they got was an overdose of Shat info
Not even one decent picture of a nympho
Clicking off from it, they were filled with regret!
The “Shatnet” is Great!! After this I’m gonna get Music From “Shatwire” and then check out my Buddies on “ShatSpace” , later!!
The Shatnet already exists… it’s the official William Shatner Myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/williamshatner
I hope they gave Bana some great, memorable, one liners .
“Time is a luxury you don’t have”
“From hell’s heart I stab at thee”
“KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!!”
oopsy that last one was a Kirk line .
give him some good ones too .
#15
And don’t forget their web-based retail division for clothing….
I bought my new slacks by simply clicking on Shat-my-pants!
#10. quite right – his performance in chopper is incredible. i thought he was excellent in ‘munich’ too. he was even one of the better things about ‘troy’
I have no concerns about his casting, and tend to take him at his word if he says the script is excellent.
a good villain doesn’t need excessive screen time to make an impact.
In Silence of the Lambs, Anthony Hopkins’ screen time in the entire film is just over 16 minutes.
#19
Yeah, well, Anthony Hopkins is a GIANT talent who can do AMAZING things in 16 minutes of acting. Bana may need 16 minutes just to warm up!
Bana certainly has the potential to be another Khan, if the writing is strong enough.
Hell, he’s ALREADY a huge step up from Soran, Ru’afo, and Shinzon, and he probably hasn’t even shot one scene yet.
Bana has the look and the acting chopps to play a Romulan, I think he will impress alot of people in this role. I do wish his part could be more then a cameo role.
9. Captain Dunsel I agree Abrams will find a way around this stick point concerning the Romulans.
As long as Nero doesn’t look like the Hulk, we’ll be just fine.
Green Romulan Ale anyone?
OK, I am beginning to see what I’ll call “Yellow Flags” as opposed to the “Red” variety. Why is it lately that whenever I am reading something about the new film in recent days there is some variation of the quote, ” I read the script and I went, ‘That is an awesome script.”?
Seems like “talking points” have gone out and all interviewed have to say something with a positive spin on the new Star Trek movie script.
Romulan ale should be blue.
I’m wondering if Nero has a son that looks like Spock.
24- Maybe, just maybe, it is actually a good script.
Just a thought …
Excellent excellent actor.
Yes, everyone who’s even remotely worried about him should watch “Chopper.”
And #24 Mickey MET — I had the *exact* opposite reaction to reading his comments. I thought, “Heck, if everyone involved from Nimoy to Bana to the cleaning guy says the script is terrific, then the script must be pretty darn close to terrific.”
Call me an optimist.
#27. . . There is nothing in the world wrong with being optimistic! I too am holding out hope that it’s gonna be good! But with the plethora of the comments mentioning the script . . . . And that it’s “good”!
Perhaps I’m just too consipiracy minded these days. . . . .
#5
planet shatner :D
#9
primes lips?
not using the cabover truck?
#17 – no matter how much or little screen time Bana gets, the quality of the ‘lines’ he is given, or how well he delivers them, it’ll also depend on how much the plot focuses on him as the true antagonist. I look at ST VI as a prime example – Christopher Plummer is easily the equal of Ricarbo Montalban as an actor, and he was given some really memorable lines to deliver as General Chang, but between the threads of espionage, treason, assassination, double agents, etc., his role got lost in the mix a little, and I think it was diminished in the end by finding subversives not only within the Kilingon delegation, but also the Romulan diplomatic corps, Star Fleet Command, and aboard the Enterprise itself. (And having the Excelsior get it’s licks in didn’t help – since when has Kirk ever needed backup going into a brawl?) The role of Khan was cut-and-dried, as was the script; The Undiscovered Country read like a Robert Ludlum novel. Still, though, I’d take either one, head-to-head, against any other bad guy in the Trek movies, Kruge included. As far as the rest of them go, Sybok was little more than a public nuisance, Klaa was just a little Scut Farkus bully who got the woodshedding he deserved, and my mama could pop the top on a can o’ whoopass with any of those TNG lightweights. ;-)
actually I think the only two actors who saw the whole script before signing up are bana and nimoy…and they are the only two who have talked about it in the last couple weeks…not exactly a ‘talking point’ conspiracy.
In fact, neither of these guys needed the work and the fact that they both took the role is significant. For Nimoy to come out of retirement after rejecting previous trek work shows that these guys get Trek. For Bana to do a small role in a trek film when he really isnt a big trek fan (and when he is now a leading man type) shows that he was impressed with the script
Agreed. There must be something overarching with (and between) those two characters that makes it more than a ‘villain of the week’ role, and I, for one, really hope Bana delivers a performance that can go toe-to-toe with what Montalban did.
2 and 6 had the best villans, of course 4 was famous for having no villan as such.
Speaking of 6 ( and slightly off topic ) you guys see John Alvin died this week? One of the best ST movie designs of the lot.
http://www.aintitcool.com/images2007/JAtrek6.jpg
“I’ve seen Bana in other roles and wasn’t that excited by his acting. Let’s hope he’s got the “right stuff” for this film!”
Have you seen Munich?
I mean…come on!
Here’s a question. If the character’s name is Nero, does this mean the movie will finally explain the weird Roman Empire of Earth name scheme that the Romulans picked up somewhere? (Or have I already missed that?)
#33 I know I am probably going to get in trouble on this, But My Favorite Trek Film Was Star Trek The Undiscovered Country. I think on the whole it was best of all the trek films. Story wise the film had perfect Balance. besides who could resist Christopher Plumme’rs awesome Shakespeare spouting Villian General Chang ” Cry Havoc and Release the Dogs of War” ! This film a had wonderfulsense of humor as well.. And we got to see Sulu as Captain of the Excelsior. Which Paramount should have made into a series, I am still miffed about that one!!
There is an over-abundance of Roman references in Star Trek. . . . Even Kirk’s middle name! Has the Tiberious for “T” in James T Kirk ever been canonized?
Chang used his middle name ‘Tiberius’ in the court scene in ST VI.
#37
Of course, in that piece of crap known as The Undiscovered Country!
37 Micky do you remember the novelizations that James Blish did of the early episodes?They came out in the early 70’s and were printed and reprinted for a long time. well if I remember correctly In Where No man has Gone Before Kirks middle initial was R not T. At least I think it was, its been decades since I have seen any of the Blish Star Trek Books
#37 – yes, in Star Trek VI, at his trial on Kronos – Chang referred to him by name as James Tiberius Kirk. Those of us here have canonized him as St. James, Patron Saint of Asskickers. ;-)
39 Your calling the undiscovered country a piece of crap?.Give me break that film rocked! The best written best acted of any trek film both old generation and next generation. That was also Shatners best acting work as Kirk. as Kirk.
#40 – Yes, as a matter of fact, I still have the whole James Blish series, even the last one that I think his wife finished for him after he died.
I do think you’re correct that Mitchell did put an “R” as a middle intial on his tombstone. But the series has him undisputedly saying his name is “Captain James T. Kirk of the Federation Starship Enterprise” or a version thereof more than a few times. The apologetics crowd chimed in years ago, that it just showed that Gary Mitchell wasn’t an omnipotent god because he didn’t even know his friends middle name (and that he died!). . . . To me, I liked that excuse and kept it as valid. But I absolutely brain farted the court scene in ST:VI. . . .
#9 agree! Nero sounds worse than Shinzon.
Let’s hope that’s the only ill-concieved name
in this film.
Garovorkin
to each their own, but, to me, The Undiscovered Country was merely a Murder She Wrote episode in space……The last few movies with TOS actors should have been EPIC in scope with a tremendous story arc……instead we got reheated pablum………….ah, what could have been………and wasn’t!
I rather liked Soran in Generations. McDowell gave a suitably interesting performance. Pretty credible mad scientist. Granted, the details of the film surrounding his performance weren’t the greatest, but I quite liked his “time is the fire in which we burn” speech in the 2nd act.
Okay Harry as you say each their own. but lets go down the list shall we?
Star Trek The Motion Picture, Visually Stunning and epiclly slow
Wrath of Khan very good film ona budget, one or two story
inconsistancies like Khan and Chekov never having met.and why would scotty bring his critically injured nephew to the bridge rather then sick Bay
Search for Spock decent film if a little muddled at times
The Voyage home who ecological message was save the Whale, not great but entertaining no the less.
Star trek The Final Fronter a film that is bad for alot of reasons
As for the Next Generation films the only one that is worth Mentioning is Star Trek First Contact. which though far from perfect had entertainment value.
Which of those do you think better then The Undiscovered Country.
I haven’t really been worried. Star Trek’s villains are always hit and miss in the movies. Khan was cool, but never should have done that well against Kirk. James T. really should have raised those shields. Guess he was a little rusty.
Christopher Lloyd was miscast as a Klingon. I wasn’t impressed by his performance.
I don’t even want to talk about Sybok and God, so I won’t. I pretend that movie never existed.
Christopher Plummer was dynamic, but very poorly written.
Soran was so-so, but he never should have been able to beat Picard. Jean-Luc looked especially ineffectual in that fight. Hard to believe an old flabby Kirk could pack more punch…
The Borg Queen was pretty cool. The last two flims were wretched and had wretched villains.
While I’m at it, how come the Klingon commanders are always played by white guys, when most of the Klingons are played by those of a more African ancestry?
#46 – agreed that McDowell can always give a good performance, but his delivery and stature in roles like that are part Hannibal Lecter, part Nutty Professor. He’s believable in his intentions, but you just wanna mama-slap him upside the head and yell, “Now, you STOP that!” ;-)
One Point that I will bring up with regard to the next Generation. The first film Star Trek Generations was god awful. The first Next Generations movie should have been Based on Perter Davids excellant Star Trek Novel Vendetta. Still one of best Star Trek novels ever Written Soran and the Nexus lame stupid concept. Can someone explain to me How a human Being can enter the Nexus without getting shreded when ships made of metal get torn apart by the energy that made no sense whatsoever. What was the Nexus? little more then a glorified Holodeck experience
Not that it has anything to do with anything, but Kirk also mentioned his middle name as Tiberius in the Animated Series.
Please don’t try and confuse the James Blish novelizations with canon. Hell, the draft scripts he worked from probably were still in pencil. Case in point, at the end of The Doomsday Machine, Decker was still alive, on the Enterprise. I’m not insulting his writing- the novelizations are a good read. I’m still trying to untangle “Spock Must Die”, having read it voraciously as a 4th grader, however. ;)
Sybok was played by Lucille Ball’s son-in-law, so I suspect there was some backroom pressure to cast him for old time’s sake.
For story points, Generations I thought was lacking. It seemed they had to find a way to make an “end” for everything from that point in Star Trek back. We said goodbye to the Chekov and Scotty. We said a final (?) goodbye to Kirk. We saw the end of a loose storyline about the two Klingon sisters (I can’t remember their names). And we also said goodbye to the Enterprise-D. It seemed they wanted everything to be new for the next movie (First Contact).
The Soren (Soran?) character I thought was done pretty well. The actor made the best out of an undeveloped, one dimensional character.
#50 – Good if not EXCELLENT point about “What was the Nexus? little more then a glorified Holodeck experience” the concept of the Nexus has bothered me for years as a lame brained plot device, and I think you nailed it.
Garovorkin
here’s how I see it…..you’re correct that TMP was slow and poorly conceived. I think TWOK+TSFS make a great double feature. Star Trek’s shining moment in feature films. To round it out as a trilogy the fourth film should have continued with the flavor of the previous two….great drama, death, honor, friendship…..instead TVH turned to lampooning everything Trek represented and the franchise never recovered after that.
Think about it…..Paramount should have mapped out a brilliant story arc of epic stories and consistently cranked out a masterpiece every two years. From the early 80’s until late 90’s we could have enjoyed a legacy of GREAT Trek that would never be equalled again………there was a possibility of 10 films total with the original crew (don’t forget, the box office revenue wouldn’t have sunk, the franchise would have endured)….but instead….we have Data singing Gilbert+Sullivan………….
………….pass me the barf bag!!
53 Mickey Generations was to a a whole lot of waisted opportunity and 45 Harry sorry to get onyour case about the Undiscovered County but its a film that i genuinely like. We can’t agree on everything. With regard to the new Trek Film I do see see where you are coming from on this on. I am just tired of all the negativity from fans. It wears on you after a while.
“but instead….we have Data singing Gilbert+Sullivan…”
part of me died a little the day I first saw that.
ps. loved Lloyd’s Kruge… he was a little dim, it worked really well after super-villian Khan… the guy didn’t really give a damn who “the genesis admiral” was. And he had a cool delorean.
54 Harry that all good and well If Paramount executives thought in those terms. The average movie executive would not know a great script or story if it bit them on the nose.
#56 – I think the DeLorean came a year later in ‘85. . . . But that would have made a great scene when Marty sees Doc come back from the future looking like Kruge! :)
Am I the only who liked Generations? I loved that movie when it came out and still do, it has great repeat value, unlike most of the other Trek films.
#59
I think Star Trek Generations is a fun movie. I like it.
I also like Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.
That being said, I think TMP is the worst out of all of them, with Star Trek IV being ok, but not that great.
59 I think so, BattleTrek I really wish i could give this film a free pass but I can’t. I was wondering if you are familiar with the trek book I mentioned Vendetta By Peter David. It concerns the borg and an even more powerful version of the Doomsday Machine. This should have been the first Next Generations Movie. We really did not need a transition movie
Nero must, at one point, pick up a fiddle. Perhaps as his ship burns.
(sorry, too easy a joke)
#61 – Hmmmm. . . Borg’s assimilating the Doomsday Machine technology. . . . Sounds like it’d be a good read. I could use a less intensive, doctrine heavy, read than the James Dager I have been reading. Vendetta, I’ll look for it!
60 They should have made Star trek the motion Picture into a Musical, they had the perfect director Robert Wise(West Side Story) and as for a title they could have called TREKSIDE STORY. I leave your imagination to fill in the rest of it. Decker and Ilai singing Tonight tonight. just kiding
I am sorry Daniel i have to disagree with you about Star trek the final fronteir. The film was just plain bad and proof that William Shatner should not be allowed to direct traffic let alone movies.
I think Tim Conway and Harvey Korman should play co-villans.
Conway as Nero and Korman as his big overweight ethnic wife.Kinda like an evil Mr & Mrs Tudball.
…but ,come to think of it,that might sap some of the dramatic elements
65 my god that suggestion is even scarier then mine
Why am I picturing Tim Conway as Kruge? :)
People always pann Star Trek V as bad, but never give reasons to back it up other than bad effects. If one were to use that argument, then you’d have to hate TOS too, because it’s effects are horrible.
Granted, they were very good for the time, but by today’s standards they are terrible.
Eric’s always been a favorite actor since Black Hawk Down. I can’t wait to see what he does here.
Here’s another vote for Star Trek V.
I liked Generations enough, but I felt that the death of Kirk wasn’t handled very well. He’s the kind of Captain, with the kind of history he has had, if he were to die, he should die on the bridge of the Enterprise, saving Earth one last time.
Or barring death, some being on the level of Q and beyond decides to evolve Kirk into another plane of existence. God knows he’s impressed enough advanced beings for them to grant him this boon. That’s a way out of his eventual, and unfortunately canonical death on Generations. It’s very much like Sisko’s “death”, where he didn’t really die. He just evolved.
My greatest problem with ST: V was the disrespect given to Scotty. Throughout all of Star Trek, Scotty KNOWS his ship and others. But in one scene he turns around a “Bong!” knocks himself unconscious. . . . It didn’t wash with me and at that point I was already smelling “turkey”. . . That scene cemented it.
Now. . . . I read the book of ST: V The Final Frontier. . . . And THAT was a fun one to read. . . . The movie wasn’t fun to watch.
Daniel
where do I start?
Once you elect to give Spock a half-brother and go looking for God, you’ve got trouble…..never mind what I think…..
69 Its not the special effects which even for their time were not so special. Problem number 1. the mysterious appearence of spoke never before mentioned older half brother is to say the least a weak concept. 2 He’s a misunderstood messiah looking for god and paradise distant planet which is beyond a powerful energy barrier which for some reason god cannot penetrate and he needs a starship to get there. The whole shangrala thing is lame beyond words. 3. they arrive at said world and oh gee the being is not god but an evil entity imprisioned by other entities unknown. Its starting to play like a really bad golden age of science fiction story at this point. 4. Shatner could not handle the directing and had no concept of how edit or meld all of the disparate story lines into a coherent plot anyway. The acting even for Shatner was substandard and of the rest of the cast was impressive. This movie is just bad beyond words
68 Harry.because that would make Harvey Korman Valykris.Picture it ;Conway as Kruge:”You saw the tape?”
Korman as Valykris:”Yes,My lord”
Conway as Kruge: “Most unfortunate”
Korman as Valykris:”Understood ,My love”
-Que soundtrack
Daniel Broadway -
I have stated many times what I consider to be the reasons as to why STV was a very, very bad movie. I won’t repeat them here, because you obviously think it is a good movie, and I don’t think I will change your mind and it will turn into a silly pointless argument.
Maybe somebody else wants to take that gauntlet.
Harry Ballz – I agree that the TOS movies started to suck after TSFS. Voyage Home was kind of fun in places, but they were missing one of the most important members of the cast:
THE ENTERPRISE! Instead we have them tooling around on a crummy old Klingon ship. And for that matter, how come the Klingon ship has a different bridge configuration than it did in TSFS? Did the Vulcans give it a “refitting” while they packed Spock’s brain with chess moves?
I’m confident Bana will do fine and I like the idea that the villain of the piece isn’t the CENTER of the piece. While there have been glorious exceptions, Star Trek often gets a little dodgy when there are “villains.” It’s a show about heroes, for sure, but at its best it’s not _usually_ about heroes versus villains. Most often the biggest opponents are things like misunderstanding, predjudice, fear, hubris, or some other frailty of character for which we the audience can have sympathy. Scenery-munching bad guys are usually a little too pat for Trek (though, again, there have been glorious exceptions). I’m hoping Bana’s villain is sympathetic enough to give him some meat to chew on as an actor, instead of just scenery. I have high hopes on that score, given that he seems the type to care about the writing.
The only two Star Trek films I enjoy re-watching is Star Trek II (which officially ends the timelineof my own little “faniverse …” as far as I’m concerned Spock is still dead in “my” Star Trek) and Star Trek IV (which is a fun and warmhearted bit of fluff that I can watch with family members who have no idea or interest in Trek).
I like watching the first half hour or so of Star Trek: TMP again, but then I switch it off before it becomes a quaalude drip. Really, mostly I just watch it for (A) the opening shots of the Enterprise and (B) a bearded, griping Leonard McCoy.
So, if I were to frankenstein-build a perfect Star Trek movie, it would have the intensity and emotional charge of 2, the broad accessibility of 4, and lots of Bones griping. McCoy’s Beard (and a villain) would be optional.
If I couldn’t get that, I’d just settle for a couple of hours of Bones, griping. Because I dig that.
Jabob
Who cares? Let’s just call it crap and leave it at that?
75 Jabob already did take up the gauntlet on ST5.
77 Harry I think it would be an understatement t to say that we have gone slightly of topic but its been a world of fun.
No, not really. I gave no reasons. If I really took up the gauntlet I’d have written numerous paragraphs.
I’ve done this before. It’s exhausting. I should have copied it.
Ain’t gonna do that again. Not worth it.
Yeah, sorry to get off target. Um, Bana is cool.
80 Jabob what amazes me is that somebody actually thought that this was good script and a good story. I often wonder what any of them were thinking when they hatched this travesty of a movie oh well I guess well leave it at that.
Jabob
you are one cool dude……………welcome to the “inner circle”……..
To me, STV was a two-headed monster – 50% awesome, 50% jaw-droppingly stupefying.
The great: Some truly great character moments. Best of all the movies, IMO. “I need my pain” is classic Kirk. Bones backstory. Spock backstory, which is interchangeable with …
The bad: ….Spock backstory. :) Spock has a half-brother! Stupid rip-off of Mad Max at the beginning. Kirk throwing Cat-girl 30 feet through the air. Sulu and Chekov getting lost. More of Shatner in overall portrayal of Kirk than Kirk himself.
And those are just a few. I’m just love-hate with the whole thing. I am my own Enemy Within.
BTW, off topic (as though this whole post isn’t anyway): I love Bones and Deforest Kelley, but did his freakin’ ascots bother anyone else? It was almost like “hey, this is the 23rd century, but we can still have godawful senses of style.” But, I guess this is all moot, especially if you bring up Chekov’s pink Lord Fauntleroy outfit from TSFS. Okay, now I’m officially just talking to hear myself talk. :)
On topic: Bana will rock this movie. Those are my words; mark them well.
Harry -
Don’t know if I’m anywhere near coolitude, but thanks. Being in the inner circle doesn’t mean any embarrassing pledge rituals, does it? I don’t like dressing up like yeoman Rand…
Oh, and how about that Eric Bana? Yeah, you know, he was cool in the Hulk.
I think there will be two characters/actors who will make this movie worth watching – Old Spock/Nimoy and Nero/Bana.
One of the things that I like about Bana is the fact that he really is a good actor who chooses his roles based on their quality and not on their size (aka screen time). He really is a fine actor, wiped the floor with Pitt in Troy. His Hector was a fine and nuanced portrayal.
Although a great actor does not mean that the whole movie will be great, I am 100% sure that Bana’s participation will lead to a great villain.
Cheers,
V of Romania.
I like that he did not jump at the part because he was a fan of TOS. And that he also stated he’d be doing ok if he got compared to Khan and the Borg. I think he will, he has the power to play a good villain, let’s hope the writing is good, which I think it will be.
Garovorkin, I did read Vendetta, you’re right that would’ve been a great movie. I still enjoy Generations though.
First Contact had it all…
I think “Nero” is a synonym for a character name they don’t want us to know about.
I think Star Trek V was not worse than IV. They’re both at the bottom of my list. At least Star Trek V’s humor wasn’t as stupid as IV. If they had kept the tone from III to VI, I’d be happier. Instead, we got with V what Schumacher did with Batmans 3 and 4: a multi-million dollar TOS episode. V would have been a good 60’s TV episode, but ir was a terrible movie. It just didn’t work as a feature.
And #91
Yes, I thought about that as well. It’s a bit too… obvious.
#3 lol, the SHATNET! that would be great! would it?!
-I remember now about the first TERIMINATOR…
..where the good guy was a cameo
-E.B. shouldn’t worry if is a good actor..
#9–I think the writers have a bit more character depth to work with than they did with Transformers. As for your concern about the Romulans, remember that there is nothing of yet to indicate that the Romulans will have any interaction with pre-”Balance Of Terror” Starfleet personnel (who live to tell about it anyway). Even if they did, it could be part of the rumored :alternate timeline”. A simpler explanation would be that any contact with the Romulans takes place in the time period after that 1st season episode(since the story apparently moves around), as well as in the 24th Century.
92 Alex Im sorry to disagree here, but Star trek 4 The Voyage Home which is not exactly high my list either, at least had a far more coherent story and I think, better acting and the humor did work. Nothing about Star Trek 5 worked at all.
90 Steve Star trek first contact was easily the best of the Next Generations movie and I loved the way they ramped up the Borg. I would at least put that one tied for second with Wrath of Khan. I know I am still going to get in trouble on this one, but I still think that the best Film Was The Undiscovered Country.
#92–I disagree, STIV’s humor was set up naturally by the circumstance of the characters having to interact within a 20th century setting. It was as natural as TOS “The Trouble With Tribbles”, and it was a good story.
STV’s “humor” was ridiculous and forced. I still have trouble with Spock singing “Row Your Boat”. Couple that with my opinion that it was just a bad movie–and there is no comparison for me. I think the success of STIV gave Paramount/Shatner the mistaken impression that this was a good direction for the franchise, and it wasn’t.
#98–You are certainly not in trouble for that, but I don’t think either First Contact (although it was the best of the TNG movies) or TUC is even in the class of TWOK.
We’re reassured the script is a good one
We’re told it’ll be a Star Trek of vast fun
The villain’s the Hulk
Yet we still sulk
Over Shatner and red rails not being mentioned
Damn tha torpedos! Full speed ahead and bring on me new Trek! Mayhaps Bana could borrow his wardrobe from Troy…and give it to Uhuru…
BND…….wandering into limerick territory, eh?
Two can play at this game, me bucko…..
Arrr, where be me eyepatch and stuffed parrot for me shoulder? :)
Nero = Future Guy
#85 Jabob Slatter “I don’t like dressing up like yeoman Rand…”
Sacrilege!! Someone has revealed one of our most trusted rituals!!
Well, time for the Committee of the Stuffed Pig to come up with a new one!
Jabob………..go rent a tutu and get ready to do the Dance of the Sulus!
#28. I hear you. And Karl Rove hears you. . .
Am I the only one that didn’t think Bana’s Hulk was that bad?
That Rise of the Silver Surfer was MUCH MUCH worse, my peeps.
Oh yeahhh…take that one to the bank baybee!
# 98 & 99
OK, agreed, both IV and V had its ups and downs. IMO most of the stuff in IV that resulted from 23rd century people being confronted with the 20th century “did not work”. By that I mean that it *was* funny (I’m thinking of the colorful metaphors, the pickup scene with the Italian food, Scotty and McCoy at Plexicorp et al.) but it did not work in a Star Trek context. That’s simply not the kind of humor you expect from Star Trek. More like Back to the Future.
V failed everytime they tried to be funny just because people liked it in Voyage Home. Same reason Insurrection didn’t work for me. *But* I like the aspect of the guys starting to get a little bit crotchety. But maybe they overdid it here. TWoK and TUC did it right. That’s for me one of the reasons these characters seem so human to me. They age. Watch TUC; these guys don’t pretend to be thirty. And I think the campfire scene wasn’t all that bad. That’s exactly the chemistry that these guys had in TOS, and we didn’t get much of it in the movies (only thing that comes to mind now would be the conversation about Genesis in TWoK).
#72 i disagree, whats wrong with giving spock a half brother? and whats wrong with looking for god? – if you ask me STV was fine… ok it was cheap and didnt feel right somehow, but it was what Star Trek was all about, along with ST TMP, after all, finding god would be going where no man has gone before….
I do agree however that as much as I love TWOK and believe that it is a fantastic film… ST VI is my fav, when ever i want a film to shove on… ST VI wins…
Nero is a strange choice for a name, even for a Romulan, which is based on the Roman Empire. They could have kept the Roman-sounding names, but a direct usage of an Earth historical figure? Weird.
107 The long lost half brother, a little to contrived and searching for god just does not make for god scifi anyway.
#107
Spock was always meant to be a loner, an alien alone amongst humans. That aspect gave his character depth and added a valuable dynamic to the drama of his situation.
To slap on a half-brother out of convenience for one particular film is poor screenwriting and comes across as both contrived and weak.
The incompetence at Paramount during that period of time was disgraceful!
First things first
#12 ahem….. WHY!!?!
Now then, glad to hear Bana is for def the baddie. Think he’ll really be able to get his teeth into it.
Think we have to be honest here tough, Khan was a good badguy in the best Trek Movie. Chang was the best movie villan while best all round Trek nasty has to go to Gul Dukat!
#110–What bothered me is beyond the script writing (which was horrible) . I could not stand the complete buffoonery of the whole thing.
Sulu and Checkov lost in the woods.
Scotty and Uhura humiliating themselves.
Spock singing campfire songs and “toasting” a marshmellow.
Klingon warrior who puts his head down and “apologizes”?
Another Klingon with low self-esteem.
A frightened Romulan ambassador (never mind her horrible acting) who needs a mere human to “hold her” while she is struck with fear.
Sarek having an illegitimate son with a Vulcan “princess” (Amanda is later referred to as his 1st wife).
The whole concept of the “Intergalactic Planet Of Peace”–which is all but abandoned to the point of deprivation by the “benevolent” Federation.
I’m going to have to stop since I have a tendancy to throw up a little in my mouth everytime this movie comes up.
#108 I agree- Nero seems too … human. But when ya got a race called Vulcans and Apollo as a guest star…
Rejected villain names for “Nero”:
Nerdo
Crushinator
Daniel
Killtrek
Bubbles
Tony Blair
Hillary
and tha one that almost made it:
Diabolique Dude # 1
harrrr…
Hey Harry, gimmee back me parrot! Dunna need the eyepatch- I put me wee phaser in the empty socket. Me looks can kill… but mostly just stun.
arrrrr….
Man, when did TVH & TUC start garnering all this hate? 2 of the finest hours of the Trek films.
Trek IV had the proper balance of humor, with the characters still acting competently. Trek V had the characters behaving like buffoons, making cheap jokes, and being so incompetent that it killed any suspension of disbelief that one might have had. That plus the Enterprise having 78 decks, paper-thin brig walls, heretofore unmentioned half-brothers, an amazingly stupid plot about finding God, and a ship reaching the center of the galaxy in a matter of hours…well, it just doesn’t hold up so well.
To me, Trek IV was just what the doctor ordered after the 2 heavy installments that preceeded it. They had to lighten the tone.
#112
- Spock singing campfire songs and “toasting” a marshmellow. -
Spock is joining his two best friend, his family, on a camping trip. Kirk and McCoy have to “persuade” him to sing along with them, a concept which is a continuation of the affectionate mocking they show towards Spock throughout the series. In doing so, they appeal to his human half to give in to his still concealed understanding of the human way. These guys know each other for such a long time, and they know each other so well, and the friendship they share is of such intimacy that I’ve always considered the campfire scene to be a wonderful, gentle but expressive, and cordial setting.
112 Closettreker Which further bolsters my statement that Shatner should not be allowed to direct traffic let alone movies but its not entire his fault alone. A good writer and story editor could have prevented this movie tragedy in the first place I think 5 did signicant damage to the credibility of the Trek franchise.
#118
I guess my name isn’t good enough. :(
#114–I love STIV for what it was. It was a great story with a very Trek-like message. The humor in it was so natural. It was fantastic. TUC is not among my favorites, but it is 100 times better than STV.
#115–I am glad to know that someone was not completely embarassed to be in the theater during that scene. I sunk in my seat.
#116–It did do that. And you’ right–it wasn’t all Bill’s fault, although as the director he could have prevented some of the canonical inconsistencies in some of the characters’ behavior in the film.
Even after STVI (which was more than significantly better), I found myself thinking that it would have been best for the original cast to go have gone out on the high note that was STIV. They are riding the shuttle through Spacedock and come upon a new ship which is also named Enterprise, in honor of the last one. That was a great ending! I admit that upon seeing that–I had unrealistic hopes that more films could follow and deliver. I have been disappointed in Star Trek movies ever since.
Don’t get me wrong. I was entertained (mildly) by TUC. I liked seeing Sulu in command of Excelsior, but why were the rest of the original crew still stuck under Kirk’s command? Was he blackballing them? Was Starfleet actually misappropriating all of that experienced personnel under one Captain? That never made sense to me. I think it wasn’t taken as seriously anymore. After STV, who could blame them?
I hated the character of Chang–a Klingon with a British accent who quoted Shakespeare and made attempts at verbal warfare with Kirk that seemed much more Romulan-like than Klingon. Seeing the pudgy and aging Shatner engaged in hand-to-hand combat with a shapeshifter was only marginally less embarassing than some of the scenes in STV. I also felt uneasy about the whole thing. I didn’t like that Roddenberry’s benevolent Federation was being portrayed as nearly overcome by treachery and corrupt “military” elements (apparently, neither did he). I also thought the nearly direct comparisons to Chernobyl and East-West relations in the immediate post-Soviet climate were somewhat out of place.
Star Trek was no stranger to social commentary, but the subtlety of the TOS format for such statements was much better. Starfleet was supposed to be beyond that, particularly at that level. Sure, we had seen corrupt command grade officers before, but the Chief of Starfleet operations? That is not the optimistic look at our future that I knew and loved. I felt like Trek commentary being “dumbed down”. I lot of people like it, and that is fine. It is nowhere near my least favorite…but nowhere near my favorite either.
#117–Nothing wrong with your name, Daniel. And don’t feel bad–Iowagirl is with you. So are some others. Everyone likes different Trek. I think it means something different to all of us. Hang in there.
#117
If it be making ya feel better, I’ll call this new bad guy “Daniel” and see if it catches on…
At least yer not Eric … apparantly he can’t even sustain interest for an entire thread… hope he be not getting angry…
120 Closettreker which is why I have faith that Abrams will restore the franchise. after so many misfires can he possibly do any worse?I don’t think so. Abrams Success bodes well for the future of Trek. If you stop take a hard look at what Trek has caused to happen its really quite staggering. The original show which tetetered on the edge of cancellation all three seasons. inspired scientists, engineers who created much of our technology in including this internet.,spawned numerous movies and series and 40 something years later, here we are debating and talking about it in such minute detail. Think of what it has done for sci in general, Without Trek there would not be shows like Babylon 5, Stargate sg1 and Alantis, Battlestar Galactica and many others. Imagine how poor our existance would be if it had never been.
Harry – No tutu. Sorry. Ain’t gonna happen.
And since the STV campfire scene has been brought up – I’ve never been so uncomfortable and embarrassed by a movie, and that scene in particular. It was totally out of Spock’s character, as well as everybody else’s. I watched this movie alone, and I was ashamed. The worst cinematic moment of my life, and I’ve seen Armageddon and Top Gun!
Sigh. But how about that Eric Bana? Don’t care for the non-Romulan sounding name, Nero. That’s the first thing I’ve heard about this film that sounds stupid. Otherwise I’m super pumped about. Let’s hope Nero doesn’t quote Shakespeare…
Cry havoc, and let slip the contents of my stomach!
To wretch or not to wretch, that is the question……whether it be nobler in the mind to not eat before seeing this flick……well, you get the idea… :)
STV lost me when Kirk fell from El Capitan, and Spock rescued him. Those FX just wouldn’t allow me to suspend disbelief, and the banter between them was painful to hear.
I thought it was pretty sad that in the long shots of Kirk’s climb, it was obviously a younger, slimmer climber. They couldn’t even get a body match for the stunt double. But then again, Shatner did not have a rock climber’s body and the whole idea was terrible inconceivable. Since when did Kirk love rock climbing, and have time to become so good at it?
For that matter, where did he learn to ride horses so well? None of this ever seemed to be Kirk to me.
#125–Good point. We all KNOW what his favorite hobby was!
screwin space chicks???
125 126 2127 lets not forget that Spock had one of the worst punsof any movie. when he flew up to talk to Kirk on the side el captan Spock said “Greets Captain I don’t think you realize the gravity of your situation” heres kirk handing of a rock face god was that bad or what. I Though there may more reasonds to bash Star trek 5.
#128–Why are they ( the Enterprise) always the only starship in intercept range?
Maybe the worst thing was the fact that the NCC-1701-A was a Starfleet lemon! I had a 1985 Mercury Lynx that ran better than that thing!
Spock’s “gravity” line was pretty bad, but easily forgotten once he started singing around the campfire with the good doctor and the newly demoted Captain Kirk. I was just glad I didn’t drag any of my non-Trek fan friends to see it with me!
I think some of the holodeck scenes in the TNG movies and on the series were pretty bad too, but STV takes the cake with El Capitan, Sybok, and the like. That was defnitely when The Shat hit the fan!!!
129 Closettreker, you know now that I really think about it the campfire sing along does make the spock pun pale in comparison. It makes me believe that a blind chimpanzee could have come up with a better script .
Yeah, and they hit let a band of 8th-rate non-descript freedom-fighters take his ship with his help. Kirk would have done anything to prevent his crew from being brainwashed, including destroy the ship. Yet here he is riding gunshot to Sulu, who is bringing the villain to the ship, and then they slide at least a mile into the shuttlebay, and that pipegun “slides” across the floor, and then “KILL HIM!” and “he’s your brother brother?”
I almost left at that point. Shat does not seem to understand Kirk in the least without a good writer/director (film) or shadow-writer (books). Otherwise, he is great.
I own V because I must, and I try to see the TOS relationship sparkle, but when I compare the campfire scene to the “Triad” in TWOK and TOS, these iconic characters seem decrepit, isolated, and almost pansy-like.
Anyway, I wish Eric Bana the best! Don’t get him angry….
131 yep the old federation ain’t what it used to be. This film should have rightfully died in development hell.
#131, #132–It is the only film involving the original crew that I won’t stop channel surfing to watch when it is on (despite owning the entire collection on DVD, I always do exactly that with the others).
#131–It seems the only defense it gets here is the whole “Big 3″ focus (why anyone defends it–I don’t know), but to me, that wasn’t it. That is not how it worked. If you want to see the Big 3 in action, watch “Friday’s Child”, “Amok Time”, or “Journey To Babel”, among others. There are at least a dozen episodes that display that relationship 100 times more successfully, and without humiliating the actors/characters. STV was a big Trek turd. A giant load of Shat even.
Closettrekker: Absolutely spot on, and a case of Tranya to you for that.
I am trying to think of a high-point for the film. I liked Harve Bennett and “Captain” Chekov, but it was a stolen joke from STIV.
The scene where Spock isolates Sybok at his science station with JTK looking over his shoulder, captures, for an instant, the old chemistry, but it then dissipates.
Staying on topic, I would like to hear Bana speak a bit about his character and the film, even if it is in corporate happy-speak. Would be nice to get him onto the site!
We’ll be happy to educate him, i.e. the collected works of Mark Lenard (RIP) and Andreas Katsulas (RIP), plus a drop of Marc Alaimo.
I have two words for y’all on why V was such a letdown for me: Fan Dance.
Peace. Live long and prosper.
The Vulcanista }:-|
133 134 1135 One more point on V I think we not only beaten this particular horse to death we have also mashed it into a disgusting pulp.
136: We sure have.
But to even remain slightly on topic, let’s remind everyone of Caitlin Dar, Romulan Emissary to the Planet of Galactic Peace, and her homage to how “a new age was born.”
That is US corporate HR talk, and not how a Romulan woman should comport herself. Joanne Linwood rules.
#135 “Fan Dance”
Vulcanista, you’ve got that right! Watching Uhura prance around in all her corpulent glory almost made THIS “fan dance” out of the theatre!!
137 oh yes Caitlin Dar, funny no has heard from that actress since she was in that movie, what do I remember about the character, Oh few lines of ,dialog none of which were memorable, a costume that look like something even good enough the Goodwill people. Her character had all of the charm and spontiatiy of a cinder block. She was to only standout among the diplomats
By the way Aj I am still convinced that a blind chimpanze could have come up with a better script for this movie. The monkey would have given us quality.
#139–Yes, and instead of dropping that “Trek turd” and leaving, he would have at least thrown it at Sybok and given us one of those “monkey smiles”.
#135,138–Forgot about the fan dance. Nichelle…..Nooooooooo!
#137–Amen. Worst Romulan ever. Right there with the apologetic Klingon warrior lowering his head and looking down.
140 CHECK OUT THE BREAKING NEWS THEY ARE DELAYING TREK TILL 2009!
I really wish ya’ll wouldn’t remind me of the fan dance.
You know, I only watched V once, but now I’m getting morbidly curious to see it again. It’s kind of like barfing so much that you just have to go back and see if you really did barf that much.
Dance of the Seven Veils?
In Uhura’s case, she’d need about nineteen!