Abrams: Chris Pine’s Kirk Is Funny (and Cocky) [UPDATED] July 16, 2008
by TrekMovie.com Staff , Filed under: Abrams, Star Trek (2009 film) , trackback
Although JJ Abrams was at the Television Critics Association event this week to promote his new Fox TV show Fringe, he sure took a lot of questions about Star Trek. In the latest, the director gives Hollywood Outbreak an update on the status of the post-production and also talks about the performances of his new Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto).
JJ’s word of the day : Amazing
Listen to Abrams Comments at HollywoodOutbreak.com
Transcript.
JJ Abrams: Right now we have a cut of the movie that has 12% of the visual effects near done, but the movie is working and that is the thing that is exciting to me. What is amazing about the movie is the people are awesome and the characters are alive and you love them. Alex [Kurtzman] and Bob [Orci] wrote an amazing script and amazing actors made it more amazing. It was really like the fun of watching Zachary Quinto take on the role of Spock which is a incredibly deceptively complicated part, and when you see the whole performance there are things I didn’t even see when we were making the movie. And to have Chris Pine come in and embrace this role of Kirk that is so complete and emotional and funny and cocky and yet vulnerable–it is a wonderful thing. That to me is where I think the best news is. You need that to tell this story and it works. I think it is a testament to this movie.
So just to summarize some of JJ’s comments for the week. His Star Trek is not a parody, but Spock is funny, and Kirk is funny too.
UPDATE: Abrams on Pegg
Another quote from JJ from TCA, this time on Simon Pegg, the new Scoty.
Simon is absolute genius in [Star Trek]. He was a lot of fun to work with.
[Knoxnews]
JJ looking happy to be there, at the Fox Party on Monday in Santa Monica, CA
(Wire Image)
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Comments»
It’s 12% done.
Can we get 12% of a new picture or trailer – anything?
Maybe Spock is sorta of Sarcastic?
#1
So is that about a nacelle and a half’s worth? :)
It will be interesting to see if they chemistry between Pine and Quinto works as well as Nimoy and Shatner. 10 months and counting.
Amazing.
Sounds awesome! Gives me goosebumps in fact. 88% to go!
…the adventure continues….
With 12% of the sfx completed, there must be some very complicated scenes planned. I’m with everyone else here – throw us a friggin’ bone, please! A sneak peak of something, anything, to keep our tounges wagging until November/December when (just guessing here) a trailer will be released.
Why not a photo of something? Anything.
I couldn’t care less about pictures, trailers, or sneak-peeks. If they come soon, fine. If they don’t come until December, that’s fine too (and probably a better decision when it comes to hype they can manage and sustain up until the May release).
I am just as excited today as I was when I first heard the news. Star Trek will finally move in the direction I wished for 20 years ago—-back to its roots.
There hasn’t been any new Trek since 2005! Can we just have a small taste?!?!?
The word of the day is “amazing”.
Where’s Big Bird? The Count? Ernie?
At least most readers know the definition of THIS word of the day, unlike yesterdays “Kitsch Manuever”
Pine had better blow me away. So far I’m not impressed with anything I have read about him…. Han Solo my a$$…
Quinto I have faith in, however…
That’s 12% of the effects work nearly completed.
With over 1000 effects, that is a lot of rotoscoping, compositing, color timing (adjustment), designing, rendering, painting, modeling, texturing and adjusting to be done.
As a film set 300 years into the future, with starships, phasers, photon torpedos and warp engines, this movie requires a lot of effects to be created.
I would imagine that some of the time for effects is eaten up by the rendering process for 3D elements. It takes time to generate 120 4k frames of a detailed, complex model, animated with sophisticated lighting.
I’ll take a cgi alien pic. At least it would be SOMETHING.
I don’t believe Chris Pine is in this picture. I’m not actually sure he even exists. Oh, sure, there have been some movies he might have been in, but I have only read an article here or there that he was in the movie. There was a spy pic of some dude who looked a little bit like Pine rushing from craft services to the set once, but there was a better picture of Bigfoot in that Patterson film.
Of course, a decent cast photo could prove me wrong. I’m just saying.
Give us something. I would even settle for the end credits…
i’d be happy to see a ramscoop
It’s Amazingly lame and Un- Funny that we had had not even a scrap of tangible info on this film in months other than all the obnoxious backslapping, gladhanding and butt smooching among the cast and production crew.
15 – I heard someone recently discovered some Chris Pine tracks, although skeptics are saying it was actually his neighbor’s.
As for me, I WANT TO BELIEVE.
Did they ship Chris Pine to a Siberian gulag or something after shooting ended for this movie? We’ve heard from just about everyone else in the cast haven’t we? Is he detoxing? Ha she been a part of a news conference for anything? I kinda agree with #15. I’m not sure he exists. Maybe he’s all CG.
That sounds great! Now show us ome characters, cotumes and Starships!
1. Krik Semaj — no no, it’s 12% *near* done… whatever that means, lol!
So 12% of the effects done in 3 months… at this pace, it’ll be 24% complete by October… 36% by January… 48% by April…. uh-oh….
I joke of course. I know they haven’t been doing effects for all 3 months. :)
Sounds amazing, J.J.! Can’t wait!!!
I hate to spoil the party, but this new round of eye-popping happy-happy-joy-joy from the Trek XI camp is becoming annoying even more quickly than the last round.
It’s important to note that JJ is being asked at events unrelated to STXI about the film, but cannot come up with anything concrete except how funny the guys are, while still being complex and vulnerable, etc.
And it’s all good news, but it’s fluff.
For the love of…… !
J.J., show us at least one shot of a Klingon in a sombrero. Give us something!
#12—”Pine had better blow me away. So far I’m not impressed with anything I have read about him…. Han Solo my a$$…
Quinto I have faith in, however…”
I don’t need to see or read anything impressive about him. I’m sure there was something about him revealed in the casting process that prompted Abrams to choose him for the role. He must have felt that there was something specific he could, as a director, bring out of him that was important to the role. I look to the casting of LOST, which (albeit a television show) was fantastic. I’m not worried.
i think Quinto and Pine will be to Nimoys and Shatners K&S what B Routh was to C Reeves Superman
i.e. playing Nimoy and Shatner playing Spock and Kirk…
This man’s word pool is amazing, and extremely funny, and free from any kitsch and unnecessary baggage.
I think this is the most amazing Abrams interview I’ve read so far, and I’ve read a lot of amazing Abrams interviews; all of them amazingly funny and amazingly committing at the same time, and always amazingly meaningful. It’s amazing how one man in this amazingly shallow Hollywood can come across as being so amazingly consistent.
Well, what do we have? Pine as Kirk is amazingly funny and corky. Before Gary Mitchell, Kirk was a stiff guy, but as far as we know GM isn’t in the film, so that’s a amazingly confusing. Maybe we will just be confronted with young Jimmy’s amazingly wondrous metamorphosis from a stack of books with legs to that amazingly funny and corky guy without any explanation, or the amazingly stiff period will just be left out because it hasn’t enough mainstream appeal – who knows…
Don’t care, people will love it as long as it’s amazing and funny.
i have no problem w/ kirk and spock being funny…….what often distinguished TOS and TNG is TOS had more humor……and i remember nimoy saying he felt that spock’s ‘fastinating’ was suppose to be a punchline
#19 Actually, the govt. may not want us to know this, but I think Chris Pine was the one flying the mysterious unidentified craft over Stephenville, Texas.
if they mess this up, im goin to make star trek !!!
did anyone else know that cbs has two full episodes of TOS-R online in HD?
http://www.cbs.com/hd/?show=star_trek_remastered
27:
Iowagirl. Amazingly Amazing. And funny.
If JJ really wanted to announce something cool, he would talk about casting THE SHAT in a cameo or something……
#27 Iowagirl
“Maybe we will just be confronted with young Jimmy’s amazingly wondrous metamorphosis from a stack of books with legs to that amazingly funny and corky guy without any explanation, or the amazingly stiff period will just be left out because it hasn’t enough mainstream appeal – who knows”
Couple of things: You do know the word is cocky and not corky, right? Cocky is to carry yourself with a sense of swagger and bragadoccio and the other is to be stuffed into the top of a wine bottle or have notes attached to you in your dorm room. Another thought was that Kirk’s metamorphosis might be even quicker than it was in TOS. He didn’t act cocky until the second or third episode.
But I did find your post amazingly funny. I mean, it did make me laugh.
Man I really want a cast photo of everybody in uniform!
But glad that its going to be ‘amazing’!
If you count the teaser, we’ve seen about 12% of the Enterprise.
Show us something JJ. Stop TELLING and SHOW.
An Amazing Disaster!
kidding of course
@33
It is time to let go my brother
btw…if anyone is wondering…that really is my brother (who introduced me to Star Trek…so you can thank him for TrekMovie.com)
I hope it’s not “I Mudd” funny or original 1960’s Batman funny.
Maybe they remade that episode for the movie and Spock is an android.
I would not like it then.
I agree with the earlier comments. Please give us some good pictures. I would like a new desktop background for my PC. I’ve had the 1st movie one on my computer for 2 and half years. (The blue and gold A symbol)
I am beggining to lose intrest in the movie. I’ve watched the guys welding about 100 times.
Kirk’s cockiness may be related to his situation. If he’s on top of a situation, he might be a little cocky or self-assured. But taking over the role of starship captain probably made him more serious for awhile until he knew he was in control.
Before that, he probably had a lot of that swagger already.
#33 … Ahh, it’s good to see the site master’s brother is “Of the Body”!!
Star Trek V was funny too. But not in a good way.
Remember before “The Phantom Menace” they had a cool trailer out about a year ahead of time.
The top secret Hollywood stuff is getting over the top. The X-Files trailer is horrible because they don’t want to show anything. Not showing anything doesn’t build up buzz for the movie. Iron Man had some cool trailers that showed something and that did amazing business at the box office. It didn’t ruin the movie that we knew what Iron Man looked like before we saw the movie.
#34
Yes, yes, I know about that amazing word called cocky; thanks for pointing that out..;) I must’ve been so amazingly confused by Abrams’ command of words that this amazingly emotional state made me forget mine for a moment. Amazing but true. :D
Glad though, I made you and AJ laugh. Amazing unusualness. :)
Maybe they can make a new trailer for the movie with people painting the Enterprise. That would be something.
Then a third trailer with them sticking on decals.
A fourth trailer could be them installing carpet on the bridge.
Any other ideas?
Star Trek V may have had a terrible plot and whatnot. But some of the character moments were FANTASTIC. and the flashbacks in the mind meld scenes gave some good addendum to the backstory.
I AM PREPARING TO TOAST A MARSH MELLON
Here’s an idea for a trailer for the new movie. This doesn’t even have to be in the new movie. This would get people talking.
The “New” Kirk (Chris Pine) beams down to a planet with 6 red shirts.
An old Gary Mitchell shows up and says, “I’m from your future Jim, old friend, why did you maroon me on Delta Vega”.
Gary Mitchell then shoots lightning bolts out of his hands and kills all of the red shirts.
Kirk gets mad and starts punching him. About 20 seconds of fight music while Kirk and Gary Mitchell fight.
Then “Coming May 2009…The “New” Star Trek movie in Living Color.
Why did he say Marsh Mellon. Was there some kind of copyright on Marsh Mellow?
Star Trek: The Comedy
Nice to see your brother here, Anthony. You must let him come out and play more often.
Everytime one of these little teasers gets dropped by Abrams, I drool a little.
Is the Romulan villain funny? I’ve always found post-TOS Romulans to be hilarious, while I’ve always found TOS-era Romulans to be menacing. Maybe my touchstone for what kind of Trek this really is will be how funny (or not) the Romulans are :)
Or, in other words: cast photo? Enterprise shot? Anything?
#41—LMAO!
#49—I think that in the novelization, McCoy altered the information in the ship’s library computer as a joke, knowing that Spock was researching camping traditions at the time, and hoping he would make a fool of himself. Unfortunately, most of that film made a fool out of everyone in the theater just for paying the money to see that work of crap. That movie (The Great Trek Turd Of ‘89) is still the lone pimple on the butt of an otherwise very entertaining feature film series (the original six), IMO.
My only concern is no one is going to say, “gee we messed up in casting and Pine and Quinto have no chemistry”. Of course everyone involved is going to gush over how good they are.
I just hope they can recapture the same mojo as TOS. I love the bantering not only between Kirk and Spock but between Spock and McCoy.
Whenever the next big Paramount movie comes out is when we will get trailers. I just hope they don’t wait until the holidays.
Someone mentioned “carpet” which be a very important thing ta’ me…
Tha’ quality o’ one’s floorin’ be paramount for any successful endeavor. Whar’ would we be if we hadda no floors? Why, right on our backs or floating aimlessly, that’s whar’!
I would think that by showin’ us tha’ floors o’ his sets, JJ could grant us keen insight inta’ tha’ makeup o’ his film.
Oh, I expanded on floors in another JJ thread today. God forbid I keep bringin’ tha’ same point up over and over again. Sorry thar, mates, but floors be “make or break”- ya’ see what’’s underneath is as important or moreso as anythin’ above.
Arrrrrr…
#53 Very funny.
I didn’t know they did a novelization of Star Trek V. I should have picked that up. The movie might have made more sense to me then. Very funny joke McCoy played on Spock.
In the out takes from Space Seed I do remember Spock mind melding with Khan to remember somebody named Chekov that had not showed up in the series yet.
I want screen credit if JJ uses my idea in #48.
52 – If the Romulans in the movie still have the Moe-’dos from TNG, then yes, it will a laugh riot.
That always bothered me. The only thing the Romulans and the Vulcans could agree on was a hair style.
Also, why did T’Pow or T’Paul on Enterprise have a Beatle’s haircut too. T’Pring on Amok Time had nice hair. She didn’t look like Mo or Shemp from the Three Stooges.
Also, the chicks on Vulcan on Start Trek III looked hot like T’Pring.
Speaking of Amok Time. The best line I ever used in a bar was…”I have to breed every 7 years or I will die. It’s been 7 years since my last mating cycle.”
The girls dig that when you tell them that..
#60 If you used that pick up line on me, after I stopped laughing, I would have to use the Vulcan neck pinch. Trust me, woman don’t dig that pick-up line. I would have to give you a C for Creativity but I would still use the Vulcan neck pinch :-)
‘His Star Trek is not a parody, but Spock is funny, and Kirk is funny too.’
A-HA! I knew it – they filmed Starsky & Hutch In Outer Space. No flames for you, Anthony – The Big E is gonna be red with a white rally stripe and fuzzy dice. :-) Warp drive powered by ‘351 Clevelands’.
yea duh of course girls dont go for the vulcan stuff , what you need is some klingon mating. You know you sniff ther her right arm/hand , she sniffed yours. Then each grips the other’s right hand to cause bleeding.
Then after a night of wild fun and contusions and broken limbs , you both take the commitment oaths.
I have been a fan of TOS since I was 7. Leonard Nimoy came to the University of Texas-Arlington to speak and my father took me to see him. It started my love of going to conventions and the whole universe of Trek. The thing I have found in my 42 years on this rock is that things always progress and/or change. Star Trek has done this as all other things have. While it will may be hard to think of embracing new actors, if you want an origin story it has to be done. Thank the Lords of Kobol that Nimoy is still around and actually seems to be aging like a real Vulcan so that we get continuity to this story. Reserve your judgement of Pine and Quinto for after the release. I find it quite reassuring that humor is involved and these actors get it. In fact, humor has been a hallmark of Star Trek and I truly believe these guys are going to do well. For those of you who follow the Truth of Canon religion, I am sorry to say, you might be dissapointed. I keep hearing about the young Kirk playing be the rules at the academy (according to Gary Mitchell and Finnagan) yet in ST2:TWOK he cheated on the Kobyashi Maru test. So, even in Trek canon, we have different versions of who Kirk was. Maybe Jim is like the rest of us and is multi-layerd in his personality and exhibits those traits in different situations. Much to think about I know but let’s give Pine a chance. After all, he is amazingly funny and cocky and……!
And what about Scotty?! What is the deal with him? And Bones? Do you think he hates being called Bones?
#26 – I hope you’re wrong.
And, based on Pine’s completely wacko, steaming performance in Smokin’ Aces, I’d say there’s a good chance you ARE wrong.
Here’s hoping for the best.
#54—”My only concern is no one is going to say, “gee we messed up in casting and Pine and Quinto have no chemistry”. Of course everyone involved is going to gush over how good they are.”
Then, I guess, the only rationalization you have for that “concern” is….um, you haven’t seen it yet?
Just because they are obviously unobjective, doesn’t mean that what they say is not true. As far as I know, JJ Abrams has never lied to me, so I have no reason to suspect he is a liar…The fact that they are saying all the right things does not “concern” me. I have no reason to believe that Abrams would misfire on such an important casting decision. Since Pine was cast in the role, there must have been some quality that the “Supreme Court” (made up of some pretty solid Trek fans aside from the lukewarm Abrams) felt that Pine brings to the table. He doesn’t have to be Kirk. He just has to be able to act like him when JJ says “action”.
Perhaps it is best that he (Pine) is an unknown quantity. If he had a significant resume already, it might be more difficult for the audience to buy him as Kirk once the story gets going. That was my fear when the rumors were out there about the likes of Matt Damon. Pine and Quinto may be the perfect blend of credibility (Quinto) and anonymity (Pine).
Who the hell knew who Christopher Reeve was prior to 1978? In the end, he w3asn’t the original Superman, but he was the best. This should be much easier. Original Star Trek fans don’t need Pine to be better than Shatner. They just need him to be an adequate younger version of James Kirk.
Another thing, I don’t expect the Kirk-Spock dynamic to be obvious right away. In fact, in the origin story, it probably should be rather awkward. In WNMHGB, I see their relationship as much less familiar and lacking that personal trust you see later on in the series. It is, IMO, in its infancy. I realize JJ has every right to reboot the origins of that friendship, but I always saw it taking off after the death of Gary Mitchell on Delta Vega.
Pine will either take a beating for his portrayal or blow people away.
There will be no middle ground.
It’s actually better for Shat not to be around to upstage him (or the rest of them, for that matter…)
idk…the idea of pine as kirk brings to mind aaron ashmores portrayal of jimmy olsen in ’smallville’ XDXDXDXD…as for quintos spock…im thinking the direct antithesis of sylar
I watched a great PIne movie … Blind Dating. Loved it and so did my whole family.
Stop the hype train I want to get off.
The movie script deals with the early “E” crew encountering a “Reality Perception Sphere” named after the late 20th century
computer icon Steve Jobs. They never escape it and it continues to grow and sucks in more ego’s and fanboys. Until it finally collapses under its own weighty expectations.
Amazing!
yes #62, and Bones will be Huggy Bear XDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXD
I think its great, in the original show and the origial movies, the best parts was the humor, and like Sulu told Tuvok, Vulcans have a sense of humor.
I really am looking forward to this opportunity for a relaunch of such a ahead-of-the-times movie just like the original was.
#27-Iowa Girl — I have been screaming about the absence of Gary Mitchell’s character “forever”. This is supposed to be a prequel. While he only appeared in one episode — he was a major influence on young James T. Kirk, they were best friends, Gary Mitchell saved his life, Kirk chose Gary Mitchell to be his first officer under his first command — and yet to this day no explanation as to why the Gary Mitchell character has been omitted from this movie. Regarding Chris Pine being very funny – I want drama, not “Blazing Saddles in Space”. In season one while Kirk clearly has a sense of humor he is a VERY serious person and leader, all you need to do is look at episodes like: “The Menagerie”, “Balance of Terror”, “Arena”, “Court Martial”, “WNMHGB” — I can go on and on. If this indeed is the movie equivalent of Starky and Hutch, we can then finally kiss the franchise good-bye!!!!!
when are we gonna see that freakin’ trailer
ok…that i know of theres no definite statement saying that mitchell is not in this film…moreover…paul mcgillions character is still listed as unknown so think on that…
At least I have “The Dark Knight” to look forward to this weekend. Damn JJ, at least slip one pic of something on the net instead of some sweaty ass welder! Nothing major just something!
#25
I’m afraid to say that LOST was far from fantastic.
It seems to me (and this is my own personal opinion) that Lost was a horrendously over exposed, drawn out, disappointing, stereotypical american pile of doo-doo juice than planned to suck as many people who watched it into a state of dissatisfaction and frustration as could be possible.
It started well and quickly deteriorated into utter shamefulness.
Shame on all concerned!
You’d better be good Abrams, Orci and Kurtzman!
I mean it!
I’m bloody worried. And so should the rest of the Star Trek loving fraternity!!!
#25
so you meant the casting was fantastic…..hmmm…
still dubious, I feel…
…still poorly disguised poo….
75.
Do we know for sure that the character of Gary Mitchell is not in the movie? Anthony, please coordinate…
I do hope Kirk is corky.
I’ve been trying to get my sister to comment on this board. She’s the one that turned me on to Lost. I wonder how many other bloggers here have made it a family affair?
Comedy has always been an important part of Star Trek. Star Trek to me has always been about exploring different aspects of humanity as well as space. And humor is an important aspect of humanity. So is is important that this new movie has some comedy.
As far as seeing new stuff from the movie, I like # 45. Gary the Gorn’s idea of new teasers that show continuted construction. I also like shots such as the photo of JJ on the bridge. They reveal a little bit and also make us fans use this small bit of info to try to put the puzzle together.
I got season 1 of Lost from the library just to see JJ and crew’s work. I’m now hooked on it. Can’t wait ’till next season.
Denise — funny girl. I want to buy JJ a Thesaurus.
“My only concern is no one is going to say, “gee we messed up in casting and Pine and Quinto have no chemistry”. Of course everyone involved is going to gush over how good they are. …I just hope they can recapture the same mojo as TOS. I love the bantering not only between Kirk and Spock but between Spock and McCoy. ”
So true, Trekkie16. No one sets out to make a bad movie (ok, maybe Roger Corman….) obviously and despite all good intentions, things don’t always work out as planned or hoped for. The Star Wars prequels for example. I was 100% convinced they would be great based on: George Lucas, ILM, 20+ years of advances in special effects, did I mention George Lucas?, the casting choices and tons of $$$$. Instead I got cringe-inducing dialogue, wooden acting and….JAR JAR BINKS. There are no sure things.
I’ve got my Plus and Minus columns and am taking a wait and see attitude. Pluses: Writers and a director who gets genre stuff and fanboys and fandom in general, lots of money and Leonard Nimoy! Minus: Shatner and Nimoy as Kirk and Spock captured lightening in a bottle and I’m not sure it can be done again. Too much money lands in the minus as well — it sets the bar very high IMO, maybe too high. No Shatner. Reboots in general.
I can’t see where anyone can truly expect (or demand) any pictures, clips or spoilers and think they will get them
JJ has proven he can keep a movie under wraps for a good length of time, because he believes this is what’s best. Is he right? I think he is, but I know some of you don’t agree. He’s not going to show something until he thinks the time’s right. In the meantime… he gets interviewed… and what’s he gonna say? I hate Trek, all my actors sucked? Be real.
But pleading, moaning, cussing and casting doubts on every word these people say doesn’t move us closer to the little previews some people think they require.
Who was it that said they needed to see pictures, to make sure JJ was honoring Trek, etc? I don’t remember… but you have to be joking.
IMO
Criticizing people for criticizing also seems rather pointless. Fans (from “fanatic!” let’s remember) and fandoms in general are a possessive lot. It goes with the territory, this ownership mentality. It’s probably both an asset and a liabillity at the same time. It’s what made a little show from the 60s, with its cheap sets, silly effects and low ratings, the little engine that could — a show that got a 3rd season because of the fans, became a series of movies 10 years later, a multi-billion $ merchandising industry, con gatherings, a series of tv shows and more movies….and now another go-around. It also got us decades of arguing, carping, second-guessing and endless debating on sites like this. Personally I enjoy reading all the various takes, relish how clever some posters are and feel glad that people have a place to discuss and vent. (Thank you Mr. Pascale!)
Okay, Robert! I don’t post very often, but they ( the main ) had better not be “FUNNY” . Star Trek is serious, and Kirk is serious, and Spock is also serious, and McCoy is the most serious of them all. This movie should not be funny or comical in anyway or anywhere or anytime, we don’t want Spock to be a Jar Jar Jerk.
Number 85. Yes, they do set out to make a bad movie. That is what Nemesis was. They let it [TNG] go so they could do this, never wanting to give Picard [who gave them $500,000,000] a chance, so don’t even.
In TOS, the comedy was organic and sprung from the chemistry.
Comedy for comedy’s sake results in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.
I can’t wait to see what the result is.
Anthony won’t let me say somethings that you guys need to hear so I guess I just will have to be a little more eloquent about Paramount and Nemesis. AND COMEDY!
87. krikzil – July 16, 2008
If you are talking to me, may I suggest you don’t read my comments if they bother you. And most of us know how Trek came to be. Thanks
krikzil#85- JJ has so many production details swirling about in that black-mopped head of his that any unnecessary adjectives, nouns and verbs just muck up the inner gray-matter landscape. By the time the movie is ready to premiere and reporters left and right are blasting him with questions, poor guy will probably just be able to squint and do a Mongo-type reply: “Uuh.. movie good.”
Xai#92- I think you need to loosen up a bit. Here are two used ahn-woons I got from T’Pau – we can play jumprope with them out on the playground at recess and make everyone else in the class jealous, then when we come back in for naptime you and krikzil can make up and put your sleeping mats side-by-side, whatdoyasay?
#94 Denise
I am not angry or uptight, just defending my right to an opinion.
Make it your mat I lie beside and you’ve a deal.
;-)
Xai#95- What if you put your mat between krikzil and myself, and I will tell her not to steal your stuffed Spock teddybear, but you must promise not to pull on her hair and try to braid it into a Rand pineapple wig…
>> 20. I’m Dead Jim! – July 16, 2008
Did they ship Chris Pine to a Siberian gulag or something after shooting ended for this movie?
He’s been “retreated” to Dick Cheney’s Lair — it’s part of the flashback, time-rift sequence ~ ~
;)
#75
Agreed. And let me add that I’ve always loved Kirk’s sense of humour; probably because he’s never been a “funny” guy.
#81
- I do hope Kirk is corky. -
Hey, put a cork in it! Not.Funny.Anymore. :D :D
Let’s let some random five minute scene in the movie “accidently” leak to us, guys at Paramount/ILM/Bad Robot/et al! Please? Just so that we can pat you on the back, instead of you guys having to do it yourselves!
-The Doc
#90: Well said.
I remain hopeful, with no basis (yet) for anything resembling expectations, good or bad. I’m happy with the casting, ambivalent about the creative team, happy with the few shots and scraps we’ve been handed. Fine with the teaser. Mildly concerned that the studio heads see it as a summer film. Overall … hilla beans. Nothing to go on.
So I hope.
Specifically, I hope for more to go on :)
heh heh heh…………..Oh GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It Can’t Take this long to get Any Real details from The Sequel, this has To Be a First time, Test the waters kind of thing. After this I Know They’ll have a Release date sooner, and More Photo’s or whatever for the Next movie. I agree this “Funny” business it’s Kinda Old already.
They have just started stooting the new Terminator film and they already have a teaser. But we can’t get a second teaser or trailer?
I want a new trailer.
Now!!!!
#102. focuspuller
Word.
So how many ways can one spin, “cast and crew are great, movie is going well”? Let me count the ways..
Seriously more juicy details please! No more of this same thing over and over and over again stuff!!!
;-)
Iowagirl: I see you’re still cynical about the new movie. In case you’ve forgotten, my offer still stands. You can always contact me through my website here. :)
Fringe is probably another shit show.
Alias was shit.
-Will Tippon.
#88 “Okay, Robert! I don’t post very often, but they ( the main ) had better not be “FUNNY” . Star Trek is serious, and Kirk is serious, and Spock is also serious, and McCoy is the most serious of them all. This movie should not be funny or comical in anyway or anywhere or anytime..”
..I’m not sure if your post is serious. But jus tin case…of course Star Trek was funny. Humor was an integral part of the whole “Trek formula” and is every bit as important as the drama and adventure that we see in every episode. Trek would be a LOT less interesting if the comedic elements were removed.
#81-If Gary Mitchell were to be in this film, don’t you think we would know by now — since we have already been made aware of the major players and the actors who are playing them? No matter how you slice it — this is a huge oversite on JJ Abrams part!
#75—First of all, there is no clear indication of whether Gary Mitchell is a character in the film or not (perhaps he is the “mystery role” that Paul McGillion was cast in). Since Orci cited WNMHGB as one of the episodes researched (by the “Supreme Court”) prior to making the film, they are certainly aware of his existence, as well as the fact that he was a student of Jim Kirk’s at the Academy at one point, and that he once saved Kirk’s life (not to mention their shared interest in mini-skirt chasing).
With that said, he is obviously not a classmate of Kirk’s at the Academy (since Jim was one of his teachers later), so he shouldn’t be present there. There is also no indication that he and Kirk served together at any time prior to both of their assignments to the Enterprise (the act of saving Kirk’s life could have happened after he was made Kirk’s First Officer). Furthermore, given JJ Abrams style of storytelling, the plot could easily fast-forward to thye timeframe after the events on Delta Vega, in which case Gary Mitchell would no longer be alive.
Beyond all of that, if an alternate timeline exists due to Romulan interference, he may never meet Gary Mitchell at all. The point is, you don’t have enough information yet to be concerned about his “absence”…
#79—-”I’m afraid to say that LOST was far from fantastic.”
You’re entitled to that opinion, but I said that the casting was fantastic. I don’t think they could have done any better casting that show among the pool of television actors out there.
Maybe you should read the comments you respond to, rather than glancing over them.
#80—I see you went back and read the comment. Which character would you say was miscast?
#109—see response above…BTW, you have been made aware that Paul McGillion has been cast in a “mystery role”. Couldn’t that be Gary Mitchell?
#85—This is somewhat off topic and in response to a post in another thread, but I wish you would look again at US Military service and dress uniforms for women. They are skirts. The only difference between those and the ones you see in TOS is the length (the US military is notoriously conservative). It was that way when I was a US Marine officer, and it is that way now. Women now have the option to wear pants in the service-alpha and dress- alpha/beta uniforms, but the skirt is still there (and quite frequently worn).
I agree that Gary Mitchell is an important piece of Kirk’s history. He was Kirk’s best friend until his death in WNMHGB, and played a significant role in his whole backstory.
Also, in WNMHGB, Kirk and Spock are not yet best friends, McCoy is not CMO, Uhura is not at Communications, Sulu is not helmsman, and Chekov is not there. I wouldn’t be surprised if WNMHGB gets a wide berth, and JJ goes straight from Pike to the new ensemble.
It will be interesting to eventually hear from Bob Orci about how they dealt with the minutia vs. the big picture.
107. Will Tippon – July 17, 2008
“Fringe is probably another shit show.
Alias was shit.
-Will Tippon.”
Thanks for sharing your open mind.
I keep reading comments about how Gary Mitchell is Kirk’s “best friend”, but I don’t recall that ever being said directly.
We know that they are friendly and have known each other for 15 years. We know that Lt. Kirk was an instructor at the Academy during Mitchell’s first year as a cadet. We know that they were friendly enough to go out together while off duty on at least one occasion, and that Mitchell serves as Kirk’s First Officer aboard the Enterprise. We also know that Mitchell took a poison dart for Jim. I’m not sure that makes them “best friends”…just friends and colleagues. I’m not saying they couldn’t be, but there are alot of ways that Gary Mitchell might not be relevant to the plot of this movie( if Mitchell is not the “mystery role” in which Paul McGillion was cast).
1. If the film does not cover Lt. Kirk’s time as an Academy instructor
2. If Kirk and Mitchell never served together prior to being assigned to the Enterprise
3. If JJ’s storytelling style rears its head to fast-forward to the timeframe after the events on Delta Vega
4. If circumstances created by the “altered timeline” prevent that relationship from developing as it did before
I certainly believe that McGillion is probably Gary Mitchell, but I think the overall significance of Gary Mitchell’s impact on Kirk’s life could very well be exaggerated in the minds of some fans. Gary having a role in this movie is not an imperative at all.
If he has to be in it, then doesn’t Finnegan have to be? What about Ben Finney? At what point does shoving in every person Jim Kirk knew before TOS become unreasonable? Surely they cannot be expected to cover every detail.
I am not in a big rush to see any previews or images from this movie yet. It’s not easy being on the sidelines but I don’t want to spoil the experience when it is actually time to watch the movie. I am sure we will get all the inside info just before release. It is almost inevitable.
The one thing that makes this movie different than a, dare I say, Star Wars prequil disaster is that it is under new management. It’s not a franchise person reimagining “their” work. JJ is someone who can look at this objectively and make it not so cheesy (like EP1). The one thing I am most encouraged about is the fact that Nimoy has given positive comments about the work JJ has done.
RE: “Show us a picture! Show us the ship! Show us something!” et al
Kee-rist, people! Show *me* some patience! The movie comes out almost a *full year* from now! There might be a trailer out around November but hoping for anthing else this far in advance is just ridiculous. You want to see the new ship? Watch the teaser again. Give it a rest already.
Sound like a bunch of spoiled children… mutter, mutter, grumble….
#116—Amen.
#112 – You could not have stated it any better!!!!
#114-In addition to reading a few novels and watching WNMHB, it is clear that James Kirk and Gary Mitchell are far from being just colleagues, “. More than “one occassion” he served as Kirk’s #1 (the only “one occassion” that we saw was that one specific episode. Listen to Dr. Dehner talking to Kirk in the breifing room. Gary Mitchell was a major player in Kirk’s early years and his early command.
I sure hope they show me a picture from the movie soon. I really want it.
Seriously, though, with all due respect to the contingent that is opposed to the idea of advance pictures being posted, I wonder why it bothers you that people such as myself are vocal in their wish to see something from the movie? I’m not a “spoiled child”. I haven’t resorted to calling you names. What’s with ranting against me and the folks who are like minded? It’s one thing for me to say that I want pictures and for you to say that they shouldn’t release pictures. It’s a completely different thing to berate me for it. But just to show you I can take a joke………..
I want a picture now!! If I don’t get a picture right now, I’ll keep posting about it until AP tells me that I have to stop!! I’m going to hold my breath!! Not because I haven’t got a picture yet, but because I just wanna! Where’s my binky?
#114—The novels are not canon, so you can throw all of that out right off the bat.
All we know about Gary Mitchell (officially) is from WNMHGB. He was one of Kirk’s students, and they became friends who eventually served together for a brief time aboard the Enterprise. By the time of the events on Delta Vega, Kirk had known Mitchell for 15 years (which raises its own canon questions). That’s about it. I shared many experiences in combat and in service with colleagues in the Marine Corps which were very similar to those described between Mitchell and Kirk. That doesn’t mean any of those guys are my “best friends”. In fact, to this day, my best friend is a guy I met in middle school. That doesn’t mean that I don’t care about those former colleagues or consider them friends, but I certainly wouldn’t go so far as to call any of them my best friend.
Also, I said that they went out together on “at least one occasion” while off-duty. I think you misinterpreted that statement.
The notion that Mitchell is critical to Kirk’s backstory is one born out of “fanon”…not “canon”. He may or may not be…That is yet to be seen.
I honestly expect McGillion’s character in STXI to be Gary Mitchell. But if its not, it is far from the “huge oversight” on Abrams’ (and I’ll assume you meant Orci and Kurtzman’s) part that you claim it will be. As I said before, there are many ways around him ever being part of this film’s plot. This film is about the origins of the relationship between Kirk, Spock, and McCoy (and in particular, about Kirk and Spock).
I do, however, agree with AJ, and said as much earlier i this thread. I don’t think Kirk and Spock’s relationship became what we know it to be until after Gary Mitchell’s death. Their relationship in WNMHGB seems devoid of the mutual trust and even a sense of brotherhood it would later possess by the time of the events in “Amok Time”, for example.
#119—I apologize if my agreeing with Izbot was insulting to you. I guess that is just the experience of being the father of typically impatient children coming out in me. You go ahead and continue the proverbial “Are we there yet?” march as long as you see fit…J/K!
#121
No, CT, I was aiming my comments at the above mentioned poster who saw fit to call those of us who want a peek spoiled children. I’m a grown man. I have 6 children of my own. At this point in my life I know how a spoiled child behaves. They usually call other kids on the playground names. I don’t mind debating the pros and cons of the issue, but if my desire to see a picture of the Enterprise in advance is upsetting to someone, I would suggest that they are too tightly wound up in this.
I have been pretty patient. For two years. I wasn’t expecting to have a third year to wait. Plus, I am a self-admitted spoiler junkie. So sue me.
#120-Just please do me a favor (if you have on DVD) please focus in on the conversation not only with Dehner and Kirk regarding Mitchell but Spock and Kirk following the meeting in the briefing room, Kirk says to Spock “We’re taking about Gary….” Him and Mitchell were very close friends. And I do hope that you’re correct about Gary Mitchell being in the movie.
121. Closettrekker
Thanks for making my point for me.
119. THX-1138
Sorry if I stepped on your toes — you’ve always been at least civil about your desire to see something — but I was really addressing the “JUST SHOW US THE DAMN SHIP ALREADY!!!”-types. Those folks need to take a cold shower. Every time an article goes up on this site about the new movie there’s this repetitive “Gimme, gimme, gimme” demand from a noticeable percentage of posters. It’s annoying as hell. And, sorry, but it is childish. As if JJ and company or Paramount will finally give in to the onslaught of rabid, slobbering masses and toss us a bone. We’re above that, aren’t we? I want to see pictures and read spoilers as much as the next guy but what do they owe us? I keep waiting for someone to say, “Give us fans what we want! We pay your salaries by seeing your movies! You owe us!” They don’t owe us.
#123—I do have that episode on dvd, both in the TOS season one box set and in the Captain’s Log Collective, and I do remember that bit of dialogue well. But again, all that says to me is that Gary is more than just a member of his crew. He is Kirk’s First Officer, and a man whom he has developed a personal (as well as working) relationship with for many years. And yes, they are friends. I am certainly not disputing that.
All I am saying is that none of that dictates that Mitchell was so influential upon James Kirk that he absolutely must be a part of this story. There will undoubtedly be a great deal of Jim Kirk’s early career which will not and cannot be covered in a two hour film. The story may even jump from shortly after Kirk’s graduation from SFA to his command of the Enterprise, many years later.
What if the first time we see Jim Kirk in command of the Enterprise is post-WNMHGB? If that is the case (and assuming we never see Lt. Kirk as an instructor at SFA), then it really makes no sense to include Mitchell in the film. According to Harry Knowles, he saw an image of the Enterprise bridge with Sulu at the helm. If Kirk is in command, and Sulu is at the helm (instead of Mitchell or Kelso), then one can only assume that Mitchell is dead (or at least buried) on Delta Vega.
But the biggest thing to remember, IMO, is that the “Supreme Court” watched several key episodes in preparation for making this movie (most notably, WNMHGB and BOT). With that in mind, it is hard to imagine this “mystery character” being anyone but Gary Mitchell. Abrams may very well want to do exactly what you want him to do with that character. In any case, whatever he decides to do will become officially canon. He may downplay Mitchell’s significance, or he may choose to amplify it. What little bit of information that exists in WNMHGB leaves alot to interpretation, IMO.
The essence of Kirk’s humor was often that he gave everyone else permission to laugh. It’s leadership humor.
There’s also the humor of Kirk and McCoy teaming up against the superior intellect of Spock.
So much has been made of Kirk and Spock that it’s sounding like the old xeroxed gay fanfic.
McCoy is the third point in the triangle. Aristotle spoke of the balance between Logos, Pathos and Ethos. I hope the story doesn’t sacrifice that balance in the interest of making Quinto and Pine stars.
Aside from his charm and gentility, McCoy always had the haunted, tragic nature of someone chastened by life, and by watching people die. I’m kind of hoping for a formative scene for McCoy.
OK, Izbot, I’ll unbunch my panties. But just so you know, I am a firm believer in the squeaky wheel theory. If you don’t ask, you shall never receive. Also, my mama taught me it never hurts to ask. I am glad that you sort of included yourself in the description of rabid, slobbering masses. That was well politically played.
But speaking from experience, one time my daddy took me on a tour of a wonderful candy factory and there were these delightful, smallish orange fellows working there. When I asked my daddy (repeatedly) for one, he finally relented.
Although It took me a week to get the smell of garbage out of my hair.
#126—Great post. I am hopeful that McCoy won’t get lost in the crowd. Bones is like that one added bat that makes a team come together for the stretch run (if you’ll forgive my baseball analogy). He is the one element missing in the second pilot, and ultimately ends up being the “soul” of the Big Three, IMO.
127. THX-1138 The Fandom Menace –
“I am glad that you sort of included yourself in the description of rabid, slobbering masses. That was well politically played.”
Everything I learned about diplomacy I learned from JL Picard. Or was it Geordi? I dunno.
Yeah, I can slobber with the best of ‘em. Honestly, I wanna see something, too, I just don’t expect to for several months. And that’s okay.
“87. krikzil – July 16, 2008
If you are talking to me, may I suggest you don’t read my comments if they bother you. And most of us know how Trek came to be. Thanks”
Hmm… I have to say I find this ironic. But no, your posts don’t bother me — as I mentioned in my post, I find all the posts interesting in one way or another. [And I actually had you in mind when I talked about clever posts -- your "CCCoooooonnnnnnnnn" is still rattling around in my head!!! That and Denise's "corky".] However, I do find it curious how certain fans criticize other fans for what they perceive as their over-the-top behavior or dismiss things — like cons or spoilers or the desire for photos — simply because they don’t care or it’s not important TO THEM or they don’t know about it (like the whole Comic Con thing). It’s all about enthusiam for Star Trek, be it at all kinds of levels. A good thing in my book. Let’s face it, we’ve all crossed a line simply by being here daily and posting and posting. And like a family, we’re stuck with each other. ;0 Who else would have us?
Denise — Sorry, I’ll fight you for the Spock teddy bear!!!!!!
Closettrekker — Heh there. I did see your post in the other thread and just answered. I didn’t get a chance to even look at this site at work today! I’m beginning to suspect I need a 12-step program for Anthony’s site! I lurked for months and now I must step up to the mic and say, “Hello, my name is Krikzil, and I am a Trekmovie.com addict.” I’ll let you go over to the other thread ….
“By the time the movie is ready to premiere and reporters left and right are blasting him with questions, poor guy will probably just be able to squint and do a Mongo-type reply: “Uuh.. movie good.””
Denise– frankly I don’t know how directors of these big action/special effects films can form a coherent thought after spending year(s) on their films. I know I don’t even want to hear another person call my name after a long day at work….I can’t imagine it amped 1000x on a movie set. My mom and stepdad and numerous friends worked in the Industry and I’ve been on sets and always came away amazed at the men and women who can do that job, and do it well.
No new trailers?
Bonk, bonk on the head!
onk, bonk!
I think what people aren’t realising is that actors and characters can be “funny” while being completely serious and humorless.
Being funny isn’t always about smiling or being witty. It’s largely about timing and, in the case of Spock, what is not said. Humour comes from the situation, and the way it’s acted. You can be funny by being angry, or overly serious, or by refusing to talk to someone, etc.
A talented actor playing a serious role in a comedic scene will make the scene work; a less talented actor won’t.
I really really hope this is a good film. With that said, I hate this interview stuff. It’s anything but “amazing.”
We’ve heard the same thing over and over from the makers. The cast is wonderful. Pine and Quinto are funny but amazing. This is not a spoof. But everyone is funny. This is like Wrath of Kahn. And did we mention that everyone is amazing and funny?
Now, I saw Cloverfield. It was a good movie. Was it great? Well, it was not up there with 28 Days Later or Aliens. It was better than the remake of Godzilla that they made in the late 1990s with Mathew Brodrick but so is watching anyones highschool graduation. The only amazing thing about it was the fact that I hated every character in the movie and I was almost pleased, in an odd–and twisted way– to know that they were all killed off. The movie was strange to me because usually I have to like at least one of the characters or else the movie usually stinks. But Cloverfiled had all of those “amazing” actors playing “amazing” rotten people. The guys brother is killed and he doesn’t care. He is focused on the hot chick. But I saw it not because of the lack of information out there. It wasn’t good enough for me to know that J.J. Abrams made it. I held out until the film was out so I could see some clips the made me think this looks like it may be an interesting movie.
I hope this is a kick ass version and brings new life to Trek. But don’t try to be too so funny. And throw us a bone. I’m not asking for shocking spoler info. Just something to get us excited. Lets see some uniforms. Lets see a second long clip for each actor to see if we maybe buy them in the role. Lets get a glimpse of the ships. I’m not asking for the story and how it ends. The Battlstar Galactica people get it. We were shown some pics BEFORE season four. We saw Anders in a flight suit. That was not big give away info other than he’ll fly a viper. We saw Lee Adam in a suit which suggested he was a JFK type in the making. We were told that Bill Adama would put on a flight suit and that they would find Earth. etc. They kept my attention.
It’s been four or five months now since I posted last I think and I see the same crap. A few head shots is not enough. Give ue the uniforms. Let’s hear Urban talk with a southern accent. What about showing Pine say or do something for a second that may cause us to say, “he’s gonna be a good Kirk.” Lucas did this with the Phantom Menace. Before the movie came out and was so damn bad, I knew that Ewan Mcgregor was goona be very good as Ben Kenobi. Unfortunately, the Phanton Menace was a menace to the story but there still are three great movies one that’s pretty good, one that’s at least quite a bit better than the Phanton Menace.