J.J. Abrams' Star Trek (POTENTIAL SPOILERS)

[Fremen]

I would have loved so much if they got Shatner in there. I'm sure I would have cried. I adore the man. I have since I was a kid growing up with TOS. He is so full of himself and I love that about him because I think he plays on it.

I wouldn't have even cared if his appearance in this movie made sense or not. I just really, really would have loved to see him in it.

He's 78 years old. How many more chances are we going to have to see him play James T. Kirk one last time?

I'm still so in love with this movie. I have to go see it again.

 

[The Mike]

I know Kirk is a hard fit for this movie but, something is telling me by fan reactions that its a fat guy thing..like because Shatner is fatter now means he does not fit in, where as Nimoy is still skinny and lanky so people just accept him as he still looks like his character from the past somewhat.

For me it ain't the fat guy thing. I don't think a lot of the Trekkies have that stone to throw but that is besides the point. Its point of reference, I never knew Shatner as Kirk other than what appeared in most Pop Culture in the form of snippets and quick cuts when the franchise was referenced. I DID though know Shatner as Denny Crane and for 5 years watched him and loved him in that role. I couldn't have taken him seriously as Kirk because I have no point of reference and even his cameo in Fanboys is a tongue in cheek kind of thing.

Nimoy has kept his Spock persona and been very serious whether its a good or bad thing and I don't know him as anything else so it was logical.

For a film that was intended to introduce Star Trek to a new generation Spock's inclusion was a risk but Shatner who played a multiple of memorable roles including T.J. Hooker, Stone Phillips from 3rd Rock from the Sun, Stan Fields from Miss Congeniality and of course Denny Crane it would have been one of those things were old school fans would have loved it, most people would have known it because its common knowledge but less of a fit IMHO. I will say this though, the way it would have been written would have been nice but Spock seeing a goodbye message from Kirk Prime would have been a little deflating because who wants to think of the hero in his prime but know when it'll end?

 

[tomandshell]

I actually think that the scene described there with the birthday message and voiceover would have worked.

 

[The Mike]

Probably, just giving my perspective which I figure will not be matched by many anyway.

 

[Dally]

For me it ain't the fat guy thing. I don't think a lot of the Trekkies have that stone to throw but that is besides the point. Its point of reference, I never knew Shatner as Kirk other than what appeared in most Pop Culture in the form of snippets and quick cuts when the franchise was referenced. I DID though know Shatner as Denny Crane and for 5 years watched him and loved him in that role. I couldn't have taken him seriously as Kirk because I have no point of reference and even his cameo in Fanboys is a tongue in cheek kind of thing.

Nimoy has kept his Spock persona and been very serious whether its a good or bad thing and I don't know him as anything else so it was logical.

For a film that was intended to introduce Star Trek to a new generation Spock's inclusion was a risk but Shatner who played a multiple of memorable roles including T.J. Hooker, Stone Phillips from 3rd Rock from the Sun, Stan Fields from Miss Congeniality and of course Denny Crane it would have been one of those things were old school fans would have loved it, most people would have known it because its common knowledge but less of a fit IMHO. I will say this though, the way it would have been written would have been nice but Spock seeing a goodbye message from Kirk Prime would have been a little deflating because who wants to think of the hero in his prime but know when it'll end?

Not to mention the Priceline Negotiator.

I agree with you, his appearance definitely wouldn't have felt as natural as Nimoy's. I think it still could have worked though.

 

[The Mike]

Priceline Negotiator! How could I forget that!?!

For me Nimoy is Spock, Spock is Nimoy. I don't separate the two. Shatner though, is just Shatner, he isn't pigeon-holed into Kirk for me and it wouldn't have felt as natural as it would for someone who is a diehard TOS fan.

 

[FQRizzo]

No, I have it on a shirt:

Unfortunately, Robert Zemeckis didn't pay enough attention to Doc Brown's chalkboard in BTTF II. Biff steals the almanac in 2015 and travels back to 1955 to give it to his younger self. At that point, the timeline branches off as he creates a new future where Biff is King of the World. (The 1985A which Marty visits and finds his father dead and his mother married to Biff.) After handing off the almanac and creating the new timeline, Old Biff gets back in the DeLorean and returns to 2015--but the film shows his return to the original 2015 where Marty is waiting, not the new 2015A in the alternate timeline he has created by his interference. He should have moved forward along the new timeline to a 2015A where Biff was King.

Very interesting. This shows why they can't restore the original Trek timeline without going back in time before the USS Kelvin got blow'd up.

 

[The Ween]

"Boston Legal" Kirk just wouldn't work. Sorry.

Sure he would. He wouldn't be playing himself as younger, but his actual age. He wouldn't be expected to look like a 60's era Kirk.

 

[Michael Crawford]

Priceline Negotiator! How could I forget that!?!
For me Nimoy is Spock, Spock is Nimoy. I don't separate the two. Shatner though, is just Shatner, he isn't pigeon-holed into Kirk for me and it wouldn't have felt as natural as it would for someone who is a diehard TOS fan.

Yes, a fact that has haunted Nimoy his entire career.

BTW, if you really want to see an excellent film on this type of alternate timeline reality, watch Primer. Actually, you'll need to watch it 3 or 4 or 10 times, take notes, and then compare with the various websites out there dedicated to decoding the film, but once you do, you'll have a much better appreciation for the possible intricacies...and viablity...of such a situation.

 

[galactiboy]

That Shatner scene would have been potentially very good... but maybe too much? Hard to say now that I've already seen the first version if this would have felt as natural as the theatrical ending did? Although it also may have ended the flick on too somber of a note... especially for people less familiar with Star Trek.

And I too was emotional during the opening, so was my wife and my brother reporrted the same thing. It was a very powerful scene.

 

[CelticPredator]

One of the most powerful i've ever seen...thats for sure.

 

[cerealkeller]

I like the idea of Shatner scene. One of the reasons I loved the old crew is the friendship between Kirk, Spock and Bones. That said, I think Abrams did the right thing and decided against it. For one, Pine's Kirk captures the essence of Kirk but doesn't sound like Shatner too much. I'm actually starting to like Pine's Kirk better than Shatner's
Also, I don't like young Spock saying "I'm still not convinced" over and over. Seemed contrived way to show Shatner.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Unfortunately, Robert Zemeckis didn't pay enough attention to Doc Brown's chalkboard in BTTF II. Biff steals the almanac in 2015 and travels back to 1955 to give it to his younger self. At that point, the timeline branches off as he creates a new future where Biff is King of the World. (The 1985A which Marty visits and finds his father dead and his mother married to Biff.) After handing off the almanac and creating the new timeline, Old Biff gets back in the DeLorean and returns to 2015--but the film shows his return to the original 2015 where Marty is waiting, not the new 2015A in the alternate timeline he has created by his interference. He should have moved forward along the new timeline to a 2015A where Biff was King.

That's interesting!

But maybe the timeline doesn't shift until Biff actually uses the almanac and begins to alter his original path... meaning, there may have been a window where young Biff didn't believe "the crazy old man" during which time Old Biff was able to return to the correct 2015.

 

[EdwardNashton1]

5/5 I became Trekkie because of this movie

 

[Michael Crawford]

TrekkER, TrekkER...

 

[Valfar]

Last i heard it was "Trekkie".

 

[Les Walker]

I'm a TREK um, FAN! That works.

Anyway, love the movie, love the characters, and can't wait for the next one.
I agree I like Pine's Kirk a little bit better. Am getting used to Quinto's Spock. And think Urban's Bones rules! Still prefer old Bones, but this one will do! All the rest are fine.
Great stuff! Make more! NOW!

 

[galactiboy]

No one can replace Shatner to me... but I think Pine did a great job. Shatner is still Kirk, but in an alternate reality Pine will hold down the fort well

And the rest of the crew was great as well, it really isn't has hard of an adjustment to the new original crew as I thought it would be.

 

[Michael Crawford]

Last i heard it was "Trekkie".

Not to a Trekker. I found it amusing that even Nimoy corrected himself on the SNL bit.

 

[The Mike]

That's interesting! But maybe the timeline doesn't shift until Biff actually uses the almanac and begins to alter his original path... meaning, there may have been a window where young Biff didn't believe "the crazy old man" during which time Old Biff was able to return to the correct 2015.

This is correct. What caused the timeline to shift wasn't just the presence of the Almanac but its use, the handing off was the catalyst. They stopped him from using it so they stopped him from becoming "King" but this would have actually cause a Universe "C" because Biff saw the Time Machine and it wouldn't have restored exactly the same way as before. Whether he could prove it or not since it was destroyed in 1985, it was still different that the status quo 1985.

TrekkER, TrekkER...

Its Trekkie, all of you "established" fans need to get over it. Even Roddenberry confirmed it as Trekkies.

Not to a Trekker. I found it amusing that even Nimoy corrected himself on the SNL bit.

He corrected himself because even he has to remain conscious of the fact that some Trekkies have their panties in a bunch over being called that. As Kate Mulgrew said:

Trekkers are the ones "walking with us" while the Trekkies are the ones content to simply sit and watch Star Trek

So, if you are a Trekkie you watch and enjoy Star Trek, if you are a Trekker you actually think you are in the ******* thing.