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Chris Pine Says New Movie Will Not Please Everyone, Zachary Quinto on Spock

By GustavoLeao / 05:10, 5 January 2009 / Star Trek: Nemesis

The Wall Street Journal posted a new interview with Star Trek movie stars Chris Pine (Kirk) and Zachary Quinto (Spock) and here are a few excerpts of the article.

Chris Pine

WSJ: J.J. Abrams has said he's making the movie for future fans, not necessarily veterans. What's he doing to freshen the story that might rattle Trek fans?

Mr. Pine: I'm not well-versed in the Trek canon, but we're venturing into territory that's only been covered in these paperback novels they sell. It's definitely not going to please everyone. There's a scene where my character is in a bar and he's definitely inebriated and under the influence of his own arrogance. It's him becoming the Kirk everyone knows. In my book that makes the journey a little more interesting. If he's a clear-cut leader from the beginning, you don't have anywhere to go.

Why has this character become so mythic?

Kirk is still a little elusive to me. But what I think is so unique about this story is that, unlike other genre movies, "Star Trek" has always represented an incredible amount of optimism. In the late '60s, in a time of unrest, it represented this utopian world. As opposed to "The Dark Knight," which I enjoyed, but was so bleak and didn't speak kindly of humanity. Kirk is so iconic because he's the head of this fantastical utopian team. They aren't superheroes, they're men and women trying to achieve something good.

A lot has been made of the differences you bring to the Kirk character, but what aspects of the original did you keep?

There's a lot of humor, arrogance and decisiveness. I tried to bring in these qualities, but with this new element of a young man coming into his own -- he's a leader who doesn't know he's a leader yet. But the speech pattern? Absolutely not. In that territory it becomes an impersonation. I can only do my version of it.

Zachary Quinto

What things did Leonard Nimoy tell you about Spock to help you understand him?

Mr Quinto: It's been such an indelible mark on his life and he's metabolized it so gracefully. We spent some time watching episodes but it was an all encompassing experience. We'd go to his house. We'd meet sometimes at Paramount. I'm seeing him before the holidays. He's an advanced mind and heart and I want to hang out with him as much as possible.

A lot has been made of the differences you bring to the Spock character, but what aspects of the original did you keep?

Especially with Spock, more so than Kirk, there are characteristic movements. It's established in the mythology, this stillness and economy of movement. There are ways one holds oneself, such as the hands behind the back.

Why has this character become so mythic?

In this archetypal way, people respond to someone who's able to contain himself. He operates from a place of logic, but always with the betterment of others in mind. He's able to endure things and experience things from a place of balance.

More from Pine and Quinto on Star Trek can be found at the full interview.

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23 comments Post New | Help

RE: I think Chris gets it.... | Report this post to moderator
By: Terry212 (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 12:00:50 on Jan 05, 2009

yeah, agreed. Berman did just make Vulcans assholes. They were condescending and they sneered a lot. They didn't show emotionless, they showed a near-violent frustration and impatience. They were constantly petty and sarcastic. I suppose the episodes where Surak's teachings are rediscovered by Archer go to somewhat explain how the Vulcans had fallen into something non-Surakian but how they could be much more rational in Spock's time. Of course, the TNG-era Vulcans were sometimes pretty testy, too. ENT had the worst offenders, though.

Yes, I think Quinto has the hardest job...with Karl Urban as a close second. I don't imagine I'll be satisfied by Urban's Atlanta accent. It's a really tough accent to master for a non-native. I'm good with accents, but I'd have to sit and work on it for quite a few days and I live 5 hours south of Atlanta. Urban is from half a world away. I like the guy, but it's a tall order for an actor. I don't need a McCoy impression, but bad accents in movies are a pet peeve of mine...that and the fact that Hollywood can NEVER seem to cast a southerner in a southern role. Cold Mountain was like a THESIS in bad-accent casting.

Based on the preview, I would imagine that Spock's struggle with his human half and dual heritage will be front-and-center in the movie. Even in the preview, we get the "you're of two worlds" speech to young Spock and we see him lose his temper and attack Kirk. I am frankly a little worried that they're kicking Spock's "shame" (a good word for it, I think) up one notch too many. It's hard to imagine him clobbering Kirk, particuarly in light of how Kirk needles him about emotions in TOS. It makes the needling a little mean-spirited if Kirk actually got a violent rise out of Spock in the past. It's like taunting an alocholic about whether he wants to do shots. It's in poor taste if you ever actually got the guy to drink and got him plastered and sent back to rehab. Am I making any sense?

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RE: I think Chris gets it.... by Sam Cogley @ 05:55:23 on Jan 06
RE: I think Chris gets it.... by OV-101 @ 16:06:35 on Jan 05

RE: I think Chris gets it.... | Report this post to moderator By: Terry212 (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 12:00:50 on Jan 05, 2009

RE: I think Chris gets it.... | Report this post to moderator
By: Terry212 (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 12:00:50 on Jan 05, 2009