Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine: Takin' it to the Street
Andrew T. Durham
April 21, 2009
I have had the distinct pleasure of seeing an online interview with actors Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto who are currently starring in the new Star Trek film scheduled for release in the United States on May 8th. I have to say I have never seen such humility and genuine humor and enthusiasm in actors, especially when being interviewed. It helped that the New Zealand interviewer was something that we don´t have in the States: a professional. She actually knew how to LISTEN. Imagine that.
In any case, Pine and Quinto were delightful and ultimately attentive, belying the usual arrogant, self-absorbed fecal matter that passes for movie talent in this country. Quinto, the soft-spoken intellectual and Pine, who would be the kid in my high school who would say stuff just to make me snarf milk out my nose, engaged me just by their sense of being actually PRESENT. I loved it.
Truthfully, I have been following the new Star Trek since I first heard about it. Let me back that up by saying something I truly believe: if you´re under 40 you don´t know anything about Star Trek and what it stands for. I have never been – and never will go – to a convention. I grew up with Spock, Kirk, and McCoy. They were characters, not the caricatures Hollywood lap dogs like Harve Bennett and Nicholas Meyer made them into. There was only one REAL Star Trek movie, and that was Star Trek: The Motion Picture, directed by Robert Wise. The rest was pandering to morons.
Also I have only ever read one novel not based on one of the films or series episodes. That was Prime Directive by Judith Reeves-Stevens and Garfield Reeves-Stevens . I never played video games. I never read any of the comics. I´m not a Trekkie, or Trekkor. I loved the characters.
That being said, these young folks under the direction of J. J. Abrams seem to be nailing these characters…and also being gentlemen at the same time.
I was truly dismayed when Chris Pine (Captain Kirk in the new film) spoke of the vitriol and hateful garbage spewed by people who didn´t approve of his casting. Absolutely everything I´ve seen of him in clips has been wonderful, certainly better than if someone like Matt Damon were to lisp his way through the film. Let me just say one thing to Chris Pine that he´s too much of a gentleman to say: some people need to be shot. This applies especially to fat, candy-addicted hermaphrodites who contribute nothing to this world.
On another note, Zachary Quinto – who is absolutely mesmerizing as Sylar on Heroes – was, yes, born to play Spock…as was Karl Urban as McCoy.
This series – this idea – of Star Trek desperately needed CPR after the travesty of the 80´s movies and garbage like Deep Space Nine. Star Trek has always been about characters and their relationships. It´s the shallow, linear-thinking weasels that call themselves "Trekkies" that have destroyed a humble, character-driven ideal. Well, not all of them. The ones who love the people in Star Trek understand. The show was always about human beings – faults and all – doing things in different environments. It wasn´t about different environments doing things to human beings.
And, on a closing note, let me say this: It pleases me no end that William Shatner was allowed nowhere near this project. He is a living parody, and his character is dead. Further, the character of James T. Kirk would not have let himself go over the years as Shatner has. Let the dead rest in peace…along with, one might say, their pity Emmys. "The Shat" had best stay away from an idea he helped kill.
In any case, I can´t wait to see this movie and be reunited with long lost friends. And these would be the beloved characters that, for once, are not made to kiss Hollywood´s backside, but to inject the idea of humanity into a positive future.
Live long and freakin´ prosper…dude.
In any case, Pine and Quinto were delightful and ultimately attentive, belying the usual arrogant, self-absorbed fecal matter that passes for movie talent in this country. Quinto, the soft-spoken intellectual and Pine, who would be the kid in my high school who would say stuff just to make me snarf milk out my nose, engaged me just by their sense of being actually PRESENT. I loved it.
Truthfully, I have been following the new Star Trek since I first heard about it. Let me back that up by saying something I truly believe: if you´re under 40 you don´t know anything about Star Trek and what it stands for. I have never been – and never will go – to a convention. I grew up with Spock, Kirk, and McCoy. They were characters, not the caricatures Hollywood lap dogs like Harve Bennett and Nicholas Meyer made them into. There was only one REAL Star Trek movie, and that was Star Trek: The Motion Picture, directed by Robert Wise. The rest was pandering to morons.
Also I have only ever read one novel not based on one of the films or series episodes. That was Prime Directive by Judith Reeves-Stevens and Garfield Reeves-Stevens . I never played video games. I never read any of the comics. I´m not a Trekkie, or Trekkor. I loved the characters.
That being said, these young folks under the direction of J. J. Abrams seem to be nailing these characters…and also being gentlemen at the same time.
I was truly dismayed when Chris Pine (Captain Kirk in the new film) spoke of the vitriol and hateful garbage spewed by people who didn´t approve of his casting. Absolutely everything I´ve seen of him in clips has been wonderful, certainly better than if someone like Matt Damon were to lisp his way through the film. Let me just say one thing to Chris Pine that he´s too much of a gentleman to say: some people need to be shot. This applies especially to fat, candy-addicted hermaphrodites who contribute nothing to this world.
On another note, Zachary Quinto – who is absolutely mesmerizing as Sylar on Heroes – was, yes, born to play Spock…as was Karl Urban as McCoy.
This series – this idea – of Star Trek desperately needed CPR after the travesty of the 80´s movies and garbage like Deep Space Nine. Star Trek has always been about characters and their relationships. It´s the shallow, linear-thinking weasels that call themselves "Trekkies" that have destroyed a humble, character-driven ideal. Well, not all of them. The ones who love the people in Star Trek understand. The show was always about human beings – faults and all – doing things in different environments. It wasn´t about different environments doing things to human beings.
And, on a closing note, let me say this: It pleases me no end that William Shatner was allowed nowhere near this project. He is a living parody, and his character is dead. Further, the character of James T. Kirk would not have let himself go over the years as Shatner has. Let the dead rest in peace…along with, one might say, their pity Emmys. "The Shat" had best stay away from an idea he helped kill.
In any case, I can´t wait to see this movie and be reunited with long lost friends. And these would be the beloved characters that, for once, are not made to kiss Hollywood´s backside, but to inject the idea of humanity into a positive future.
Live long and freakin´ prosper…dude.
Print
Email
