Home > Entertainment > Movies > Movie News & Previews
Should William Shatner return as Captain Kirk in the new Star Trek movie?
Results so far:
| Yes | 55% | 426 votes | Total: 780 votes | |
| No | 45% | 354 votes |
Yes
by Patrick Boniface
Created on: September 30, 2008
Whenever you hear the name William Shatner it is usually followed by some stiffled laughter; no one takes him seriously as an actor anymore. Is it any surprise when if you type in William Shatner onto an internet search engine you find him paroding himself, not anyone else doing it for him mind; by himself. His records from the 1960's are legend, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds anyone and let's not forget his award winning portrayal of Danny Drake in Boston Legal? Whilst I am on a roll think back to the 1980's and TJ Hooker, an overweight over zealous policeman stamping down on crime on his beat. In fact smashing it in the face in a most un PC way.
There is no denying that Star Trek is a fantasy. It's a fantasy to see aged actors squeezing into skin tight bright red Starfleet uniforms. It's a fantasy that Paramount is still milking for all it's worth. The franchise is worth literally millions of dollars each year and William Shatner is without doubt the main man...HE IS JAMES T KIRK. It's the ultimate in typecasting. William Shatner is the captain who comes in at warp speed, shoots to kill and grabs the pretty blonde or perhaps even the green slave girl and leaves at warp speed.
The franchise is safe in the knowledge that James T Kirk lives in our hearts and our minds and the social pysche. No television show has achieved this before or since. William Shatner and the rest of the original cast must be applauded for having achieved this but there have been a number of movies that have not featured Shatner on screen and the new one is yet another that will be without his presence.
Why? The producers say that they want a fresh slant on the future, then why re-hash the past? The original was just that: Original and genuine. The new movie is set for release in 2009. The story that has been released from Paramount is that Kirk, Spock, Bones and Scotty meet at Starfleet Academy as cadets and a friendship grows as they join their first ship. So for a start the characters will be young, William Shatner is many things, but young isn't one of them, neither is Leonard Nimoy.
Perhaps the intention is to re-invigorate the franchise, give it a kick in the pants and send the thing into the world. Maybe another four or five movies are possible with this scheme. Let's face it Paramount would not pump in millions of dollars into a project that won't see a profit. Then why dis-enfranchise the Star Trek fans who love the original Star Trek with all the dodgy sets and the pelmet dresses along with the 1960's kitsch?
Also why deny William Shatner a role in the movie, perhaps even a cameo? A quick walk on part maybe playing Kirk's father or grandfather?
Without William Shatner the story of James T Kirk will appear devoid of the central characterisation, the central mannerisms and the original charm and depth of Gene Roddenberry's creation. Give William Shatner a role in the new movie please.
Learn more about this author, Patrick Boniface.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
No
by Kate Johns
Created on: April 14, 2008
William Shatner is an icon and will always be remembered for his pivotal role as the strong but well- intentioned Captain Kirk of the Star Trek TV series and the movies that followed. He portrayed Captain Kirk with a wonderful smarminess that no other actor could possibly ever capture again.
But, he is 77 years old now. If he had been the real Captain Kirk in real life he probably would be retired by now and living on a retirement planet in the celestial universe. No doubt about it, William Shatner gave a real life force that made the role of Captain Kirk what it is today, but he's almost 80 now. The role of Captain Kirk needs some major life force kicked into hyper drive at this time.
With a new Star Trek movie coming out in 2009, what movie makers should do is officially retire Captain Kirk in the movie, and give him a role as an adviser or a mentor to a new captain. The movie makers could name a new Captain to the ship Enterprise and have Captain Kirk, who would now be know as Retired General Kirk, or ruler of all time, space and being, and have him help out when a major crisis happens.
The latest incarnation of "Star Trek" will have a very young Captain Kirk at the helm. An American actor who has starred in several recent movies, Chris Pine will take on the role of the gallant Captain Kirk. A mere child, Chris Pine, will replace William Shatner's role of Kirk. Pine wasn't even born yet when the first Star Trek movie came out in 1979. Chris Pine is only 28 years old. He is too young to sit in the Captain's chair and calmly instruct his crew when danger approaches.
The creators of this latest incarnation of Star Trek, were looking at other actors to take on the role of Kirk such as Australian actor, Eric Bana. Bana starred in the movies, "Troy" and "Lucky You" with Drew Barrymore.
The new Captain Kirk is very young compared to our beloved leader, and it just doesn't seem right to let a mere child take the helm of the Enterprise. But, alas William Shatner is at the age of many retirees and I guess we will have to get used to a newer, younger model taking on the role.
You have to admit William Shatner would be too old to reprise his successful role as the Captain of the Enterprise. You can just see him now in his cabin being woken up by a crew-member because he is needed for an emergency due to those nasty Klingons starting a new battle. He would have to fix his hair and put his dentures in his mouth and try to go to the bathroom. By the time he would get to the deck to handle the problem, the Enterprise would be in the hands of the enemy.
Okay fine bring on a new captain of the Enterprise but could we have someone who was at least born while the television show, "Star Trek", (the original series) was on TV. Australian actor, Eric Bana is almost 40 now and he would be a much better fit. Okay, maybe not. Too many women working on the ship wouldn't be able to get any work done with Bana at the helm. The new Star Trek movie will have Eric Bana playing Nero.
Change the role of Captain Kirk to an older retired General; bring him back to help out in a dire emergency. But, please put in his place a Captain that's a little older, and has more experience. The new Captain Kirk is much too young, unless the creators of this latest Star Trek adventure have gone back in time when the Captain first became the leader of the Enterprise.
Learn more about this author, Kate Johns.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Write and get published
Share with other writers
Polish your freelancing skills
Quality articles from proven freelancers
Exclusive rights, fast turnaround
Brand engagement, business blogging -- our writers do it all
INFORMATION
Copyright © 2002-2012 Helium, Inc. All rights reserved.
Helium.com: A Service of RR Donnelley