Getting to know the new “Star Trek” crew
Over the past few days, I’ve raved about what a terrific casting job J.J. Abrams’ did of his “Star Trek” reboot. The casting looked great on paper but proved even better in the film.
Here’s a guide to the cast of the new “Star Trek” movie, which seems poised to become a big blockbuster:
Chris Pine (Associated Press photos)
- Capt. James T. Kirk
Played by: Chris Pine
Originally played by: William Shatner
Pine’s previous roles: “Bottle Shock” and ”Smokin’ Aces.”
Why it works: Pine managed to convey the brash confidence and bold charisma – not to mention the skirt-chasing nature – of Capt. Kirk without becoming a William Shatner caricature.
Zachary Quinto
- Science officer Spock
Played by: Zachary Quinto
Originally played by: Leonard Nimoy
Quinto’s previous roles: TV’s “Heroes” and “24.”
Why it works: Quinto does such a great job as Spock that when Nimoy shows up, the whole alternate reality premise doesn’t come completely unraveled. Quinto portrays a Spock that isn’t quite in control of his conflicted human-Vulcan nature without getting melodramatic.
Karl Urban
- Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy
Played by: Karl Urban
Originally played by: DeForest Kelley (who died in 1999)
You know Urban from: “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,” “TLOTR: The Return of the King” and “The Chronicles of Riddick.”
Why it works: The New Zealand actor is a personal favorite of mine, so I’m glad to report that his performance is particularly great. Urban obviously studied up on Kelley’s portrayal of Dr. McCoy because he’s got the delivery, mannerisms and attitude nailed. He plays him as a caring curmudgeon without getting too old and stodgy. And as standard for “Star Trek” films, he gets many of the best lines.
Simon Pegg
- Engineer Montgomery “Scotty” Scott
Played by: Simon Pegg
Originally played by: James Doohan (who died in 2005)
You know Pegg from: “Shaun of the Dead,” “Run, Fat Boy, Run” and ”Hot Fuzz.”
Why it works: Pegg has excellent comedic timing, and Scotty was always the funniest guy on the show and in the movies. He also convincingly portrays Scotty as a quirky genius.
Zoe Saldana
- Communications officer Uhura
Played by: Zoe Saldana
Originally played by: Nichelle Nichols
Saldana’s previous roles: TV’s “Six Degrees,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” and “Drumline.”
Why it works: Saldana gets more to do in one movie than Nichols did in the whole “Star Trek” series. She does a great job updating the part for the times, playing Uhura as strong, confident and capable, and making her sexy without being trampy.
John Cho
- Helmsman Hikaru Sulu
Played by: John Cho
Originally played by: George Takei
Cho’s previous roles: “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle,” “Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay” and TV’s “Kitchen Confidential.”
Why it works: Cho is another personal fave, and he gets down Sulu’s quiet strength and kindness. He also plays up the awkwardness Sulu sometimes showed, which seems appropriate considering he’s young and green in the prequel. Even better, Cho kicks major tail in his big fight scene.
Anton Yelchin
- Navigator Pavel Chekov
Played by: Anton Yelchin
Yelchin’s previous roles: Walter Koenig
You know Yelchin from: “Charlie Bartlett” and the upcoming film ”Terminator Salvation.”
Why it works: Yelchin perfectly captures Chekov’s youthful enthusiasm and budding brilliance. The Russian-born actor opted to keep the exaggerated accent for the sake of preserving Chekov’s signature “nuclear wessels” line. It’s a bit cheesy but he provides wonderful comic relief.
Now, let’s talk about the villian, shall we?
Eric Bana
Eric Bana as Nero
- Romulan Nero
Status: Villian
Played by: Eric Bana
Why it works: Romulans were among the classic villians in the original “Star Trek” series and movies, so it was great to see them back. “Trek” hasn’t fared as well when it tried to introduce new baddies in the films. Nero is basically a Romulan captain bent of revenge after the death of his true love. He’s a little sympathetic and a lot crazy. Shaved, tattooed and painted pale green, Bana really gets into the role without getting too over the top.
-BAM
“Star Trek” already zooming toward big opening weekend
J.J. Abrams’ reboot of the “Star Trek” franchise didn’t officially open until today, it already has already zipped to a first-night haul estimated at $7 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The prequel earned the box office coin with the early “preview” showings offered between 7 p.m.-midnight Thursday at most of the 3,800 theaters showing it.
The early take will be included in Friday grosses when the film’s weekend opening is officially computed, according to the trade publication.
-BAM
Video: Leonard Nimoy presents Letterman’s Top 10 list
In honor of this week’s opening of the new “Star Trek” reboot, Leonard Nimoy presented the Top 10 List Thursday night on “The Late Show with David Letterman.” The topic was “top 10 lines never before said in a ‘Star Trek’ film.”
The list is posted below; my favorite has to be No. 3.
10. Warp factor 8! Arby’s closes in 10 minutes.
9. We’re entering a breach in the space-time continuum or a wormhole or some crazy crap like that.
8. Set phasers to fabulous!
7. Welcome aboard the Starship Enterprise – today’s in-flight movie is “Big Momma’s House 2.”
6. We’ve been hijacked by Somali pirates.
5. Sir, I’m going to need Saturday off to attend my nephew’s Bar Mitzvah.
4. My baby-daddy is a Vulcan – on the next “Maury.”
3. The Enterprise just hit a goose – we’re gonna have to land in the Hudson.
2. Live long, prosper, and keep on hangin’ and bangin’.
1. I find your choice of hairpiece highly illogical.
This YouTube video includes more than nine minutes of footage from Letterman’s Thursday night show. The Top 10 List part starts at about 4:50.
J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” reboot officially opens today, though screenings started at about 7 p.m. Thursday.
-BAM
Podcast: “Star Trek”
Zachary Quinto as Spock and Chris Pine as James T. Kirk in “Star Trek.”
Features Editor Matthew Price and I talk about J.J. Abrams’ new “Star Trek” film in this week’s entertainment podcast. We were joined this week by special guests Clint and Buck Vrazel of Twinprov. They have been doing the “Star Trek” rap around town this week and saw it at the same screening I attended.
To hear the podcast click here. It’s fun yet still informative.
-BAM
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Video: BAM and Twinprov talk “Star Trek,” spies and other funny stuff
As promised, here is the video of today’s interview with Clint and Buck Vrazel, who are the Oklahoma City comedic duo Twinprov. We talked about their new “Star Trek” rap, which I instigated, and other elements of their “comedy skill set.”
They also performed for us an abbreviated version of the “Star Trek” rap, which I’ve noticed has changed just a little bit every time they have performed it.
And if you want to see the full version of the rap, check out the video posted below, from their Web site, www.Twinprov.com.
In addition, I will be sharing the lessons I have learned from my experience with Twinprov in my BAM column next Tuesday.
Thanks for coming into the NewsOK studios today, guys. It was almost too much fun for a Thursday afternoon.
-BAM
Photos: Twinprov performs their new rap at Oklahoma City “Star Trek” preview screening
From left, Clint and Buck Vrazel of Twinprov get ready to perform their new “Star Trek” rap at a preview screening of the film.
Eric Webb, manager of local comedic duo Twinprov, sent me these photos today of the funny brothers Clint and Buck Vrazel performing their “Star Trek” rap Tuesday night before an Oklahoma City preview screening of the movie. They also posed for pictures with me, since I was the muse who inspired their “Trek” rap.
J.J. Abrams’ reboot hits theaters this evening.
I challenged the brothers on Saturday to create the rap on the spot, and it has been fun watching others discover the fun.
The Vrazels actually were in the NewsOK studios today to record a “Trek”-related video and podcast. Watch for that later here on BAM’s Blog.
Twinprov performing the rap in front of the “Star Trek” preview screening crowd Tuesday at Harkins Bricktown 16.
Twinprov (Buck is on the left and Clint on the right) and BAM celebrate the successful performance at the Harkins Bricktown 16.
-BAM
BAM review: “Star Trek”
Director J.J. Abrams (TV’s “Lost” and “Alias”) boldly takes the venerable and influential ”Star Trek” into the future with his movie reboot, which takes the classic 1960s sci-fi series back in time but seems destined to create new and future fans of the franchise.
In fact, the film goes all the way back to the birth of James T. Kirk, the future captain of the Enterprise. Kirk’s father, George Kirk (Chris Hemsworth), is first officer on a ship that comes under attack by a ship commanded by the vengeful Romulan Nero (Eric Bana). Little James is born on an escape pod, but his father doesn’t make it.
Growing up in Iowa without a father, Jim Kirk (Chris Pine) is a brilliant rebel without a cause, unless you count chasing skirts and starting bar fights as a reason for being. But when Capt. Pike (Bruce Greenwood) challenges him to join Starfleet and make something out his life, Kirk decides to give it a shot.
Meanwhile, on the planet Vulcan, a youngster named Spock endures ridicule and struggles with his conflicted nature: His father (Ben Cross) is one of the logic-driven Vulcans, but his mother (Winona Ryder) is human with the usual human emotions. As a young adult Spock (Zachary Quinto) must choose between going into the Vulcan Science Academy and Starfleet, and he surprises everyone by choosing Starfleet.
This sets Kirk and Spock up for a collision course in Starfleet, and they collide in rather fun and dramatic fashion. But soon, everyone’s racing to their ships because an attack is occurring that sounds awfully similar to the one that cost Kirk his dad. That means Kirk and Spock have to work together – but not that they have to like it.
Along the way, we get introduced to all the other classic “Trek” characters and see how they are flung together: From headstrong communications officer Uhura (Zoe Saldana) and brilliant young ensign Chekov (Anton Yelchin) to awkward but tough helmsman Sulu (John Cho) and funny genius engineer Scotty (Simon Pegg). But the standout is Karl Urban as crabby, dramatic Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy; it’s clear Urban spent many hours studying the late DeForest Kelly’s performance because he nails the Bones vibe.
Back when it was announced, I thought the casting looked terrific, but it’s even better on film. The actors – Pine in particular – are true to the spirit of the original characters without ever getting into caricature territory. And they all have cohesive chemistry.
The special effects are stellar, Bana makes an effective baddie and Abrams does a good job of guiding the audience through the complex sci-fi plotline. We get the wonderful Leonard Nimoy back for one more adventure as “Spock Prime.” And since the plot involves time travel, that raises the stakes – and makes for more suspense along the way.
The reboot pays fine tribute to the original series and subsequent films but cleverly finds a way to forge its own territory into undiscovered cinematic country.
My rating: 3 1/2 stars of 4.
-BAM
Leonard Nimoy to present Letterman’s Top 10 list Thursday
Leonard Nimoy (Associated Press photo)
“Star Trek” actor Leonard Nimoy will present the Top Ten List on Thursday on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” which airs on CBS (KWTV-9 in Oklahoma City).
Nimoy reprises his iconic role of Mr. Spock in the new film “Star Trek.” His role is listed in the credits as “Spock Prime.”
J.J. Abrams’ reboot of the venerable franchise takes us back to the beginning, when Spock (Zachary Quinto), Kirk (Chris Pine), McCoy (Karl Urban) and the rest were just getting started in Star Fleet.
This is all part of “Star Trek” week here at BAM’s Blog, leading up to the official opening Friday. Screenings actually start Thursday evening.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: “Star Trek”
“Star Trek” week continues here at BAM’s Blog, and I’m offering more visual stimuli here to hype you up for the release of J.J. Abrams’ great reboot. To keep the buzz going, I thought we’d take a look at some of the trailers and TV spots for the film. They’re all posted here courtesy YouTube and they’re all packed with 100 percent, grade A awesomeness. Enjoy!
-BAM
Twinprov gives extended “Star Trek” rap first public performance
Gabe the Babe and I ventured out in the nasty weather tonight and headed to the Harkins Bricktown 16 for another advance screening of “Star Trek.”
Now, I was not trying to indoctrinate my 2 1/2-year-old as a Trekkie way too early. I was going to see what my Saturday challenge has wrought: The pre-screening entertainment was the public premiere of the extended “Twinprov Star Trek Rap.”
If you’ll recall, after Saturday’s “Star Trek” screening, I challenged rapper/comedians Clint and Buck Vrazel, whom I had just met, to come up with a rap based on J.J. Abrams’ excellent new film in just five minutes. They delivered, I blogged about it, they created an extended version, filmed it and posted it on their Web site. I posted it on my blog, too, and somewhere along the way, they got invited to perform the rap before tonight’s screening.
The current version of their “Star Trek” rap runs about five minutes, which is about three minutes longer than the impromptu one I heard on Saturday. But the current incarnation eliminates any spoilers related to the new film – which wasn’t a concern at Saturday’s private performance because we had all just seen the movie – and ventures deeper into the movie and TV history of “Trek.”
I was interested to see how the rap went off live in front of a full house of “Trek” fans. After all, it’s diferent rapping in front my husband, me and a couple of friends and performing in front of hundreds impatiently waiting to see a highly anticipated movie.
A few people in the crowd scoffed, but the twins got big laughs with quips about Romulan ale, Vulcan mind melds, nuclear “wessels” and other “Trek”-isms. Buck’s extended cry of “KHAN!” in the middle was a favorite moment, too.
The rap did seem to run a bit long, leaving the “doppelgangstas” breathless by the end, but they were greatly hampered by having to share the single microphone. I think with separate mikes, they would have been able to give an even better performance.
Still, the audience rewarded them big cheers and hearty applause at the end, and a few even stood to pay tribute to the brothers Vrazel.
And they were kind enough to publicly thank me at the end, and we posed for pictures. As soon as I get my copies, I’ll post them here for your perusal.
Since Kyle Roberts, one of our intrepid videographers, was on hand to film the performance, I suspect you haven’t heard the last of the clever Clint and Buck Vrazel.
Here is the video version of the “Twinprov Star Trek Rap,” perfect for prepping you to see the movie when it opens in just a few days. (And trust me, you’re going to want to see it.)
-BAM
