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Star Trek's J.J. Abrams on why Bana and Greenwood are key
Star Trek director J.J. Abrams told SCI FI Wire that Bruce Greenwood and Eric Bana are "massively important" and expressed his pleasure at having Majel Barrett Roddenberry's participation in the film before her passing. (Spoilers ahead!)
"Nero is the character that we go up against," Abrams said in an exclusive interview a few weeks ago. "He's the guy who is the catalyst for the story and the one that really tests our heroes. It's been said that the hero is as strong as the villain. Not only do we have a villain that we can identify with and in some ways even sympathize with, but you've got an actor in Eric Bana who's brought this role to life in a way that was really remarkably considered. He did some amazing stuff. Here's a guy who's playing a bald-headed, tattoo-faced space villain. It really is as preposterous as it gets, but as an actor Bana just brought a gravity, a sense of humor and an emotionality to it that was just wonderful to see."
Nero is a Romulan who travels back in time to the period before that of the original Star Trek series, and his actions affect the initial meetings of the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise.
Greenwood plays Christopher Pike, the first captain of the starship. "Pike, who is in many ways the grownup in the movie," Abrams said. "The other characters, though they're hardly teenagers, they're still young enough that they're starting out their careers in Starfleet. And you've got Pike, who's the father figure for Kirk [Chris Pine] in many ways and a captain himself when we first meet him."
Abrams added: "Bruce Greenwood is so good in everything he does, and he was able to take this role and make him not just a figure of authority, but a figure of compassion and caring and just wonderful depth. He really, in my mind, over-delivered."
Majel Barrett Roddenberry, the widow of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, provided the computer voice for the film. "It was a wonderful thing to have Majel come to the set and hang out and be present and be as lovely and supportive as she was," Abrams said. "It was equally a thrill to get her to record her voice for the movie. Obviously, we knew that she was ill, and we wanted to do anything we could for her. The fact that she was able to be part of this, it's a wonderful thing that I think the fans will really appreciate." Star Trek opens May 8.
By Zorro 6 at 12:18 PM ON 04/29/09
Of all the pros and cons discussed ad nauseum about this movie, I think it's fitting and touching that MBR was able to record the voice of the computer before her passing. I think that shows that, although not perfect, there is a real respect for this franchise from J.J. and his gang. Give 'em at least one point, here...
By DirtyTribble at 2:41 PM ON 04/29/09
Zorro,
It's also fitting that they gave Chris Doohan a part too.
By JackKnife11358 at 3:32 PM ON 04/29/09
I do not think Star Trek need a reboot. It just needed to take more chances with stories. To me the last 2 seasons of Star Trek enterprise was the best Trek I had seen in a long time. Bring back the people that wrote and produced those shows and Trek would be good again. At least that is just my opinion I could be wrong .
By wordwitty at 4:37 PM ON 04/29/09
Enterprise was the most boring series of all time. The only two episodes that were decent were the two-part mirror universe ones which were at the end of the series. And I don't blame the actors at all. It was bad writing and uninspired directing that torpedoed that show. Thank God someone with some energy has taken over teh franchise.
By thanatos at 5:12 PM ON 04/29/09
Back in '76, Gene took his show on the road, trying to drum up support for 'Star Trek - Phase II' (out of which grew ST:TMP). At one such event at the Norfolk Scope, Gene talked about how the network wanted to revamp the series and make it relevant to 'the kids'.
His words were something to the effect of, "They wanted cadets all over the bridge saying things like 'gee whiz, Captain Kirk', so I told them 'no way'."
To JJ and Paramount, "No Way"
By thanatos at 5:19 PM ON 04/29/09
The problem with the Mirror Universe episodes of Enterprise was that it wasn't about the Enterprise Crew. They never broached the Mirror Universe. It was an overhyped 'What If' which in no way contributed to the Enterprise story.
By TookyG at 8:39 PM ON 04/29/09
thanatos, from Star Trek:Creator - The Authorized Biography of Gene Roddenberry: "Even if Nimoy never plays Spock again, I think it would be wonderful years from now to see Star Trek come back with an equally talented new cast playing Spock and Kirk and Bones and Scotty and all the rest as they say tomorrow’s things to tomorrow’s generations…"
Give the movie a chance.
By dakalmog at 10:21 AM ON 04/30/09
Bruce Greenwood was perfect casting for this role! Not all of the supporting cast "over-deliver" as much as he does, but many of them do a fine job. However, why Winona Ryder was cast as Spock's mother is beyond me - it's fair to say that she "under-delivers", not helped by bad make-up either. I'm sure there'll be many more debates over the casting in the following weeks...
By Captain Zacary R Wildstar Captain SSD Dexterous at 12:37 PM ON 04/30/09
wordwitty, are you a fan of murder she wote hart to hart, facts of life, diagnosis murder, so you think you can dance, 90210 (Both shows) tellatubbies, last season of moonlighting, she spies and the list could go on. maybe it wasn't boring maybey just mabey you didn't have the cranial capacity
to get it. But that cool this new movie made nice and shiny and dumbed down so more people will get it.
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Captain Zacary R Wildstar Captain SSD Dexterous:
wordwitty, are you a fan of murder she wote hart to hart, facts of life, diagnosis murder, so you think you can dan...More »