Friday, May 08, 2009

Character vs. actor

I have a good background for accepting different actors playing the same character, after all I love opera, and opera is nothing but the same role sung by different people. I have no problem with that, though, naturally, I've developed various favorites for various roles over the years.

Same with movies. I have no problem with James Bond being played by multiple people. I grew up with Sean Connery and Roger Moore, loved Timothy Dalton (wish he'd gotten more than two films), barely tolerated Pierce Brosnan (and only in Golden Eye, because the other actors and the director excel in the film), and embraced Daniel Craig with all my heart and soul. All that hatred I harbor for Quantum of Solace is aimed solely at the director and his cameramen; Daniel Craig can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. I even like George Lazenby.

I'm okay with various incarnations of Sherlock Holmes, though Basil Rathbone is still my favorite. But I particularly enjoy Seven Percent Solution, Murder by Decree, and the wonderful Without a Clue.

So, why do I have such a huge block against this new Star Trek film opening today?

As with Bond, I grew up with the original Star Trek, but not just with a handful of films watched on Sunday Night at the Movies on TV, but with three seasons of eps. They were shown daily all through my childhood, and we basically watched an ep a day for years. So, does the sheer quantity of hours spent with Star Trek preclude accepting anyone else in the roles? Because right now, the thought of someone other than William Shatner playing Kirk... yeah, that's a grimace on my face.

And yet, I have a very forgiving background on such things. I should be able to accept this, go with the flow, kick back, and enjoy the new film.

So, do I get over my personal hangups and go see it tomorrow with family? Or do I let them go first and give me a "yes, you won't miss the original actors, you must see it" or a "skip! you'll hate it" review? That way, if it's the latter, I never have to have memories of the film in my head. But if I go with them, I also avoid spoilers, something I can't stand.

I really can't decide what to do.

It probably doesn't help that I hate the trailer.

Sigh.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, good. It's not just me wangsting about this one, then.

I've been trying (along with a friend at work) to work out why neither I nor he want to see the new Trek, even though it's getting great reviews. The best we came up with - we have something invested in Star Trek that we don't in other things. Trek isn't just another TV show for us: it's part of our childhood, and it holds a special significance that - while we might (and do) take sarcastic swipes at the show's faults - just won't be there in the new movie, no matter how good a job they've done of it.

I'm sure the new movie will be good (and Zachary Quinto will be nigh perfect), but I know I wouldn't be able to keep it separate from my memories of the original series and I really don't want those memories being messed with. I've already had that with Star Wars, and I didn't like it. Not one bit.

But that's just me. And I'm blatheirng. :-P

DKoren said...

Ah-HAH!!! YES!!!

...we have something invested in Star Trek that we don't in other things. Trek isn't just another TV show for us: it's part of our childhood, and it holds a special significance that - while we might (and do) take sarcastic swipes at the show's faults - just won't be there in the new movie, no matter how good a job they've done of it.

...but I know I wouldn't be able to keep it separate from my memories of the original series and I really don't want those memories being messed with.
I've been finding other reasons and excuses for not to want to see it, but I do believe you put it exactly. I don't want my images or memories of the original series messed with.

And thank you. That also tells me to hold firm to my original plan of not going. :-D

Millie said...

I'm not really a Star Trek fan, but I have seen all of the original series (My dad adores Star Trek and my younger brothers and I always watch them with him). From what I have heard about the movie they are taking quite some liberties with the story. My dad is also quite adamant about NOT going to see it.

Although, I am not a Star Trek fan I totally understand about not wanting to see a favorite TV show all messed up! I was quite angry about the Wild, Wild West movie with Will Smith. It completely changed the entire feel of the story. Instead of having the two lead characters be best friends who work together to get the job done they changed it to having them be almost-enemies, always competing and trying to be better than the other one.

So aggravating!

DKoren said...

Well, the word from my sister is it was the best movie she's seen in years (she can't wait to see it again), it was Star Trek and tied in seamlessly with the original series, and everyone involved really nailed it perfectly.

Okey-dokey, then, looks like I'll be going to see it next weekend after all.

And Millie -- yes, I actually haven't seen all the way through the WWW movie. I gave up in frustration.

Ginger Ingenue said...

I've never watched THE SIMPSONS movie, or the FUTURAMA movies, even though I love both shows. I think there's just something strange about turning ANY TV show into a movie. It kinda defeats the whole point of following a series, just to turn around and say, "Okay, now tack this onto everything you're already watched, and love it equally."

Ginger Ingenue said...

Oh, and I'm also quite fond of watching different actors play the same character...and Daniel Craig is gorgeous! I've never watched a Bond movie, but I was really tempted to see that first one he was in. :)

DKoren said...

The Simpsons movie was really good, though I did not see it on the big screen. Really, it just felt like an extra long episode, but it kept up the normal laughs and pacing I expect from the show. Didn't know they even made any Futurama movies, though I really love that show too. Bender just cracks me up.

And if you're in the mood, you might want to watch Casino Royale... it's a good movie, and Daniel Craig.... *thud*