I actually found [Cumberbatch's Khan] a sympathetic character for a little while, even when I knew his real name, until his essential ruthlessness and savagery came out, scaring me even more than the more romantic, superficially charming, occasionally swashbuckling portrayal offered by Ricardo Montalban in the original series and movie.
Cumberbatch was a terrific villain. And yet I have to admit I missed the swashbuckling Montalban – so often, a villain is effective precisely because he/she is so attractive, seductive, and charming on the surface, so that one is deceived and taken off-guard when the true evilness shows through. Cumberbatch was too cold and calculating to take me off guard. Admittedly, though, Montalban becomes something of a cliché, and sometimes we laugh at his character’s over-the-top Don Juan role; one would never laugh at Cumberbatch’s character.
And of course I enjoyed Scotty disabling the super-ship that was threatening the 'Enterprise'...
The new Scotty is delightful. I wasn’t sure I was going to warm up to Sean of the Dead becoming chief engineer of the Enterprise, but it works for me. The only thing I’m still not warmed up to is the little alien officer friend he has as a sidekick. That little dude is too much like an Ewok or other Star Wars “cute” character, and he doesn’t do much for me. Maybe I’m missing the point.
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Cumberbatch was a terrific villain. And yet I have to admit I missed the swashbuckling Montalban – so often, a villain is effective precisely because he/she is so attractive, seductive, and charming on the surface, so that one is deceived and taken off-guard when the true evilness shows through. Cumberbatch was too cold and calculating to take me off guard. Admittedly, though, Montalban becomes something of a cliché, and sometimes we laugh at his character’s over-the-top Don Juan role; one would never laugh at Cumberbatch’s character.
And of course I enjoyed Scotty disabling the super-ship that was threatening the 'Enterprise'...
The new Scotty is delightful. I wasn’t sure I was going to warm up to Sean of the Dead becoming chief engineer of the Enterprise, but it works for me. The only thing I’m still not warmed up to is the little alien officer friend he has as a sidekick. That little dude is too much like an Ewok or other Star Wars “cute” character, and he doesn’t do much for me. Maybe I’m missing the point.