EyeShotFirst:

The biggest problem with making a prequel is when the casting director goes for who looks the most like the character in the original.

Then you have a movie like Star Trek with that horrible Chris Pine. He didn't even bother to try to be William Shatner. He had the look fairly close but really didn't capture the essence of William Shatner's performance (it isn't that hard LOL).

Sorry, ESF, but that is absolute nonsense. First of all, I have met several massive casting directors in my time, I even worked for Mary Selway (god rest her mighty soul) and I don't know any casting director that would ever consider an actor on looks first. Never.

And as for Chris Pine, you're absolutely right, he didn't even bother trying to be Shatner. He was trying to be Kirk. Sorry for sounding angry, but you're entirely missing the point if you think he should be trying to be Shatner. That's something a C-grade actor might try to do, an impersonation. That's like saying all the five Bonds since Connery have failed because they didn't impersonate him. While some are better than others, and all very distinct, they are all still James Bond.

Octorox, I agree with you. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Shatner. But I think people remember all the wrong aspects of his performances, when he's actually given some very, very good ones. Look at him in Star Trek II, his lighter touch in Star Trek IV, his anger in Star Trek VI. And then look at his performance as Denny Crane in Boston Legal. He deserved both Emmys he got for that character, and who would have thought he'd be in his mid-70s and giving the best performance of his entire career.