For Chris Pine, getting early positive reviews so early in the game is gratifying.

As reported by Collider.com, Kevin Smith's positive review of Star Trek XI made Pine happy. "I couldn't ask for a better thumbs-up from someone," he said. "This far away from the release date to have someone say that I did a good job, especially with all the potential naysayers out there, it was a nice ego boost for a Wednesday."

The question is, will fan reaction be just as positive? Pine is not sure, but is satisfied with the job that he did as Kirk. "I'm not sure if they're going to embrace it or not," he said, "but the heat behind it...I've seen posts and what-not going both ways. People are either excited about it or giving it the middle finger already...it'll be what it'll be, people will like it or they won't, I'm really proud of it, from what I've seen, I think we did a great job."

In an interview with Star Trek Magazine, Pine spoke about what attracted him to the role of Kirk, as reported by TrekMovie.com. "I think what Bob [Orci] and Alex [Kurtzman] did so well for 'Star Trek' ...was they wrote characters who are so strong, that no matter how big the effects are, you never lose sight of the human aspect of the story. Immediately in our film, all of the characters are presented at their most human. Kirk's interesting because he is the 'Everyman' presented with an unbelievably epic, daunting task, an opportunity, a challenge, and he has a very difficult choice to make. It just happens it's one of the big ones, like 'try to save Planet Earth' kind of thing."

Pine went on to say that "I think what's great about it is [Kirk's] insecure, he's damaged, he's cocky, he is brash. He is all these things at once, and he's a hero, but a very human hero. Anyone looking at it can see themselves in James T. Kirk. That’s what was great about it. It wasn't far from myself, and I don't think the character is far from anybody."

Initially Pine was worried about taking on the role, as reported by Sci Fi Pulse. "It certainly [was] daunting," said Pine, "but J.J. [Abrams] set these parameters at the beginning, and essentially those parameters were 'Just be you. Play you. Bring your own unique take on the part.' And it's in many ways it's a lose, lose thing, because people love Shatner, and of course they would love Mr. Shatner. He did a great job, but all I can promise is that I did my best, and I think what I did is true to myself, true to the character and hopefully will resonate with some people."

To read more, head to the articles located here, here and here.

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