1. He Despises Khan
After initially questioning Khan in the brig, Kirk is preparing to leave when Khan taunts him, stopping him in his tracks. Spock warns him not to respond to the prisoner, but Kirk says, "Give me a minute." At this moment, Chris Pine truly seems to be channeling Kirk. With his back ramrod straight and his arms held stiffly at his sides as if at attention (a posture Shatner often used when he wanted to project an air of authority), Kirk pivots and marches back toward Khan. In a low, menacing voice, he says, "I was authorized to end you. And the only reason why you are still alive is because I am allowing it." His quiet fury here is reminiscent of a previous encounter between the original versions of Kirk and Khan: "Kirk ... You're still alive, my old friend." "Still ... old ... 'friend.' You've managed to kill everyone else, but like a poor marksman, you keep missing the target!"