I have not been following the news about the movie, largely because I'd already been spoiled for certain developments even before the movie came out thanks to the press, not people on LJ. So I didn't hear anything about John Cho. Thanks for telling me about that so I could look it up—after doing some reading, I have to say that he's right.
I must confess that I hadn't thought of the recasting of Khan as whitewashing because I thought of Montalban as a Spaniard and so had never thought of Khan as Indian or even a person of color—but a little Googling turned up some useful links on the topic. Montalban apparently did consider himself a person of color and even founded and participated in advocacy groups "The Real Problem with Benedict Cumberbatch's Villain Role in Star Trek 12" by Charlie Jane Anders. I now feel a bit stupid and embarrassed for not considering the problem. Because Anders is right: there's a serious problem in recasting the role, particularly with a plot about eugenics. I also think it's a problem in a series of movies where white, blue-eyed Kirk seems to be captain of the Enterprise for behaving badly, and most of the people under him are not white (or are half-Vulcan) but much better behaved! I noted to Brilliant Husband after we saw the movie that the director really loved blue eyes. We got lengthy, loving close-ups of the blue eyes of Kirk, Khan, and Pike. Somehow the camera didn't seem to love the brown eyes of other key cast members. Now I'm not sure if it was the director's problem, or my problem.
I often had this reaction of "why is he here? who cares, awesome!" whenever he showed on the bridge randomly. Yes! I genuinely like Bones. I don't like Kirk. I was never very fond of the OS Kirk, and I actively dislike this new Kirk. I watch the movies in spite of him. I have problems with Young Spock that are partly to do with Heroes (Siler was a major factor in my quitting the show) and partly to do with the fact that Real Spock was my absolute fave on OS. I was quite fond of Bones, so I didn't expect to warm to Karl Urban so much, but he's my favorite in this bunch. (Uhura might have been but for her ill-advised romance. I just have too much trouble with that.)
no subject
I must confess that I hadn't thought of the recasting of Khan as whitewashing because I thought of Montalban as a Spaniard and so had never thought of Khan as Indian or even a person of color—but a little Googling turned up some useful links on the topic. Montalban apparently did consider himself a person of color and even founded and participated in advocacy groups "The Real Problem with Benedict Cumberbatch's Villain Role in Star Trek 12" by Charlie Jane Anders. I now feel a bit stupid and embarrassed for not considering the problem. Because Anders is right: there's a serious problem in recasting the role, particularly with a plot about eugenics. I also think it's a problem in a series of movies where white, blue-eyed Kirk seems to be captain of the Enterprise for behaving badly, and most of the people under him are not white (or are half-Vulcan) but much better behaved! I noted to Brilliant Husband after we saw the movie that the director really loved blue eyes. We got lengthy, loving close-ups of the blue eyes of Kirk, Khan, and Pike. Somehow the camera didn't seem to love the brown eyes of other key cast members. Now I'm not sure if it was the director's problem, or my problem.
I often had this reaction of "why is he here? who cares, awesome!" whenever he showed on the bridge randomly.
Yes! I genuinely like Bones. I don't like Kirk. I was never very fond of the OS Kirk, and I actively dislike this new Kirk. I watch the movies in spite of him. I have problems with Young Spock that are partly to do with Heroes (Siler was a major factor in my quitting the show) and partly to do with the fact that Real Spock was my absolute fave on OS. I was quite fond of Bones, so I didn't expect to warm to Karl Urban so much, but he's my favorite in this bunch. (Uhura might have been but for her ill-advised romance. I just have too much trouble with that.)