Levar Burton aka Geordi La Forge criticizes Star Trek 2009

[The Wormhole]

Damn it, I'm constantly mixing those episodes up!

Besides, in Shore Leave his affinity for ancient weapons was a flintlock. So therefore, while he might like swords enough to have a few few in his ancient weapons collection, there was no indication he had any training and he certainly never went on a mission with a sword.

What's Abrams trying to say when the Japanese guy brings a sword to a laser gun fight?

[The Mirrorball Man]

The Wormhole wrote:

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What's Abrams trying to say when the Japanese guy brings a sword to a laser gun fight?

That he was specifically ordered to?

[The Wormhole]

The Mirrorball Man wrote:

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That he was specifically ordered to?

So what's Abrams trying to say when the Japanese guy is ordered to fight with a sword?

[SalvorHardin]

The Wormhole wrote:

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So what's Abrams trying to say when the Japanese guy is ordered to fight with a sword?

I could tell you but that would ruin it. I must maintain the mystery.

[The Mirrorball Man]

The Wormhole wrote:

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So what's Abrams trying to say when the Japanese guy is ordered to fight with a sword?

You're raising an interesting point here, because that's exactly how Abrams' mind works: everything in his movie is a platonic ideal. What Abrams really means is that all Japanese guys fight with ninja swords, all women are phone operators, all doctors are divorced and all people born in space have blue eyes.

[HaventGotALife]

Hasn't anyone here seen "The Naked Time?" I don't think Abrams-Trek is doing anything original, but he did do something here that was in Sulu's character. It wasn't a Samurai Sword. It was a normal, 23rd century sword. It saved Kirk's life. And Pike asked for "hand-to-hand" combat, Sulu said he was trained in "fencing." Not much fencing done with samurai swords. He let the Asian guy be the hero. That's not how it usually goes in these types of movies.

As a matter of fact, The Naked Time was supposed to have a samurai sword. But George Takei wanted to be one of the Three Musketeers instead. So they appeased him and he danced around, without his shirt on, using a regular sword. And it was a part of Sulu's heritage. That's what the writer's were trying to do.

[The Wormhole]

The Mirrorball Man wrote:

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You're raising an interesting point here, because that's exactly how Abrams' mind works: everything in his movie is a platonic ideal. What Abrams really means is that all Japanese guys fight with ninja swords, all women are phone operators, all doctors are divorced and all people born in space have blue eyes.

My point exactly. Abrams is a close-minded fool who only caters to sterotypes.

Hell, I don't know what's more offensive, catering to the sterotype that all green girls are sluts, or not getting an actual green girl for the part. Yeah, that's right, Uhura's roommmate was a white girl in greenface!

[Nerys Myk]

The Wormhole wrote:

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It's a folding sword similar to what Samurai used, and his armour seemed to be a bit Samurai inspired. To me anyway. Or maybe I'm seeing what I want to to support my argument, I am a Trek fan on the internet.

Also, did Prime Sulu have any actual fencing training? My understanding was The Naked Now made him act like the adventurer he always fantasized about being, not that he actually was trained in fencing or sword skills at all.

Armor? He, Kirk and the redshirt were wearing the same thing.

So what's Abrams trying to say when the Japanese guy is ordered to fight with a sword?

A call back to the very episode you're thinking of.

[Mr_Homn]

The Mirrorball Man wrote:

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But they were.

Oh, good point!

I really don't buy into the whole "'Code of Honor' is racist" thing, however. Just because they are played by black actors? So what?

Crappy episode? Yes. Racist? Not really. No more racist than that sesaon 7 wesley episode about cliche native americans smoking peyote.

That discussion is probably for another thread, though. Namely this one : http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=198583

[Kruezerman]

The Wormhole wrote:

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My point exactly. Abrams is a close-minded fool who only caters to sterotypes.

Hell, I don't know what's more offensive, catering to the sterotype that all green girls are sluts, or not getting an actual green girl for the part. Yeah, that's right, Uhura's roommmate was a white girl in greenface!

Hmm, seems more like you're the close-minded fool who believes that stereotyping exists where a large portion of this board, and I do mean a very large portion, believe otherwise.

It's interesting that these arguments are still happening after four years, kinda proves the effectiveness of Abrams Trek in reinvigorating the franchise!

[M'Sharak]

Kruezerman wrote:

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Hmm, seems more like you're the close-minded fool who believes that stereotyping exists where a large portion of this board, and I do mean a very large portion, believe otherwise.

It's interesting that these arguments are still happening after four years, kinda proves the effectiveness of Abrams Trek in reinvigorating the franchise!

Let's have no name-calling aimed at other posters, please; there's a rule about that. It ought to be obvious that Wormhole isn't being completely serious anyway.

... don't tell him I said that.

[Opus]

The Wormhole wrote:

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My point exactly. Abrams is a close-minded fool who only caters to sterotypes.

You see stereotyping, I see an homage to the character - to each his own.

Good luck finding a woman who's actually green. I hear it's not easy.

[Franklin]

The Wormhole wrote:

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My point exactly. Abrams is a close-minded fool who only caters to sterotypes.

Hell, I don't know what's more offensive, catering to the sterotype that all green girls are sluts, or not getting an actual green girl for the part. Yeah, that's right, Uhura's roommmate was a white girl in greenface!

And Quinto's not a real Vulcan! He's an actor with false ears. They couldn't have tried harder to find a qualified pointed-eared person to play that role? What is this, the 1950s?

For what it's worth -- and that's very little -- in ST09 Sulu said he was trained in fencing, which is Spanish or Italian in origins. Again, for what it's worth.

The only thing wrong with Sulu or any other character fighting with a sword, knife, epee, sabre, switchblade, dagger, or whatever is it's as anachronistic as hell. Just like the numerous fist fights in Trek. Why no one carries two phasers (because they seem to have a way of losing one at key moments) or packs a hidden side arm is beyond me. But being unarmed and fighting with your dukes or a knife is the estabilished Trek way, and I accept it. They've obviously never heard the rule, "Never bring a knife to a gunfight."

[DalekJim]

The characters in Abrams Trek are very broad but that's just his approach. Everything is louder, including the characterisation.

I have a dream that one day Star Trek in film will be a science-fiction series about exploring the unknown or the human condition. Catering to the lowest common denominator with a vengeful villain in a fucking black trenchcoat going on a rampage is less my kinda thing. It's treating the audience like they're stupid. Which the target audience is, but I'd like Trek to aim higher.

The opening of the film sounds more like Star Trek than anything in the rest of the movie.

[The Mirrorball Man]

DalekJim wrote:

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The characters in Abrams Trek are very broad but that's just his approach. Everything is louder, including the characterisation.

I have a dream that one day Star Trek in film will be a science-fiction series about exploring the unknown or the human condition. Catering to the lowest common denominator with a vengeful villain in a fucking black trenchcoat going on a rampage is less my kinda thing. It's treating the audience like they're stupid. Which the target audience is, but I'd like Trek to aim higher.

At this point you're just randomly shuffling the same keywords, aren't you?