If all you see Uhura as is a love interest, maybe that says more about you than the movie you're watching.
Spoilers STAR TREK BEYOND
- Thread starter Khan 2.0
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If all you see Uhura as is a love interest, maybe that says more about you than the movie you're watching.
Uhura had a lot more to do than poor Nichelle Nichols' version, that's for sure. I can't imagine Nichelle going up to the Klingons in Day of the Dove as Saldana does in STID.
RAMA
Ahhh! The good old "you talk about sexism, so you must be sexist!" - defense. Was wondering if somebody here would get low enough for that...
I'm much more pleased with this promo shot of a new female character than the shot of Alice Eve in her underwear!
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The irony of this sentence after what you posted in the EW TMP thread is killing me.
I think it's more about how if you watch the film, it's pretty clear to see that she is certainly much much more then just a love interest to Spock. In fact, she has had pretty integral parts in both of the films.
To call her nothing more than just a love interest is pretty wrong, but to also say it's sexist that McCoy and Scotty are more prominent in this film is just as absurd.
I don't see one film more progressive than the other at the moment. They both raise interesting character questions and take their characters on rather in depth journeys about themselves.
For me, though, Abrams Star Trek is all about Kirk, and whether or not he can become a leader. I know that he could but the challenges and obstacles in his way present a different way for him to grow. He wasn't born a leader-he had to be cultivated
Same thing with Spock. Spock has to deal with a much harsher reality than his Prime counterpart ever had to deal with. What does he do? How does he manage that pain and emotion? He basically his going through PTSD and pushing himself to get past it.
The rest are supporting players, providing different perspectives on the problem. Uhura is far more the voice of both compassion and reason, both for Kirk and Spock. There is a different dynamic between her and Kirk that is interesting to watch. Uhura is also probably one of the more competent officers of the new crew, with McCoy and Sulu being right there as well.
As for Star Wars being more progressive? I don't know, honestly. I appreciated the fact that Rey was portrayed as a heroine who didn't need saving by a male character, and I liked Finn's character arc as well. Lots of the story beats were rehashed but the characters gave it more life.
Maybe it's more progressive or it may just be a reflection of the times we live in.
For me, though, Abrams Star Trek is all about Kirk, and whether or not he can become a leader. I know that he could but the challenges and obstacles in his way present a different way for him to grow. He wasn't born a leader-he had to be cultivated
Same thing with Spock. Spock has to deal with a much harsher reality than his Prime counterpart ever had to deal with. What does he do? How does he manage that pain and emotion? He basically his going through PTSD and pushing himself to get past it.
The rest are supporting players, providing different perspectives on the problem. Uhura is far more the voice of both compassion and reason, both for Kirk and Spock. There is a different dynamic between her and Kirk that is interesting to watch. Uhura is also probably one of the more competent officers of the new crew, with McCoy and Sulu being right there as well.
As for Star Wars being more progressive? I don't know, honestly. I appreciated the fact that Rey was portrayed as a heroine who didn't need saving by a male character, and I liked Finn's character arc as well. Lots of the story beats were rehashed but the characters gave it more life.
Maybe it's more progressive or it may just be a reflection of the times we live in.
Like what? She's a very minor character. Her main contribution to the plot in both movies is comforting Spock each time. Additionally she has a minor plot point about her language skills in both movies. That puts her at least on the plot-relevance level of Hoshi Sato. But her speaking klingon is as integral to the plot as her and Spock's boasting about her "exceptional oral sensitivity"
(Edit: I'm sorry. I'm still a bit miffled about this relationship. Not because I can't see Spock and Uhura together. But because Spock is her superiour officer, and she uses sex to advance her career, to get promoted from a position on the Farragut to the flagship Enterprise... Yay, strong female characters!)
Granted, she's not as sexist a caricature of a character as Carol Marcus in Into Darkness was. But she's not a symbol of female empowerement either. She's more an embodiement of a bunch of writers just not knowing what to do with a woman in a story.
That alone is not a sign of a bad movie itself. A lot of great movies have weak or no female characters at all in them. It's just kind of visible if compared to, say, Star Wars.
Again, that's where I'm actually optimistic about Justin Lin and 'Beyond'. Fast & Furious isn't exactly Shakespeare, but it's quite entertaining, progressive, has friendship as a central theme, and a very talented and balanced cast and crew. Something Trek should aspire to have as well.
My only problem with 'Beyond' at this point is that the trailer left me really unimpressed. Nothing against the motorcycle or the Beastie Boys, but I wasn't impressed with the Enterprise getting destroyed again, and generally the new planet looks kind of boring and visually uninteresting, and the snippets we see of the plot seem very formulaic. I will still probably see it in cinema. But hey, I watched Nemesis in the cinema, I'm pretty easy to be seduced by anything that has the name "Star Trek" slapped on it.
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There is no irony at all. As I said JJ did a much better job in the ST films. I like most of JJ's movies, SW:FA was just a misfire.
RAMA
Great picture. If Kirk says, "Out of the chair," I hope she just ignores him.
A
Amaris
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I haven't seen this one. Is it possible to fall in love from a single publicity still? ♥
is this pic new?
lol @ the alien girl's posture (and she's sitting in the captain's chair)
literally doing the most with so little.
talking about sexism is not sexist, but concern trolling about supposed sexism from the writers to, actually, disguise your blatant double standards for the female character? that IS sexism.
(again, what did the guys do so much more important than her? where is their super perfect character development making them more prominent??),
and you know what is sexist? someone claiming that Uhura used 'sex' to get on the best ship when everything the scene actually implies is that she had all the academy credits to get on the best ship, but she almost got the short end of the stick because her emotional vulcan boyfriend overcompensated and did something he wasn't supposed to do (I love that no one ever blames Spock for his mistake even though the scene makes it obvious he's the one who f**ked up and he himself knows) THIS ALL THE WHILE, in the same moment, IN THE SAME MOVIE, you literally watch a male character getting assigned to no ship because he cheated on an academy test, BUT his best friend abuses his role on the enterprise to sneak him aboard the ship with him.
The director almost makes a parallel between the two and shows that one (Uhura) deserved to get on the ship (again, even later she got promoted because she was more competent than the other officer, versus the male characters getting a promotion for reasons that had nothing to do with their skills or talent) but almost didn't get there because of a relationship, while the other (Kirk) didn't deserve to be on any ship in that moment but he got aboard the best ship because of a relationship. The fact that certain people in this fandom keep concern trolling about Uhura but have no issues with the Kirk/Bones scene speaks volumes.
And let's not even talk about Pike's pretty obvious favoritism for Kirk because you gotta not pay too much attention to the way Kirk would, in both movies, get promoted to first officer just like that.. or why Spock, who actually didn't lie about the Niburi mission and did his duty got 'fired' and transferred to a lesser ship, while Kirk , who lied and went against regulations, got to replace Spock as the first officer so Pike could keep him with him.
and btw, Uhura said 'aural' not oral (and her 'aural' sensitivity is maybe what makes her hear Kirk breathing under Gaila's bed) . Nothing about the S/U scenes ever suggests their relationship is purely based on sex (or manipulation), and the fact that this is projected on her and her actions (because, of course, Spock has no role) speaks for itself.
what is then? This cast is already male dominated, we already have two main characters who are front and center and who are dudes, IF they indeed sidelined the only female character of the iconic crew in favor of the secondary male characters THAT is very close to being sexist and the writers having a remarkable preference for the dudes. If this was tos it would be different and no one would, probably, notice anything, but the reboot has different dynamics already and you can't go from the Kirk/Uhura/Spock dynamic and Orci and JJ saying she was elevated at the original's trio level, to four man show Kirk/Scotty/Spock/McCoy without people possibly calling you out on that. People already criticize this trek because it's too much a show about TWO dudes, and you make it about FOUR? genius!
The fact that you prefer the guys over her is just your personal opinion but that is irrelevant to the point that SHE is more prominent as a character than them in the reboot and if she's marginalized in favor of the dudes and to make more room for dudes who AREN'T the protagonists, people will notice it and rightfully call that out for what it is.
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^
Okay, enough with taking potshots at other posters. Address the substance of what was said and leave out the personal digs, 'K?
Same goes for this, with an extra helping of "Don't drag in things from threads in other forums and use them to take a poke at someone here."
Seven years and people still can't let what they mistakenly heard go.
the funny thing is that the pun would be funny, innocent and fitting (wouldn't be the first example in trek either) if the way people constantly harpy on that wasn't used to essentially call Uhura a whore and that wasn't, itself, not only an expression of sexism, but also deep rooted bigotry about women being sexual beings.
The most explicit thing this couple did on screen is sharing some rather chaste (if compared to other stuff) kisses.. and from the beginning they are always developed as a mutual loving relationship based on love and respect, yet if you were to listen to some fans, it seems everything they did is making out.. or they filmed a porno on the bridge, in front of the whole crew and a group of orphan vulcan kids.
The way some people make it seems Spock has no role in the relationship is also almost endearing in its delusion too. I swear, some people must believe that Uhura did some kind of voodoo on poor innocent Spock to seduce him and force him into a relationship.
For God's sake, woman, get a life. This isn't the fucking 1960s.
The only reason she ever got bumped up over McCoy and Scotty in these films is because she's a female. Maybe some would consider that sexism in itself and bias against males.
I, myself, would much rather prefer having McCoy, Scotty and Sulu as leads over Uhura, and you can call me a sexist all you want, I couldn't give less of a shit.
The only people who say that are those who want more McCoy, because, you know, TOS was about the Kirk/Spock/McCoy trio, while the two reboot films are solely Kirk/Spock.
Errm, what?
...
Wait, WHAT?
Let's be absolutely clear here: Uhura has no significant role in the movies. Her only "function" in the first part of Trek09 is to serve as the "price" to be either won by Kirk or Spock. And in the second half and the entirety of Into Darkness to serve as the emotional counsel for Spock's angst.
The only plot point regarding her actual qualifications - her language skills - is to back up Kirk's claims about a Romulan ambush in the first movie. And talking (but failing) to the klingons in Into Darkness.
How is actually wanting a better treatment than that for the only female character sexist? And yes, Sulu and Chekhov didn't have that much screen time either. But both of them saved the day at least once through their competence, and none of them were in the front row of the poster! Uhura on the other hand starts a relationship debate during a critical covert mission?
And come on, you see nothing wrong with Uhura boning her superior to get promoted? I mean, sure, Spock is equally in fault here, showing favouritism and all. But seriously, you see nothing wrong with it if THAT'S what the writers decide to do with the only female in the cast...???
Let's be clear here: I don't blame the character "Uhura" for that. I blame the writers for that, because their depiction of women is, quite frankly, somewhat misogynist.
But you don't see that. Alice Eve's Carol Marcus was probably an example for female empowerement as well, right? And her gratitous underwear shot only showed her competence...
If you're okay with the depiction of women in the last two Star Trek movies, fine, I'm not going to judge you. But personally, I'm actually looking forward to see a woman have a bigger role in Star Trek Beyond. Until then, we see actual strong female characters in Star Wars and other movies.
Originally, it was really about Kirk and Spock. Kelley's charm allowed him to move up as the series progressed.
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