Slated for May 2013
one year to go

Benedict Cumberbatch as Khan Noonien Singh. Not sure I like an Indian/Sikh super-dictator being portrayed by a white Brit.

Did Khan need to be dusted off again? I don't want rehashes of the '80s films. I was hoping for more of a Klingons-as-North-Korea/submarine type movie.

I think that if they didn't address the fact that Khan is out there it would be sort of criminal.

I don't buy the "white washing" argument in this instance.

Abrahms has firmly established this new Trek to be based in sensationalism; with that in mind, what you need is a really big name of someone younger and hot right now in the minds of the American Viewing public. Somehow casting, say, Danny Pudi, while more ethnically "correct" wouldn't have nearly the same draw.

As a side note, last time, he wasn't played by an Indian either, but by a portrayed by a tan Mexican with a rich, Latin accent. (who's incredibly impressive pecks, were, in fact, quite real)




Again, the new Trek is based in sensationalism; if any of us thought that deeper themes could come out of this new iteration, the last film clearly dashed that.

I thought Zach Quinto did a great job of portraying Spock's reaction to the destruction of Vulcan. And since when have Star Trek movies been about slow, deep introspection? They're pulp space adventures, with super-idealistic good guys and dastardly mustache-twirling bad guys.

I'll be sure to watch this. I'm with Goatunit, Khan was too awesome an enemy to leave shelved.

I also thought Quinto did his job quite well. I tend not to count loss itself as a theme since by itself it tells me nothing about the character and is often just a device like an inciting incident or complication or, in the case of broader fiction, it's used to artificially add gravitas to a character's backstory. Now, if that loss leads the character to some sort of action or process, then that would be a theme as it pertains to the character's actions/motivations in a narrative; does it send them toward a path of revenge? do they use the loss to discover inner strength? does it test or challenge the character in some way?

Old Trek often had greater thematic value, even if it was incredibly ham-fisted. Sometimes tho, it was handled very well, such as in a smattering of TNG or DS9 episodes and in ST2 & ST6.

Also, Khan isn't supposed to be ethnically Indian. His paternal line likely leads back to India, hence the name, but his actual ethnicity is meant to be a blend. He was a leader of genetically modified super men during the Eugenics Wars. He has DNA from many sources.

And maybe it's different in California, but around here Sherlock Holmes comes on three times a year on PBS, between Antiques Roadshow and a program about local events. Community airs in primetime on NBC the same night as 30 Rock and the Office.

Wow. I watch a lot more TV now that I've got a baby.