Comments on: Takei Helped Abrams Choose Cho http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/ the source for Star Trek news and information Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:06:09 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Number41 http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/comment-page-2/#comment-642817 Number41 Thu, 08 May 2008 13:00:18 +0000 http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/#comment-642817 May I point out that in Japan, Sulu's name is "Mr. Katō"? If you watch Trek with Japanese subtitles, his name is written Sūrū, but in Japanese dubs it's "Katō", as it was when the show originally aired. I imagine this was a deliberate workaround by the original translators when faced with a seemingly Japanese character with a gibberish name. Makes me wonder what Japan will do with his name in the new film. In The Lord of the Rings films, some previous translation changes were reverted to match the English instead (including changing the trilogy title to the very clumsy "Rōdo obu za Ringu"), upsetting longtime fans of the novels. Looking forward to seeing how the new Start Trek is handled. May I point out that in Japan, Sulu’s name is “Mr. Katō”? If you watch Trek with Japanese subtitles, his name is written Sūrū, but in Japanese dubs it’s “Katō”, as it was when the show originally aired. I imagine this was a deliberate workaround by the original translators when faced with a seemingly Japanese character with a gibberish name.

Makes me wonder what Japan will do with his name in the new film. In The Lord of the Rings films, some previous translation changes were reverted to match the English instead (including changing the trilogy title to the very clumsy “Rōdo obu za Ringu”), upsetting longtime fans of the novels. Looking forward to seeing how the new Start Trek is handled.

]]> By: Jim Walczak http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/comment-page-2/#comment-627571 Jim Walczak Sat, 03 May 2008 04:48:25 +0000 http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/#comment-627571 I'm a hard core trekkie and have been all my life. From TOS to Enterprise, I loved them all. I am of course thrilled to hear about the new movie, but I keep hearing "this is how Kirk and Spock were meant to be" (or something to that effect) and this has me a bit worried. It seems to me that despite some of the legendary battles that he had with the evil NBC empire (or cookie company), that Gene Roddenberry really did create these characters pretty much as he had intended. Kirk, Spock, McCoy and so on were the products of Gene's inspired imagination. Here 40 years later (most of) the TOS episodes are as great as they were when they were first broadcast (hence why they're even able to do a new Trek movie) and again this was simply because of Gene's vision. With that in mind, I hope these "new but old characters" won't be too much of a departure from his original concept. While I think a fresh start is indeed a great idea and I do look quite forward to it, I sincerely hope that the spirit of Roddenberry's vision is kept intact...after all, without Gene, this phenomenon that has become so much a part of our lives never would have existed. Further, some have mentioned that TNG was such a departure from the original series, but I have to disagree because this too was also Roddenberry's vision (at the beginning at least before Berman started pandering to the networks). Perhaps this is what simply concerns me the most...that Gene isn't here to give this new venture "his blessings" as it were and to make sure that it's done "right". Abrams has stated that he "made a movie -he- would like" but I sincerely hope that it's also a movie that Gene Roddenberry would have liked also. I am pleased to see that Abrams has consulted with the remaining cast members though and I will take this as a positive sign. The simple matter is that only time will tell whether this "new bird" will actually fly. Lastly in regards to all of this hoopla about an Excelsior series, I don't believe it will ever happen, nor would I really want it to. Don't get me wrong, I love George Takei, but as other's have stated, it simply wouldn't work. This idea puts me in the mind of the James Bond series when Sean Connery came back to do "just one more" and was clearly past his prime for the role. I would much rather see this chapter of Trek history remain in the annals of our imaginations rather than see an inept, half-baked attempt simply to please a few fans that would ultimately end up ruining it for everyone. To those who keep pushing for this I can only remind you of the immortal words of one William Shatner, "It's just a TV show dammit, it's just a TV show!". Live long and prosper... I’m a hard core trekkie and have been all my life. From TOS to Enterprise, I loved them all. I am of course thrilled to hear about the new movie, but I keep hearing “this is how Kirk and Spock were meant to be” (or something to that effect) and this has me a bit worried. It seems to me that despite some of the legendary battles that he had with the evil NBC empire (or cookie company), that Gene Roddenberry really did create these characters pretty much as he had intended. Kirk, Spock, McCoy and so on were the products of Gene’s inspired imagination. Here 40 years later (most of) the TOS episodes are as great as they were when they were first broadcast (hence why they’re even able to do a new Trek movie) and again this was simply because of Gene’s vision. With that in mind, I hope these “new but old characters” won’t be too much of a departure from his original concept. While I think a fresh start is indeed a great idea and I do look quite forward to it, I sincerely hope that the spirit of Roddenberry’s vision is kept intact…after all, without Gene, this phenomenon that has become so much a part of our lives never would have existed.

Further, some have mentioned that TNG was such a departure from the original series, but I have to disagree because this too was also Roddenberry’s vision (at the beginning at least before Berman started pandering to the networks). Perhaps this is what simply concerns me the most…that Gene isn’t here to give this new venture “his blessings” as it were and to make sure that it’s done “right”. Abrams has stated that he “made a movie -he- would like” but I sincerely hope that it’s also a movie that Gene Roddenberry would have liked also. I am pleased to see that Abrams has consulted with the remaining cast members though and I will take this as a positive sign. The simple matter is that only time will tell whether this “new bird” will actually fly.

Lastly in regards to all of this hoopla about an Excelsior series, I don’t believe it will ever happen, nor would I really want it to. Don’t get me wrong, I love George Takei, but as other’s have stated, it simply wouldn’t work. This idea puts me in the mind of the James Bond series when Sean Connery came back to do “just one more” and was clearly past his prime for the role. I would much rather see this chapter of Trek history remain in the annals of our imaginations rather than see an inept, half-baked attempt simply to please a few fans that would ultimately end up ruining it for everyone. To those who keep pushing for this I can only remind you of the immortal words of one William Shatner, “It’s just a TV show dammit, it’s just a TV show!”.

Live long and prosper…

]]> By: May09---wtf?! http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/comment-page-1/#comment-626251 May09---wtf?! Fri, 02 May 2008 16:41:34 +0000 http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/#comment-626251 excelsior would make a good animated series. george could live forever--he's Japanese. so take advantage of his great voice and stylize his middle-aged exploits with Yeoman Sum Yungai. excelsior would make a good animated series. george could live forever–he’s Japanese.

so take advantage of his great voice and stylize his middle-aged exploits with Yeoman Sum Yungai.

]]> By: Captain Otter http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/comment-page-1/#comment-625809 Captain Otter Fri, 02 May 2008 12:42:11 +0000 http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/#comment-625809 #48- While you have your crystal ball out, would you mind telling who wins the next five Super Bowls? Oh, and does my dog Rex ever find true love, or will he keep humping our patio furniture and howling at the moon? Thanks for your insight into the future! #48- While you have your crystal ball out, would you mind telling who wins the next five Super Bowls? Oh, and does my dog Rex ever find true love, or will he keep humping our patio furniture and howling at the moon? Thanks for your insight into the future!

]]> By: Battletrek http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/comment-page-1/#comment-625758 Battletrek Fri, 02 May 2008 12:16:21 +0000 http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/#comment-625758 The new Trek movie will bomb and get horrible reviews. The new Trek movie will bomb and get horrible reviews.

]]> By: Jack http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/comment-page-1/#comment-624609 Jack Fri, 02 May 2008 01:36:50 +0000 http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/#comment-624609 jc. good point dude. jc. good point dude.

]]> By: The Underpants Monster http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/comment-page-1/#comment-623798 The Underpants Monster Thu, 01 May 2008 19:54:07 +0000 http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/#comment-623798 You're a sneaky one, Captain Otter! You’re a sneaky one, Captain Otter!

]]> By: JC http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/comment-page-1/#comment-623511 JC Thu, 01 May 2008 17:51:54 +0000 http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/#comment-623511 44 Yeah .It'll be great to see the characters depicted as they were intended to be by different actors. One could make the point that everything beyond the original series was made for Trekkies because the original carried the actors over and depicted the characters aging (and dying). I think they held on to the old actors because of Trekkie pressure and those actors lobbying the trekkie base. Not a bad thing .we got to see our heroes grow old etc.But that's NOT HOW THEY WERE ORIGINALLY WRITTEN. 44 Yeah .It’ll be great to see the characters depicted as they were intended to be by different actors.
One could make the point that everything beyond the original series was made for Trekkies because the original carried the actors over and depicted the characters aging (and dying).
I think they held on to the old actors because of Trekkie pressure and those actors lobbying the trekkie base.
Not a bad thing .we got to see our heroes grow old etc.But that’s NOT HOW THEY WERE ORIGINALLY WRITTEN.

]]> By: THX-1138 The Fandom Menace http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/comment-page-1/#comment-623392 THX-1138 The Fandom Menace Thu, 01 May 2008 17:03:46 +0000 http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/#comment-623392 I think an Excelsior series would be moving backwards. I'd wager that if you were to ask anyone who wasn't a Trek fan who the captain of the Excelsior was, they would look at you and say "The what?". Unfortunately for the Excelsior fans, those would be the same people you would need to watch the show. I have now come to realize that in order for Star Trek to continue, it has to be a new, fresh approach. I look back on TOS with a lot of fondness, but even TMP was a departure from it's origins. TNG was a further departure. All the spinoffs stayed basically in the same vein with the exception of Enterprise, by which time I think the fanbase had become a bit blase. The style of storytelling has changed. The age of the core audience is getting older. The new fans want something that is more in step with their tastes. I think there is a way to honor the old while giving Star Trek a fresh start. I think if time has proven anything, it's that the core fanbase will be loyal to Trek for a great deal of time no matter what was being aired. But even that will eventually show diminishing returns. I love TOS. And I love TNG, just not quite as much. The rest I could take or leave to be quite honest. And maybe I am not the only one. Time for fresh starts but with the familiar setting. Time for TOS, but with a young crew. Time to move forward with familiar characters. I am so ready for this. In just over a year. I think an Excelsior series would be moving backwards. I’d wager that if you were to ask anyone who wasn’t a Trek fan who the captain of the Excelsior was, they would look at you and say “The what?”. Unfortunately for the Excelsior fans, those would be the same people you would need to watch the show. I have now come to realize that in order for Star Trek to continue, it has to be a new, fresh approach. I look back on TOS with a lot of fondness, but even TMP was a departure from it’s origins. TNG was a further departure. All the spinoffs stayed basically in the same vein with the exception of Enterprise, by which time I think the fanbase had become a bit blase. The style of storytelling has changed. The age of the core audience is getting older. The new fans want something that is more in step with their tastes. I think there is a way to honor the old while giving Star Trek a fresh start. I think if time has proven anything, it’s that the core fanbase will be loyal to Trek for a great deal of time no matter what was being aired. But even that will eventually show diminishing returns. I love TOS. And I love TNG, just not quite as much. The rest I could take or leave to be quite honest. And maybe I am not the only one. Time for fresh starts but with the familiar setting. Time for TOS, but with a young crew. Time to move forward with familiar characters.

I am so ready for this. In just over a year.

]]> By: FishBiscuit http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/comment-page-1/#comment-623331 FishBiscuit Thu, 01 May 2008 16:33:01 +0000 http://trekmovie.com/2008/04/30/takei-helped-abrams-choose-cho/#comment-623331 Besides, this is not setting a precedent. Linda Park (who's Korean) played a Japanese character (Hoshi Sato). Besides, this is not setting a precedent. Linda Park (who’s Korean) played a Japanese character (Hoshi Sato).

]]>