Was it THAT difficult to NOT race-bend Khan into a white guy?

[MrScorpio]

What, EVERY decent actor of color was unavailable at the time?

Hollywood will never learn.

[CBGLuthier]

1. Unless you just spoiled this movie that character is no Khan

Got some news for you too. Ricardo Montalban weren't no Sikh either.

[siligut]

2. Benedict Cumberbatch is red hot right now

From IMDB: Khan Noonien Singh is a villain in the fictional Star Trek universe. The character first appeared in the original Star Trek series episode "Space Seed", and then in the film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. In both cases he was played by Ricardo Montalbán, aged 46 in the original series and 61 in the film. He is generally referred to simply as Khan.

In "Space Seed", Khan was one of a group of genetically engineered "supermen", a tyrant who was defeated in the Eugenics Wars of the 1990s. These supermen had been bred to be free of either mental or physical defects. Khan had been both the most successful and the most benign of the group, ruling western Asia until he was deposed.

Maybe, aside from using Cumberbatch because he is one of the best dramatic actors of our time, they used him because he is white, as a nod toward white supremacy. He is the bad guy after all.

But I would agree in general with your premise.

[bluedigger]

3. Come on, man.

Going after Star Trek for racial stereotyping? Slow day, or what?

[MrScorpio]

4. It's not just Star Trek, it's indicative of the entire industry

Khan was originally characterized as a South Asian, if they're casting less that 2% of leading roales to Asians, it stands to reason that they never looked at one in the first place.

I checked the IMDB page today… They were only looking at Latino actors before they settled on Cumberbatch.

Oh course, I'm calling them on racial stereotyping, because it's TRUE!

[Baitball Blogger]

6. That was my first reaction when I saw it.

What a cheap bait and switch. No one was expecting a white Khan.

But, I have to give it to the guy. He did come across as a super genetic narcissist with Nazi-ish intentions.

[AmyDeLune]

5. Would it be that difficult to put the word "Spoiler" in your OP title? n/t

[Hassin Bin Sober]

8. Yep. This is a shitty spoiler thread.

I just saw ST last night.

[baldguy]

7. He's no Kahn.

But then Ricardo Montalban's ancestry isn't anywhere near South Asia either.

[MrScorpio]

10. But consider 1967 conventions...

Casting Montalban in that role, rather than an Anglo actor, was a pretty radical move on Roddenberry's part.

[alphafemale]

9. I'm still not over Kirk having blue eyes.

Nearly none of the characters bear any resemblance to the original.

But Spock is perfect. He is the only one that nails the character.

[fizzgig]

11. i have such a crush on the new spock

[alphafemale]

12. He's the only one that seemed to realize these are established characters.

And learned some of the body language.

He IS Spock.

[Demo_Chris]

13. I cannot forgive what they did in the last movie

1) The mall beauty salon as the ship's bridge. This is simple unacceptable. I actually felt insulted by this.

2) Cadet Kirk being given command of the ship and promoted five ranks to Captain. This wacky nonsense clearly baffled the writers as well, as Kirk is refered to by different ranks at different points in the movie.

3) The engineering section with the ludicrous plumbing.

4) The "plot" -- not only the massive black holes in it, but the overall zany Buck Rogers flavor. Star Trek movie sare supposed to be serious.

There were parts I loved. The combat scenes were fantastic, it was actually exciting, and I thought the actors were okay. I particularly loved the scene in the beginning with young Kirk and the stolen car -- that was Kirk to a tee in my opinion -- but every time i would start to like the movie the Director would slap me in the face (after blinding me with yet more lens flare).

As a result I will not see this new movie.