Watching Sulu (and other Asian Roles) at the Movies

By Jee | Monday, May 18, 2009 | View Comments

I went to watch Star Trek last week and I LOVED it. I’m not a Trekkie, but I’ve watched my share of Star Trek episodes and movies. But to be perfectly honest, one of the main reasons I wanted to watch this Star Trek in the theaters was to support John Cho strut his acting chops as Hikaru Sulu (and strut them he did.) From the first moment Cho hits the screen to the last, my insides were doing all sorts of cheering and rooting for him – all while being completely engrossed in the movie.

Not ashamed to admit that I’m delighted each time an Asian actor/actress play a hefty role, I get more excited when they play a main character; remember Lucy Liu in Charlie’s Angels? I was glad that she was one of the angels, not an ASIAN angel, or an Asian girl doing this and that. In the same way, I was happy to see Cho play Sulu, and the color of his skin, or his ethnic background wasn’t an issue or part of the main story line.

I’m impatient to see more Asian actors/actresses star as main characters in a movie; I want to see Asian actors/actresses headline a movie. So I was sad to read from this article by Mandy Choie that talks about changing the marketing posters for the movie Better Luck Tomorrow so the Asians in the movie would look ethnically ambiguous.

Until Hollywood decides that they’ll fully embrace Asian actors/actresses as equal game in any and all roles they have to offer, I will attend a movie, for no other reason than to just root and cheer on the Asian actor or actress.

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JC

Yup, same here. I went to see Star Trek twice (once with my wife! She loved it too!), and I did it to support John Cho. I was a bit of a fan in the 90′s, but I haven’t been interested in the material for years (I also supported Star Trek Voayger because of the Asian main character). Just like you, I am keenly aware which show has non-stereotypical Asian main characters and I will follow it as much as I can. This is why I am watching Lost, Heroes, and, gasp, The Mentalist every week. I even watch those dreadful Sci-Fi channel D-movie of the week because they sometimes feature Asians as leads. I love the web-drama “The Guide” even though I’m not a gamer, but due to the fact that two Asian males were romantic leads.

But we all know from reading Angry Asian Man how Hollywood is really treating Asians, so while I do what I can do support AA in mainstream entertainment, I’m frustrated more often than not. I’m now mostly apathetic toward almost everything else out there, be they white-washed TV or movies. Now I find myself watching more Asian dramas and shows, and cool AA-created videos on youtube. Yeah Wong Fu may never make it in Hollywood, but at least they can’t take them off youtube.
JC

Yup, same here. I went to see Star Trek twice (once with my wife! She loved it too!), and I did it to support John Cho. I was a bit of a fan in the 90′s, but I haven’t been interested in the material for years (I also supported Star Trek Voayger because of the Asian main character). Just like you, I am keenly aware which show has non-stereotypical Asian main characters and I will follow it as much as I can. This is why I am watching Lost, Heroes, and, gasp, The Mentalist every week. I even watch those dreadful Sci-Fi channel D-movie of the week because they sometimes feature Asians as leads. I love the web-drama “The Guide” even though I’m not a gamer, but due to the fact that two Asian males were romantic leads.

But we all know from reading Angry Asian Man how Hollywood is really treating Asians, so while I do what I can do support AA in mainstream entertainment, I’m frustrated more often than not. I’m now mostly apathetic toward almost everything else out there, be they white-washed TV or movies. Now I find myself watching more Asian dramas and shows, and cool AA-created videos on youtube. Yeah Wong Fu may never make it in Hollywood, but at least they can’t take them off youtube.
Tristan

Totally agree. John Cho was the highlight of the movie.

Isn’t the main theme of ‘Better Luck Tomorrow’ about APAs dealing with the expectations placed upon them by society? The story is unique in that it focuses on an under-discussed issue that revolves around a racial perspective. Attempting to market the characters as ‘ambiguous’ seems counterproductive and just plain idiotic. MTV has and always will be a waste of a network.
Tristan

Totally agree. John Cho was the highlight of the movie.

Isn’t the main theme of ‘Better Luck Tomorrow’ about APAs dealing with the expectations placed upon them by society? The story is unique in that it focuses on an under-discussed issue that revolves around a racial perspective. Attempting to market the characters as ‘ambiguous’ seems counterproductive and just plain idiotic. MTV has and always will be a waste of a network.
John

Ummm, I have to disagree that John Cho was the highlight of the movie – though I did like him as Sulu. Cho honestly did not have that much screen time or dialogue, especially when compared to Kirk, Spock, Bones, Scott, – or even Uhura, but more screen time than Chekhov.
John

Ummm, I have to disagree that John Cho was the highlight of the movie – though I did like him as Sulu. Cho honestly did not have that much screen time or dialogue, especially when compared to Kirk, Spock, Bones, Scott, – or even Uhura, but more screen time than Chekhov.
Mary

I thought the movie pulled off a nice subversion: the “fencing” line was played for laughs, but only a few minutes later Sulu was brawling out two massive Romulans while Kirk got his ass kicked. If it wasn’t “the” highlight, it was definitely one among many.
Mary

I thought the movie pulled off a nice subversion: the “fencing” line was played for laughs, but only a few minutes later Sulu was brawling out two massive Romulans while Kirk got his ass kicked. If it wasn’t “the” highlight, it was definitely one among many.
http://www.facebook.com/people/SaBinh-Thach/723952 SaBinh

ok,,,now i’m curious how he’s gonna act in the movie
http://www.facebook.com/people/SaBinh-Thach/723952 SaBinh

ok,,,now i’m curious how he’s gonna act in the movie
Linda

Agreed w/ you, John–I wish John Cho had a bigger role in the movie. He wasn’t in very many scenes. And agreed w/ Mary–that was one of the best scenes! I was so proud of him saving Kirk’s butt. I hope to see more movies starring Asian Americans in roles that are not necessarily about being Asian American. But I won’t hold my breath.
Linda

Agreed w/ you, John–I wish John Cho had a bigger role in the movie. He wasn’t in very many scenes. And agreed w/ Mary–that was one of the best scenes! I was so proud of him saving Kirk’s butt. I hope to see more movies starring Asian Americans in roles that are not necessarily about being Asian American. But I won’t hold my breath.
jee

Yes! I LOVED that scene where Sulu saves Kirk. I cheered and clapped. My friend thought I was a freak.
jee

Yes! I LOVED that scene where Sulu saves Kirk. I cheered and clapped. My friend thought I was a freak.
Tristan

John Cho freakin’ ‘Pulp-Fictioned’ that Romulan..it was the highlight of the movie for me. And while Sulu didn’t have that much screen time or dialogue (I heard they actually cut one of his scenes), I still was most excited to see Cho as Sulu.
Tristan

John Cho freakin’ ‘Pulp-Fictioned’ that Romulan..it was the highlight of the movie for me. And while Sulu didn’t have that much screen time or dialogue (I heard they actually cut one of his scenes), I still was most excited to see Cho as Sulu.
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