[warning: very very mild spoilers are contained in this post]

[warning: only a true sci-fi fan will understand all the references in this post]

Yesterday I got the chance to see Star Trek at the local IMAX theater. A little backstory about me: I am a Trekkie. I am not the kind of Trekkie that dresses up in Star Trek outfits and knows all the obscure little trivia, but I am still pretty hardcore (well, ok…only half of the previous statement is true). You see, the original Star Trek movie (which sucked by the way) is the first movie I have any memory of. I saw it at the drive-in theater in San Jose, CA in December of 1979 when I was three. I sat behind my dad and the audio was lousy but it must have made some sort of a subliminal impression on me given that I spent the next 30 years of my life quite literally trying to be Captain Kirk.

Captain Christopher Pike: [to Kirk] You can settle for less in ordinary life, or do you feel like you were meant for something better? Something special.

Sigh.

In any case, the new movie opens with the magnificent bald head (no, not Captain Picard) of Captain Robau of the Federation Starship Kelvin. Robau is played by Pakistani American actor Faran Tahir:

[It’s] a great thing,” Tahir said in an exclusive interview. “I have had conversations with J.J. about this, … because I knew the other people who were being considered for this role, and they were not [cast]. So one day over dinner I was, ‘So what was it, why?’ You know, just to get a window into it. And I think he—and I have to commend him on this—what he was trying to do was find a certain quality in the actor and just to set up the story, you know? And to me, that is refreshing, and it’s great to hear. … The biggest compliment is that he was looking for a certain quality. He could have found that in me, he could have found that in [anyone else]. And it just happened to be me, and … the added … layer to that is that, yeah, I happen to be of a certain descent, and … the casting was [in] the spirit of what Star Trek is about.” [Link]

Captain Robau has a very limited role, which is surprising considering he was wearing a blue uniform and not a red one. Tahir plays his role well and his character kind of reminded me of a young Captain Sisko, but with a desi accent. I think we will be seeing a lot more of Tahir.

And just to remind you all, Robau is NOT the first desi captain in Star Trek. There have been other small parts in previous Star Trek movies and episodes. And of course, don’t forget one of the most famous villains in sci-fi history: Khaaaaaaaaaannnnnn Noonien Singh. However, I was very disappointed by the lack of desi students at Starfleet Academy in the movie. For f*ck sake, Starfleet Academy is in San Francisco. It is a little hard to believe that an Academy so close to Silicon Valley has so few desi students.

Now to briefly comment on the other major “desi character” in Star Trek. It is a little…troll-like technician named “Keenser” played by actor and stuntman Deep Roy (who we have blogged about often before).

Keenser doesn’t have any lines. He is just there to add comic relief. I like director JJ Abrams. I was a huge fan of Alias and I never miss Lost. But seriously bro, nobody in the sci-fi world will give you an ounce of respect if you try to add an Ewok into your movie. It just doesn’t work.

So what did I think of the movie? I liked it overall. Decent story, good use of FX and pretty good acting. I had one HUGE problem with it however. Skip the next paragraph if you don’t want to see a tiny spoiler or if you don’t like geek speak.

The whole time travel plot which results in an alternate timeline bothers me. I don’t want everything I know and hold true to now be an “alternate reality” that may never happen. This movie potentially changes everything. Past time travel in Star Trek has always been to preserve the known timeline and not alter it irrevocably. I see this as lazy error in judgment by JJ Abrams. He could have made an origin story movie without ruining the future we enjoyed. Old Spock’s permanent presence in the past alone ruins everything. Think of the technology advances he can teach people in the past. Also, if I can beam aboard a ship moving at light speed why couldn’t I just beam a nuke aboard an enemy ship anywhere in the galaxy at anytime? You can tell this movie was written and directed by non-Star Trek fans.

[end rant]

Ok, so what did you all think of Tahir and Roy and the movie in general?