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Reviews
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Code of Honor (1987)
Shallow and stereotypical
I first watched the entire ST TOS and absolutely enjoyed it. I especially adore the PD concept. At the first glance, it seems that the concept of PM as portrayed in this episode is the same as the original one. However, it is actually too simplified and fails to capture its true meaning. The key issue is that everything is so stereotypical and there is no real depth to the understanding of the PM. Lutan is so obviously evil. His culture is so obviously backwards, inferior, barbarian, and our captain is so honorable to sacrifice his advantages for the sake of the PM. In TOS, each alien culture has its own moral complexity. The Enterprise's mission is to seek out new understanding these complexities, to help the alien culture grow, and expand our own world view. Instead this episode feels like a criminal case solving. The captain accuses Lutan for "abducting". Then the captain interacts with the suspect to find out his motives. A-ha! Just as the captain suspects, Lutan honorably did the abducting entirely for his own interests. Such a selfish and pompous man!
The orginal series episodes tells what happens between the Enterprise personnel and alien cultures. It tells facts, without tagging judgement towards the culture's innate merits. Sure, specific, temporary actions taken by a culture could be bad, but explicit moral criticism towards a culture as a whole has very rarely been made. (It has been made several times in this episode though, for example, "by our standards, the custom here...their code of honor, is the same kind of pompous, strutting charades that endangered our species a few centuries ago") The Enterprise from TOS, even when its own life is at stake because of the alien culture, would always try to maintain a fair and positive attitude towards the culture. The prime directive is there to remind them to maintain this attitude when they are having a hard time. The PD in this episode seems more like some unreasonable rule made by stupid authorities.
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
First film I've watched in the ST series, thought I like the world view
International audience here. Also film amateur. This is the first film I've ever watched in the ST series, and despite all the negative comments, I still love the world view. Born & raised in a very pragmatic country that praises the powerful and despises the "weak", I was always attracted by the ST/SW culture but have never actually watched one of the movies. One of my favorite actors is Benedict, and when I was watching one of his interviews he said that he likes the movie in that he likes the script's "Shakespearean" treat to each of the characters, which extends to JJ's Shakespearean treat to the cast as well and makes him feel safe/secure to play such an important role in such a culturally phenomenal movie. Those words moved me and I immediately decide that I need to watch this film. From my point of view, the ST world is just amazing. The diversity of the species, the moral standards and friendship, most importantly the ADVENTURES. I really like the last bit when it says the final frontier. I was going to give this film an 8, but seeing all the negative comments, I think I will give it a 7 instead. Also, are you seriously telling me the previous films in this series are even better than this one?? That the future Roddenberry has imagined could be more enlightened than this one? That sounds so amazing.
Mulan (1998)
a great animation of a Chinese legend in an American perspective
This is a lovely animation. My favorite part is definitely the heroine. She is brave and resourceful, and most importantly are able to make her way out of people's biases and the obstacles society has given her. It is inspiring to see a story like this coming into life and capture people's eyes. Not only that, this story is also very refreshing and totally hilarious. It's very colorful and its characters like the lucky cricket and Mulan's three troop friends are so lovable. Mushu is just straight fun. Some feminism movies tells a very heavy story where the heroine overcomes great adversities with blood and tears. That is great in its own way; however an animation like this truly shows an optimistic, quick-to-act vibe that cheers me up and brings lots of hope. Great movie!