It's been forty-seven years since George Takei began his iconic role as Sulu on the Star Trek television series, and since then he's gone on to participate in an animated show along with six feature films portraying the same character. But what most people outside of his intimate fan-base don't realize is that throughout the bulk of his acting career he was forced to hide his homosexuality, fearing he would lose his job and other subsequent parts he hoped to get.
But now with battles over same-sex marriage starting to see a hopeful end, he's become deeply imbedded in the fight for gay rights. And with his position as official announcer on The Howard Stern Show, has been quite upfront about his orientation.
And "To Be Takei" doesn't make a huge deal out of it, which is one of the main reasons I liked it. It's a documentary that treats its subject as is, and doesn't try to explain his many odd (but hilarious) characteristics.
As he says himself, his "life has been transformed as fantastically as science fiction", and he's got a point. From spending four years in various internment camps during World War 2, where American citizens of Japanese descent were rounded up and put after Pearl Harbor, to becoming a sort-of pop culture icon contained in his own bubble far away from the hubbub of Hollywood.
And the film captures his personality superbly, focusing on his constant trips to comic-cons and conventions accompanied by his Husband Brad (with their relationship also serving as a huge focal point).
It may not be a documentary that's in anyway breaking ground, but to me, it didn't matter. It's a light, fun movie that will be savored by fans of Takei.
But now with battles over same-sex marriage starting to see a hopeful end, he's become deeply imbedded in the fight for gay rights. And with his position as official announcer on The Howard Stern Show, has been quite upfront about his orientation.
And "To Be Takei" doesn't make a huge deal out of it, which is one of the main reasons I liked it. It's a documentary that treats its subject as is, and doesn't try to explain his many odd (but hilarious) characteristics.
As he says himself, his "life has been transformed as fantastically as science fiction", and he's got a point. From spending four years in various internment camps during World War 2, where American citizens of Japanese descent were rounded up and put after Pearl Harbor, to becoming a sort-of pop culture icon contained in his own bubble far away from the hubbub of Hollywood.
And the film captures his personality superbly, focusing on his constant trips to comic-cons and conventions accompanied by his Husband Brad (with their relationship also serving as a huge focal point).
It may not be a documentary that's in anyway breaking ground, but to me, it didn't matter. It's a light, fun movie that will be savored by fans of Takei.