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Released by: Anchor Bay Entertainment
Released on: October 7, 2014
Director: Jennifer M. Kroot
Cast: George Takei, Brad Takei, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Walter Koenig
Year: 2014
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The Movie:
George Takei (or his TV counterpart Sulu, at least) has been a household name since his appearance on Gene Roddenberry's original Star Trek television series, which ran from 1966 to 1969. Although the show drew fairly low ratings in its initial run, it rocketed its stars to worldwide fame when it played in syndication after its cancellation, leading to a successful film franchise in the 1980s. One of Roddenberry's edicts for the series was that it include a multi-ethnic cast working together to take the starship USS Enterprise boldly where no man had gone before. An Asian American of Japanese descent, Takei was never considered leading man material by Hollywood, though he was a good character actor who appeared in guest spots on numerous television series, including Twilight Zone and, later, Hawaii Five-O. After meeting with Roddenberry, he was cast as Lieutenant Sulu, a character intended to represent all of Asia. Takei's work in politics, on television, and in the aforementioned films kept him in the public eye in the years following Star Trek's cancellation, but it was a single personal move in 2005 that forever cemented his status as a celebrity icon: In response to California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's veto of a gay marriage bill passed by both houses of the state's congress, Takei came out as a gay man in a long-term relationship.
To Be Takei is a documentary film that follows Takei and his husband Brad as they travel the world, visiting with fans at comic book conventions and taking on foes of marriage equality. It also details the long-lasting effect that his early life in an American internment camp for people of Japanese descent had on him. Asian American actors reveal just how much Takei's appearances on television meant to them, a feeling shared by modern fans weaned on his popular and witty Facebook posts. Seeing him in action, it's difficult to believe that Takei is a man currently in his late 70s.
Just as interesting as Takei are fellow Trekkers William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. It's difficult to believe that anyone would side with Shatner over Takei in the Internet hoopla surrounding Shatner's non-appearance at Takei's wedding. Shatner's take on the matter serves to reinforce the widely held view that he's both a hambone and an insensitive dick. Nimoy, on the other hand, comes off as kind and grandfatherly, as does Walter Koenig, who remains close friends with Takei (and, in fact, served as best man at his wedding).
While the director, Jennifer M. Kroot, obviously interacted with the partners during filming, she remains largely invisible, choosing to let the married couple tell their own story. The film is at once funny and poignant, with the loving, sometimes bickering duo taking center stage, done up in reality television clothing. It's easy to understand why Takei continues to win over new fans; his heartfelt and humorous quips are never less than endearing, and his ability to move between self-deprecating humor—as his appearances on The Howard Stern Show reveal—and an intense desire to educate others about the difficulties of being in a minority adds to his charm. Takei is no second-rate, has-been Hollywood star intent on remaining in the spotlight; he's the real deal, an actor of intense skill and charisma whose warmth wins him new fans with each passing day. And To Be Takei is the perfect showcase of his larger-than-life personality.
Video/Audio/Extras:
To Be Takei runs 83 minutes in length and is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. There is a mild variance in image quality in different parts of the film, clearly a result of different scenes being shot by different types of medium- to hi-grade digital video cameras. Regardless, images remain clear and stable throughout, and colors are solid and natural.
The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1. The film isn't full of loud explosions or sound effects, but the sound is crystal clear and directional nonetheless. Unlike so many documentary films that are shot on location, background noise is never allowed to interfere with or supersede primary sounds such as the participants' voices. There are also optional English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired, as well as subtitles for Spanish-speaking viewers.
The only extras are a bevy of deleted scenes, sixteen in all. Most are short and nearly all are funny, though it's clear why pacing concerns dictated their removal. Still, all but two are a pleasure to watch, as they reveal Takei's interest in Shakespeare and focus on his relationship with Brad, which is exactly (gasp!) like that of any other loving, long-married couple.
The Final Word:
To Be Takei could easily have devolved into a morass of heavy-handed political musings, but thanks to the sweet disposition of the principal participants, it instead plays like a window into a very real relationship, one that takes educational detours into the progress of gay rights and the sordid history of the U.S. government's treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II. The documentary looks and sounds good on DVD, and there are numerous deleted scenes that further uncover the unforgettable charms of George Takei.
