Film: Star Trek Beyond
Director: Justin Lin
Release: 2016
Where to watch: Available to rent or buy on all major platforms
Why it made the list:
The third, and currently the last, installment of the "Star Trek" film series is directed by Asian American Justin Lin, who is most known for his films in the "Fast and Furious" franchise. The film was also co-written by Asian American Doug Jung.
My thoughts: For some reason, I can only really remember "Star Trek: Into Darkness" and have maybe seen "Beyond" once or twice. Lin was on a short list of directors after its original left the project. The film seems to fit the franchise well, even though the villain, Krall, is an original character and not in the Star Trek universe.
The movie is actually similar in style to "Thor Ragnarok." It's more fun and colorful with a little rock-n-roll flare compared to the first two films. Always a visual feast for the eyes, the costumes, hair/makeup, and production design all really go above and...beyond.
This film made we really miss Anton Yelchin and made me want to go back and watch the other two films again. It also made me interested in watching the original series, which is currently available on Netflix. My dad loves Star Trek and it would be nice to watch the show with him.
Does it deserve to stay on this list?
Movies like "Star Trek Beyond," "Aquaman," "The Glass Castle," and "Sense and Sensibility" made the list because I think at first glance, you have no idea these films are directed by Asian people. However, because they are not stories about Asians, it's a bit of a struggle to find much to say. What it does say is that Asian people are able to direct such films. Ones that earn critical acclaim and are box office successes. Again, we need just as much diversity and representation behind the scenes as we do in front of the camera. Directors and producers make so many decisions in the filmmaking process and their voices help make the films more rich and can help bring about more representation.