When Hollywood movies and their stars trash America's brave soldiers, the anti-war press can't give them enough attention.
Yet, when cast and crew members of the soon to be released prequel of the sci-fi classic "Star Trek" visited service men and women in Kuwait on Saturday, newsrooms across the fruited plain couldn't care less.
Spc. Howard Ketter filed this report shortly after the event concluded (h/t Big Hollywood, video embedded below the fold h/t Blackfive):
"We feel priviledged to be here and to meet the people who are working hard on our behalf," said John Cho, who starred as Hikaru Sulu in "Star Trek" the movie.
Service members were excited as the cast of the new J.J. Abrams produced and directed film visited Camp Arifjan, Kuwait for a premiere of the movie, April 11.
Actors Zoe Saldana, Bryan Burk, Karl Urban, Zachary Quinto, Chris Pine and Eric Bana were also present with director/producer J.J. Abrams."It's so easy for people to take for granted, the fact that [service members] are here doing work that makes this possible," said Abrams. [...]
"It's an honor to come here to say hi and shake hands with the people who protect us," said Abrams.
Fabulous human interest story, right?
Apparently not as a Google news search identified that with the exception of film and entertainment publications, this meeting went completely unreported.
A LexisNexis search also produced no results, although transcripts from the weekend aren't completely available yet.
For those interested, more pictures are available here.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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Simply because of what I
April 13, 2009 - 09:50 ET by dborschjr68Simply because of what I read here, I am SO going to see this movie when it opens. Gladly.
How refreshing that this small piece of Hollywood paid tribute to our military. Nicely done, and very classy.
Star Trek fan.
April 13, 2009 - 10:10 ET by Massage_Master07I've been a fan of Star Trek for as long as I can remember. I remember watching the original series with my father growing up. I was debating about whether to go see this in the theaters or wait for it on DVD. Now I KNOW that I'm going to see this in the theaters.
It is SO refreshing to see some Hollywood actors actually SUPPORTING our troops, instead of the Sean Penns, Susan Sarandans and Timothy Robbins of Hollyweird CONSTANTLY bashing our military and country. Not to mention their cozying up to and smoozing with Third World communist dictators. A refreshing change indeed.
For Star Trek fans
April 13, 2009 - 10:47 ET by BlondeThis was posted at Big Hollywood last week....and has some links to scenes/trailers for the new Star Trek movie.
The "Disease and Danger" clip is absolutely over the top hillarious for fans of the orignal series...."Bones" goes on about the dangers of space, and has a hissy fit about riding on the shuttle craft.
The other trailers were not too shabby either, although the corvette broke my heart.
I hope he fails, too.
oh man
April 13, 2009 - 11:49 ET by katainkentTrailer #2 is awesome. I may have to scrounge up some cash and go see this in the theatres.
Blonde
April 13, 2009 - 18:15 ET by SeashellI loved the "Bones" clip too!
Who does Eric Bana play?
Seashell
April 13, 2009 - 18:23 ET by BlondeI think Eric Bana is a Klingon. As far as I could tell, he wasn't on the "bridge". (Love Eric Bana).
Glad you liked those....I think I shall see my second movie this year....the first one was "Marley and Me"...but I used to read John Grogan's columns years ago, and the book made me laugh and cry at the same time.
I hope he fails, too.
Eric Bana
April 13, 2009 - 18:36 ET by katainkentRomulan villian Nero
_____________________________________________________
Obama does not perform as advertised. I'd like a refund.
Taxed Enough Already.
Love Eric Bana too. He
April 13, 2009 - 18:42 ET by SeashellLove Eric Bana too. He was terrific in "Munich" and "Troy". Easy on the eyes as well! ;~)
Loved the trailer
April 13, 2009 - 18:26 ET by Scuba DudeLoved the trailer Blonde!!!
I like the work Karl Urban has done. He's been in "The Chronicles of Riddick", "Doom", the last two "Lord of The Rings" movies and even a "Bourne" movie.
Look forward to seeing him play "Bones". I wonder if he will have any "Dammit Jim" lines? : )
"The wrOng ONE was elected"
Iowa boy
April 13, 2009 - 19:59 ET by nkviking75Blonde, how can you not root for a captain born in Iowa? ("I'm from Iowa, I only work in outer space."--Adm. James T. Kirk in Star Trek IV)
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
I was surely going to rent
April 13, 2009 - 10:20 ET by MANstreammediaI was surely going to rent this, but now I'll be seeing it in the theater for sure. It doesn't look like they were doing movie shilling, but instead were making a genuine gesture.
Oh yeah!!!
April 13, 2009 - 10:29 ET by NC CopNice to see some positive support coming out of Hollywood for once. I planned on being one of the first in line for this anyway, now I can feel better knowing what kind of people are in it.
05/08/09!!!! Mark it down!!!!!!!!!!
Oh yeah +1
April 13, 2009 - 11:58 ET by AuH2oHey NC Cop,
I as well planned to be in line for the first show May 8.
This is just icing on the cake!
Job well done and a thank you to JJ Abrams and the new cast, for keeping our fighting men & women in mind!
Oh yeah!
April 13, 2009 - 12:05 ET by BlondeThe only movie I ever stood in line for was the first Star Trek.
I had the movie poster too (my room-mate's dad owned a theatre)...I wish I still had it, it's probably worth a fortunte.
I hope he fails, too.
Interesting story. But how
April 13, 2009 - 11:56 ET by balboaInteresting story. But how many celebrities do this all the time? Isn't this rather common?
Sure bal
April 13, 2009 - 12:09 ET by BlondeIt's soooo common we see it on the MsM several times a day.
/sarc off.
I hope he fails, too.
balboa
April 13, 2009 - 12:11 ET by Noel SheppardInteresting story. But how many celebrities do this all the time? Isn't this rather common?
In what country do you live where this is common? ns
Well, to be fair, Noel ...
April 13, 2009 - 12:44 ET by KC MulvilleGary Sinise has made several tours. Although he was never in favor of the war, Robin Williams made a couple tours, just to support the troops. I'm not a fan of his, but I respect him for that. Off and on, I've heard of a number of military supporters who have gone overseas on their own initiative. Usually they trumpet their tours in shameless self-promotion, but I've also read that many celebrities don't want to promote their tours for fear of Hollywood backlash.
But I think this only reinforces your point, Noel. These are great human interest stories ... but one rarely hears of them. Why doesn't the media report it when the public expresses support?
after a brief googling
April 13, 2009 - 13:03 ET by katainkentresults :
Jessica Simpson (April 09) video report
DeAnna Pappas (the Bachelorette - Jan 09)
Scarlet Johansson (Jan 08)
Heidi Montag & Spencer Pratt "planning"
Tommy Lee Jones "planning"
I had to switch to 'news' and sort by timeline to dig any further back.
Noel, Voila. Also, Letterman
April 13, 2009 - 14:01 ET by balboaNoel,
Voila. Also, Letterman went over, Leno did, Kathy Griffin, and on and on.
bal, is it common? how would we know?
April 13, 2009 - 12:15 ET by sdbThat's the problem, bal, how would we know? The only time we hear about celebs going to Iraq is when they are there as some kind of protest.
Yea Star Trek
April 13, 2009 - 12:01 ET by ConservativeMissourianGood for them!! That is great to hear. It's too bad that more aren't reporting about this great act so everyone knows what they are doing. Can't wait to see the movie!
at the movies
April 13, 2009 - 12:25 ET by soosanI'll see this one in the theatre - one or two a year is my limit - but I like the gesture. P.S. It's good to see blonde and bal going at it again.
Looking forward to seeing
April 13, 2009 - 12:32 ET by Scuba DudeLooking forward to seeing this in the theaters. I watched both the original on TV, plus the spinoffs and all the movies. Though I wonder if I will be able to separate Zachary Quinto's Spock and the character Syler he plays on Heroe's. Also, will I be able to watch Simon Pegg play Scotty and not think of him in either Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz?
Otherwise I think it was great that the actors and actresses and director premiered the movie for the troops. Thank You for that nice gesture to the fine men and women of our Armed Forces.
"The wrOng ONE was elected"
I was on my way to attend
April 13, 2009 - 13:40 ET by seaniepI was on my way to attend Fleet Week in NYC on the Kearsarge (sp?), I had just returned from Iraq and post deployment leave and then was treated to being selected to heading up to NYC to walk around in my Deltas (USMC) and get beers bought for me all week . . . midway through the float up there, Halle Berry, Kelsey Grammar and Hugh Jackman landed on the ship via helicopter with a copy of XMen 3 (as well as the director or some studio execs) and they screened it for us (official release was the next day) - it was pretty cool, they were very greatful, halle acted excited to be around so many men in uniform, kelsey grammar and hugh jackman (both much larger men than you would expect) hung out and made sure to talk to anyone who wanted an autography of photo
I don;t think it was in any papers, but I thought it was pretty cool
I hate the New York Times more than it hates the US Military
Seaniep
April 13, 2009 - 15:27 ET by AnotherFedUpOne..First of all, Thank You for your Service.....
I hate the New York Times more than it hates the US Military
Love That!
Nice video, but it had a serious error in it....
April 13, 2009 - 17:47 ET by IndianaCarlAnd none of you caught it...
DOCTOR Spock screwed up multiple generations of kids.
Zachary Quinto follows the tradition of Leonard Nimoy and is playing MISTER Spock.
Peace! Live long and prosper. \ \ / / /
Liberal = Hypocrites
I Can't Believe The Press Did That...
April 13, 2009 - 22:38 ET by The7SticksThey gave more coverage to the funeral of Gene Roddenberry's widow, for godsake. I'm not talking about her death, I'm talking about her funeral (may she rest in peace, nontheless, I'm just objecting to the press bias.) It's stuff like this that really makes me distrust the media and follow any alternative I can find, conservative or liberal. I'm a Phil Hendrie follower, so you'll know where I'm going with that. That and when the L.A. Times disguises an ad for a TV drama as a column on the front page.
What's interesting is that I have heard on some discusion rounds that Star Trek was always the more liberal Sci-fi series than Star Wars. Nowadays, it seems the other way around, but I will watch Star Wars for any of the Death Stars or giant spaceships going "blowy-uppy" (The footage from the Star Trek trailer is very promising, though. I've always wanted to see the Enterprise-A in fierce combat unlike the old TV show.)
Perhaps the slant of Star
April 14, 2009 - 05:17 ET by eaglescout1998Perhaps the slant of Star Trek changed when Rick Berman took control of the franchise. But I have always believed that the Star Trek universe was the only place where socialism would actually work. Since the technology exists to create anything out of thin air (replicators), there is no longer the problem of unlimited needs and limited resources.
I wouldn't mind a replicator . . . or even a holosuite for that matter.