Starship Troopers (1997)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Paul Verhoeven

Writers (WGA):

Edward Neumeier (screenplay)
Robert A. Heinlein (book)

Release Date:

7 November 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Genocide doesn't compare to this.

Plot:

Humans of a fascistic, militaristic future do battle with giant alien bugs in a fight for survival.

Plot Keywords:

Military | Future | Alien | Insect | Asteroid

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Casper Van Dien	...	Johnny Rico
Dina Meyer	...	Dizzy Flores
Denise Richards	...	Carmen Ibanez
Jake Busey	...	Ace Levy
Neil Patrick Harris	...	Carl Jenkins
Clancy Brown	...	Sgt. Zim
Seth Gilliam	...	Sugar Watkins
Patrick Muldoon	...	Zander Barcalow
Michael Ironside	...	Jean Rasczak
Rue McClanahan	...	Biology Teacher
Marshall Bell	...	General Owen
Eric Bruskotter	...	Breckinridge
Matt Levin	...	Kitten Smith
Blake Lindsley	...	Katrina
Anthony Ruivivar	...	Shujimi

MPAA:

Rated R for graphic sci-fi violence and gore, and for some language and nudity.

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS (8 channels) | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:PG (TV rating) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 (video rating) (cut) | South Korea:18 (original rating) | Canada:18A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Belgium:KNT | Brazil:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Chile:14 | Denmark:11 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:Not Rated (SPIO/JK) (video rating) (uncut) | Germany:18 (theatrical rating) (uncut) | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Italy:T | Japan:PG-12 | Mexico:C | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (original rating) | UK:18 (video rating) | USA:R (No. 34343) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Agoura Hills, California, USA

Company:

TriStar Pictures

Trivia:

A miniature Millenium Falcon can be seen on the backside of one of the starships' bridges.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the punishment, the leather piece Rico is biting down on changes positions between shots.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Newsreel announcer: Young people from all over the globe are joining up to fight for the future.
Soldier #1: I'm doing my part.
Soldier #2: I'm doing my part.
Soldier #3: I'm doing my part.
Young kid dressed up as a soldier: I'm doing my part too.
[Soldiers laugh]
Newsreel announcer: They're doing their part. Are you? Join the Mobile Infantry and save the world. Service guarantees citizenship.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Doom³ (2004) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Pier Thirteen

Brilliant & timely critique of fascism

The truth is that this is a brilliant film that, like Verhoeven's earlier "Robocop", is an insightful satire and critique of fascism and at the same time succeeds as a sci-fi thriller. It can be enjoyed at both levels, though obviously it is much richer when the viewer comprehends the satirical and critical level as well.

It's not as if the satire is so subtle it's hard to get. If anything, it hits you over the head with it. But at the same time, it is very disciplined and consistent in not tipping its hand and giving the game away, which to me makes it much more successful and enjoyable than if the satire and social critique were blatantly broadcast. That's the strange and wonderful thing about "Starship Troopers" and "Robocop" -- one viewer might totally not get it, while to another, the critical/satirical level is totally in your face and is what the film is really all about.

I don't know if I'm describing it well, but watch it with the film-makers' commentary turned on (on the DVD version), and director Paul Verhoeven and writer Ed Neumeier lay it all out very clearly: the film is about how war makes fascists of us all. Very timely today (2004) with US imperialism wreaking havoc in Iraq & Afghanistan.

On a technical level, the film is excellent. The bug special effects are top notch and the whole bug society and hierarchy is deeply thought through, as is the future Earth society's politics and technology. The acting is excellent, and the balance between the characters' interpersonal story line, the bug war story line, and the underlying political satire and critique, is perfectly handled.

A truly exceptional film, Verhoeven's best so far, topping even "Robocop" in my opinion, and fully deserving a 10 out of 10 score, which I rarely give.