Starship Troopers (1997)

It’s no secret by this point, that I am a fan of action and sci-fi films. My incessant and digressive mindset has probably made that clear more times than I care to imagine but whenever I see a film that I haven’t yet seen, I have to get that point across. I’m always waiting for the next big thing to jump out and surprise me and that’s exactly what I got when I finally watched Starship Troopers. Based on the novel by Robert A. Heinlein and directed by Paul Verhoeven, the film satirizes fascism, militarism, and blind patriotism. One thing I’ve noticed after watching RoboCop, Total Recall, and now this film, is that Verhoeven masterfully uses some of these things along with hyperviolence and sleek commercial aesthetics to get his message across and, he’s very in-your-face about it. I found myself laughing at the obviousness of what he was doing and that’s part of what made this a good film experience. The other part is the action, which the guy is a master at as well. It’s highly enjoyable and if you know anything about Paul Verhoeven and expect ultra-violence, then that’s exactly what you’re going to get. I have more to say about this satirical sci-fi adventure so, let’s enlist and see what we’re really signing up for.

     The story follows a group of young recruits who enlist in a futuristic military and are sent to fight in an interstellar war against a deadly alien species. As they rise through the ranks, they confront the harsh realities of combat and the ideology driving their society. There was so much to enjoy about this film. It has a pretty neat cast that includes Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Denise Richards, Jake Busey, Neil Patrick Harris, Clancy Brown, Seth Gilliam, Patrick Muldoon, Michael Ironside, Marshall Bell, Rue McClanahan, Dean Norris, and a whole stacked crew that lead us into the fight. Like I said before, this film is insanely violent so, if you don’t have the stomach for something like that,  you might want to avoid it. I personally, have no problem with it because, what action fan wouldn’t enjoy watching that? This is my personal opinion though, so you do you. The world-building is crazy and I liked seeing how the future was set up. It was pretty creative. The effects weren’t too shabby either. I liked watching the scenes that take place in space and I thought the design of the alien bugs was pretty cool. I already talked about the cast but I thought each character stood out in their own unique way. They all add something to their scenes and I also laughed my ass off when they went over-the-top with the exaggerated commercials. I like to call it the Verhoeven special. Actually, that’s what I’d probably call this whole movie, because it screams his style from start to finish. I don’t know why it took me so long to see this movie but I’m glad I did. Definitely worth a watch for any action and sci-fi nut.

     This movie has aged remarkably well when you think about what it represents and yet knowing that, I still had loads of fun and can totally see myself watching it again at some point. And I’m pretty sure any sci-fi buff will say the same thing. Overall, my score would be an 8 out of 10. Again, if you’re a fan of this genre and don’t mind the gore fest that comes with this film, then I’d highly recommend checking it out if you haven’t already. Equal parts propaganda parody and bug-blasting fun.