Director Paul Verhoeven (Showgirls, Total Recall) reunited many from his 1987 Robocop team for this $100-million science fiction adventure, adapted from Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 novel, originally serialized in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (October-November, 1959). After graduation, Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien) volunteers for the Mobile Infantry to do his Federal service -- but also to win over his girlfriend, Carmen Ibanez (Denise Richards), who has signed with the Fleet Academy
to become a starship pilot. Johnny joins other boot-camp recruits -- Dizzy Flores (Dina Meyer), who has had a crush on Johnny since school, and Ace Levy (Jake Busey). Ace and Johnny become pals, and Johnny's abilities earn him the squad leader position. A training accident occurs on Johnny's watch, and he is about to resign when Earth is attacked by alien insects intent on eradicating all human life. Johnny's home, Buenos Aires, is no longer on the map. Horrified, he chooses to stay on and fight to destroy the insect threat. The Mobile Infantry travels to the planet Klendathu to battle the warrior bugs, a ruthless enemy with only one goal -- survival of their species no matter what. In the initial encounter, some 100,000 lives are lost. At a distant fort, Johnny's unit discovers that the bugs drain brains to acquire knowledge. Soon they are overwhelmed by an advancing arthropod army of immense proportions, attacking both in space and on the planet surface. The notion of human extinction becomes a possibility. For this $100-million production, some 300 artists and technicians combined models and miniatures with CGI effects to fashion a variety of creatures -- from breeder bugs to armored tanker bugs. The film employed hundreds of extras and has over 500 visual effects shots. Filming began 4/29/96 in California (LA and Long Beach, where Cal State's pyramid gym was used for the Jumpball game), New York, South Dakota, Wyoming (Casper, Hell's Half Acre), and Utah (an abandoned Wendover airstrip where the Enola Gay WWII bomber crew trained). At an abandoned airfield in Fountain Valley, California, an elaborate set was constructed to resemble a military boot camp of the future -- complete with an array of pup tents, gull-winged spaceships, hurdle obstacle course, and training facility buildings. Cinematography by Jost Vacano (Showgirls). Licensed products include Lewis Galoob Inc. toys. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
Lacking the sophistication of the average comic book, it compensates with panoramic attack sequences, reminiscent of the Japanese swarm attacks in American war movies.
A jaw-dropping experience, so rigorously one-dimensional and free from even the pretense of intelligence it's hard not to be astonished and even mesmerized by what is on the screen.
Insanely subversive...functions as a visually dazzling science-fiction action picture, a philosophical challenge, and a hilarious, incisive comedy. [Blu-Ray]
Now, because this is a Superbit release, you're trading in your usual cadre of bonus features for souped up audio and video. Every firefight is a new experience and the transfer is amazing.
The epitome of the cheesiest 90's action movie of all time. The entire tone, acting, style, and script was so cheesy that no gratuitous amount of blood, or "cool" looking action scene was able to redeem this junky movie.
Starship Troopers is one of those films that blends elements of Science Fiction, horror and comedy. The film is directed by Paul Verhoeven, director of Robocop. Starship Troopers is a visual feast on the eyes as a war between bugs and humans wages on. The film is heavy on special effects and it has a heavy dose of
humour thrown in to soften the mood. With a film like this, you must not take the film so seriously therefore Verhoeven's use of humour is timed perfectly well. In the end Starship Troopers is simply just an action packed sci fi horror film with tongue in cheek moments. The end result is very well done and Starship Troopers is a terrific accomplishment in the genre. If you enjoy a different type of sci-fi film, then this one is for you. The film is very different from Robert A. Heinlein's book of the same name. Despite the fact that this is a different film from what the book is, Starship Troopers is a well crafted, cheesy popcorn action sci fi horror flick. The best performance of this film is Michael Ironside. The rest of the cast is decent, never anything good or memorable. There aren't any characters that you can relate to, so you don't really care if they live or die. The best way to describe this film is 90210 in outer space. Still for what it is, this is a mindless action horror romp that delivers effective blood, gore and a good time. This film stands out because it's over the top, and shocking. Hell, Starship Troopers is ridiculous, but that's what makes this film worth seeing in the first place.
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Luke: Alright. I'll give it a try. Yoda: No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.
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