Starship Troopers (1997)

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

Director:

Paul Verhoeven

Writers:

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

Stars:

Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Denise Richards

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Casper Van Dien	...	Johnny Rico
Dina Meyer	...	Dizzy Flores
Denise Richards	...	Lt. 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

Storyline

In the distant future high school kids are encouraged to become citizens by joining the military. What they don't know is that they'll soon be engaged in a full scale war against a planet of alien insects. The fight is on to ensure the safety of humanity.

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Plot Keywords:

military | federation | future | alien | battle | 

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Taglines:

This Fall, Tristar Pictures takes you to the front lines of the next frontier.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 November 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Invasión (Starship Troopers)

Filming Locations:

Agoura Hills, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$100,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

DEM 5,118,110 (Germany) (30 January 1998)

Gross:

DEM 15,096,442 (Germany) (20 February 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

TriStar Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Big Bug Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

DTS SDDS (8 channels) Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Carmen Ibanez is taking the starship out of dock the first time, she flicks a switch to release the hoses attached to the docking platform. That switch is the power switch from a 1982 era IBM PC, the very first PC to see widespread use in home and office.

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Goofs

The asteroid shown by the "Federal Network" heading for Earth in the beginning of the movie is moving at a speed slow enough for it to be tracked and hit by a gun mounted on an orbiting space ship. If the asteroid was launched by the bugs from Klendathu (which is on the other side of the galaxy), or even from our own solar systems asteroid belt, it must have been traveling for many, many years to reach Earth at that speed.

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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.

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Connections

References Them! (1954)

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Soundtracks

"Fade Into You"
Written by Hope Sandoval & David Roback
Performed by Mazzy Star
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets

User Reviews

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.