View Full Version : HCR Rates The Movies #17: STARSHIP TROOPERS
So, our next film, Classic or Crud, Hit or Miss, what say you ALL?
Our next film open for discussion, and ultimately an Overall RATING by you all:
STARSHIP TROOPERS
-6LtmRmS31s
Let the discussions flow. Likes, dislikes, classic film or overhyped trash, and DONT FORGET to place an Overall Rating when youre done.
Its easy, just give a Rating from 1 (Jaws 4:The Revenge) to 10 (Jaws), and thats it. Course I'd love to have you all give reasons as to why you feel it deserves this Overall Rating, and more than encourage discussions with us all about them.
So, what say you all?
Next Film: ??????
Mieir Link
12/02/2005, 14:35
Funnily enough I was just watching this movie on T.V. the other day after not seeing it for years. If shrek is the worst at 6.5 I'd have to give this movie a 5, and it would probably be a 4 if it weren't for some nude scenes. :p
anyways, I can't think of one good actor in the movie (unless you want to count doogie howser) and the script was pretty damn cheesy. but it wasn't altogether bad, so thats how I end up with a 5
and on an unrelated note, when the muppet movie is beating the godfather and shawshank redemption I start to lose faith in the system :tired:
Funnily enough I was just watching this movie on T.V. the other day after not seeing it for years. If shrek is the worst at 6.5 I'd have to give this movie a 5, and it would probably be a 4 if it weren't for some nude scenes. :p
anyways, I can't think of one good actor in the movie (unless you want to count doogie howser) and the script was pretty damn cheesy. but it wasn't altogether bad, so thats how I end up with a 5
and on an unrelated note, when the muppet movie is beating the godfather and shawshank redemption I start to lose faith in the system :tired:
Well, ALL of these threads are still OPEN, so go watch The Muppet Movie and give your take on what rating you think it should have. Dont believe its an utterly perfect film in every way, speak your mind and change the final rating for it. :) Thats what these threads are all about, getting ALL of our inputs and coming up with a nice overall score for these movies.
Inbetweener
12/02/2005, 15:03
Well, I have to say I am huge fan of Paul Verhoeven...Robocap, Total Recall, and even Basic Instinct and that really perverted movie he did with Jennifer Jason Leigh and Rutger Hauer, are all great fun and quite unique...however, Verhoeven got seriously bad at filmmaking very quickly in the mid 90s when he directed Showgirls and then again a few years later with the underrated-ly bad Hallow Man, yuk!...to me Starship Troopers really stays consistent with this trend in that it's not a very great movie at all. It is flat and innocuous. When I think of the word "tasteless" I don't label films this way because they are violent and disgusting, but because they are absolutely trite and meaningless.
So, is Starship Troopers an intelligent critique on fascism and war or is it just a high budget b-film with horrible cast that gets our blood boiling because it is cold and ultra-violent? I say it's the latter because the film would look silly as a critique on war merely because it has so many fans drooling to see more of it. Starship Troopers also lacks the same charm and humor that made Robocop so fun and shocking...and it also retreads some of Robocop's strengths and commentary on the future in general.
This is a film diguised as insightful commentary by it's fans and Verhoeven. It gives us an excuse to enjoy violence and mayhem...it's a pretentious reason to enjoy Starship Troopers...personally, I enjoy the unrealistic action sequences and the poor military strategies of the humans, but the film offers very little else. To make a parrallel, I just watched Michael Winterbottom's film "9 Songs". A 70 minute film containing nine explicit sex scenes...and some concert footage of some pretty cool bands. There was nothing else going on though and as much as I enjoyed the gratuitous sex scenes, the film is porn...simple as that. Starship Troopers is violence and nothing else...sorry.
Rating: 4
EmperorNorton
12/02/2005, 15:07
Starship Troopers gets a 7 from me.
It may be violence and nothing else, but sometimes I need exactly that, and when that time comes I prefer Starship Troopers over a lot of movies offering the same.
Inbetweener
12/02/2005, 15:08
Well, ALL of these threads are still OPEN, so go watch The Muppet Movie and give your take on what rating you think it should have. Dont believe its an utterly perfect film in every way, speak your mind and change the final rating for it. :) Thats what these threads are all about, getting ALL of our inputs and coming up with a nice overall score for these movies.
I'm going to do just that (watch the Muppet Movie, after I watch Die Hard, my favorite holiday film) because it is sort of odd that the Godfather falls below it, not too surprising considering the number of people who voted on that one...I love the Muppets though so who knows, perhaps it will stay a 10. :)
Ive gotta say I fall between both parties thus far on this one. On the one hand this film has got some really cool effects, amazingly bloody and violent battle scenes and in the end is a good old fashioned Man vs Aliens film. On the other hand I hated nearly all of the actors (gotta love Glancy Brown and Michael Ironside though, and Doogie was OK)......OK, so I guess its just the 3 main actors I hated, and boy did I ever. Seeing them and whats worse, hearing them on screen in this film makes my blood boil. So half the time Im cheering at the cool battles scenes, the other half Im thinking, did they really just say that? Did that actually just happen, both good and bad, came into my thoughts a few times during this film, Ive gotta say.
All in all not a gut wrenching horrible film, but hardly a good one as well (which I think it really could have been) Overall Ill give this a 6, and Im probably giving it a bit of a boost because inside I am a Sci Fi fan first and foremost.
My rating - 6 / 10
hail_eris
12/02/2005, 15:38
Nice parallel with Nine Songs, Inbetweener. I caught it at the theatre in London and, whoo, was that a weird vibe. Not quite strip club, but definitely something unwholesome was in the air. But we're here to discuss Starship Troopers, a movie that's a lot of CGI and even more missed opportunities. Okay, fascism bad - I get that. Where's the powered armor? That was a big part of the book, and they traded it in for topless Denise Richards (or was that the other girl?). Frankly, I'd rather have had the 'mechs. Personally, I've always felt that Heinlein is a bit overrated as a writer (same for Vonnegut, but that's a whole other discussion). I recognize that he's an important figure in the history of sci fi and its acceptance as a genuine literary form. Still, not a fan. So I came into Starship Troopers not expecting much and getting everything that I'd anticipated. It was fun to watch giant bugs eat people, and putting a Busey in front of a camera is always entertaining in "watching someone walk into a parking meter" sort of way. And I was glad to see that the military industrial complex of the future finally put into production that nuclear grenade I've been trying to sell them. But the "big message" that's supposed to be tucked away under all the digital mayhem? Not feeling it. Average vote's a 4.5 so far. I'll give it a bonus point for starring Michael Ironside, the king of direct to video action films, and a half point for the graphic depiction of the guy from Melrose Place getting his brain sucked out. So that's a 6 for me.
coyotejack
12/02/2005, 15:43
Starship Troopers...woof.
First, I'm of the firm belief that if you truly want to bring your movie down, just add Casper Van Dien. The man has a way of sucking the life out of any character he plays, any movie he's in, and anyone around him generally. (And don't even get me started on Denise Richards...)
Second, Dina Meyer (and her...ahem...assets) couldn't help the plodding plot line and repetitive scenes of this movie. She's the only character I even remotely felt badly for in this whole mess.
Third, is it just me or could this movie have been done in about 30 minutes...45 tops? Considering there was no real character development, every battle was pretty much the same, and nothing was explained beyond small sound bytes they could have saved heaps of cash by making it less than half the length. It's not like there was any real character development going on to take up time. heh
Fourth, the film just looked bad. Poorly filmed, so dark you could barely see what was going on many times. Not to mention some scenes struck me as gross, just for the sake of being gross...and usually that can be funny or even entertaining. In this case it was just uncomfortable.
So considering all of this you might think it was the worst thing in the world to me, but I've seen some truly horrible movies.
As far as a rank I'd have to give it a 3 out of 10.
Maniac_nmt
12/02/2005, 23:26
The movie did have some great special effects, and boot had it's moments
"Sir, why do we need to learn how to throw a knife when you can just push a button and nuke 'em?"
"Put your hand on that wall trooper."
*THWAP*
"ARG!"
"You're enemy cannot press the button if you disable his hand. MEDIC!"
The fight scenes were decent enough. The initial attack on the bugs home planet was done right. A total 'HOLY S####! WHAT DID WE JUST SIGN ON FOR!?!?' type moment.
However, it was a pretty horrible interpretation of Heinlein's classic. No power suits (how on Earth they thought it'd be better to see the actor's faces, nevermind a clear faceplate to the helmet), only the nuke and none of the other great weapons(such as the 30 second bomb, the Y-rack, etc, and even it wasn't as impressive as the book's 'Pee-wees'), no chaplins/priests (this is part of what made Heinlein's book so real, militaries have always had Padres or their equivalents, it added an air of authenticity to the book when the Padre comes arround and blesses them before they go into battle), to many guys in to small an area (in the book one squad covers something like the area of Colorado), women in the MI (stupid political correctness, there are 0, absofreakinlutely ZERO, female MI. Exactly for the the whole sleeping together nonsense. Women are only in the space core, and then because they handle gees better, and a female voice is more soothing when jumping into battle). You miss all the cool aspects of the book in it. Rico's dad doesn't wind up in the MI, no Skinnies, no orbital drops, etc.
I can enjoy it, as long as I tell myself it's just some random future movie, and not Starship Troopers.
5.5/10
I hope someday we get the book in film form. Here's a clue Hollywood, the books are almost always better, and have been fan favorites for a reason (about the only movie/book where the movie is better is the Princess Bride). You don't have to 'jazz' the script up, or make it 'cool/hip'. Tell the story as it was written, and people will like it.
EmperorNorton
12/03/2005, 09:41
Looks like not having read the book enables me to like the movie as it is.
Current HCR Member Rating:
STARSHIP TROOPERS - 5.21 / 10
CarlosMucha
12/03/2005, 15:24
Is funny how good the people form Argentina speak english in this movie, all the stars characteres are from my conuntry wow!
"Let's fight for Buenos Aires!!!!!!!!!"
Hell yea!!
:confused:
Wyldstaar
12/03/2005, 19:19
Having both read the novel and seen the movie, I can't help but be terribly disappointed. As a movie, Starship Troopers is just another summer blockbuster driven solely by FX and pretty faces. Verhoeven took everything that was even remotely interesting about RA Heinlein's novel and tossed it into the bin. The only things that remained were the title, and the names of the characters. You cannot substitute bare breasts for the plot, even ones as impressive as Dina Meyer's. Since they are so nice, I give the movie a rating of-
2
tyroclix
12/03/2005, 19:47
Starship troopers? Egads, crud. I'd rate it a 2 - one for each of Dina Meyer's boobies.
What does Total Recall, RoboCop, and Hollow Man all have in common? Answer: Paul Verhoeven as "director". That right there means its going to stink and Starship Troopers keeps him batting 1.000.
Anything intellectual, thought provoking, or interesting is immeditately removed from anything Paul does. Instead insert someone dying.
Starship Troopers is a mix of sleep-inducing dialogue and moronic action. I know if I were fighting giant bugs I'd send in hordes of humans running pell mell into their clutches.
It just makes no sense what so ever. Its kinda like Star Wars without the... come to think of it its exactly like the recent Star Wars movies. Lots of stuff no one cares about, too much set up, no emotional attachement to the characters and no payoff.
Now if only half way through this post I could have cut to a goofy ad to jar you from your reading experience it could have been just like Starship Troopers...
Gentlegamer
12/03/2005, 21:26
I give Melrose Place in Space a 0.
EmperorNorton
12/04/2005, 06:24
I give Melrose Place in Space a 0.
You'd rather tear your eyes out with a rusty spoon than watch this movie?
Please elaborate!
CarlosMucha
12/04/2005, 11:37
now for real
when this movie was in the theathers in Argentina ALL the people say what this movie was a copy of the bether comic book from argentina of all times: "EL Eternauta"
El Eternauta is about a death snow who fal in Argentina, after that a lot of "bugs" invade the planet and the people try to fight back in a miliatry way, but the special thing about the Eternauta is the artist level and the suspense what is soo brait almost bether what any write novel. Too bad I think is not ANY version in english, guys, you have to read this is you can.
El Eternauta is from 1960's some people tell me here what the novel starship troopers is before. MAYBE El Eternauta is "inspired" by this novel (Like X-Men / Doom Patrol) but the important thing in El Eternauta is what they do in the comic book, the more greatest masterpiece in comic books from my country.
Some images (El Eternauta is a time travel, the funny thing is what he only tale the story of his first life) he use a costume from protection of the death snow):
http://www.historieteca.com.ar/Eternauta/imageter/eter2.jpg
http://www.walthertaborda.com.ar/dibujos/eternauta/eternauta2.jpg
http://ar.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=el+eternauta&sm=Buscar&toggle=1&ei=UTF-8&meta=all%3D1&fl=0&all=1&fr=FP-tab-img-t&b=1
I give to Star Troopwer a 6
I give Melrose Place in Space a 0.
Sorry GG, as stated prior I have to put you down for a minimum of 1.
Currentl HCR Member Rating:
STARSHIP TROOPERS - 4.32 / 10
8. yes you read that correctly; an 8. Is it great? no. Is it fun to watch for its snide asides about war? You think a guy that likes to use the Elemental Freeholds in Mage Knight cares about numbers? Heck no!
I like it in spite of the Melrose Place similarities.......... and besides Denise Richards doesn't need to act, just stand there and look like a Goddess. obviously not the Goddess of Acting.
Casper? bleah.
Clancy Brown and Michael Ironside themselves are worth 2 points each plus some groovy fight scenes and cool special effects are an extra 3.9 points plus...... and this is huge..... they pried Rue Mclanahan away from a Golden Girls set long enough to make the movie. So the ex-Maude factor adds another .1 for an even 8.
I need corproal, you're it until you die or I find someone better.
Current HCR Member Rating:
STARSHIP TROOPERS - 4.63 / 10
I too will give it an 8/10. This movie holds a soft spot in my heart for me. Is it a great story? Not really. Does it have great actors? Nope. However, when you're in a mood to watch gratuitous blasting of bugs, this is your movie! Plus Dina Meyer's boobies are always an added bonus! I haven't read the book, but I've heard good things about it and this movie will probably get me moving to read the book one day.
Maniac_nmt
12/06/2005, 13:41
I too will give it an 8/10. This movie holds a soft spot in my heart for me. Is it a great story? Not really. Does it have great actors? Nope. However, when you're in a mood to watch gratuitous blasting of bugs, this is your movie! Plus Dina Meyer's boobies are always an added bonus! I haven't read the book, but I've heard good things about it and this movie will probably get me moving to read the book one day.
Read it, you'll love it. Much better then the film. You'll know where much of modern sci-fi's power armor/super armored marines vs aliens comes from, and then be crying about the lack of power suits in the movies.
Inbetweener
12/06/2005, 13:42
It's funny, I hardly remember seeing boobs in this movie. I think I remember some brief nudity in the co-ed showers, but that's about it.
EmperorNorton
12/06/2005, 13:44
It's funny, I hardly remember seeing boobs in this movie. I think I remember some brief nudity in the co-ed showers, but that's about it.
There is a second scene where Dina Meyer is topless, but it is equally brief.
Still I found it to be memorable.
Read it, you'll love it. Much better then the film. You'll know where much of modern sci-fi's power armor/super armored marines vs aliens comes from, and then be crying about the lack of power suits in the movies.
I would like to read the book, it's just these days I have so many things I'd like to read, but just can't seem to find the time to get around to it, heh. I watched the TV series a bit in college and it didn't seem half bad to me.
Wyldstaar
12/06/2005, 18:50
It's also available as a book on tape. That's actually how I first read it. My local public library had an unabridged version of the novel on audio cassette. I listened to it while in the car instead of the mindless nonsense on the radio.
hail_eris
12/06/2005, 18:56
I love that the lowest-rated movies (this one and Shrek) are the ones that have generated the most discussion...
Wyldstaar
12/07/2005, 15:01
Yes there has been some discussion, but look at the subject matter. It's mostly either about the far superior novel version of Starship Troopers, or Dina Meyer's breasts. It's not due to a debate over the quality of the film. Even those who've given the movie a rating higher than 6 admit that it's due to an appeal for mindless gore and violence.
The thing that bothers me most about the movie was how the director completely misinterpreted the politics of the novel. In the movie, the Nazi inspired uniforms are obviously meant to indicate a fascist regime that is ruling the world. Fascist rule is a radical liberal dictatorship.
In the novel, Earth is run by an ultra-conservative democracy. The voting process still exists, but only for members of the society who are citizens. The right to become a citizen must be earned by a term of service in the armed forces. Only a citizen can vote or run for an elected position in the government.
Politics in science fiction are often very strange. Star Trek's United Federation of Planets is probably the strangest of all, and most people don't even realize it. Does anyone out there know what it is?
hail_eris
12/07/2005, 15:20
Politics in science fiction are often very strange. Star Trek's United Federation of Planets is probably the strangest of all, and most people don't even realize it. Does anyone out there know what it is?
You think that's strange, look at the government on Naboo. They have an elected queen. It's not a constitutional monarchy, with the queen serving as a symbolic head of state. No, it's some kind of weird tyranny with term limits, where a supremely powerful executive *voluntarily* gives up power after some arbitrary period (presumably so she can fly off and get Force choked by her dark Jedi babydaddy).
CarlosMucha
12/07/2005, 15:23
You think that's strange, look at the government on Naboo. They have an elected queen. It's not a constitutional monarchy, with the queen serving as a symbolic head of state. No, it's some kind of weird tyranny with term limits, where a supremely powerful executive *voluntarily* gives up power after some arbitrary period (presumably so she can fly off and get Force choked by her dark Jedi babydaddy).
wowow, I love that.
EmperorNorton
12/07/2005, 16:19
You think that's strange, look at the government on Naboo. They have an elected queen. It's not a constitutional monarchy, with the queen serving as a symbolic head of state. No, it's some kind of weird tyranny with term limits, where a supremely powerful executive *voluntarily* gives up power after some arbitrary period (presumably so she can fly off and get Force choked by her dark Jedi babydaddy).
That's no weird tyranny, that's the origin of tyranny. Worked pretty well until Julius Caesar.
Also the idea of an elected monarch isn't that strange. Germany has had elected kings for most of the middle ages.
You think that's strange, look at the government on Naboo. They have an elected queen. It's not a constitutional monarchy, with the queen serving as a symbolic head of state. No, it's some kind of weird tyranny with term limits, where a supremely powerful executive *voluntarily* gives up power after some arbitrary period (presumably so she can fly off and get Force choked by her dark Jedi babydaddy).
haha, you said "babydaddy". For some reason, I always get a kick out of that word.
hail_eris
12/08/2005, 14:55
haha, you said "babydaddy". For some reason, I always get a kick out of that word.
Thanks for noticing. I thought "dark Jedi babydaddy" had a poetic rhythm to it.
7.5 from me, this movie is plain fun - great acting not required. Love the violence and humour.
ReZourceman
12/15/2005, 07:10
Im giving a 6.5 out of 10.
Its a very enjoyable movie, and i think the special effects were actually cool. Cool...thats actually a good word for this film, enjoyable and cursed upon for the seqeul.
d_knight7
03/31/2006, 17:56
7/10, enjoyable cheesefest.
hulkamania85
04/01/2006, 15:47
6
Somewhat entertaining, but ### bad acting can get a bit annoying. Favorite character was ### Busey guy. Some nice gore scenes.
Politics in science fiction are often very strange. Star Trek's United Federation of Planets is probably the strangest of all, and most people don't even realize it. Does anyone out there know what it is?
Does Star Trek actually deal with the nitty gritty of Politics are is that simplified?
A funny thing to annoy devout Trekkies with is that this supposed perfect society is a Military society. kinda blows those liberal assertions out of the water don't it?
On the other hand;
Read the Starship Troopers Book! It is fantastic and worth the read, if only for something to discuss..
And yes I was annoyed by the changes made from the book to the movie too but the movie is still enjoyable to me. it's just not Startship Troopers. It's something that took some of the ideas of Heinlein and went hollywood with them...
CarlosMucha
04/10/2006, 00:12
"LET'S FIGHT FOR BUENOS AIRES!"
:p
Y'know, I think I'm going to give it a 6.
Yep, most of the acting is terrible. Yep, there are plot holes you can drive a starship through. But in the end, it is a fun "popcorn" movie - just shut off your brain and watch the pretty pictures.
Of course, when I can't shut off my brain to enjoy it the score plummets. Starship Troopers is one of my favorite Heinlein novels, and boy does this movie just take a dump on its source material! So if I can get my brain to say, "Oh, it's just a movie with the same title and a few characters with the same names," it's good. But if I actually compare it to the book...
Wyldstaar
04/10/2006, 18:57
Does Star Trek actually deal with the nitty gritty of Politics are is that simplified?
A funny thing to annoy devout Trekkies with is that this supposed perfect society is a Military society. kinda blows those liberal assertions out of the water don't it?
On the other hand;
Read the Starship Troopers Book! It is fantastic and worth the read, if only for something to discuss..
And yes I was annoyed by the changes made from the book to the movie too but the movie is still enjoyable to me. it's just not Startship Troopers. It's something that took some of the ideas of Heinlein and went hollywood with them...
They don't delve into the politics very often, but they've done so just enough to realize what sort of society they have. It's actually not a military society. It seems that way only because the shows are about Starfleet and not daily life in The Federation. The original series didn't deal with civilian life at all. The Next Generation dealt with civilians because they were onboard. Most information about civilian life was on TNG. DS9 also had civilians aboard the station, but they were constantly interacting with non-Federation worlds. Some, but only a bit rose from DS9. All insight into the way the non-military lives of The Federation are from these two shows and the films.
We know that there is no money. People are instead provided with an equal rations to provide for their needs regardless of status, sex or creed. We know that every member of society is expected to be a productive member of the Federation. They strive to improve themselves in order to improve their society.
Any of this sound familiar? It will if you've ever studied Marx. Yes that's right boys and girls, the Federation is a Communist Nation!!! Now before everyone gets their shorts in a bunch, you need to realize some things. The Soviet Union, China, Cuba and all the other various "Communist" countries that have existed were not really communists. True communism doesn't work. It relies on the notion that those in power will actually provide for the people rather than exploit them and use their power to improve their lifestyles. Modern humans are of course completely incapable of this. So-called communist countries immediately become dictatorships designed to secure and expand the ruler's power base.
The "humans" of Star Trek (from TNG and beyond that is) don't behave anything like modern humans. They're far less agressive, and desperate to end things peacefully at almost any cost (especially in TNG). The sort of people who exist in that universe are able to make communism work because they're nothing like us. They're Gene Roddenberry's idea of what humans will some day evolve into.
We know that there is no money. People are instead provided with an equal rations to provide for their needs regardless of status, sex or creed. We know that every member of society is expected to be a productive member of the Federation. They strive to improve themselves in order to improve their society.
Actually this isn't quite so.
Money exists in the form of latinum, as any episode with Ferengi would demonstrate.
My guess is that people get everything to a certain level free, and luxuries they can buy for themselves.
I'm also not sure that there is any expectation for people to do things.
People seem able to just drift around doing whatever they like.
Jake Sisco chose to become an author...I doubt there was any great push to recruit writers.
Anyway...Starship Troopers...I found it good fun...It deserves 7.75 or so.
Wyldstaar
04/11/2006, 18:59
Latinum is a Ferengi mode of currency, not the Federation. Latinum was also used by several other species, but they were also not members of the Federation. Jake Sisco is pretty much the only Federation citizen ever featured on a regular basis who wasn't in Starfleet. Being an author is a productive thing to do, and he didn't drift about. He became a war correspondant during the conflict with the Dominion, which was also a contribution to society. Just because you're an artist, musician or author doesn't mean you don't contribute. On the contrary, a society without culture isn't much of a civilization at all.
Latinum is a Ferengi mode of currency, not the Federation. Latinum was also used by several other species, but they were also not members of the Federation. Jake Sisco is pretty much the only Federation citizen ever featured on a regular basis who wasn't in Starfleet. Being an author is a productive thing to do, and he didn't drift about. He became a war correspondant during the conflict with the Dominion, which was also a contribution to society. Just because you're an artist, musician or author doesn't mean you don't contribute. On the contrary, a society without culture isn't much of a civilization at all.
The episodes that focused on him being an author suggest otherwise.
One in particular had him spending his entire life focused on the purely personal
quest of rescuing his father from a (for want of a better term) "time warp".
I wasn't putting down writers as much as I was pointing out that his focus
often pleased himself.
Latinum is a universally accepted currency.
It may not be the currency of the Federation, but it is a currency accepted by
the Federation.
Wyldstaar
04/11/2006, 23:17
True enough. An organization as vast as the Federation would need to use hard currency of some sort when dealing with civilizations who don't share their high minded ideals. Jake did wander a bit, but he was just a kid. Being over eighteen doesn't make you an adult. As for that goofy time warp episode, that seemed more like a tale of obsession than anything else.
Regardless, the novel of Starship Troopers is an absolute must read. I wish I'd read it when I was a younger. It might have given me a better view of the military and society in general. Heinlien was an extremely versatile writer. It's hard to believe that the same person who wrote an ultra-conservative novel like Starship Troopers also wrote the mega-liberal A Stranger in a Strange Land.
conservative books turned into liberal movies? Sounds like V for Vendetta :)
anyhoo, 7.0 for Starship Troopers
7/10 ... I know this is totally overrated (look at my pros and cons), but I like to watch the movie, it's always great fun (well, you can certainly skip many scenes in it, and I do when I watch it).
Pros : Probably the best looking aliens seen in a movie (in my opinion, and way after the Aliens and the Predators of course, Aliens being the most beautiful ones ever created (thanks Giger)). Nice battle scenes (tactically stupid, but gore enough to please me).
Cons : Where are the actors in this movie (Denise Richards and Casper Van Dien may be models, but they do not know how to act, and I don't even speak of the other ones - except for Michael Ironside, who will always hold a place in my heart because of V and Scanners :p)? And, as it was previously said, where are the battle suits ? I love Heinlein novel, and seeing footsoldiers fighting almost naked against giant bugs is ridiculous ... Verhoeven once again made a loosy movie (Robocop was funny though, but Basic Instinct and Hollow Man ... :disappoin).
the itsy bit
08/10/2006, 07:42
6.5/10
nice fun mindless sci-fi movie, seems like I have to read the book though..
"to your left you see a bug which isn't really there, but will be there after special effects" Paul Verhoeven in the commentary DVD.
Paul Verhoeven made some bad films: Starship troopers,showgirls
worse films: Hollow man...
good films: Total recall etc.
you just never know what you are going to get..
The movie is a flawed version of the novel (from Heinlein's 'juvenile' canon), but for pure hack-factor it deserves a 7.5/10 . It has a deceptively simple plot, and the one-dimensional characters that would otherwise be a fatal flaw get a pass from me because this is an ensemble movie.
The gruesome special effects are definitely offensive if you aren't expecting them, but if you know what you are in for, it is a fun ride.
For what is, and intended to be, I have to give it a 9/10.
I know it wasnt the most quality of films, but for serious sci-fi folk (unlike myself), it really is a cool movie.
I actually went to see it in theaters more than once, because I remember it being the best film in that genre that I had seen, since Total Recall. That is more than a few years between quality. For that alone, I give it a 9.
Sadly, I still enjoy it now and again on TBS.....
the itsy bit
11/07/2008, 18:14
I jus saw that there are 2 sequels to Starship troopers. are they any good ?
It is what it is. It delivers the action, has cool aliens running around and I love watching this film. Is it a great film? No. Some of the acting is sub par, I'm looking at you Ricco. Michael Ironside did a good job.
6/10
I jus saw that there are 2 sequels to Starship troopers. are they any good ?
In a word (or two).... No and NO! :)
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