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Starship Troopers

“Starship Troopers” is a difficult movie to peg but an easy movie to watch, unless you have a weak stomach. The violence present in this bombastic, tongue in cheek science fiction spectacle is at times so over the top my eyebrows were sore the next day from being raised so often. Heck, violence aside, there’s a plethora of things in the film that will have you mumbling under your breath things like, “what?” and “why?” That though, is what makes “Starship Troopers” a pleasure to watch.

In theory, “Starship Troopers” is based on the '60s novel by Robert A. Heinlein. Really though, the film is most influenced by James Cameron’s “Aliens,” and the videogame, “Starcraft.” The latter statement should give you an idea of what to expect: It’s men with giant, cool looking guns vs. creepy bug looking aliens, only without solid characters, a sound narrative, and cinematic restraint; instead it’s over the top: BLOOD, NUDITY, GUNS, SATIRE.

You read that last word correctly. “Starship Troopers,” although I can’t be entirely sure of this, has moments of satire with a political edge. With eyebrow raising (this word sums up the movie perfectly if you hadn’t already realized) jingoism, idiotic heroism, and ridiculously stupid military tactics, the world of “Starship Troopers” somewhat successfully sucker punches political war hounds always looking for a fight. There are no real ends though; if it is indeed satire and not ridiculously bad storytelling, for having such a forceful presence, the satire does nothing with the subject—merely beats its own point to death.

Casper Van Dien makes for a comically macho lead; Denise Richards as one of his love interests is attractive but banal; Dina Meyer as his other love interest is attractive, but less so than Denise Richards and even more banal. If you think these are tough, simplistic terms to deal with the human leads, I’m merely working with the movie on its own terms. Storytelling and characters are dealt with as a second thought—the forefront is on the action. Luckily, it delivers.

I’ll be honest, the other faults of the film aside, it’s really cool to watch these severely undermatched humans fight against these giant, anatomically impossible creatures. It doesn’t win points for subtlety, but it will get the heart and fists pumping.

“Starship Troopers” is by no means a good film. But you know what? I like talking about this film: It’s fun, it’s mind-numbing, it’s entertainment baby.

Written by: Matthew Doyle

Reviewers Rating: 6
Reader's Rating: 5.00
Reader's Votes: 1

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