If I could describe Starship Troopers ina sentence, it'd be this: a movie that has a lot of good stuff, a lot of bad stuff, but its tone and world building ultimately push it into the good category. Paul Verhoeven - one of the 90s most prolific directors - clearly intended this movie to have a campy, tongue-in-cheek tone.
People tell me that Verhoeven was clearly aware that the source material is supposed to be critical of the militaristic, Spartan like civilization that exists in the story. I'm sure he was, but he doesn't really convey that here. The film instead has an almost 1950s sci fi movie flair, with then patriotism intact (except not for the United States, but a "world civilization" where everyone speaks English and sounds American, especially Buenos Aires). I'm fine with that; I think on that level, the film is a fine, schlocky B movie.
But if we're going to pretend this film really wants to explore militarism, war, the toll it takes on society...it just doesn't. I'm sorry.
Most of this film is strictly interpersonal drama or individual motivations; a lot of it is clunky and melodramatic. Almost comically so at times; I'm sorry, I just didn't care about the love triangle between Rico, Carmen, and the other girl. At times, the tone is almost like a teen drama, and it's unintentionally hilarious.
However, when the movie gets to the human-bug conflict, it's pretty great. Verhoeven's films are known for their iconic gore, and this one does not disappoint. The battle scenes have some unbelievably dumb tactics notwithstanding; they definitely bugged me. But, they're fun overall. Verhoeven decides to make the humans lose or barely escape every encounter, which really elevates the threat of the Arachnids. Who, by the way, look awesome, event with the late 90s CGI.
While it's probably a smidge too long, unbelievably cheesy at times, and could've spent a bit more time on the interesting themes the book explores, this is a lot of fun. It's a great movie to watch with people, and a blast when it gets going.
People tell me that Verhoeven was clearly aware that the source material is supposed to be critical of the militaristic, Spartan like civilization that exists in the story. I'm sure he was, but he doesn't really convey that here. The film instead has an almost 1950s sci fi movie flair, with then patriotism intact (except not for the United States, but a "world civilization" where everyone speaks English and sounds American, especially Buenos Aires). I'm fine with that; I think on that level, the film is a fine, schlocky B movie.
But if we're going to pretend this film really wants to explore militarism, war, the toll it takes on society...it just doesn't. I'm sorry.
Most of this film is strictly interpersonal drama or individual motivations; a lot of it is clunky and melodramatic. Almost comically so at times; I'm sorry, I just didn't care about the love triangle between Rico, Carmen, and the other girl. At times, the tone is almost like a teen drama, and it's unintentionally hilarious.
However, when the movie gets to the human-bug conflict, it's pretty great. Verhoeven's films are known for their iconic gore, and this one does not disappoint. The battle scenes have some unbelievably dumb tactics notwithstanding; they definitely bugged me. But, they're fun overall. Verhoeven decides to make the humans lose or barely escape every encounter, which really elevates the threat of the Arachnids. Who, by the way, look awesome, event with the late 90s CGI.
While it's probably a smidge too long, unbelievably cheesy at times, and could've spent a bit more time on the interesting themes the book explores, this is a lot of fun. It's a great movie to watch with people, and a blast when it gets going.