Starship Troopers (1997)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Paul Verhoeven

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

7 November 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Genocide doesn't compare to this.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Military | Future | Alien | Space | Insect

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 11 nominations

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Casper Van Dien	...	Johnny Rico
Dina Meyer	...	Dizzy Flores
Denise Richards	...	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

Also Known As:

Starship Troopers (Austria) (Germany) [de]
Infanteria stelara (Romania) [ro]
Invasión (Starship Troopers) (Argentina) [es]
Les patrouilleurs de l'espace (Canada: French title) [fr]
Soldados do Universo (Portugal) [pt]
Starship Troopers (France) [fr]
Starship Troopers - Fanteria dello spazio (Italy) [it]
Starship troopers - Universumin sotilaat (Finland) [fi]
Starship troopers: Las brigadas del espacio (Spain) [es]
Svemirski marinci (Croatia) (TV title) [hr]
Svemirski vojnici (Serbia) [sr]
Tropas Estelares (Brazil) [pt]
Vesoljski bojevniki (Slovenia) [sl]
Yildiz gemisi askerleri (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Zolnierze kosmosu (Poland) [pl]

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS (8 channels) | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:PG (TV rating) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 (video rating) (cut) | South Korea:18 (original rating) | Canada:18A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Belgium:KNT | Brazil:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Chile:14 | Denmark:11 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:Not Rated (SPIO/JK) (video rating) (uncut) | Germany:18 (theatrical rating) (uncut) | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Italy:T | Japan:PG-12 | Mexico:C | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (original rating) | UK:18 (video rating) | USA:R (No. 34343) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Agoura Hills, California, USA

Company:

TriStar Pictures

Trivia:

More ammunition was used in this film than in any previous movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: While defending the fort, Rico removes his helmet to make a radio call. When he does this, his hair is messed up. However, before placing the helmet back on, he is seen again with perfect hair.

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.

Movie Connections:

References All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

Soundtrack:

I Have Not Been To Oxford Town

It's all about the battle, not the enemy.

This movie is about war and militaristic society and its effect on mankind. I agree with Leonard Maltin (the professional movie critic) that everything is directly modeled on WWII battles and WWII movies.

The enemy is irrelevant, and characterizing the enemy is not important. That is why we never get any explanation for why the bugs are attacking us, how their weapons work, etc.

The movie is extremely gory to make the point that "war is hell", and war consists of a lot of "blood and guts". It is also making the point that our tolerance for violence is constantly accelerating. In this future world, it is no big deal to get stabbed through any part of the body, it is even a part of military training. Pain is of no concern, you simply call for "Medic!" and get on down the road.

The movie does not try to be cute or funny. The viewer does not have to listen to the aliens being called all sort of combinations of cuss words by the heroes.

The characters are realistic. They sometimes do the right things for the wrong reasons and vice versa. At times we are not sure who is good and who is self-motivated.

I also liked the shower scene. Just the concept of 19 year-old, physically-fit, men and women casually showering and bunking together is fascinating.

It is obviously one of those movies that you either love or hate.