Search - Starship Troopers on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Graphic Violence, Brief Nudity, Questionable for Children, Profanity, Sci-Fi Violence Movie Release: 1997 DVD Release: 05/20/1998 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 10 mins Studio: Columbia TriStar Total Copies: 6 Genres: Science Fiction, Action Thriller, Sci-Fi Action, War Adventure, Political Satire See Also: Starship Troopers [Special Edition], Starship Troopers [Superbit], Starship Troopers [UMD for PSP], Starship Troopers [Repackaged], Starship Troopers, Starship Troopers [Blu-ray], Starship Troopers [Includes Digital Copy]

Director Paul Verhoeven (Showgirls, Total Recall) reunited many from his 1987 Robocop team for this $100-million science fiction adventure, adapted from Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 novel, originally serialized in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (October-November, 1959). After graduation, Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien) volunteers for the Mobile Infantry to do his Federal service -- but also to win over his girlfriend, Carmen Ibanez (Denise Richards), who has signed with the Fleet Academy to become a starship pilot. Johnny joins other boot-camp recruits -- Dizzy Flores (Dina Meyer), who has had a crush on Johnny since school, and Ace Levy (Jake Busey). Ace and Johnny become pals, and Johnny's abilities earn him the squad leader position. A training accident occurs on Johnny's watch, and he is about to resign when Earth is attacked by alien insects intent on eradicating all human life. Johnny's home, Buenos Aires, is no longer on the map. Horrified, he chooses to stay on and fight to destroy the insect threat. The Mobile Infantry travels to the planet Klendathu to battle the warrior bugs, a ruthless enemy with only one goal -- survival of their species no matter what. In the initial encounter, some 100,000 lives are lost. At a distant fort, Johnny's unit discovers that the bugs drain brains to acquire knowledge. Soon they are overwhelmed by an advancing arthropod army of immense proportions, attacking both in space and on the planet surface. The notion of human extinction becomes a possibility. For this $100-million production, some 300 artists and technicians combined models and miniatures with CGI effects to fashion a variety of creatures -- from breeder bugs to armored tanker bugs. The film employed hundreds of extras and has over 500 visual effects shots. Filming began 4/29/96 in California (LA and Long Beach, where Cal State's pyramid gym was used for the Jumpball game), New York, South Dakota, Wyoming (Casper, Hell's Half Acre), and Utah (an abandoned Wendover airstrip where the Enola Gay WWII bomber crew trained). At an abandoned airfield in Fountain Valley, California, an elaborate set was constructed to resemble a military boot camp of the future -- complete with an array of pup tents, gull-winged spaceships, hurdle obstacle course, and training facility buildings. Cinematography by Jost Vacano (Showgirls). Licensed products include Lewis Galoob Inc. toys. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

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
Michael Ironside - Jean Rasczak

Paul Verhoeven's satirical, ultra-violent sci-fi movie has become a modern cult classic. Presenting the movie in a pristine 1.85:1 widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital Sound, this DVD is immensely entertaining and bombastic throughout its 130-minute running time. The sound effects pack quite a punch, as laser gunfire and alien death scream out of the DVD; dialogue is clear and precise as the humorous soap-opera quality plot unfolds.
The supplemental material is also quite good. The filmmaker's commentary by Verhoeven and writer Ed Neumeier is a funny, informative good time which runs the length of the feature. "Scene Selections" allows instant access to each of the DVD's 28 chapters. Side two contains the larger slice of special features. The documentary is of the promotional variety; it's basically a seven-minute advertisement for the movie with limited behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and film clips. Five deleted scenes add substance (or what passes for substance) to the relationships between characters played by Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, and Patrick Muldoon. Fans of Denise Richards may be particularly happy with the somewhat risqué content. Two brief "Scene Development" chapters give a glimpse into the early stages of the special effects. The screen tests of Casper Van Dien with Denise Richards are enjoyable and interesting, and the bugs' screen test is funny and twisted. Also included is a theatrical trailer presented in full-frame format, rounding out this excellent DVD. ~ Tim DiGravina, All Movie Guide