Search - Starship Troopers

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

1997	Best Visual Effects (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Phil Tippett
1997	Best Visual Effects (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Scott E. Anderson
1997	Best Visual Effects (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Alec Gillis
1997	Best Visual Effects (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	John Richardson

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

These movies followed Starship Troopers...
29	Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation [Special Edition] (R)
These movies share cast/crew with Starship Troopers...
63	Robocop (R)
48	Showgirls (NC-17)
2	Soldier of Orange (R)
36	Robocop 2 [Special Edition] (R)
7	Flesh and Blood (NR)
115	Total Recall (R)
77	Basic Instinct (R)
1	Spetters (NR)
14	Piranha (NR)
18	Twilight Zone: The Movie [HD DVD] (PG)
4	Frankenstein Unbound (R)
S	Business is Business (NR)
2	The Hitchhiker (NR)
2	Turkish Delight (NR)
1	Keetje Tippel (NR)
2	The Fourth Man (NR)
3	Birdy (R)
21	Trapped in Paradise (PG-13)
2	White Dog
32	Top Secret! (PG)
1	Shoot the Moon (R)
These movies cover the same subjects as Starship Troopers...
22	The Puppet Masters (R)
1	Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles - Trackers (NR)
These movies are similar to Starship Troopers...
50	Aliens [Special Edition] (R)
74	Full Metal Jacket (R)
63	Robocop (R)
115	Total Recall (R)
97	Independence Day [Special Edition] (PG-13)
33	Alien Resurrection (R)
75	Lost in Space (PG-13)
47	Battlefield Earth (PG-13)
50	Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within [Special Edition] (PG-13)
117	Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones [Fullscreen] (PG)
7	Returner (R)
18	Wing Commander (PG-13)
110	The Chronicles of Riddick [Fullscreen] (PG-13)
11	Screamers [Widescreen/Fullscreen] (R)