"Everyone fights, no one quits. If you don't do your job, I'll shoot you myself."-- Lt. Rasczak

Most mainstream critics went potty training on "Starship Troopers" upon its initial release. I guess most of them forgot to bring their sense of humor along with that butt plug that was buried deep inside their anal orifice. I remember some critics actually branding Paul Verhoeven a fascist supporter. They actually took all of this amusing nonsense seriously! You would have thought that lines like “Shoot a nuke down a bug hole, you got a lot of dead bugs.” or the sight of a brain bug with a vagina-esque mouth would’ve been strong enough hints that this flick was made for kicks! Damn mooks…

As for me, this is what I like to call a “what the fuck else do you want” type of genre film. I mean, you got it all here. You want sympathetic leads and an entertaining love story? You got it!  The characters are developed enough for us to care and for a movie of this type, that’s all I asked for. The soft stuff between Rico, Dizzy, Carmen and Zander definitely kept me going like a teen girl palming off to 90210. Maybe you’re also craving some humor to go with that sweet syrup? BINGO, it's here too! Let’s face it; this is the “Archie” comic gang going to war. They’re all in the house: Archie aka Rico, Reggie aka Zander, Betty aka Dizz and Veronica aka Carmen. That in itself is freaking funny!  We also get a heavy dose of black humor (like the no BS Sergeant played by the great Clancy Brown screaming “Medic” every time he butchers a student) and a thick spread of  tongue in cheek satirical humor (like the various Federation Network “Join Now” adds…freaking hilarious)!  

How about some gnarly macho military tough guy/chick posturing to get your rocks off? It's here too! The first hour is basically a delicious trip down boot camp lane that had me smiling wholeheartedly (think the first half of "Full Metal Jacket" but tongue in cheek). Gore, did somebody say gore? I KNOW YOU DID! Well, this flick is jam-packed with plasma soaked flying torsos, and dismembered humans/bugs up the freaking wap-bam-boom! Anything else??? Action! Relentless action, you say?? Well, this sucker’s last hour offers enough various killer bugs (like flying bugs, fire spaying bugs…the works) and machine gun parties to please the most hardcore “Soldier of Fortune” reader. You’ll jizz your pants in ecstasy! Let’s face it; you always know you’re ok when there’s a dude in the film that pulls a Hudson (from "Aliens") on our asses. He sprays heavy fire on the bug shouting: "You want some?” ra-ta-tat! "Oh you want some too?" ra-ta-ta! GOOD SHITE!

Distributor: Columbia Tri-Star

IMAGE: The Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1 image is crisp and clear. Overall spotless.

SOUND: The English (Dolby Digital 5.1) backs the many sounds, score and dialogue perfectly. This film never sounded better. We also get a French Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo option.

EXTRAS:

Exclusive new documentary: Death From Above (30 minutes): This feature takes a look back at the film, has the screenwriter come in to discuss how he came about doing the project, has the cast comment on their experience on the shoot and their characters. The WW2 influences of the film are also explored, we get lots of set footage and Paul Verhoeven comments on the negative reaction the critics had upon the film’s release. All in all, a very interesting and complete feature. Good stuff!

Know your foe: Special Effects featurette (1-6 minutes each): This feature has the director, the special effects dudes and the producer comment on the bugs while the feature visually explores what they are and how they were created. We get a look at: The Warrior Bug, The Tanker Bug, The Hopper Bug, The Plasma Bug, The Brain Bug. If you play them individually you get an informative chart about the bug in question that pops up before the reel, if you play them all at the same time, you don’t get the charts. A fun extra.

The Starships of Starship Troopers (3 minutes): Scott E. Anderson (effects dude) and Paul Verhoeven come in to talk about their intentions in regards to the design of the ships and we get to know how some of the effects were done. Short but informative.

Special Effects Comparison (about 1 minute each): This feature simultaneously shows us scenes from the film and the same scene in its more primal stage (blue screen what-not). The scenes are: Fednet Klendathu / Censored / Carmen Pilots Fleet Trainer / Asteroid Grazing / Klendathu. I dug it.

Storyboard Comparisons (between 2-6 minutes each): This feature shows us three scenes with the storyboards for each respective scene unraveling at the same time. The scenes are: Asteroid Grazing / Klendathu Landing / Hopper Canyon. It’s always kool to compare what was planned and what was shot.

Vintage Featurette: The Making of Starship Troopers (8 minutes): This features takes a quick look at the actors talking about their parts, Verhoeven explaining the message of the film, a look at how the effects were created and Phil Tippett at work. Fast and painless, it’s more like a promo capsule than a featurette.

Scene deconstruction with Paul Verhoeven (3 minutes each): Through storyboards, effect less shots, the animatic shots and a Paul Verhoeven commentary, we are told how two effect-heavy scenes from the film were created. Slick stuff.

Deleted Scenes: 5 deleted scenes. They are: High School Lawn, Transporter, Zandre’s Consoles Carmen, Carmen’s Cabin, Last Kiss. I dug Last Kiss in particular. Both Rico and Carmen make out in the end here, I wanted to see those crazy kids back together while watching the movie and now I got to see it. Ahhhhh.

Screen tests (2 minutes): Two separate screen tests with Casper Van Dien and Denise Richards together. Both actors are actually very good in their scenes; dare I say...better than in the movie?  

Bug Test Film: Don’t Look Now (1 minute): This short but funny test has Paul Verhoeven introducing the test, followed by some dude chased by two giant bugs and imminently killed. Fun times!

We also get a Paul Verhoeven and Ed Neumeier Commentary, a Cast and Crew Commentary, a Basil Poledouris commentary with isolated score a Conceptual Art Gallery, a Cast and Crew Filmography and Theatrical Trailers (Starship Troopers- Final Fantasy- Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles- Resident Evil)

The flick is loosely based on the book "Starship Troopers" by Robert Heinlein.

Director Paul Verhoeven and cinematographer Jost Vacano shot one take of the co-ed nude shower scene butt naked. Dina Meyer (Dizz) dared them to do it.

"Starship Troopers" is the movie that has used the most ammunition in the history of film.