Review of Starship Troopers (1997) By Mike

Title: Starship Troopers

Original UK Release Date: 2^nd January 1998

Original US Release Date:  7^th November 1997

UK Rating: R

US Rating: 15

Director: Paul Verhoeven

Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Horror

Plot: In the future, mankind is at war with an alien race of giant bugs. The fight for survival takes place throughout the galaxy.


Mike's Review

            Starship Troopers is a great Science Fiction movie. It is based on a book by Robert A. Heinlein. In the future, mankind is exploring the universe and encroach upon the territory of alien bugs and war begins. The insects are only responding to a threat of their territory and are trying to fight off the invaders. The clever use of insects as the aliens makes this film stand apart from other space movies.

            The cast is great. It is made up of great actors, many of who at the time were  relatively unknown including Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Jake Busey and Denise Richards, mixed with established stars like Clancy Brown, Neil Patrick Harris and Michael Ironside, taking minor roles. The star of the movie is hard to choose between Dina Meyer, Casper Van Dien (both of who suffered injuries while making this, Casper broke a rib and Dina suffered a concussion) and the bugs! However I am going to have to say the bugs are the stars. The use of real and CGI in this film is great. The bugs are a formidable foe and a very creative one. They are numerous and relentless. Cleverly the use of different species of bugs makes for some great surprises.

            The battles are epic and bloody. This is not a film for the squeamish, every battle is like a futuristic opening scene to Saving Private Ryan. People die in horrific ways, bodies and limbs are ripped apart and even main characters don’t always survive, something I always appreciate in a film as it keeps the viewer guessing.

            But it is not all about war, there is a good amount of comedy and even romance in this movie. It is a great film and in the category of action Sci-Fi one of the best.

10 out of 10

Additional Information

Stand out performance: The bugs!

Trailer