Starship Troopers
released 1997
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“Starship Toopers” is an American, military, action, satire, film based on the book of the same name by the one and only Robert A. Heinlein. It was directed by Paul Verhoeven and produced by Jon Davison and Alan Marshall. It stars Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Denise Richards, Jake Busey, Neil Patrik Harris, Clancy Brown, Seth Gilliam, Patrick Muldoon, Michael Ironside, Rue MacClanahan, Marshall Bell, Tyrone Tann, Mohammad Faisal, Michael Gerald, Greg Bronson, Denise Dowse, Ungela Brockman, Dean Norris, Eric Bruskotter, Bruce Gray, R. Lee Ermey, Teo and Anthony Ruivivar among many others. This is a very good film that is both funny and subtle. I highly recommend it and read the book too.

Starship Troopers IMDb website 

“Starship Troopers” takes place in the 23rd century where the entire humanity is at war with a foreign bug species. This war began as humanity achieved space travel and spread out to the stars. The story is given from the point of view of the three main characters John `Johnny´Rico, played by Casper Van Dien, Carmen Ibanez played by Denise Richards, and Carl Jenkins played by Neil Patrick Harris. All three of them join the Earth military for different reasons and achieve different ranks depending on their skill sets like intelligence and psychic ability. The story follows the three friends from the end of high school to their careers in the Earth military.

The fighting that takes place between the human race and the bugs is intense and if you read between the lines you´ll understand why. Just to drop a few clues for those of you that haven´t read any Heinlein or don´t see what is going on, consider the fact that humanity is the invading species in bug territory or how about the long leather coat Carl Jenkins is wearing at the end of the movie when they capture a brain bug. Doesn´t it remind you of the long black, leather coats the Nazis wore during World War II? Basically humanity is spreading out into the galaxy and using their favorite past time to do it.

This is a funny film with a great story and characters you really love from the beginning. Like the character of Ace Levy, played by Jake Busey. His famous line is: “…because everybody should have a friend like me.” and in many ways he´s right. Or the character of Lt. Jean Rasczak, played by Micheal Ironside. He´s rough around the edges but is a very good teacher and role model to the cadets. His famous line is: “Do you want to live forever?” and he lives his life by those words.

I loved the themes of this film. Like the use of propaganda to influence the masses and the real reasons for war. Also the use of fascist symbolism to make the smarter members of the audience question war´s reasons and legitimacy in this case. This was not a movie to support fascism or the heinous Nazi crimes of WW II.

“Starship Troopers” is a timeless, sci-fi classic that is worth the watch. I highly recommend it. You won´t be disappointed.

(Commentary by  www.ink2quill.com )
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