Review of Starship Troopers (1997) by Dave H — 15 Nov 2010

On the surface this is a shallow combination of Beverly Hills 90210, Star Trek and Aliens, an outrageous and uneasy mix of juvenile soap opera, simplistic sci-fi, and jaw-droppingly awesome CGI violence. Would you like to know more?

If you look a little deeper though, at the propaganda public service announcements, the uniforms, the symbols, the parades, the soldier cannon fodder -well it's not exactly a subtle satire on fascism, both of Nazi Germany and the creepy big brother & sheep mentality of today. Would you like to know more?

I love both aspects of the film, the absurd surface shallowness, and the underlying satire. Other might interpret it as a celebration of a fascistic military mindset, but I don't mind that, or the ultimate suggestion that humanity's knee-jerk vengeance on the bugs is as amoral and unjust as their attacks on us (or as -say randomly: America's attack or Iraq). Others won't care about themes, and just saddle up for a OTT ride to "kill 'em all!". Would you like to know more?

There's no real "acting", only hamming it up, but Mary Alice Young, Richter, Blanche Devearaux, Christmas Jones, and yes: Doogie Howser are in it. And knowing Doogie is in it is more than enough for me.