Starship Troopers

Introduction

Just as he did with RoboCop, Paul Verhoeven worked from a script by Edward Neumeier to make a futuristic satirical sci-fi film. Set in an undisclosed point in the future when the human race is at war with 'bugs', Starship Troopers follows school friends Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien), his girlfriend Carmen Ibanez (Denise Richards), Dizzy Flores (Dina Meyer) and Carl Jenkins (Neil Patrick Harris). Inspired to enrol in the armed forces to become citizens by their one-armed war-veteran teacher Jean Rasczak (Michael Ironside), they are split up according to their abilities: Carmen goes off to be a pilot, Carl to military intelligence, but Johnny and Dizzy are only deemed fit for mobile infantry.

Whilst Carmen excels at flight school and is hit on by a suave instructor, Johnny's time in basic training is ruined when his actions lead to the death of a collegue, for which he is publicly flogged and compounded when Carmen breaks up with him. Just as he is about to quit, his home city of Buenos Aires is destroyed by the bugs and he resolves to stay with the Mobile Infantry and fight the bugs.

Video

The picture quality is, at times, breathtaking especially on the bug planets when there are huge numbers of people or bugs swarming all over the landscape and yet you can make out details in the distance. Other scenes have some graining especially close ups but it's not detrimental to the viewing experience and the blend of CGI and model bugs work exceptionally well.

This is one of the best transfers I've seen on Blu-ray and the scenes on the showreel are visually stunning.

*The pictures contained in this review are for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect the image quality of the disc.*

Audio

The English soundtrack comes in PCM 5.1 uncompressed and Dolby Digital 5.1 (unlike the Spanish and French options which have DTS). Unfortunately, my amp can't handle the uncompressed track so I can only comment on the Dolby Digital 5.1 which is excellent, with good separation and is reassuringly loud during the action sequences. It's a shame there is no English DTS option.

Extra Features

Sadly the features are exactly the same as the DVD (except the commentary) and lacks the commentaries and exclusive Blu-ray features that are on the American disc. Since that is region free, it's probably the way to go despite the editing glitch that is absent from this version.


As for the extras that are included, The Making of Starship Troopers is an 8 minute EPK puff piece which is a bit too brief for a film so many action sequences, special effects and characters. There are two Scene De-Constructions each with a commentary by director Paul Verhoeven and a minute long test sequence. In addition there are five deleted scenes, two screen tests and a teaser trailer.

Conclusion

Starship Troopers didn't do particularly well at the box office but has picked up a large following in the home video market. Those that realise it's not a dumb, violent sci-fi movie but a film with something to say with its send-up of fascism (and that includes me) really like Starship Troopers and the other Verhoeven/Neumeier hyper-violent satire, RoboCop.

The acting is good but not great and, unsurprisingly, didn't collect any Oscars, but Phil Tippet's effects work and Verhoeven's direction are excellent. The film is great fun and its step up to Blu-ray has produced an excellent picture and great sound - only tempered by the poor extras.

If you've been hanging on to the original DVD flipper, or even the special edition, neither comes close to the AV quality to be found here. It's a disc worth buying on its own, or as part of the Starship Troopers Trilogy box. Though the extra's are superior on the US release, that disc lacks the uncompressed soundtrack and contains a 6 second editing glitch.