Plot
Humans of a fascistic, militaristic future do battle with giant alien bugs in a fight for survival.
Release Year: 1997
Rating: 7.1/10 (114,905 voted)
Critic's Score: 51/100
Director:
Paul Verhoeven
Stars: Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Dina Meyer
Storyline In the distant future high school kids are encouraged to become citizens by joining the military. What they don't know is that they'll soon be engaged in a full scale war against a planet of alien insects. The fight is on to ensure the safety of humanity.
Writers: Edward Neumeier, Robert A. Heinlein
Cast: Casper Van Dien
-
Johnny Rico
Dina Meyer
-
Dizzy Flores
Denise Richards
-
Lt. Carmen Ibanez
Jake Busey
-
Ace Levy
Neil Patrick Harris
-
Carl Jenkins
Clancy Brown
-
Sgt. Zim
Seth Gilliam
-
Sugar Watkins
Patrick Muldoon
-
Zander Barcalow
Michael Ironside
-
Jean Rasczak
Rue McClanahan
-
Biology Teacher
Marshall Bell
-
General Owen
Eric Bruskotter
-
Breckinridge
Matt Levin
-
Kitten Smith
Blake Lindsley
-
Katrina
Anthony Ruivivar
-
Shujimi
Taglines:
In Every age there is a cause worth fighting for, but in the future the greatest threat to our survival will not be man at all. Now the youth of tomorrow must travel across the stars to face an enemy more devastating then any ever imagined.
Release Date: 7 November 1997
Filming Locations: Agoura Hills, California, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $100,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $22,058,773
(USA)
(9 November 1997)
(2971 Screens)
Gross: $65,000,000
(Worldwide)
(10 May 1998)
(except USA)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
Fort Ticonderoga is a real fort in upstate New York that was active during the mid 18th century. It was used during the 7-years war with the French and then again during the American Revolution against the British by American troops.
Goofs:
Continuity:
A bug's leg pierces Carmen's shoulder when she is captured. After rescue by Johnny, the blood remains, but her uniform has no visible hole. She also seems noticeably unaffected by the injury, able to use her shoulder easily.
Quotes:
[first lines]
Newsreel announcer:
Young people from all over the globe are joining up to fight for the future.
Soldier #1:
I'm doing my part.
Soldier #2:
I'm doing my part.
Soldier #3:
I'm doing my part.
Young kid dressed up as a soldier:
I'm doing my part too.
[Soldiers laugh]
Newsreel announcer:
They're doing their part. Are you? Join the Mobile Infantry and save the world. Service guarantees citizenship.
User Review
Better -- and more disturbing -- each time I watch it
Rating:
This movie never fails to generate strong reactions, both positive and
negative.
Much of the negative criticizes the wooden acting, soap-opera beautiful
stars, and unreasonably military tactics that lead to an enormous human body
count.
But that misses the whole point. The actors and plotlines are supposed to
be caricatures of themselves. We are presented with a seemingly utopian
society, where everyone is beautiful, the world is united under a single
government, and patriotism is rampant.
The further the movie goes, the more the viewer realizes just how horrific
this supposed utopia really is. Patriotism is exploited to trick young men
and women into going off to a pointless war. The beautiful people are
mercilessly chopped to pieces by their insectoid opponents. And the united
world government uses its control of the media to brainwash the public into
supporting this bloody war.
Yes, the Nazi symbolism is a little heavy-handed. But that's the whole
point -- the intertwining of this "perfect" society with such a deeply evil
subtext is supposed to be disturbing. What's even more disturbing is how
close to our recent (American) history this movie truly is. Yes, it's a
caricature, but it's a caricature of a very real and frightening
phenomenon.
How different are the government propaganda ads in Starship Troopers from
the "Loose Lips Sink Ships" campaign or the "10% for War Bonds" posters in
1940s U.S.? How dangerous is it to have a society where everyone looks the
same, thinks the same, and acts the same, even to their own death? This is
the message behind Starship Troopers, and it's a chilling one at
that.
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