Rating: 
Summary: Human arrogance takes center stage
Review: Thanks to BKN, I've been privy to see these episodes beforehand and I have to commend their creators. Without trying to be vague and still ease people's apprehension (I was allowed to see the episodes in order and hate spoilers, so forgive my vagueness), this series, while showing us the flaws in the bipedal killing machine, works on a few levels. It doesn't simply give the viewer an army of bugs as they are overrun, but instead continues with the progression of the characters and their unfortunate plight. Thusfar, we, the viewers, have watched our beloved Roughnecks turn from rookies into hardened veterans as they've faced down adversity and droves of bugs. Still, the series outdoes itself in this set of episodes, leading us even further down paths that weren't so easily predicted. They manage, in the battle for the bugs home planet, to pull out all the stops and show us a battle worthy of our attention. Certainly, we all knew that this was coming, but what we didn't know was the wonderful surprise that leads our Roughnecks, like cattle, into the next, and final, installation of the series. Personally, I think this was the second best piece of the Starship Troopers Campaign, and was the best to come along thusfar. Still, what else would you expect from bugs defending their homes?
I highly recommend the whole series, but I recommend this DVD and the next as two that are definitely worth purchasing. (Thank you, BKN!!!)
Rating:
Summary: TAKING THE WAR TO THE BUGS
Review: The Roughnecks bring the war to the bugs in "The Klendathu Campaign", the latest DVD release from the Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles series. The story opens with the Valley Forge being hijacked by an intruder with intimate knowlege of the ship. (Unfortunately the identity and origin of this intruder is explained in the previous 'Ice Asteroid Campaign' which is not yet released)The Roughnecks pursue the intruder forcing him to escape in a rescue pod, but not before he pilots the ship to Klendathu, the bug's home world. This marks the beginning of SICON's massive attack on the bug home. The Roughnecks participate in a massive 'D-Day' style invasion of Klendathu, confront an old friend now turned enemy and face a last stand against bug hoards in an abandoned trench. In the dramatic conclusion to the campaign Razak's squad is reunited with a long lost comrade to participate in a commando raid to destroy the arachnid queen and bring the war to a swift end.
The Klendathu Campaign is a thrilling continuation of the Roughnecks saga. The CGI by Foundation Imaging just continues to grow more subtle and sophisticated. The staging area, Klendathu is a fetid fog covered world swarming with seas of bugs. Battles range from massive invasions to search and destroy missions and even commando raids deep within enemy territory. The stories remain remarkably subtle and complex for American animation. The characters continue to grow and change; another Roughneck is lost to a crippling injury, an old squadmate returns but has changed in frightening ways, gung-ho Dizzy experiences self-doubt, while Rico begins to show leadership mettle. The series even pauses from endless battles to let the Roughnecks compose heartfelt messages home from battle (in 'Letters Home') This DVD is a must for any serious fan of animation and first rate story-telling.
Rating:
Summary: Klendathu's Forecast: Expect high temperatures...and Bugs!!!
Review: This disc contains episodes 26 thru 30 of Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles (40 episodes altogether). This campaign has it all - a full scale D-Day invasion of the Bug's homeworld (Klendathu), a very changed Zander Barcalow trying to create a very crude Human-Arachnid hybrid, troopers sending video-taped "letters home" to loved ones during the lulls of trench warfare, tactical nuclear strikes, acid spitting Bugs, and the return of an old friend to help hunt down a new foe. This is Roughnecks near its peak performance, some of the best episodes of the whole series!Be sure to check out the Filmmakers' and Technical commentaries, they definitely make the disk worthy of repeat viewing. There is no picture gallery on this DVD, but the galleries on the Hydora and Tophet DVDs are so extensive that additional galleries at this point would probably be redundant. Oh yeah, and there is FINALLY a decent trailer for the rest of the Roughnecks series included on this disc. If you're a die-hard Roughnecks fan (like myself), this is a great disc to show your friends and family in order to hook them on the series!
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