Rating: 
Summary: Was this a comedy?
Review: I'm serious...was this movie supposed to be a dramatic war movie or a knee-slapping comedy? There certainly were a lot of parts that made me laugh, but my laughter was brought on by the characters' acting, or lack thereof. The acting was so blatantly terrible at so many parts that I feel the director couldn't possibly have intended this movie for any other than the ROARING COMEDY section of your local Blockbuster.The military represented in this film also left me with mixed feelings. While I fully support their promotion system (Doogie Howser-turned-psychic makes colonel in like six months, while the main star Rico goes from boot private to platoon sergeant to commanding officer in two battles), I question their battlefield tactics. Why is it that battalions of mobile infantry stand drop-jawed and staring at waves of charging bugs, while only the first few troops in front think it's a good idea to open fire? Always a fan of gratuitious violence, I couldn't help but give this one more than the single star rating that it's acting obviously warranted.
Rating: 
Summary: A Comparison: From Novel to Film
Review: To be the grand master of science fiction, very few of Robert Heinlein's stories have made it to the big screen, and most have not stood up to the quality of Heinlein's written work. Long awaited by fans, Starship Troopers did not necessarily change the trend of sub-par theatrical adaptations, but nonetheless is a fun and effects laden thrill ride worth a viewing by most fans of science fiction. Starship Troopers focuses on one Juan Rico's transformation from lackluster schoolkid to citizen and soldier in one of the nastiest wars mankind has ever seen. Rico and other characters make the jump from print to film, but the film adds relationships between them nonexistent in the book and also features many mainly minor characters in larger roles. The chief bad-guys, the arachnid Bugs, are maintained from the novel and adapted with wonderful frightfulness to the screen; one wonders how these CGI wonders lost to Titanic for visual effects. The idea of capturing a brain bug rather than simply killing mindless drones & warriors also carries over. The film lacks the armored fighting suits that in many ways defined the starship troopers of the novel, a choice made both for financial and for stylistic reasons (so that the audience could see the faces of the actors rather than just a bunch of big metal suits). The themes of social and political responsiblity through citicizenship and service are somewhat overborne in the film and made to appear almost fascist, a fact some Heinlein purists may find offensive. Overall, the film features a lot of good special effects and some great action sequences combined with some poor school-kid antics and at times sub-par acting performances, but fans of Heinlein's book will definitely want to check out the film and keep their fingers crossed for a good adaptation of The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress and other Heinlein works in the future.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Movie, Wrong Name
Review: The movie is fun. It is filled with action and adventure and great special effects. The story is interesting, all in all one of the best sci fi films in recent years, but... It needs a different title. Heinlein's novel points out the failings of the American justice and social systems and offers alternatives. I have read the book many times and his suggestions are not satire. Heinlein was often critical of modern society in his works (Farnham's Freehold, etc). Not to mention the different identities of the characters in the books. Women are not allowed in combat, Flores is a man who gets killed in the first chapter, Carl dies early on and is not in "Games and Theory," etc. Heinlein's story is a first person narrative of John (Juan) Rico's life in the MI as well as a book honoring the US Marines. Do see the movie, it is a good time, but read the book as well! The book will make you think, the movie will make you smile.
Rating:
Summary: Bug-of-war, tug-of-war
Review: Wow, what a fun movie! Despite the obvious flaws (ranks being handed out like napkins, ditzy little Denise being the best pilot in the galaxy, Doogie's horrid acting, blatant disregard for ANY logic what-so-ever) this is a pretty fast, enjoyable, gory romp. My advice is, ignore the negative reviews. This is just good times all around.
Rating:
Summary: I thought there'd be more gore
Review: This movie shows a strange future for Earth. Some seperatists went across the galaxy to the 'bug quarantine zone' and set up a colony, only to be viciously killed.
Soon the 'bugs' send a meteor to Earth and wipe out Buenos Aires. Then the main characters who like extras from Baywatch start fighting them, and the really bad love triangle starts.
I liked this movie, but when I was younger I was told that I would never be allowed to watch this until I was fifteen and I'm only ten. I was told the gore was intense, but it really wasn't that bad, though it definetely isn't for kids.
One of my favorite actresses, Denise Richards was in this, and her acting was okay, though she herself was better than ever.
Though there is a few things I want to pick. Since when have kids who recently got out of school manage to become the captain of a huge spaceship, lieutenant of an elite infantry group and some freaky psychic dude who is way up in the ranks by the end of a two hour movie where the only time jump is a year long?
Second was when did democracy fail? When did you have to fight against killer alien bugs that can fire an asteroid from the home planet Klendathu all the way to us to vote?
Good movie for buying, or renting. 4 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: One small aspect of this great film
Review: I don't have the ambition to address every point raised by this great film, but I do NEED to address something that I have never read from anyone and must be said: The characters being portrayed as simpletons and "cliche" is a marvelously witty satire of WW II era films--both feature length and propaganda clips. I LOVE their stereotypical dialogue and simple characterizations! It's hysterical! I cringe every time somebody wirtes that the characters were too simplistic or even too naive to be real. Of course they were! That's the beauty and strength of those characters.
Rating:
Summary: A brilliant and gory film
Review: Starship Troopers is a Sci-Fi film with enough gory moments to satisfy anyone who loves to see films which contain gory images.
The first half hour of the film is all about biulding character development and the last hour is all about none stop gore with bodies being ripped in half, brains being sucked out, beheadings, an endless list of vicious alien attacks and more!
I don't generally watch Sci-Fi films but I do like blood and gore so this is my kind of film.
Trust me, if you're a gore hound like me then Starship Troopers is definately your cup of tea.
If anyone who reads this agrees with me, why not let me know...
Rating:
Summary: A fantastic movie
Review: Many people hate this movie because it is not accurately based on Robert A. Heinlein's famous book. Frankly, I'm glad it's not because I found his book incredibly boring. The movie was much more interesting.
As for the Nazi references such as Carl's uniform: Do people really think that a director born in Europe and BOMBED by the Nazis would support them? The point he was trying to make was that democracy had failed, and they now lived in a "perfect" society governed strictly by the military.
Definitely worth your buy.
Rating:
Summary: For those who don't get it:
Review: The reasoning behind some of the details: Everyone in the movie seems American because, if current societal trends are projected into the future, there's a good chance that American English will be the world's universal language. Spanish last names predominate because they represent America's fastest-growing ethnic group. The characters are all good-looking, because people probably will be in the future. If our ancestors saw us, they'd think we were good-looking, since we've had the benefits of modern dentistry and orthodontistry, nutrition, sanitation and hygene. If our civilization lasts, these trends will continue, with the additions of genetic enhancement and cosmetic surgery (already prevelant among the rich). Finally, the gung-ho propaganda is SATIRICAL. And the gruesome effect of turning Melrose Place into Platoon is INTENTIONAL. The movie's projections of current trends are all plausible (but the interactive news-Net and uber-medicine are the only things people seem to "get"). They're all relevant, too, because they comment on what our real values are today, and where they're leading us. This is a good movie. It's a shame that, when a smart director creates a convincing future world, so few people seem to get it. But when James Cameron and Stephen Spielberg create utterly stupid, paper-thin visions of the future, audiences find them acceptable. No wonder movies are so bad these days.
Rating: 
Summary: It's too bad.....
Review: Its too bad that the director and producer couldn't bring themselves to follow the book, or give this film a differant name. Under a differant name this film may have garnered 4 stars, but as an "adaptation" of Heinlein's book, it is pretty sad. It's too bad, properly done it could be another Star Wars.
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