Starship Troopers has proved itself as a cult classic, holding its own since the release of the film in 1997. Many different ideas in one, Troopers was a parody of the government, a look at the horror of war, and a giant bug movie all in one. The sequel abandons almost everything that was well done by the first film and first-time director Phil Tippett knows it.
Picking up five years after the initial battle, Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation has a group of soldiers in dismay, surrounded by the "Bugs," a race of killer arachnids set on destroying mankind. Overwhelmed by the beasts, the band of soldiers retreat to an abandoned tower to try and stay alive long enough to be rescued. Little do they know that the real threat is actually amongst them.
Starship Troopers 2 biggest problem is its budget. The sets are clouded by a thick fog, look cheap, and are all obviously on a sound stage. The actual bug effects are on par with the first film, but they only make an appearance a few times in the movie. The script gives the creatures and entirely new place to live which borrows the same idea created years ago by writers of Alien (with a hint of Species). Don't worry, I didn't spoil anything. You can see the "twist" coming very early on. No one will go into this movie wanting to see humans fighting humans. They want the Bugs. They won't get that here.
Everything starts off promising enough with the great over the top video montages encouraging people to join the army that were so much fun in the original. For the first twenty minutes you get a ton of action too. The few battle scenes are great, almost exactly like the original except these are just shrouded in darkness. Then everything dies down to a snail pace. The Bugs are much weaker this time out, taking a few shots before they go down unlike the indestructible monsters of the first film. The guns have also changed to some sort of plasma rifle and no explanation is given. The gore effects are back in full force as is the gratuitous nudity.
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Article comments
1 - RJ Elliott
This is unfortunate. I didn't even know this sequel had been made!
To ruin the Starship Troopers franchise in this manner really pisses me off...
2 - joey macias
Yeah, I totally agree. The first movie was great, even if it didn't stick to the book. But this... I watched the trailer, it looks like something that the Sci-fi channel made...
: ( bad times
3 - Chris Kent
Nice work Matt. I appreciate how your reviews cover all aspects of a DVD release. Myself, I tend to just review the film verbatim, as I think the extras are a bunch of marlarkey. I consider myself a purist, a sort of arrogant, close-minded stance granted. I see a DVD should be reviewed as a whole, realizing this when I watched The Wild Bunch and the accompanying documentary Peckinpah: A Portrait in Montage. The documentary, showing Peckinpah behind the scenes while filming the classic western was brilliant, and absolutely added to the film. I suppose when the extras add to the film experience, they should be noted.
I enjoyed the original Starship Troopers, and was glad to see director Paul Verhoeven flex his muscles in other areas besides obsessive titillation. He's a great talent who chooses poor projects. He had much to do with why the first film was such a great feast. Too bad he could not work on the sequel.....
4 - Matt Paprocki
Extras are important. There are plenty of people who buy dics like this only for the extras (like me!). I've always felt that's why the format took off like it did. Check out Citizen Kane or Cleopatra. They both have outstanding documentaries that are around 2 hours. You'd be amazed about Citizen Kane and the trouble they had. Of course, you can check RKO 128 (I think that's what it was called) which is a movie on the making of the movie.
Thanks for the kind words Chris.
5 - Chris Kent
That would be RKO 281 - The Battle Over Citizen Kane. I reviewed it about a year ago on Amazon. Not particularly good, though the PBS documentary it was based on was excellent. That documentary may be what is included on Citizen Kane DVD. It revealed previously unreleased facts about Hearst's attempts to destroy Citizen Kane. Quite good, though I am weary of hearing and seeing and reading about Citizen Kane. Let's move on people. Move on!!!!!!!
Funniest fact - the real meaning of the word "Rosebud." Evidently Hearst's pet name for his lover's vagina......
6 - Joey
I bought it.....not as bad as some say.....but not as good as I hoped. Dax is cool, but not enough story.
7 - TDavid
Wow, didn't know that this was out. I'm going to pick it up and take my chances. Thanks for the head's up :)
8 - Thomas Mak
Good job Matt. I really like how your review covered all aspects of a DVD release.
I definitely going to pick this one up! THanks