The real way to tell if a B-movie is good is to imagine it with a bigger budget. If the effects (or even the sets) were better here, it would make no difference. It's dull, boring, and just plain awful. It has no connection with the original, nor does it try to. The only highlights are the catchy theme song, a few of the performances, and outrageous gore effects. Even if youíre a die-hard fan of the original, you will find little of interest here. (* out of *****)
Starship Troopers 2 is available only in widescreen, roughly 1.78:1 anamorphic. The film was shot using Sony High-Definition cameras. In theory, this one should look flawless. This is hardly the case. The opening moments exhibit so much grain, it looks like your trying to watch a local TV channel with a rabbit-ear antenna during a thunderstorm. Later scenes are only marginally better, still showcasing far too many video problems to make it worthwhile. Oddly, the ending scene, which takes place in broad daylight, is stunning with no problems at all. Sadly, it barely lasts 5 minutes. (**)
Thankfully, the sound presentation picks everything up a notch, available in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, and Dolby 2.0. The DTS track here is just stunning. It's loud, it will rattle your room, and the surround effects will likely scare you on a few occasions. There are even non-battle scenes that sound great with voices moving throughout the sound field. The standard 5.1 track lacks the major bass of the DTS selection, but every speaker will still get a workout. In all actuality, this one probably sounds better than the special edition 2-disc set of the original film. (****)
As with any normal straight-to-video movie, this one doesn't have a lot of features but what's here is actually interesting. First up is a commentary track with Jon Davidson, Ed Numeier, and Phil Tippett himself. Tippett is very outspoken about how the studio handled the film. His lack of time and budget really seemed to set him off and you'll certainly hear about it during this feature. Ed Numeier still, even though it's just a bad B-movie, tries to make this one out to a stand-in for the Korean War. Sorry, but that just doesn't work here.
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