Quick Review: Starship Troopers (1997)

STARSHIP TROOPERS

BY CHRISTOPHER HASKELL
DECEMBER 24, 2012

“Starship Troopers” mainly exists as science fiction fodder for those that care to indulge. As far as the acting goes, the characters might as well be cardboard cutouts or action figures fighting the realistic-looking yet lackluster bugs that continuously swarm in the same manner, telegraphed and without shock.

Based on the 1959 serial novel “Starship Soldier” by Robert A. Heinlein, a man named Rico (Casper Van Dien) enlists in the Federation (aka Army) to fight giant bugs/arachnids and to be close to his girlfriend Carmen (Denise Richards). “Starship Troopers” is visually impeccable for its time. It’s too bad this film didn’t rely on awkward interludes and piss-poor acting.

RELEASE DATE
November 7, 1997

DIRECTOR
Paul Verhoeven

WRITTEN BY
Edward Neumeier

BASED ON
“Starship Troopers”
by Robert A. Heinlein

STUDIO
Sony Pictures
TriStar Pictures
Touchstone Pictures

R
(for graphic sci-fi violence and gore, and for some language and nudity)

ACTION
ADVENTURE
SCI-FI
THRILLER
129 minutes