Ok folks, you all know that I am off to Los Angeles to attend the world premiere of STARSHIP TROOPERS. This raises issues of being bought off, and of being in the pocket of "them". Well, I decided that I didn't want to be thought of in those respects, so I contacted my spies, who have infiltrated every level of power in Hollywood, and they managed to get me a print of Starship Troopers in advance.
So I've watched it, and now I'm set to give you a review, so I will be immune to the inevitable earthly delights that await me in LA. To the spies that got me this print, I salute you. Good show.
STARSHIP TROOPERS is a cool movie. In fact it's a super cool movie. I've watched my print about 4 times and I can't wait to fly across the country to see it again! Why? Because it's that cool.
Now the print I have is a work copy, meaning it's got a lot of flaws (ie breaks between reels, unfinished effects, and an incomplete soundtrack), but it is an incredibly cool film.
I like these actors, to me they are exactly who they should be... young, idealistic, full of piss and vinegar. They are perfect victims/recruits for the Mobile Infantry. They are clean cut seemingly perfect and unchipped beings. And they must deal with the worst nightmare you could possibly imagine.
In alot of ways this is what I wanted from JURASSIC PARK. Spielberg made the film he had to, to be as broad base as possible. But Verhoeven is not necessarily about demographics. He wants to show viscious creatures ripping through men and women like there is no tomorrow. He doesn't tame these animals, there are no "cute" monsters in his world. Here they are all evil and mean. And as weird as it sounds... that's remarkably refreshing to me.
When I screened the film, I got as many people I knew together to watch it. And even with this crappy copy with screwed up sound, they cheered, whooped and hollered!!! All as it should be!!!
The effects by Tippet, Boss, ILM and the many many other companies are staggering. The teeming masses of bugs, the ships in space, the... well that'd be telling wouldn't it? Suffice to say, you effects junkies will go nuts.
It is a bit slow at the get go, but this is what we call development. You know to show why Rico got where he did. When those that gripe about the film, show up, it'll be this part that they highlight. Personally, I love the way it contrasts with the rest of the film. That sort of "Barbie" existence followed quickly thereafter with the "anti-Barbie" existence where nothing is pink (exept for the...) and fluffy.
And as for the "hair" issue. Well, let's just say the advancement in hair care has progressed to a startling level of perfection. Which is where the world should progress, cause isn't it always about the hair?
And finally, for my non-spoiler part of the review, a look at Verhoeven. Once again he proves why he is the "madman" I love. Noone would assault you like he does. He reaches down and pulls up that "Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan, this is sooooooo frigggginnnnnn' coooool!!!!" just right out of ya. When I started off in support of this film way back in September of last year (as you long timers'll remember) I talked about a level of scope that these battle scenes would have. How Tippet would bring an incredible world to life, and how Verhoeven would interact in that world. Well, they did it. He made a cool film that, for me anyway, justifies all the energy I put into the "spying" that I helped organize. Am I biased towards this film. Ya damn straight I am. This was a cool movie I didn't want to see pass us by. I wanted everyone to know, THIS was gonna be a good one. This is the sci-fi action film you wade through Johnny Mnemonics for. This is that immature kickass balls to the wall cool flick you salivate over. That you buy action figures from, and that you talk about in endless arguements in newsgroups and forums.
Well, I'm going to bed, I have to wake up in about 6 hours to catch a plane to LA to see the world premiere of this baby on a gigantic screen with super sound. I can't wait. I'm giddy and excited. I have cool spy meetings arranged left and right, and you my friend will hear the results!!! That's it for the non-spoiler review. Like I said, this print was incomplete. So if you are wondering why I don't mention the Basil Poledouris score, that's because in this BAD print sound wasn't it's best. So when I get back from LA you'll be getting a full report on the finished film and "The First Seduction Of Harry" Will Harry succumb to the evil that lies in LA? We'll see... If you want to read below about why I think Starship Troopers is a western go ahead, but be warned, there will be spoilers!!!
SPOILER WARNING TO PROVE MY POINT!!! DON'T READ BELOW TILL AFTER YOU HAVE SEEN THE FILM!!!
I have seen people refer to this as a "war" film based on World War II. Personally, I see it as a western.
My evidence?
All spaceships are treated like Stagecoaches in space. They arrive and depart the different worlds just like the old stagecoaches arriving to a valley.
First the "indians"/"insects" destroy a civilian settlement, specifically the one that our hero is from.
Second the "good guys" convince themselves that they are smarter than the "indians"/"insects" and severly underestimate the enemy and are nearly destroyed entirely.
Third, the "good guys" use their "advance technology to wipe out a whole community of "insects"/"indians"
Fourth the "insects"/"indians" slaughter everyone in a fort and lay a trap for a dispatchment of soldiers, which only the "cavalry"/"spaceship" can save them from as the "good guys" retreat, only to come back for...
The Fifth and final bit where they have to capture the "insects"/"indian" version of "chief"/"brain bug" to end the fighting or understand the fight more.
In between the third and fourth violent events, there is a "light" interlude of rest. In here they bring out a fiddle and they play western period music, including the song (I believe it's call La Golda Drema) from THE WILD BUNCH. This is the song that is played when everyone is with the "whores" before the perverbial "sh*t" hits the fan. It is used likewise here.
Phrases like "mount up", "saddle up" are used to order troops to do their thing.
It definately has war aspects, but the locale, types of fights, and specifically the "party" reminds me of the western genre. Of course that fourth battle is reminescent of ZULU, as the men in the fort fight and fight and fight as the Zulu hordes' dead bodies pile up at the base of the walls.
I'll see this film a whole bunch more!!!
