Starship Troopers [Blu-ray]

Director: Paul Verhoeven Paul Verhoeven

Overview

Director Paul Verhoeven (Showgirls, Total Recall) reunited many from his 1987 Robocop team for this $100-million science fiction adventure, adapted from Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 novel, originally serialized in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (October-November, 1959). After graduation, Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien) volunteers for the Mobile Infantry to do his Federal service -- but also to win over his girlfriend, Carmen Ibanez (Denise Richards), who has signed with the Fleet Academy to become a starship pilot. Johnny joins other boot-camp recruits -- Dizzy Flores (Dina Meyer), who has had a crush on Johnny since school, and Ace Levy (Jake Busey). Ace and Johnny become pals, and Johnny's abilities earn him the squad leader position. A training accident occurs on Johnny's watch, and he is about to resign when Earth is attacked by alien insects intent on eradicating all human life. Johnny's home, Buenos Aires, is no longer on the map. Horrified, he chooses to stay on and fight to destroy the insect threat. The Mobile Infantry travels to the planet Klendathu to battle the warrior bugs, a ruthless enemy with only one goal -- survival of their species no matter what. In the initial encounter, some 100,000 lives are lost. At a distant fort, Johnny's unit discovers that the bugs drain brains to acquire knowledge. Soon they are overwhelmed by an advancing arthropod army of immense proportions, attacking both in space and on the planet surface. The notion of human extinction becomes a possibility. For this $100-million production, some 300 artists and technicians combined models and miniatures with CGI effects to fashion a variety of creatures -- from breeder bugs to armored tanker bugs. The film employed hundreds of extras and has over 500 visual effects shots. Filming began 4/29/96 in California (LA and Long Beach, where Cal State's pyramid gym was used for the Jumpball game), New York, South Dakota, Wyoming (Casper, Hell's Half Acre), and Utah (an abandoned Wendover airstrip where the Enola Gay WWII bomber crew trained). At an abandoned airfield in Fountain Valley, California, an elaborate set was constructed to resemble a military boot camp of the future -- complete with an array of pup tents, gull-winged spaceships, hurdle obstacle course, and training facility buildings. Cinematography by Jost Vacano (Showgirls).

Product Details

Release Date:	08/05/2008
UPC:	0043396160989
Original Release:	1997
Rating:	R
Source:	SONY PICTURES
Region Code:	A
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	2:09:00
Sales rank:	19,584

Special Features

Blu-ray Exclusive: FedNet Mode - Bonus View Picture-in-Picture with Enhanced Graphics; Blu-ray Exclusive: Recruitment Test; Commentary with Paul Verhoeven and Ed Neumeier

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Casper Van Dien	Johnny Rico
Dina Meyer	Dizzy Flores
Denise Richards	Carmen Ibanez
Jake Busey	Ace Levy
Neil Patrick Harris	Carl Jenkins
Clancy Brown	Sgt. Zim
Seth Gilliam	Sugar Watkins
Patrick Muldoon	Zander Barcalow
Michael Ironside	Jean Rasczak
Rue McClanahan	Biology Teacher
Marshall Bell	Gen. Owen
Eric Bruskotter	Breckinridge
Matt Levin	Kitten Smith
Blake Lindsley	Katrina
Anthony Ruivivar	Shujimi,Actor
Brenda Strong	Captain Deladier
Dean Norris	Commanding Officer
Christopher Curry	Mr. Rico
Lenore Kasdorf	Mrs. Rico
Tami-Adrian George	Djana'D
Teo	Corporal Bronski
Steven Ford	Lt. Willy
Ungela Brockman	Corporal Birdie
Greg Travis	Net Correspondent
Bruce Gray	Sky Marshall Dienes
Denise Dowse	Sky Marshall Meru,Actor
John Cunningham	Fed Net Announcer,Voices
Julianna McCarthy	Expert
Timothy McNeil	Expert
Robert David Hall	Recruiting Sergeant
Brad Kane	Lanny
Amy Smart	Pilot Cadet
Timothy Omundson	Psychic
Patrick Bishop	Engineering Officer
Hunter Bodine	Young Cap Trooper
Travis Lowen	Little Boy Trooper
Patrick Wolff	Late Cadet
Mara Duronslet	Communications Officer
Dale Dye	General
Michael Stokey	Officer with Morita
Tyrone Tann	Student
Matt Entriken	Marco
Eric DaRe	Medic
Ronald L. Botchan	Jumpball Referee
Walter Adrian	Judge
Stephanie Erb	Young Mother
Alexi Lakatos	Stomping Kid
Nathaniel Marshall	Stomping Kid
Austin Sanderford	Stomping Kid
Rhiannon Vigil	Stomping Kid
Mylin Brooks	Female Trooper
Armand Darrius	Male Trooper
Kai Lennox	Male Trooper
Curnal Achilles Aulisio	Sgt. Gillespie
Michael Stockey	Actor
Basil Poledouris	Composer

Technical Credits

Edward Neumeier

Robert A. Heinlein

Anette Haellmigk

Paul Verhoeven	Director
Scott E. Anderson	Special Effects
Vic Armstrong	Stunts
Laura Buff	Special Effects
Jon Davison	Producer
Alec Gillis	Special Effects
Elaine J. Huzzar	Casting
Alan Marshall	Producer
John McLeod	Special Effects
Johanna Ray	Casting
John Richardson	Special Effects
Phil Tippett	Special Effects,Producer
Edward Neumeier	Screenwriter,Screenwriter
Robert A. Heinlein	Screenwriter
Frances Doel	Producer
Stacy Lumbrezer	Producer
Michael J. Benavente	Sound Effects
Dean Beville	Sound Effects,Sound Effects
Katherine Aaron	Special Effects
Tony Araki	Sound Effects
Raul A. Bruce	Sound Effects
Industrial Light & Magic	Special Effects
Anette Haellmigk	Screenwriter
Joseph Geisinger	Sound/Sound Designer
Stephen Flick	Sound/Sound Designer
Banned From the Ranch Entertainment	Special Effects
Boss Film Studios	Special Effects
Industrial Light and Magic	Special Effects
Sony Pictures Imageworks	Special Effects
Tippett Studio	Special Effects
Visual Concept Entertainment	Special Effects
Amalgamated Dynamics	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

This highly ambitious adaptation of the sci-fi novel by Robert A. Heinlein exhibits director Paul Verhoeven's signature flashes of mordant wit, satire, and strong violence. The rare action picture that tries to operate on several levels at once, Troopers uses elements of fascism, Nazi imagery, and World War II propaganda to illustrate its central story: the takeover of futuristic civilization by deadly, ravaging insects. A singular piece of science fiction that achieves its goals -- especially in the notable casting of good-looking, bland performers to underline the army's Aryan-ness -- Verhoeven's film simultaneously parodies and satisfies the public's fascination with media and mass destruction. Troopers is very much a companion to the director's 1987 hit RoboCop, which dealt with similar issues in a comparably cheeky tone, without losing its ability to be a grand entertainment. Though it was a mid-level success, Troopers failed to achieve blockbuster status, considering its $100 million budget. Encouragingly, though, the film is widely recognized in cult circles as a telling critique of the absurdity of wartime values.

All Movie Guide - Jason Clark