*STARSHIP TROOPERS* was NOT what I was expecting

[@M.H.I.A.F.T.]

I am fortunate enough to have met Dina Meyer, who portrays Dizzy in the film. She is the nicest, most delightful person you could wish to meet. And all these years after the film, she is still seriously beautiful.

[@sumonjamal1653]

Lucky you! She's hot... I remember her from the Keanu Reeves movie 'Johnny Mnemonic'.

[@dennisdrozdov1424]

Good for you!😀👍 I wish I met her too!

[@tbirdUCW6ReAJ]

Oh she’s so pretty

[@jean-paulaudette9246]

Loved her in Johnnie Mnemonic, too.

[@ieyke]

She's only aged like 5 years in the last 30 years.

[@the-wordplay-dojo]

When Vkunia said "I think this is going to be brutal", my brain instinctively quoted Michael Caine, from Batman "Oh you have no idea".

[@VKunia]

I really didn't, this movie was INSANE

[@janklaassen6404]

It's a Paul Verhoeven film. That's how he rolls. He did Robocop and Total Recall as well. Both cult classics.

[@MrKoernchen]

Also brilliant that he made a movie about how to gloryfication of fascism and nobody noticed it (at first glance).

[@janklaassen6404]

@@MrKoernchen True, most of the journalists at the time didn't get it. Verhoeven thought it was obvious.

[@matthewgreganti4838]

Nope! Not even remotely ready. Lol.

[@crescentmethod]

The actor that got shot in training ended up marrying the actress that did the shooting. This universe's cupid clearly uses a machine gun instead of a bow and arrow.

[@nathanmead9585]

"She makes me so happy, I feel like my head's going to explode every time I see her."

[@DurkMcGerk]

CHAPLAIN!

[@yew2oob954]

She really blew him away. You could say he lost his head over her. When he was with her, his head exploded.

[@SwordmasterKane]

@@yew2oob954 Well, at least you can say that this relationship was mind-blowing.

[@BarryHart-xo1oy]

Wow,what a grotesque coincidence.

[@dustinherk8124]

nah Diz isn't a home wrecker. she saw what was going on well before everyone else. Diz was ride or die.

[@scratthesquirrel5242]

and im glad she got her ride, before she died

[@GeneralGeorgeS.PattonJr.]

Anyway... there was no home to wreck.

[@themarlboromandalorian]

Diz hung on to a stupid asshole. She didn't deserve her fate. She should have made it out, and Rico should have died. Would have been even better. Might have strayed from the source material but still.

[@amehak1922]

In the novel, Dizz is male and just friends, and Carmen was an acquaintance at best and never seen at all after they graduate.

[@CosmicG777]

​@@amehak1922Yeah. But in the book Carmen also ended up dating Johnny later when he is getting Special Officers training.

[@domingocurbelomorales8635]

"Make it 20 minutes". EPIC AND LEGENDARY.

[@Blackstaralpha]

: Sir, we gotta go. We have a distress call and.... : Nah, we'll wait another 20 minutes before heading out so those two love birds can go for round two.

[@ben2741]

What do you want to do with the extra 18 minuets?

[@bensneb360]

Interesting Fact: in the famous “shower” scene, some of the actors felt uncomfortable with it, and only did it if the Director was also naked, excepting him not too agree… but he is European and very “liberated”, so he and the cinematographer both filmed the scene in the nude

[@Jantzku]

Very normal here in Finland to see other people naked. For example in a sauna.

[@DavetheGrue]

Verhoeven has said it was Dina Meyer, specifically. One more reason to think she's awesome.

[@hellowhat890]

The entire camera crew also agreed to be naked as well.

[@BarryHart-xo1oy]

That’s truly wonderful-if only more Americans thought like the Dutch and other freethinking Europeans.

[@gastronomist]

Ya, well, he was also a perv.

[@keefriff99]

Rue McClanahan (Blanche Devereaux from The Golden Girls) as a blind biology teacher is one of the most WTF casting choices ever 😂

[@jean-paulaudette9246]

Gotta admit, she nailed the role.

[@bobc538]

That's who I thought that was!

[@SurvivorBri]

Yea I had process that for a minute.

[@jonathanmorris891]

HOW DID I MISS THAT?

[@cyberingcatgirls7069]

Clearly somebody knew somebody/owed somebody a favor.

[@stanbwonderful]

*clicks like button* "I'm doing my part!"

[@TheJerbol]

FOR EARTH

[@stanbwonderful]

@@TheJerbol Liking and subscribing guarantees citizenship

[@7kortos7]

this comment made me hit the like button. I'm doing my part!

[@AzureIV]

*clicks like button* "I'm doing my part too!"

[@Literallyjustmint]

For her

[@okami36]

I saw this in the theater at Ft. Knox, with a bunch of guys on a night out from training. During the shower scene, some young private down front jumped up and started pointing at the screen and screaming, "Sarge! Sarge! Why don't we get that?!"

[@woeshaling6421]

A lot of people are surprised by the body being shot into space, same for alien 1979. Most scifi writing about spaceship protocols are based on naval traditions, which is also unfamiliar to most audiences. Burial at sea is a naval tradition and the closest analogy is shooting a body into space.

[@spacecadet35]

Part of that is in Napoleonic days you did not want to keep an unrefrigerated corpse on a sailing ship for months at a time. It would be a serious health hazard.

[@speleokeir]

@@spacecadet35 After he died winning the battle of Trafalgar Nelson was brought home in a barrel of brandy in order to preserve his body long enough for him to be buried in England rather than at sea.

[@spacecadet35]

@@speleokeir - That is really cool. Not going to happen for the average sailor, but really cool.

[@MGower4465]

And the same people would be appalled to find out that submarines store bodies in the freezer alongside the baby carrots and lima beans since they csn't do a burial at sea ritual while on patrol.

[@AudieHolland]

@@MGower4465 Actually, one Dutch submarine did just that during WW2, while on patrol in The Pacific. It just depends on the enemy threat level. Don't know the name of the submarine though, but I read it in a novel by Dutch WW2 author K. Norel, who used fictional characters to portray real events happening to Dutch combatants during WW2.

[@tbmike23]

Paul Verhoevens style is unmistakable. From Robocop, to Total Recall, to Starship Troopers, you can see his action films are bright, vivid, and almost surreal in their detachment from the violence in them. Everybody had a crush on Denise Richards and Amy Smart after this movie came out, btw.

[@bitrunner2000]

who??? i didn't see anyone except for Dina Meyer!! :p

[@painlord2k]

Unfortunately Veerhoven is a leftist nuctjob. He wanted a satire of the real Starship troopers (without reading the book) and, IMHO, some assistant frove him to do a decent rendition of the book (there are no women in the original).

[@EatingOutIceSpice]

I wish he was still doing movies

[@clh35]

Na, Amy Smart was in this for like a minute, and it wasn't the shower scene. Her character didn't even have a name. She caught her crushes a couple years later in Varsity Blues and Road Trip. Don't sleep on Dina Meyer!

[@blueblur2273]

Yep Paul Verhoeven style is incredible. He should have done Demolition Man. He would have really elevated that film.

[@New-tu3mn]

There’s an old military saying, that the more you sweat in training, the less you’ll bleed in combat.

[@predetor911]

Unless you bleed in combat and then never make it to training.

[@danieldickson8591]

Or your drill sergeant sticks too many knives in your hands so you aren't fit for combat.

[@toddkes5890]

@@danieldickson8591 Their medical capabilities are a lot higher than ours. For example, the broken forearm was in a medical cast for lunch and the trooper was just joking with the others in line.

[@scottmcnulty70]

Computer programs require a certain number of cusswords to get to success.

The Romans.”Drill is bloodless battle,battle is bloody drill!”

[@aarrgghh]

props to the creature designers for giving us such a wide variety of bugs. most alien movies don't bother making more than one bodyform.

[@rimasmuliolis1136]

Props to the battle scene engineers as well. The characters who lost limbs were amputee actors, with fake limbs that went flying with blood packs.

[@ignaciocambero9314]

@@rimasmuliolis1136 nah, that's just practical effects at theyr finest

[@patrickcromwell7554]

Ahh, Clancy Brown. One of the most Iconic Voices in the industry. I LOVED his Lex Luthor; and his Kurgan from Highlander is just as awesome. He's even in the most recent Dexter season too. While I wouldn't hand him an Oscar, he's also very underrated and underappreciated UNLESS you now his work. He;s one of those actors. If you know his work you love him OR you don't know who he is. lol He's like Keith David in that way. Yet another Iconic voice. Goliath from Disney's 1994 Gargoyles (which NEEDS a Live-Action, like SOON) and as the voice of the 1997 Animated Spawn.

[@Merecir]

If the Oscars has a 'best villain' category he would have got it for Highlander.

[@wilboehmer5620]

He's also Mr. Krabs!

[@ajackdrew]

Don't forget Capt Hadley in Shawshank Redemption

[@donyates7300]

Him and Keith David. Love those dudes, been everywhere, forever now.

[@themarlboromandalorian]

Makes me want a buddy cop or crime thriller film with just famous voice actors. Bet it'd be great.

[@alejandropacheco7832]

V: _"I don't like seen creatures in pain"_ 5 minutes later... V _"USE FIRE ON THEM!!!"_ 😂😂😂

[@joekellyou]

The “Come on you SoB’s, do you want to live forever?” line was inspired by USMC Dan Daly during the Battle of Belleau Wood in WW1. The charge that followed led to him getting nominated for his third Medal of Honor and subsequent passage of the rule that you can only win one.

[@jaysuscrass9119]

only learned about him from TheFatElectricians video on Daly recently still disappointed that he didn't get that last Medal; and THEN the One Per rule of got implemented

[@Dene181]

Sabaton - Devil Dogs. That song and their Sabaton History video taught me that. 👌

[@itskyansaro]

Actually I would argue that it was Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, during the loosing of the Battle of Kolin against the Austrians in 1757, who coined the Phrase, when he shouted at his fleeing soldiers ''You dogs, do you want to live forever?''

[@clh35]

It's "apes" in this movie. It always amuses me how extreme violence was nbd, but we can't have 'em saying "sons of bitches."

[@hellowhat890]

1:38 I love how the cameraman never dies. Us: "Well one didn't quite make it. Didn't have the plot armor." XD

[@macmcleod1188]

The exception that proves the rule.

[@Mark-in8ju]

...the cameraman is killed a few seconds later. 😆

[@robertwong4060]

The Mobile Infantry in the original book "Starship Troopers" are all encased in full-body mechs, maybe 10 feet tall that look a bit like robotic primates, hence the "you apes" references. The plot for the movie was simplified and a 3rd race (" Skinnies") have been omitted. Major characters are the same, but Flores is a dude and there is no romance with him. The story mostly focuses on Juan "Johnny" Rico's experiences and rise through the ranks. The movie does a pretty good job of visualizing the Bugs. I sorely miss the mech suits. An animated series came out and had the mech suits.

[@endless013]

the Dizzy change was a good choice lol

[@CaecoAequitas1]

@@endless013 thats because the original movie was for a love story on outpost 9 and had nothing to do with starship troopers. The book is totally different and is more about what it should mean to have the right to manage a society and how if you go to war you have earned it more than others since you truely put your life on the line for it.

[@dracoargentum9783]

So, you are saying there was Powered Armor…

[@CaecoAequitas1]

@@dracoargentum9783 the first instance of it even perhaps and it didnt even have a name yet.

[@Merecir]

In the book, the bugs had spaceships and guns...

[@austingillum4807]

Fun fact; the guy who got accidentally shot in the head and the girl who shot him in said scene? Their respective actors actually GOT MARRIED some time after filming ended. And they’re still together to this day (at least as of this writing anyway to my awareness) :)

[@dagazrune6453]

Love how OP is ok with Carmen putting moves on the flyboy from the other school, but is pissed because Diz sees that Carmen will never do right by him and is trying to take her shot. 😂

[@crystalsjoker90]

this is what I was coming to say.

[@dagazrune6453]

@@crystalsjoker90 Really makes you wonder about how she dates IRL... well not really but it is a funny self own on her part.

[@tehdesp]

Yeah, her just instinctively siding with quite possibly one of the most toxic women in cinema since Jenny in Forrest Gump is rather worrying.

[@this.is.a.username]

@@tehdesp calling carmen toxic is either more worrying lol... least toxic woman in cinema history. never lead rico on, chose career over dick and let him down immediately with kindness.

[@SirBroadcast]

​@@this.is.a.username Career over dick? She chose career and dick. It was just a different dick.

[@eddiewiller]

27:44 "He's like a sad little spider but like a really fat one." That's a tick. You're describing a tick. And admittedly, it does look like a tick that's had a blood meal.

[@rromano158]

Back in the day, they used to call them Dear John letters when a girl breaks up with you. I guess you could call this a Dear Johnny VLOG.

[@mikedignum1868]

The wrong girl died...Plus, Carmen's change of course put the ship in harm's way. FYI- The soldier's uniforms were re-used in Firefly.

[@STOCKHOLM07]

Wrong kid died.

[@michaelfitzgerald38]

Also for Power Rangers Lost Galaxy

[@fajarkurniawan9434]

The helmet, weapon and armor still looks pretty cool and awesome by todays standards

[@MGower4465]

Nah, Diz had to go to let Rico have the emotional distance to advance in rank and lead. Especially as he trasitioned to officer rank, they would have had to split up and be in different squads. No way he could be involved with one of his own enlisted. Granted, she probably would move up fast too, but that wouldn't help. MI would have deliberately kept them apart so they didn't get distracted worrying about each other. Carmen is an immature teenager way too caught up in her skills during training (thinking training maps to expertise in a real fight), and too easily swayed by a charming smile, but in her way, she inadvertently pushed Rico to accept Diz's advances by not stringing him out evan more than she already had. Kinda cowardly to split over a pre-recorded vid, but he got a literal "Dear John". Based on the reaction of the snoopers and how supportive even Ace was, that wasn't the first someone there had gotten.

[@actualamateur149]

​@@STOCKHOLM07 Walk Hard is a fucking gem of a movie.

[@macmcleod1188]

Many people miss the fact that the start of the movie is in the present, and then most of the movie is in a flashback which doesn't catch up to the start of the movie until the last 30 minutes. The asteroid destroyed by the defense system at the start of the movie is destroyed by defense systems built as a result of the attack on Buenos Aires a year before. Also, in the book the aliens struck Buenos Aires from starships with a nuclear bomb. Additionally in the last 20 minutes of the movie, they say directly that several other Terran planets were attacked by the bugs and specifically speak of zeguma beach, the vacation planet, like Texans speak of the Alamo indicating sake of a beach was destroyed.

[@hellowhat890]

22:30 Diz gets stabbed twice. Fatally wounded. 26:58 Carmen gets stabbed in the shoulder. Is fine. Diz: "Am I joke??"

[@predetor911]

Actually Diz gets stabbed 4 times.

[@philipcoggins9512]

Plot armor exists...

[@GuardianOwl]

Johnny also ripped the razored leg out of Diz instead of doing the cautious thing, leaving it in the wound. That probably instantly caused a lot of blood loss to begin.

[@clh35]

Kinda depends on where you get stabbed, even in real life. Carmen's was the shoulder. Johnny's was the leg. Dizzy's were all up in that midsection. You're not asking why the big dumb guy who got his head shot off in basic training didn't survive.

[@soad2rox]

Me as a kid watching starship troopers- Bugs, bad guys Me as an adult watching starship troopers- Carmen, bad guy

[@soad2rox]

Also, I LOVE how the drill instructor is Mr. Krabs himself hehe

[@cameraman502]

@@soad2rox I really wish someone would edit Mr. Krabs' laugh over Zims' celebration at the end.

[@darrensmith6408]

@@soad2rox Nah, that was The Kurgan.

[@kryptonianguest1903]

​@@darrensmith6408And animated Lex Luthor.

[@jasonkiefer1894]

@@soad2rox Props to V recognizing him as the prison guard from Shawshank.

[@marshallprince2583]

The movie is satire, but the book is actually on nearly every required reading list in the US Military.

[@TheJerbol]

Kinda weird ngl... that the military has a reading list LOL propaganda much

[@marshallprince2583]

@TheJerbol no. Not propaganda. No more than school reading lists. The military reading lists to which I was referring are at officer candidacy schools for most branches of the military. Again, the tone of the book is different than that of the movie. Apparently, there are things the military deems worth learning in various books, and this is one of them.

[@TheJerbol]

@@marshallprince2583 well the book is basically pro-military propaganda, so no doubt the military deems it worth reading

[@ronann25]

@@marshallprince2583 I agree! 💯

[@ronann25]

@@TheJerbol How is the book propaganda? Can you cite instances and why you think that's propaganda?

[@luther1546]

Dina Meyer was a babe in this.

[@IggyStardust1967]

Have you seen her in Dragonheart?

[@patrickn8355]

Just period fr

[@DuffBrian]

She still is.

[@janklaassen6404]

Verhoeven said he chose beautiful models to illustrate that the movie is superficial propaganda.

[@samellowery]

She's still a babe

[@Epistolary8]

The special effects were phenomenal for its time. It almost manages to hold up to modern standards of CGI.

[@jamesraykenney]

Maybe to the special effects from about 5 years ago... The SST movie effects are WAY better than most of what we have got in the last few years, where the CGI has arguably gotten way worse than what we had 5 years ago... I do not think I have ever seen anything as good at the shot with the ship split in half and you can see details from all the floors venting air into space.

[@rowaystarco]

@@jamesraykenney The split ship is a miniature model, most of the great visual effects are practical in this movie. But the massive bug swarm was certainly great for 97.

[@jamesraykenney]

@@rowaystarco I know... I was talking about how CGI had almost equaled it, but has gone downhill in the last few years... It is sad that we probably do not have model makers like that now, and no one wants to spend the money to make GOOD CGI anymore...

[@rowaystarco]

@@jamesraykenney We absolutely still have talented model makers

[@trueblaze84]

@@jamesraykenney It's a lot like the late 90's to early 2000's all over again where they are overly relying on CGI for their movies. Back then it was bad because the tech hadn't caught up yet, now it's bad because they are so over using it the animators don't have time to do their work properly and we wind up with half finished scenes that look terrible.

[@ChristianR-i3g]

This is my favorite movie of all time. PUT YOUR HAND ON THAT WALL!

[@trapmouse2411]

"Maybe we too should throw rocks at them." Sick strat. :D

[@WaywardVet]

I laughed way to hard at that.

[@jean-paulaudette9246]

It worked in "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress"

[@Ne7u]

The Expanse teach you well about that good strat :D

[@Dene181]

@@Ne7u ^

[@AHYL88]

You've heard nothing about it? Well, as the film asks, "Would you like to know more?" ;) Oh boy another Paul Verhoeven directed film, the same guy who gave us Total Recall and Robocop, so you know what to expect! Ultimate chaos and crazy stuff to happen and a fun time!

[@canadianicedragon2412]

Watching V going from laughing to squirming to cringing and back was so priceless. Exactly what I "signed up for" when I clicked this video.

[@jamesskyway6746]

what "bugged me was the ending scene with Carmen. She gets that big spike thing stuck into her body. And then at the end is walking around like it was a paper cut.

[@CoffeeMatt10]

It wouldn’t be so bad if just a few scenes before we hadn’t seen Diz bleed out and die from being similarly stabbed.

[@davedixon2068]

if you see the whole film you would see that they can basically regrow most things as long as you arent dead Rico is regenerated from near dead earlier after the first invasion

[@Cheepchipsable]

@@davedixon2068 Probably some wicked pain killers too.

[@blueblur2273]

@@CoffeeMatt10 Actually it's pretty clear that Dizzy gets hit where there are vital organs while Carmen is stabbed in the shoulder.

[@UpcycleShoesKai]

Starship Troopers lost the Academy Award for Special Effects to.... Titanic :p

[@sammylane21]

Drill Sargent at 12:42, he voices "Eugene Krabs" on SpongeBob SquarePants and voiced the sinister "Long Feng" in Book 2 of Avatar The Last Airbender. It's always a treat to see him do Eugene Krabs in person.

[@Heru3005]

Clancy Brown. Outside of Mr. Krabs he's probably most well known for playing The Kurgan in Highlander, and for voicing Lex Luthor in DC's animated stuff since the mid 90s.

[@gregorturner4753]

@@Heru3005 he and mark hamill who was the voice of joker for decades, i believe he has now finally retired from the role.

[@ericstarkey551]

The teacher from the dissection scene, was one of the golden girls.

[@ExUSSailor]

Probably the MOST misunderstood satire ever made.

[@joeblankenship377]

Yeah, it's weird how many people like it without seeing any of the irony.

[@janklaassen6404]

​@@joeblankenship377That's the moral of the movie: fascism can be dangerously attractive.

[@bethbearmacethatguy]

The far right are insanely bad at knowing when they're being made fun of.

[@stuka80]

Lol true, even the director misunderstood the book.

[@bethbearmacethatguy]

@@stuka80 he didn't. he saw it as the pro military dreck that it was and made fun of it

[@xanScorp]

I just love how Zim knew he was best used as a soldier with tactical knowledge, not just a drill instructor for training recruits without that knowledge yet, so he had them demote him.

[@swordmonkey6635]

VKunia: "It doesn't feel like earth. It feels like an alternate earth." Dr. Evil: "A... Super... Earth?"

[@raivedarkstone7378]

FOR DEMOCRACY!!!

[@hulkslayer626]

HAHAHAHAHA "If I were Human, I'd be pissed too!" 😂

[@mappes1]

I think V missed that the humans started the war?

[@hulkslayer626]

@mappes1 ...we always do... lol

[@rollmops7948]

Hank + Rico's one arm teacher + the general hiding in the closet, ....are all 3 in "Total Recall" with Arnold Schwarzenegger

[@oneilprovost2287]

If Clancy Brown is in a movie it's going to be great

[@TheZapan99]

Robocop + Starship Troopers + Total Recall = the Verhoeven Hollywood Trilogy.

[@spacep0ny958]

The book is also great but almost completely different since Paul Verhoeven read the first couple pages and decided he hated it

[@jaredohlstein7355]

As someone who recently started reading the book and has seen the movie adaptation multiple times. I’m interested in seeing how it differentiates

[@kryptonianguest1903]

​@jaredohlstein7355 Heinlein was doing a thought experiment. What sort of society would require service to be allowed to vote and what would that do to that society? He wasn't trying to portray it positively or negatively, just trying to figure out what it would be like.

[@spacep0ny958]

@@jaredohlstein7355 There's another race of aliens called the "Skinnys" and all the MI wear power armor for starters

[@jaredohlstein7355]

@@spacep0ny958 I’m currently on chapter 4 in case y’all were wondering

[@macmcleod1188]

​@@jaredohlstein7355 the philosophy of the book is portrayed faithfully in the high school philosophy scenes. The movie does not explicitly say that military service is required but the book explicitly says that military service is not required and is discouraged . Federal service is a filter which includes Peace corps activities or even made up boring tasks where you must spend two years of your life to show you really value your right to vote. As the movie and the book say, something given freely has no value.

[@macmcleod1188]

And my final standard comment. The bugs are an interstellar race who reside on multiple planets in the movie and they have specifically purpose bred a species of bugs that can take down interstellar warships in orbit. This kind of attack involves a lot of celestial mechanics which is some of the most difficult practical math in the world. And as mentioned in the other post, we know from the last 15 minutes of the movie that the bugs attacked multiple human planets over the course of the war. In the books the bugs were an interstellar race with spaceships but it is clear that in the movies the bugs are still interstellar but we just never see the bugs that are capable of interstellar travel.

[@sammymartin7891]

The line where the leader yells "Come on you Apes you want to live forever" is a quote from USMC Sergeant Dan Daily Battle of Belleau Wood in World War I.

[@trueblaze84]

There's a fan theory that the asteroid that hit Earth was either a false flag attack that the government launched on itself as an excuse to start a war with the bugs or just a random asteroid they didn't detect until too late and blamed on the bugs to cover their mistake. It makes a lot of sense when you look at the map and see that the bug home world is on the literal other side of the galaxy and any asteroid that originated there as they claimed would take millions of years to reach earth. The OG starship troopers book was basically a story about what would happen when two imperialistic manifest destiny empires meet each other in space. Both the humans and the bugs, despite their differences, think pretty much identically when it comes to conflict and expansionism.

[@heavyrain4485]

Yes. She did it. She is "doing her part" to watch it.

[@Corusame]

Starship Troopers was never meant to be taken seriously. Its a satire where everything is exaggerated. Such a classic movie. 20:33 Don't hear that everyday 🤣

[@do0ranfrump260]

A betrayal of the author intent.

[@IanJenn356094]

@@do0ranfrump260 Who the fuck cares. The original book was a pro fascism, pro military book. He openly ridicules inalienable rights. The movie serves much better as a satire of fascism.

[@NativeNewMexican]

@@do0ranfrump260 Veerhoven and Heinlein both said in their autobiographies that fingering the brainhole is exactly what they intended.

[@DavetheGrue]

@@do0ranfrump260 True, and it's a great book, but nobody cares. The book and the movie are completely different things. You have to let it go.

[@victorluke5816]

@@do0ranfrump260 Loved both versions for different reasons.

[@turntsnaco824]

21:18 "Don't smile, someone just died dude!" You'll have to forgive him, that's just his face. 😂

[@michaelwatson266]

Considering some parents, needing a license to have a kid is one of the best ideas I've heard in a long time 😋.

[@themarlboromandalorian]

Most people shouldn't breed. Depressing the quality of humans we have walking around on this rock. Lots of stupid people.

[@jaysonsk]

yeah, it can be like when they made you take a test to vote. gonna be totally fair and not discriminating to anyone.

[@nigelhyde279]

The director Paul Verhoven grew up in Nazi occupied Netherlands he based the propaganda imagery on the stuff they had. Also Neil Patrick Harris looks like a baby, when I watched this I thought “Doogie Howser has grown up”.

[@timmooney7528]

The US also made propaganda films as well. Frank Capra, the director of It's a Wonderful Life and Mr Smith Goes to Washington directed the Why We Fight series of films.

[@VadulTharys]

He was only 7 when the war ended he made this never realizing that he was not making a satire of Fascism but proving he is ignorant of politics. Verhoven is as much an antisemite as the NAZIs were, he is actually more racist than the NAZIs were and he thinks he is on the good side of history.

[@cameraman502]

It's more like the propaganda of the allies. Another reason it fails as a satire of fascism.

[@MetzMan]

@@leonrussell9607 It literally does. You might need to look up the definition of fascism, as this movie ticks all the boxes.

[@dracoargentum9783]

@@leonrussell9607that’s really the only thing fascist you can see in this movie? Interesting.

[@rollmops7948]

Rico's blond friend who plays the violin was also in "Strangers Things"

[@joeblankenship377]

That's Gary Busey's son.

[@easyBob100]

He was also the bad guy in Frighteners IIRC.

[@audaldas]

He also played the religious guy who blew up the ship in Contact.

[@evilalex87]

you watched robocop and starship troopers now you gota see total recall with arnold from paul verhoeven the great director who did all of them

[@ScorpiusAkaTemplate]

This is movie from the same man who create Robocop, Total Recall, Basic Instinct etc. This is exactly the style of this director.

[@vwlssnvwls3262]

I saw this in the theater, and I was blown away. I love the satire, the cheese, and the overall extremeness of it all.

[@rollmops7948]

the sergent who was in the "Shawshack Redemption" was also in "Highlander" and in "John Wick 4" (as the referee for the duel)

[@HeatRaver]

And he does voices for everything from Spongebob to Star Wars!

[@dupersuper1938]

He was Lex Luthor in the 90s Superman cartoon, Surtur in the MCU, a terrorist in Star Trek: Enterprise, the priest in Carnivale...

[@rollmops7948]

@@dupersuper1938 a demonic priesst in Carnivale

[@NefariousKoel]

@@rollmops7948 His role in Carnivale was one of his best! Nailed the quick changes from "caring priest" to "hateful psychopath" so damn well.

[@themarlboromandalorian]

Mister Krabs? He was also a preacher in cowboys Vs aliens.

[@andareon]

This is great to watch. The first time, I was like Vicky, YEAH CRUSH THE BUGS, when I was younger I've watched the film several times since and you start seeing the propaganda, the costumes, the fact that It's humans doing most of the invading and you are never shown the bugs actively attacking the humans other than to defend themselves from being invaded. You see the young people given ammo guns, what was a joke in the opening act with the kid saying 'I do my part' becomes real at the end because you see actual children going to war and so much more. And then, if nobody told you about it beforehand you realise how much of a critique of the war and what we do as the human race, fascism and so are the center of this film, It's great. You can watch it 2 or 3 times and see different layers every time. I love this movie.

[@jakubfabisiak9810]

Except the bogs do attack - like the colony on Dantana, Zegema Beach (that Rico wanted to go to) gets attacked, and wiped out. And, of course, Buenos Aires (that the bugs attack, because it's in the script - taken from the book, except in the book they have FTL spaceships, and being dumb animals in the movie creates a plothole that is handwaved away with the asteroid explanation). The book makes it crystal clear, that the conflict with arachnids is due to both races being tough, and smart, and after the same territory. The film doesn't show it as well, but the same principle applies - we are told the bugs colonize other planets, and that brings them into conflict with the UCF. The invasion to try and exterminate bugs is because the quarantine clearly wasn't enough to stop attacks like BA. As for the "children" - Rico, Carmen, Carl, and Dizzy are fresh out of high school (in the book, Rico, and Carl join up right after turning 18) - they just used older actors to play the parts (in their twenties at the time). Also, remember - nobody is forcing anybody to do this. Not only is there no conscription, you can't even say that you were tricked into joining up by the propaganda/recruitment ads, because you can just quit. And there's exactly zero fascism in ST - no state control of resources, no totalitarian control of every aspect of life, no suppression of information/opposition. True - you can't vote until you've earned it, but then you are free to vote how you want - one character mentions wanting to go into politics - there are no politics in a fascist state - just policy, as dictated by the leadership.

[@andareon]

@@jakubfabisiak9810 thanks for more information around all this, I'll need to read the book and do more research. I'm not sure I agree with a few interpretations (and I think my sentence about children might be confusing) but It's great that this movie still to this day is talked about and you can still learn more about it. But yeah, I defo need to get the book for myself :)

[@Mailed-Knight]

Yeah, they intended to put fascism in this movie, but forgot too and just put fascist imagery in it.

[@jakubfabisiak9810]

@@andareon be warned, though, the book is not action-packed. About half the book is devoted to explaining the philosophy of the Federation, and the key point about the system they have, where franchise (right to vote) has to be earned through service (not just military) is about responsibility. Interestingly - Massad Ayoob makes the same argument (power equal to responsibility) when talking about using deadly force in self defense. Power without responsibility leads to abuse, responsibility without power to acomplish it is an excercise in futility. As for the "children getting spanked" part, here's a direct quote from the book: Back to these young criminals -- They probably were not spanked as babies; they certainly were not flogged for their crimes. The usual sequence was: for a first offense, a warning -- a scolding, often without trial. After several offenses a sentence of confinement but with sentence suspended and the youngster placed on probation. A boy might be arrested many times and convicted several times before he was punished -- and then it would be merely confinement, with others like him from whom he learned still more criminal habits. If he kept out of major trouble while confined, he could usually evade most of even that mild punishment, be given probation -- `paroled' in the jargon of the times. "This incredible sequence could go on for years while his crimes increased in frequency and viciousness, with no punishment whatever save rare dull-but-comfortable confinements. Then suddenly, usually by law on his eighteenth birthday, this so-called `juvenile delinquent' becomes an adult criminal -- and sometimes wound up in only weeks or months in a death cell awaiting execution for murder.

[@yodieyuh]

They're both colonizers. They're both on multiple planets in multiple systems. What's the purpose of evolving to shoot giant plasma bursts out of atmosphere and out of orbit? What's the purpose of evolving to be able to translate damaged brain matter from aliens on the other side of the galaxy?

[@mparantha]

verhoeven was a master of satire

[@tbirdUCW6ReAJ]

*is

[@NativeNewMexican]

@@tbirdUCW6ReAJ Young Sinner, from what I have read, isn't satirical, so was is appropriate from what I can tell.

[@haraldisdead]

Really.. tell me what else of his you've seen?

[@NativeNewMexican]

@@haraldisdead If I had _seen_ it then it would be _was_ not _is_ because he _made_ it in the past and is not working on it currently where _is_ would be appropriate. The current project he's working on is Young Sinner, from what I understand. Look, I'm just being an obnoxious pedant here because you were an obnoxious pedant before. I appreciate the effort and actually support your kind of correction, but I'm also rather "I wanna win" disordered so I can keep stressing the fact that his past was awesome satire and his current work is unknowable by you and therefore the "was" seems acceptable.

[@NativeNewMexican]

@@haraldisdead Sorry, I confused your reply with the previous reply

[@shawnh9590]

One of my favorite movies ever. It was super underappreciated when it first came out, but luckily over time it's finally started to gain recognition as a brilliant piece of satirical sci-fi (and just a good, entertaining movie).

[@signalnine2601]

"If I were a human..." They're already among us.

[@tonydeluna8095]

Oh man talk about my childhood memories! 97-98 I was in 7th grade when this came out

[@deanthemachine8879]

Biggest realization I had was is that the movie we watch is actually a propaganda movie made *within* the setting. You even see clips from the movie you’re about to watch after the “I’m doing my part” opening recruitment scene. This is what people of this universe would be watching. It’s like the movie “Nation’s Pride” within the movie Inglorious Basterds that the Nazis made.

[@charleslatora5750]

The director made it a propaganda film. Have you read the book? No?

[@deanthemachine8879]

@@charleslatora5750 I have, as did the writer of this movie. The director Paul Verhoeven didn’t like the novel so he and the writer *adapted* it as ANY book made into a film is. Heinlein at the time of writing Starship Troopers was very much on a militaristic anti communist bent (literally started an organization, the Patrick Henry League, to petition Eisenhower to expand the US’ nuclear arsenal and increase nuclear testing because they discounted the science of how bad nuclear fallout was and said they “accept the risks because the alternative is surrender”). Meanwhile, Verhoeven grew up in the Nazi-occupied and saw first hand the symbiotic relationship between rampant militarism and fascism

[@KurNorock]

Yeah that's not true at all. Propaganda movies don't show failures of leadership and criticism of government.

[@KurNorock]

​@@charleslatora5750 correction, the director wanted to make a commentary/parody of fascism, which he completely failed to do. He didn't put any fascism in the movie at all.

[@KurNorock]

​​@@deanthemachine8879Verhoeven didn't read the book. He read half the first chapter, got bored, and got somebody else to write the script. Also, neither the book nor the movie are about militarism or fascism. There is zero fascism in either and the movie is about a war, so of course it focuses on the military, but that doesn't mean the society is militaristic. Lastly, the NAZIs weren't fascist. They were national socialists, which is very different from fascism. And Verhoeven didn't put either in this movie.

[@arthurcamargo8416]

I am glad that you "got" the movie! It was a satire about totalitarian governments and the military industrial complex! Most folks who have watched the movie just took it for what it was, which is why it wasn't as well received in theaters. But it has since become something of a cult classic, spawning several sequels.

[@rowaystarco]

I rarely see people comment about the fact that they are playing I wish I was in Dixie on the violin...

[@swampmusicinfo]

The funeral scene is cold 🥶 because most heartfelt thing he could say about Diz is regime jingoism. It's not human and it's hollow. Johnny is a trooper now.

[@Izzboticus]

VKunia: "This has to be satirical!" Everyone else: *nods*

[@roystoyscomics1361]

"Bugs, Mr. Rico...bugs!" Clancy Brown's best role was as the Kurgan in Highlander. Clancy does great in villain roles. 😂 Paul Verhoeven who is known for graphically violent films also inserts ads done in a mocking style...typically calling out society.

[@Mansplainer2099-jy8ps]

Have you seen The Bride?

[@HomerJ1964]

Disagree. His best role is Mr. Krabs on Sponge Bob.

[@roystoyscomics1361]

@@HomerJ1964 "There can be only one!". 😁

[@roystoyscomics1361]

​@@Mansplainer2099-jy8ps afraid I have not seen that one

[@justindenney-hall5875]

Our sweet angel named Vicky graces us once again👼🥰

[@JK-tn4xp]

The really funny thing was that the guy that the parents were worried about (Mr. R) was trying to get the kids to use their heads while the parents thought that he was trying to recruit them into the military. But when he was in the military he was all in and probably one of the most effective leaders that we had.

[@Mansplainer2099-jy8ps]

_"The really funny thing was that the guy that the parents were worried about (Mr. R) was trying to get the kids to use their heads while the parents thought that he was trying to recruit them into the military."_ Rasczak: _All right, let's sum up. This year we explored the failure of democracy. How our social scientists brought our world to the brink of chaos. We talked about the veterans, how they took control and established the stability that has lasted for generations since. You know these facts, but have I taught you anything of value this year?_ [to a student] Rasczak: _You. Why are only citizens allowed to vote?_ Student: _It's a reward. Something the federation gives you for doing federal service._ Rasczak: _No. Something given has no value. When you vote, you are exercising political authority, you're using force. And force my friends is violence. The supreme authority from which all other authorities are derived._ Rasczak: _Naked force has resolved more conflicts throughout history than any other factor. The contrary opinion, that violence doesn't solve anything, is wishful thinking at its worst._ Rico: _I wanna join up. I think I got what it takes to be a Citizen._ Rasczak: _Good for you! Go find out._ Conclusion, Rasczak would find you an easy mark.

[@samellowery]

But is he wrong 🤔

[@Cheepchipsable]

@@samellowery Problem with soldiers is their solution always tends to include violence or threats of violence. And what if for some reason you are incapable of service? You get to stay at the bottom of the pile?

[@samellowery]

@@Cheepchipsable in the books if you were in a wheelchair they would still find work for you if you wanted to serve not necessary military but service all the same.

[@logankerlee]

I'm stoked that you watched this! This is easily one of my top favorite movies of all time. It's so much fun to watch! :)

[@davesthrowawayacc1162]

Clancy Brown who plays Sgt Zim and Myron Hadley in The Shawshank redemption is also the voice for Mr Krabs

[@BrotherPraetus]

So, I didn't catch in the reaction, but there's a scene where they talk about the bugs attack being instigated when Mormon missionaries tried to establish a colony on a bug world.

[@haskapaska]

In the end humans and Federation are real villains. Even false flagged Buenos Aires. Bugs are just defending their homes

[@55titles12]

"Aint no way we're insulting their planet" is as 2024 as it gets 😂😂😂

[@williamflores7081]

I didn’t realize till I was older that Carmen’s the real villain 😂 not just cause she did Johnny dirty, but if she wasn’t distracted by that d bag, she probably would’ve caught the asteroid earlier and not lose the communications array while dodging the asteroid, and could’ve contacted command. So she’s partially responsible for Buenos Aires

[@petercolson2990]

They were only there to spot the asteroid because she diverted course through that area, though. There's a pretty good chance the asteroid had nothing to do with the bugs, given they display no way to interact with asteroids, and the chances of trick-shotting an asteroid into the moving target that is earth, on the opposite side of the galaxy being so unlikely. Suggesting the less-efficient course the ship was meant to take was specifically to keep it out of the area so it wouldn't notice the asteroid being launched as a false flag pretext for full mobilization. In which case, we never see the real villain, all we see are the people that die for all the decisions being made She's still a jerk though ;)

[@ElcsieRetakov]

I have a long history of enjoyment with Sci fi movies/books. As a teenager, I recognized the satire. Also, crushed on Casper Van Dean (Johnny Rico). My high school boyfriend was in an army family.

[@danielskinner5346]

The book shows a more detailed evolution to Rico's character. From high school to basic training to the war to officer training then leading the Roughnecks. Plus in the novel troopers wear power armor and drop from orbit.

[@Alte.Kameraden]

Interesting part is how the Starship Trooper novels influenced so much of Scifi to this very day. From Alien, Mobile Suit Gundam, video game series like Starcraft and Halo. All had a big influence coming from Starship Troopers. Some hit the nail on the head pretty well like Halo and Starcraft. For example the Bugs in Halo are the Flood, and for Starcraft they're the Zergs. The Skinnies which are never seen in any of the films are an advanced Alien race more advanced than humans are represented in Halo by the Covenant and in Starcraft by the Protoss. Also forgot Men in Black the original film.. guess who the primary two alien races are? =3

[@highlander31527]

Try the book Armor, by John Steakley. You may like it. Written 40 years ago, similar in some ways to Starship Troopers, but far less politics and more focused on the mind of the main character and him coming to grips with the horrors of war and his own actions. Plus, it takes a few unexpected left turns.

[@Alte.Kameraden]

@@highlander31527 Honestly the politics are kind of necessary. People's refusal to learn the politics leaves people ignorant to why people are willing to conduct such violence toward their fellow man. Without that understanding without the nuance, they fall prey to the propaganda, and end up being the future meat shields to some politician or dictator. About 20 years ago I remember saying myself, that war would be impossible if people just refused to fight. It's the honest truth. War hasn't gone away because someone, somewhere is able to manipulate people to die in their stead. This truth rings true regardless of ideology, regardless of monarchy, dictatorship or democracy. It's actually why I think the best anti war franchise currently in existence is Mobile Suit Gundam. Where something like Star Wars treats war like a joke. It takes it seriously, and isn't afraid to have nuance and even allow viewers to be wrong. They achieved this by making the "Space Nazis" the underdogs, and social revolutionaries. Causes people are often very sympathetic toward. Everyone likes underdog stories, and everyone likes Freedom style Revolutions yes? But instead of the Rebels being the good guys they're the bad guys the ones willing to commit horrible atrocities to achieve their goals. Meanwhile the protagonist most often fights for a faction that is corrupt as heck, and does technically oppress people. So neither side is exactly in the right. Viewers are allowed to choose and even be wrong. It also creates an amazing "Post" Narrative as well. Where the antagonist of course lost the war, and now damned by history, abandoned by their leaders, hunted for being atrocities they commited. Yet, they keep fighting, knowing they will never win they still choose to resist. They even created their own ideology for the franchise called Zeonism which is a weird mix of Marxism, and Fascism for the franchise. But really only the surface level, none of the nitty gritty boring stuff that would draw viewers away. Though some references exist like Zeon Zum Deikun basically being Space Marx, and his Newtype theory being a reference to Totrsky's Soviet New Man theory. Absolutely loved though back in 2010 when Gundam Unicorn had a character compare the ideology to a religion. I so wanted to slow clap because that is what most ideologies end up becoming, including the ones i mentioned above. Cults, that are very difficult to deprogram people out of once they've gotten into them, and these cults demand violence.

[@HonestOpinions4u]

Bro, what? Mobile Suit Gundam and Alien was made before this movie

[@Alte.Kameraden]

@@HonestOpinions4u BRO the movie is LOOSELY based off the Novels STARSHIP TROOPERS. Which predates them all. 🤔

[@Larckening]

In the book, the instigator is actually the humans... the brain bug just defended itself by throwing the huge rock.

[@geraldtodd6633]

I read the book a long, long time ago. If I remember correctly, the M.I. (Mobile Infantry) didn't attack in large groups with massive gunfire, they were assigned individually and had jet backpacks where they could fly.

[@nostradumbass7959]

I had always thought it was a false flag, bug butt plasma knocks an asteroid from one planet to another planet in another star system? yeah, right, but i haven't read the book yet.

[@lewa3910]

Wasn't that also in the movie, like its hinted somepoint in the film the asteroid was a retaliation? Or am I wrong? Genuinely asking

[@ProHero86]

@@lewa3910it was retaliation for the Mormons who set up on the arachnid world

[@MrGBH]

@@lewa3910 It's heavily implied to be completely unrelated. It's actually the asteroid that the love interest hit with her spaceship, which would alter its' course. the Earth military basically just blamed it on the Bugs in order to get support for a war

[@Yggdrasil42]

I still don't understand how some people didnt understand this is satire.

[@nickvanachthoven7252]

because it isnt and verhoeven is a moron.

[@tjbanville]

Verhoeven intended it to be satire but underestimated the degree to which fascism actually appeals to some people. To some the world as depicted in the film is where we should be heading as a society, not a warning.

[@jeffdege4786]

It was satirizing what Verhoeven imagined the book said, not what it did. It's an example of the Progressives' delusion that everyone who disagrees with them is a Nazi.

[@adamwebster1666]

Well, Verhoeven didn't understand the book and ended up making a muddled mess of mixed metaphors, so there's a lot to not understand.

[@backgroundMASCAL]

because at that time ,1997, there were (almos)t no Hollywood movies which mocked US-militarism

[@darrenskjoelsvold]

As somebody who has watched this movie countless times and seen it when it came out, it's entertaining to watch somebody else react to everything.

[@michaeljelley7407]

"If I were human, I'd be pissed too..." Confirmation that VKunia is a super awesome, super advanced alien....lol

[@crpgdungeonsdragonsnight]

I wonder if anybody else ever noticed that when that guy was killed in the live fire exercise that removing his helmet really didn't matter since he was shot in the face and the helmet was not designed to cover that area.

[@themarlboromandalorian]

Missing the point. Wasn't Rico's job to fix it. Removing PPE has risks, and insurance don't pay out if it doesn't get used. That idiot should have used down time to ensure it fit properly. Go Google the soldier's creed. I will always maintain my arms, my equipment, and myself.

[@crpgdungeonsdragonsnight]

@@themarlboromandalorian fair point.

[@Cheepchipsable]

Yes that's true, but as stated it was punishment for breaking protocol. Rico should have argued that the soldier would be less effective or a liability with the damaged helmet, and stood a greater chance of being killed with the defective item.

[@MrHiragasaito]

One of my fav movies of all times ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@mblackwl]

Congratulations, Citizen! You are now ready to help defend Super Earth! Okay, let me go into two things. One, as others have noted, Troopers is based on a book from 1959, which colors the film a bit, especially when it comes to nukes. At the time, military theorists basically assumed that if we invented a new piece of technology, we'd use it. They fully expected nukes to be flying across the battlefield, willy nilly. They might be smaller nukes, but we'd still be using them like we use gunpowder today. The fact that 80 years later, we still haven't used a third nuke anywhere would frankly blow a lot of minds. Secondly, I see that a, ahem, discussion, of the film's merits have started below. I'll instead talk about the sequels, of which there have been a few. And a TV show. The next film in the series, ST 2 is awful. I don't say that lightly. It has been in IMDB's bottom 100 a number of times. They get more watchable after that, and the CGI ones are decent enough. But the next one? Yeaaaah. Might not be a good choice.

[@themarlboromandalorian]

AH! A fellow Helldiver! General MarlboroMando, SES Custodian of Conviviality. I greet you. We need to get her on the front. She's missed some key events.

[@movielover828]

Paul Verhoeven's "Starship Troopers" is a welcoming return after the dismal failure of 1995's "Showgirls", although the latter became a cult classic shortly thereafter. This was also Verhoeven's penultimate Hollywood movie that he directed before he made acclaimed foreign movies such as "Elle" and "Benedetta".

[@jenniferhiggins2797]

I've loved this movie my whole life and crushing on Rico & Diz helped realizations come to light.

[@joshuacampbell7493]

Watch Total Recall. Paul Verhoeven direct that movie too.

[@dracomaster4]

He did the original right? I’m kinda curious now if there’s ever been a director who did a remake of their own movie.

[@joshuacampbell7493]

@@dracomaster4 Yes, Paul Verhoeven direct the original. But Len Wiseman direct the reboot.

[@evilalex87]

​​@@dracomaster4 michael haneke directed funny games both og and remake

[@ChrisRedfield--]

Male female equality, no racism, mixed showers.....

[@marshallprince2583]

That wasn't a mom watching the kids kill bugs. It was their school teacher, which makes it more unsettling.

[@wyrmshadow4374]

Teachers gleefully indoctrinating their students... it couldn't possibly happen in real life. /sarcasm

[@old-skooldude]

One of my favorite and most quotable movies that you can have fun with. For example: "The enemy cannot push the dislike button if you disable its hand" 🤣

[@ben2741]

Ace is the best ride or die buddy. I’m privileged enough to have 3 friends like that to face the end with if it ever comes to that.

[@unkown34x33]

you might not think of that v but Carmen is actually the villain on this... she never truly loved him :/ how he was saying love you and she didn't say anything. she was actually forced to say it... beginning of the movie Carmen was looking at that guy with deep soul! 🤣

[@brianvalencia7717]

Yea, sadly Vkunia's the ONLY reactor who chooses Carmen OVER Diz!

[@TerryNutkins3]

Not only that, the meteor that hit Buenos Aires was the same one she knocked off it's original path after she altered the ships navigation route without permission

[@blueblur2273]

🤨 So by that logic Rico was also the villain since Diz told him she loved him and he said nothing back to her. You shouldn't tell someone you love them if you actually don't.

[@blueblur2273]

@@TerryNutkins3 The meteor was launched by the bugs at Earth. It wasn't knocked off it's original path. Wow you people will just make up anything nowadays.

[@KalElvis]

You need to read more Robert A. Heinlein. Heinlein used his science fiction as a way to explore provocative social and political ideas and to speculate how progress in science and engineering might shape the future of politics, race, religion, and sex.

[@axebeard6085]

His exploration of the logical outcome of genetic editing on relationships in Time Enough For Love is probably the most controversial.

[@cameraman502]

Nothing really prepares one for Stranger in a Strange Land.

[@MagsonDare]

@@cameraman502 I can barely grok that book ;-)

[@statmonster]

Heinlein was definitely a man of his times. The differences between Starship Troopers (50s) and Stranger in a Strange Land (60s) illustrate this.

[@RunicMike]

Next watch Showgirls, the director's masterpiece

[@Christof_SmaulXL]

Imagine, 5am, war brakes out... ...and everyone is late.

[@AudieHolland]

In the original version shown to test audiences, right after the three friends have reunited, Carmen starts making out with Johnny so they're back together again! Test audiences hated the scene so much they screamed curses and threats at the screen. Verhoeven: "They wanted to kill that girl!" For that reason, Carmen and Johnny's getting back together was cut out of the movie.

[@DaDunge]

One thing, the bugs didn't start it, humans encroached on their space and the bugs merely fought back. There are hints dropped thoughout the movie.

[@vashsunglasses]

Like how they're dissecting bugs in science class before they were at war.

[@GARYHODGKINSON]

@@vashsunglasses Which of course desensitized the kids to the enemy the government was manufacturing, as part of the brainwashing happening in that school.

[@sebastianshades4]

@@vashsunglasses And the very obvious news segment about the colonists living on a bug planet

[@flatebo1]

Yes, the very obvious news segment about the Mormon extremists illegally establishing a colony on a known Bug planet inside the Bug Quarantine Zone. This is basically analogous to people illegally entering and settling in the US. We do not consider this an act of war, nor is our typical response to nuke a major city of the illegal's country of origin. Consider the argument about Brain Bugs. It seems as if the Federation at the beginning of the movie were not aware that the Bugs were sentient. And why would they? The Bugs have no obvious technology. Most (perhaps all) of the combat classes of Bugs seem to have been unknown to the Federation. So why is the Bugs' one and only response to every encounter with humans genocidal slaughter? This is why the Bugs are not the "good guys" in this movie.

[@popularopinion1]

​@@sebastianshades4 true, but they were (iirc) Mormon colonists who went into bug space against the government's warnings

[@brianb8060]

"Neil Patrick Harris! He's like a baby in this!" Somebody get her a copy of, Doogie Howser M.D.!!!

[@Kardashev1]

Great reaction, a lot of fun, but also a great satire on the war culture of America.

[@Krusesensei]

Not just American war culture. But: yes

[@DavidZ4-gg3dm]

It's better than Star Wars.

[@PaulMartin-qu5up]

There's that American exceptionalism that non-Americans find so... arrogant. It wasn't set in the US and not one of the characters was American. The author was Robert A. Heinlein. He was a philosopher among other things and this book was a thought experiment on what would happen if an advanced society were run by military veterans. That's it. Nothing to do with American culture wars. Especially since it was written in 1959. PS This movie is a comedy in comparison. I wouldn't read too much into it.

[@Kardashev1]

@@PaulMartin-qu5up I'm not American. The movie was directed by Paul Verhoeven. "Starship Troopers was also Verhoeven's response to events he perceived in contemporary U.S. politics, such as limited gun restrictions and an increase of capital punishment, which he believed could eventually result in open fascism, as well as films that glorified U.S. military forces and depicted a casual attitude to violence."

[@PaulMartin-qu5up]

@@Kardashev1 Have you read the book?

[@sonofkarma5461]

If you ask me, this movie series is like half Full Metal Jacket, and half Star Wars

[@godzillalover2]

You got the thrust of the whole movie MUCH better than some reactions I've seen. The comedy, the satire, the comment on fascism, and blindly following propaganda and government control. All in all a very insightful and fun watch.