STARSHIP TROOPERS



Rated R - Running time: 2:09 - Released 10/31/97
Well, the Thanksgiving turkey has arrived early. I'm not even going to mention the actors' names in this pathetic attempt to re-create Robert Heinlein's popular 1959 sci-fi story. They're going to live to be embarassed by their participation anyway. It's bugs, folks, lots and lots of bugs. Big ones, ranging in size from horse to house. They live on another planet, on the other side of our galaxy, and they have it in for us Earthlings. So what should we do? We'll form a humongous army of shallow, inept brats to go and shoot at them with everyday, run-of-the-mill, 20th century weapons that have little effect. We have the technology to get rid of their whole planet, with our huge fleet of starships and nuclear capabilities, but instead we'll choose to engage them on the surface, hand-to-claw, taking countless casualties and soaking their planet with gore.

Actually, the special effects aren't bad, but it's obvious that the entire budget was used for them at the expense of actors, writers, and directors. Vast amounts of material lifted practically verbatim from such classics as Star Wars and Alien, so much so that I would think lawsuits would be in order. If not from other filmmakers, then from viewers who go to see the show. But maybe this could turn into a cult film like Rocky Horror. Just take along a big can of RAID. *


Copyright 1997 by John R. McEwen and The Republican

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