SNMR 2.29: "Starship Troopers"

Tonight's SNMR feature is "Starship Troopers" (1997, R, 129 minutes), starring Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Denise Richards, Neil Patrick Harris, Jake Busey, Patrick Muldoon and Michael Ironside. The film was directed by Paul Verhoeven.

The first time I saw this film was when I rented it sometime in the late 1990's. I had rented it solely because both Dina Meyer (12 episodes in '93-'94) and Casper Van Dien (7 episodes in 1994) had small roles in the TV series "Beverly Hills 90210", which I was heavily into at that time. I had never read Heinlien's novel or even heard of it before watching this film. I have watched it a few times since, for one reason only.

From the DVD's dust case:

From the bridge of the Fleet Battlestation Ticonderoga, with its sweeping galactic views, to the desolate terrain of planet Klendathu, teeming with shrieking, fire-spitting, brain-sucking special effects creatures, acclaimed director Paul Verhoeven crafts a dazzling epic based on Robert A. Heinlein's classic sci-fi adventure. Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Denise Richards, Jake Busey, Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Muldoon and Michael Ironside star as the courageous soldiers who travel to the distant and desolate Klendathu system for the ultimate showdown between the species. "Sensationally exciting! Like Star Wars, it's ground zero for a new generation of thrill seekers!" -Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

From Martin and Porter's DVD & Video Guide 2007, p. 1074:

Some truly awesome special effects do not make up for the lack of dramatic punch in this sci-fi adventure about a group of cadets who graduate ot find themselves thrust into an intergalactic war. The film only begins to get interesting at the end, where an abrupt ending seems to suggest that the filmmakers ran out of money.

This film is a piece of sci-fi fluff which in no way can be compared to Star Wars on any level. The story has promise but is largely disappointing because of the abrupt ending and unfulfilled potential mentioned in the review above. The special effects are very good, though a bit gory if you don't like blood and guts films. The cast is overall adequate and performs to the level of the material. For me, there's only one reason to revisit this film on occasion - the beautiful, sexy and highly underrated Dina Meyer. If what you're looking for is mindless, bloody entertainment then this movie is for you. I'll give it 2 1/4 out of five stars.