Paul Verhoeven week: Starship Troopers (They sucked his brains out!)

Verhoeven’s penchant for combining hyper-violence with social satire is on full display in his interpretation of Starship Troopers, Robert A. Heinlein‘s 1959 novel in which the militaristic leaders of the future combat their intergalactic nemesis dubbed simply “The bugs.”

I have not read the book, neither has Verhoeven who read a few chapters into it and stopped having become both bored and depressed, no doubt the result of which is the tongue in cheek propaganda film structure the story follows, we’re introduced to the conflict via a live report on the siege of Klendathu, home planet of the bugs, it’s here where we also meet our eyes and ears of this future Johnny Rico. Following this we rewind to a year prior in which Rico is shown graduating from school and seeking out a term in the military to become a citizen -- citizenship is required to seek a career or maintain a adequate life in this militaristic world.

Among the ‘90’s youth to join the ranks are Casper Van Dien in fine form before his banishment to television movies, pre-Bond Denise Richard, post-Doogie Neil Patrick Harris and the always welcomed Jake Busey. They’re surrounded by a fine stable of veterans headed up by Michael Ironside who is on full badass display as Rico’s mentor.

Verhoeven, having grown in the anti-militaristic climate of post-WWII Netherlands, relies upon visual imagery to tie the militaristic federation to the fascists of our 20th century and clue in the audience, the biggest statement being Neil Patrick Harris’ Carl Jenkins, who descends from a high school graduate with the unique ability to read minds to a high ranking lieutenant sending thousands of soldiers to their death in the name of victory. Strength through numbers being their game plan, upon the capture of a brain bug believed to be the key, they victoriously claim it afraid, which raises the question of how much alike are the humans and bugs truly? When those afraid of losing their position and power send the mobile infantry, whose been conditioned to not fear death face an enemy who knows nothing of death and serve a higher mind fearful of losing their position, who’s the real enemy?

But hey, it’s Verhoeven, and these potshots at militaristic values and beliefs come with a healthy helping of insect vs. humanoid warfare. Two of the big forays into heavy CG in the mid-90’s were Mars Attacks! and Troopers, and god bless the technology cause it’s used to bring about all kinds of horrific creatures with even more horrific weapons of death. Headshots? Check. Decapitations? More than you need. Bisections? All too many. Humans melting? You bet your ass. Phil Tippet delivers insects by the thousands, from the opening failure on Klendathu to the siege of Rasckaz’s roughnecks in an abandoned outpost, the bug attack fiercely, ferociously and in numbers near the thousands.

The result is pure Verhoeven; ridiculous degrees of violence interrupted by gratuitous nudity, social satire delivered in a deadpan manner via a news network, Michael Ironside firing weapons with very little regard to ammo conservation. All the finer staples of the man dating back to Robocop which was also criticized for it’s Fascistic undertones, but fuck ‘em. Odds are if you hate Verhoeven, you are a fascist.