Phydeaux on 3/8/2007 at 04:11
Re: Starship Troopers
It seems to me that most people who defend ST as brilliant satire always point to the book. Which to me means the movie failed. Because the only people who like it are people who read the book (and understand that it's satire), or are idiots. If it succeeded as satire, more smart people would like it without needing to have read the book.
I've not read the book (yet), and even then, knowing the movie supposed to be satire makes it suck only a little less. Maybe it'll suck even less when I get around to reading the book (I can only hope). But requiring a book to be read to understand the movie is a clear sign of failure on the movie's part.
The fact that an even shittier, straight-to-video sequel was made doesn't help its cause either.
Fafhrd on 3/8/2007 at 04:52
The book is almost nothing like the film, character names and fighting alien bugs are pretty much the only similarities. And where has anyone pointed to the book as a defence for the film?
duckman on 3/8/2007 at 06:05
Starship troopers caters to the 'action' side of people. I think it serves fine, the action scenes can be entertaining. If a movie, such as I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, is supposed to cater to humor, and fails at that, leaving nothing, just a role of film with pictures on it, then it is a bad movie. Because I felt it tries to preach, which it does a horrible job of, and tries to be funny, which is ISNT! I thought it was a AWFUL film. I didn't receive ANY pleasure at ALL from watching it and gained absolutely NOTHING. THAT is a bad movie.
DaveW on 3/8/2007 at 06:10
Why does it matter if it's satire or not? It's a film where some soldiers beat the crap out of some aliens with lots of guns and explosions. Why do you need to find something "more" to it to enjoy it?
As duckman said, it's meant to be an action film. Even if it does try to be satirical and fails - it's still a good action film so it's not an automatic fail for it. "Worst movie ever" really only applies to a film that tries to do something and hopelessly fails. Like the 40 year old virgin - it's not funny in the slightest and if it's not funny there's nothing else to it.
D'Juhn Keep on 3/8/2007 at 08:37
That's like saying you can only enjoy Deus Ex as a straight FPS, why do you need the RPG elements at all? Layers, Dave, LAYERS
I saw Starship Troopers before reading the book and loved it, both as a "THE ONLY GOOD BUG IS A DEAD BUG" action film and as a satire of propaganda and a view of humanity in war. By this I mean demonising the enemy, incompetent commanders wasting human life needlessly, bad intelligence, etc. I also think the music is some of the best in any film - very similar to Robocop's, all stirring patriotic orchestral stuff. Not to mention the special effects of course.
DaveW on 3/8/2007 at 08:41
No, it's like saying that you can enjoy Deus Ex as an FPS. My point is just because one of the non-main elements of the film apparantly isn't good, it still exists as a good action movie. Such as even if you think Invisible War cocked up the RPG systems, it's still an above-average FPS and can be enjoyed as such.
D'Juhn Keep on 3/8/2007 at 09:37
Ah! Ok, yeah, I misunderstood what you were saying :)
DaBeast on 3/8/2007 at 14:06
This is the last time I'm going to talk about Starship Troopers (you hope)
You can debate satire all you want in regards to evil governments, waste of lives, propaganda etc. What you naysayers seem to miss all too often is that it's not just that. It's satirizing the whole genre of American action movies.
I mean seriously, how can you miss it so completely?
Not only is Johny Rico the perfect definition of a square jawed all American type, his girlfriend the super babe who he rescues, the MI full of Gung Ho kill em all etc who just so happen to save the day. It comes across all cheesey because its supposed to. The fact that it's actually enjoyable as either brainless fun or, dare I say it, satire is a credit to Verhoeven's ability.
BTW, I read the book long after watching the film and I do think he raped it. But it's still good and at least had a go.
DISCLAIMER: I haven't slept in 2 days so the above may not make sense. Will edit if I look like too much of an ass.
vurt on 3/8/2007 at 14:27
The commercials in SST are funny in a cute kind of way i think :cheeky: It's NOT a laugh-your-ass-off satire, it totaly fails as that, but it doesnt try to be that kind of movie either.. I wouldnt have liked it at all if it was anything like Death Race 2000 or whatever, i liked that the humor was there but it was subtle and never really over-the-top, so it worked well even as a quite exciting action movie as well.
ZylonBane on 3/8/2007 at 14:36
Quote Posted by DaBeast
It's satirizing the whole genre of American action movies.
I mean seriously, how can you miss it so completely?
Jesus Christ, how many times do I need to say this:
Because it's indistinguishable from them.How hard is that to understand? By your reasoning I could point to any random blisteringly idiotic action movie, don my monacle, and loudly proclaim, "No no no! This is SATIRE!".
