For this installment of #52PickUp, I looked to Paul Verhoeven’s classic social commentary film… No, not Robocop. You’re right, that is better; why didn’t I do that instead of:

Starship Troopers is a 1997 sci-fi set in the year 2197, where the entire world has essentially become one nation, where all ethnicities live everywhere, and in order to become a “Citizen,” where you’re granted special rights, you have to serve in the military; otherwise, you’ll be a civilian forever.

The world is up against an alien race of bugs that send meteors our way, threatening our very way of life. Wait, to be honest, how the hell are they able to send meteors our way? From a solar system on the other side of the GALAXY? I call bullshit.

We follow Johnny Rico (best pornstar name ever), as the rich brat joins the military to defend our world– no, he just joins because his girlfriend Carmen did. Oh well, he ends up being military Jesus and saves the human race.

Well, come to think of it… Clancy Brown is the real hero of this film (spoilers!!) He finds the brain bug.

Wait a minute, what does that Bug mouth remind you of?

Where/ when did I first see it?

This was definitely a rental from the fine establishment known as Video Market.  We watched this soon after its 1998 VHS release.

How does it hold up?

So as I alluded to earlier, the story is a bit off in hindsight. Some of the impetus for war sounds farfetched compared to when I was a kid; especially with the bug attack.

The special effects (when CGI), really took the biggest hit. The practical effects they utilized still hold up well. Apparently, they made two full bugs practically, and anytime you make something, it’s bound to be more believable and hold up better.

What did I like about it and why?

At the time the action was fun, the characters were silly, and the tits were great. Hey, as a prepubescent boy, you take what you can get, and that shower scene was one of the coolest things that I had ever seen.

Johnny and Diz had this crazy sexual chemistry, and Dina Meyer was at her peak, so she acted the hell out of that role. Johnny teased her without knowing it for quite some time, then Carmen dumped him anyway. The way Denise Richards played Carmen, it seemed like she was too good for anyone.

Then the same guy who took Kelly Kapowski from Zack in Saved By the Bell, took her from poor Johnny.

Lessons Learned?

1. Become a Citizen asap so you can: get married, have kids, go to college, etc.
2. Always blame the world that you’re invading for the sudden meteor showers on your world.
3. Alway go with Diz, Carmen was going to dump you anyway, she was focusing on her career.

Where can you see it?

Check out Starship Troopers on CanIStream.It?

-Jamie (@GuyOnAWire)

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