Since its release, Starship Troopers has been critically re-evaluated, and is now considered a cult classic and a prescient satire of fascism and authoritarian governance that has grown in relevancy.
To be marginally fair to the many, many critics who took Starship Troopers' satire at face value, the book that it's based on, Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 novel of the same name, is indeed pretty fascistic.
He has stated that the novel made an analogy between its military conflict and those of the US after World War II, and that it justified American imperialism in the name of fighting another form of imperialism. Jasper Goss has referred to it as "crypto-fascist".
Is Starship Troopers an In Universe propaganda film?
Starship Troopers is presented as a work of in-universe propaganda, which is why the satire doesn't work for people who are particularly susceptible to propaganda.
Why did the first Starship Troopers movie fail as a parody a thread?
Why the first Starship Troopers movie failed as a parody, a thread: Watching the movie, it was clear the director was aiming for a campy, over-the-top depiction of the Terran Federation. Perhaps not an outright mockery, but certainly a drastic departure from the serious novel.
As a satire of fascist propaganda, Starship Troopers is intended to be viewed as a meta film that the highly militaristic United Citizen Federation would make about itself.
The poor performance of Starship Troopers was blamed, in part, on competition from a high number of successful or anticipated science fiction and genre films released that year, its satirical and violent content failing to connect with mainstream audiences, and ineffective marketing.
Parents need to know that this combat-themed sci-fi flick uses hideously violent human-alien warfare, with people gorily impaled, scissored apart, slashed, whipped, crushed, and shot (there are "friendly fire" and mercy-killing casualties).
The film's action is well choreographed and serves to keep the audience on the edge of their seat. One of the film's strengths is its portrayal of the characters, who are well-developed and memorable. Johnny Rico is the classic action hero, while his friends and comrades are equally interesting and unique.
What does it mean to be a citizen in Starship Troopers?
In the futuristic society of Starship Troopers, only people who have served in the military become full citizens. Civilians are merely “legal residents,” barred from voting or working in the government.
The good news: In the years since its release, Starship Troopers has been reevaluated and celebrated for its scathing send-up of jingoism, becoming a cult classic in the process.
The Federation did not start the war in Starship Troopers. The film is deceptively structured to make you think the humans started the war by frontloading the action of the attack on Klendathu, but then the timeline goes back a year, and shows that the bugs fired first.
Even audiences at the time seemed displeased with the film, giving it a CinemaScore exit rating of C+. Common criticisms were the wooden acting and the stereotypical story. What is this? There was also a clear desire for blockbuster entertainment at the time to be… well, entertaining.
Behemecoatyl, alternatively spelled Behemecoytal, is the main antagonist of the Starship Troopers series. The supreme ruler of the Arachnids, Behemecoatyl is a colossal life form which is connected to the crust of planet OM-1, a planet that may be the Arachnids place of origin.
The Big Picture. Starship Troopers is a satirical masterpiece criticizing militarism and propaganda. The film uses over-the-top military propaganda and Nazi-like symbolism to highlight the dangers of extremism. While action-packed, the film's real strength lies in its social commentary and relevance to today's society.
There were actually 4 straight to video sequels. But the reason they were straight to video was Starship Troopers (1997) only grossed $121 million on a $105 million budget, and was only the 34th highest movie of the year. Aka, it bombed.
Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation is a 2004 American military science fiction horror film directed by Phil Tippett and starring Richard Burgi, Lawrence Monoson, and Colleen Porch.
"Johnny" Rico is a general in the Mobile Infantry of the United Citizen Federation. During his life, Johnny Rico has become one of the most representative icons of the United Citizen Federation. Johnny inspired courage, sacrifice and valor in every battle as a freedom fighter, gallant soldier, and brave man.
If a Starship Troopers 3 is ever made, more than likely you'll be able to skip this entry. As things stand now, 2 is not at all necessary to the story. This is more like an obscure footnote to the first film, about some long lost troop that no one really cares about.
