It’s been a few years since I’ve seen director Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers. Take it from me: if you haven’t seen this movie since 9/11, you haven’t seen this movie.
– The citizenship of any person who fails to share the government’s bloodthirsty, “us vs. them” approach is called into question.
– The complexities of war are ignored in favor of pointless exercises designed to make duped citizens feel they’re “doing their part” in the war against the aliens. For example: because the aliens are vaguely bug-like, children are encouraged to stomp bugs in their backyards. (Remember the whole “freedom fries” business? “If you can’t fight Saddam, then do your part by refusing to buy French wine!”)
– The numerous clues and objective evidence suggesting WE play a role in perpetuating the war with the aliens are overlooked or downplayed.
– The television networks package the gore and horror of the war in glitzy, flashy, special-effects-laden video clips. In lieu of reasoned coverage, the media serves up sixty-second scream-fests in which “experts” verbally and physically assault each other. You’ll be amazed at how well these segments parallel the pacing and tone of Fox News coverage.
– Troops going into battle are told resistance will be “random and light.” Upon their arrival, they encounter well-organized, deliberate resistance.
– Given the war in Iraq, the movie’s enthusiastic rush to war “with the Arachnids” (think “Iraq-nids”) sounds disturbingly familiar.
If you’ve not seen the movie lately … give it a look with today’s headlines in mind. In the DVD director’s track, Veroeven discusses how the America of the 1990’s is evolving into a fascist nation. Given the developments of the early 21st century, his statements take on the air of prophecy.
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