Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action - io9 Comments

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

hyperpat — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:54:33 PDT

WizarDru: thanks for listing my post as an answer to the claim that Starship Troopers is fascist. But my post is far from the definitive argument. A much more detailed article is Thoughts on Starship Troopers by Christopher Weuve (warning: there are several spoilers in this article). This article also has a pretty good analysis of some of the stupidities of the movie considered strictly as movie divorced from the book.

And the book was very definitely not intended as a satire, but rather was written in response to a call by The National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy for the the United States to unilaterally end nuclear weapons testing, which idea Heinlein was violently against, just as much as he hated the idea of involuntary conscription. For this purpose he interrupted work on what was to become Stranger in a Strange Land, spent six weeks writing this book, formed the Patrick Henry League, and took out a full page newspaper ad in opposition to those calling for such action. (cf. "Who are the Heirs of Patrick Henry" published in his Expanded Universe).

hyperpat

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

N3v3r.kNows.b3st. — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:59:10 PST

Can you say "Straight to DVD"?

N3v3r.kNows.b3st.

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Jeff-Minor — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:32:06 PST

Tim, I understand the thing with Heinlein. At the time I was in the USMC and I related to Starship Troopers. But it's a little over the top, and so was Plato (specifically with regard to democracy).

Jeff-Minor

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

able-x — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:21:44 PST

What's really funny, is for all of Verhoeven's attempt to show how BAD a fascist state is, it actually comes out looking pretty good. Maybe more people would take citizinship and the right to vote more seriously if it was earned rather than given.

Also, it's a stupid fun movie, and i've read the book too. I just take them for what they are, and I look forward to seeing Rico kick some more bug ass.

PS, this preview as you type thing, really slows down my firefox. Do not want.

Now let's go crack a planet.

able-x

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

diverguy — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:41:39 PST

What??!?! I didn't even know there was a Starship Troopers 2 out there... Direct To Video I assume..

diverguy

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

WizarDru — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:27:10 PST

@Garrison Dean: "It was a political essay on his part detailing an idealized albeit facisist Utopia. It for a while was widely read in navy schools due to its "accuracy" of military life and concepts. It part of the reason Haldeman wrote the "Forever War" as a negative response to the glorification of military in Starship Troopers."

No, sorry...it wasn't. First off: Heinlein's society was NOT fascist. Follow my link above for specific explanations therein. While I didn't agree with some of Heinlein's politics, calling him an idealistic fascist is way off the mark. Heinlein's political discussions in the book center on two concepts: citizenship is a privilege, not a right and violence is single most effective form of change than mankind has ever used and to believe otherwise is naive.

Joe Haldeman was a Vietnam vet and the Forever War is his satire and criticism of THAT. Haldeman, you know...a member of the HEINLEIN SOCIETY, has repeatedly stated in interviews that the FW is NOT a satire of Starship Troopers. Further, he has pointed out that the society in FW is EXACTLY the kind of conscripted, inefficient state that Heinlein despised and advocated AGAINST in ST.

I think a lot of the misconceptions come from the fact that fewer and fewer people have read the BOOK, Starship Troopers, versus having seen the movie, and assume Verhoeven's anti-fascist agenda came from the book and not his personal politics.

WizarDru

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

WizarDru — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:11:27 PST

@SunZhiQian: Whoops. Don't know how that happened.

Let's try this:
[hyperpat.wordpress.com]

WizarDru

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Git Em SteveDave is a poor substitute for LindsayJoy — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:09:01 PST

@rdosser: Well, the girls were also bald in the book. At least the female navy ones. But I'm sure if Heinlein saw the scene, he would approve. I certainly did. Repeatedly.

Git Em SteveDave is a poor substitute for LindsayJoy

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Sharpless — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:05:23 PST

@Benjo: Really?

*kills self*

Sharpless

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

rdosser — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:48:22 PST

I would just like to see the look on Heinlein's afterlife face when somebody tells him "They made a movie out of Starship Troopers. Rico and Flores have sex." (They were both men in the book)

rdosser

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Git Em SteveDave is a poor substitute for LindsayJoy — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:09:41 PST

@Burdman: No, there is a scene in the trailer of a suit. It's about 19-18 seconds before the end, and it is in the background with the foreground being occupied by whoosing flame.

Git Em SteveDave is a poor substitute for LindsayJoy

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Dillenger69 — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:52:59 PST

I'm still waiting for the drop pods from the book.

Dillenger69

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Blue Oyster Cultist — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:52:59 PST

@ericdrummond: Thank You, This series is tripe, and all this fan boy bullshit, my god people does plot, dialog, or acting mean anything to you?

Paul Verhoeven is just slightly better than Uwe Boll and should have been banned from making movies after Basic Instinct, Showgirls, and Hollow Man.

Blue Oyster Cultist

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Burdman — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:32:48 PST

No jumpsuits.....Sad.

Burdman

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Garrison Dean, Mr. Privilege — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:24:18 PST

@Tim Faulkner: Actually from what I've always understood was that Heinlins ST wasn't satire and that it was actually respected as a work of Millitary fiction. It was a political essay on his part detailing an idealized albeit facisist Utopia. It for a while was widely read in navy schools due to its "accuracy" of military life and concepts. It part of the reason Haldeman wrote the "Forever War" as a negative response to the glorification of military in Starship Troopers.

Garrison Dean, Mr. Privilege

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

doubledumbassonyou — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:34:32 PST

full of suck

doubledumbassonyou

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

ManchuCandidate — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:30:23 PST

@JoshJasper:
Actually, FW wasn't meant to be. Joe Haldeman wanted to write about his own Vietnam experience as an SF allegory and it just coincidentally was the polar opposite of ST.

ManchuCandidate

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Project Thanatos — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:09:02 PST

You know... where the hell is the Starcraft movie?

Terran, Zerg, AND Protoss would make for a great battle/story.

Project Thanatos

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

ProgGrrl — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 07:51:16 PST

Hee Hee. I loved Verhoeven's first film. Never read the novel. This looks like ridiculous bug fun..."crack a planet" LOL

ProgGrrl

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Git Em SteveDave is a poor substitute for LindsayJoy — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 07:51:14 PST

@btgoss: That's just the coloration of the bugs carapace.

Git Em SteveDave is a poor substitute for LindsayJoy

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Tim Faulkner — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 07:39:00 PST

@mcsey: but not classic. Cheap and lame. There's more successful satire in 30 seconds of televison cuts from the original Robocop than there is in these three ST movies.

Tim Faulkner

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

JoshJasper — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 07:16:05 PST

Can someone introduce Verhoeven to Eric Flint's books, and then somehow convince Flint that Verhoeven is the guy to make movies out of his books? Because that'd be fucking brilliant.

Also, Charlie, a tip - Forever War was a classic satire of Starship Troopers. The Verhoeven movie was for 14 year old boys who like boobies and guns.

JoshJasper

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Front_Towards_Enemy — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 06:38:05 PST

Ahhh...Just like the previous 2 movies before it, this one keeps the tradition of "We have no clue how to fight a war, so we'll make some cool effects"

This one is going to be suckastic.

Front_Towards_Enemy

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

btgoss — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 06:36:20 PST

Did those first bug has giant cartoon shark teeth? Or was it just something from the youtubing of the video?
This one looks...meh... the second one was actually interesting by direct to DVD standards.
But I still wanted a true to the book movie.

btgoss

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

SunZhiQian — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 06:14:29 PST

@Wizardru - how about a link?

SunZhiQian

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

mcsey — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 06:05:07 PST

@Tim Faulkner: Fair enough.

Heinlein's ST != satire
Verhoven's ST == satire

mcsey

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Mathmos — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:56:53 PST

The Spaceballs approach to Heinlein - looks awful, though the first one was a decent satire. Shame, though, that the enjoyable aspects of ST won't appear in a movie.

Mathmos

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

BSAKat — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:52:54 PST

Distinct and saddening lack of powered armor in that trainer. Boo!

BSAKat

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Tim Faulkner — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:48:52 PST

@Jeff-Minor: Yeah, actually, I was thinking that too as soon as I wrote it. Plenty have come to think of it as a satire against xenophobia and the perpetuation of a war state. While at the same time it is really an idealistic polemic on how the military and government should operate. Understood. And yet another reason I find Heinlein largely unreadable.

Tim Faulkner

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

WizarDru — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:31:26 PST

The original book was NOT a satire. Quite the opposite, actually. But Heinlein also wasn't a fascist. Again, quite the opposite.

You can read some details right here.

WizarDru

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

toopersent — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:23:09 PST

@Jeff-Minor:

he was also widely known for his antiwar beliefs. While ST was probably one of his more right-wing novels, it is most certainly a satire, whether he says so or not.

toopersent

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

kurwinsky — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:50:54 PST

Cracking Planets? That's SPORE!

kurwinsky

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Jeff-Minor — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:40:49 PST

Tim, where did you get the impression that Starship Troopers was a satire? Only in a non-humorous sort of way, if at all. If Heinlein said it was a satire I'd be interested in seeing him quoted. I think he was quite serious about giving the right to vote only to those who earned it. Just like Plato.

Jeff-Minor

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

PriorMarcus — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:18:20 PST

@Darkweave: Are you saying that it looks cheesy?

PriorMarcus

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Darkweave — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:15:34 PST

Wow!!! Thats one big cheesy caserole, with some cheese on the side, followed by a dash of grated cheese, and an order of cheesy fries followed by some cheddar ice cream! I think I just might see it!

Darkweave

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

hitmouse — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:26:00 PST

They should just turn it into a proper Melrose Space TV series: all they need is a Marcia Cross character, and we'd have a bug-hunting furniture-chewing BSG-style soap-opera

hitmouse

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

ericdrummond — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:42:38 PST

Rant: Okay, putting aside that these films really do take a masterpiece of literature (irregardless of genre) into a mindless heap of dung, pretty much guaranteeing a faithful version of the film won't come out till I'm in my 90s, these movies are tripe. To be frank, they take a shoddy plot, combine it with the least subtle (and interesting) parts of propaganda and comics, and of course let us not forget the 1970s exploitation film-style violence and sex (without the cleverness or irony of Rodriguez or Tarantino). The result? Movies that are barely better than Alexander or Battlefield Earth. Sigh. It is like watching 11-year olds do Shakespeare - painful and entertaining only in that way that makes your stomach wince as you laugh to yourself.

ericdrummond

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Cantonkid — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:37:25 PST

Man....that had almost enough cheese to cover my nachos...almost.

Cantonkid

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

keithldick — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:11:28 PST

Long Live the BUGS!!!!!

They must be decedents of our beloved Roaches and no matter how much "RAID" we shoot at them they will live on...

Like the Ad from [www.killsbugsdead.com] says: "RAID Kills Bugs Dead", except those in the Starship Trouper Movies!

They forgot to include that last line...

keithldick

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

capntim — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:03:05 PST

without Verhoeven it can't live up. but i'll give it a shot.

capntim

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

tezby — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:57:10 PST

On one side of the argument you have all these people who hate Starship Troopers because it wasn't the Heinlein book, and on the other side you have people liked me who loved the movie because it wasn't the Heinlein book. On that we can all agree.

tezby

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Benjo — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:46:04 PST

It doesn't get any better than Johnny Rico.

Benjo

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

skullpanda — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:43:13 PST

I wasn't into the first movie at all, only because of the lack of power armor.
You know what was actually really cool?
The Starship Trooper anime! Loaded with power armor. <3

skullpanda

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

AmishJohn — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:25:55 PST

I'm going to wash out my eyes with nitric acid now.

AmishJohn

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Taed — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:08:59 PST

If you're looking for a serious version of _Starship Troopers_, go pick up or rent the TV sersious _Space: Above and Beyond_. It's not great, but it's good. They had some good notions, but it sadly wasn't "dark" or adult enough.

Taed

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

PriorMarcus — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:57:47 PST

What the fuck is with T'Pol holding a gun like that? It looks idiotic.

PriorMarcus

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Jere — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:47:06 PST

Unless I'm mistaken, I think Casper Van Diem clarified at WonderCon that "Bombadier" was the name of a character, not a bug. I don't want to spoil anyone, but that wasn't an eye-stalk, it was a stinger... like certain arachnids have.

Jere

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Zlevee — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:37:18 PST

@Simpsons-Movie-ruled: It was the one with the giant worm vagina at the end that Doogie Houser talked to.

Zlevee

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

PriorMarcus — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:33:54 PST

@tetracycloide: Oh shit. You meant the Flood right? I thought we were playfully cussing out some games.

But yes, the Flood were exactly that, plus annoying. It's the later part I'm hoping a Starship Troopers game might refine.

PriorMarcus

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

nospamsam — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:29:28 PST

Starship Troopers to me is all about the power armor, drop pods, drop ships and Doogie Howser, the Nazi Psych Warrior.

nospamsam

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

PriorMarcus — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:20:22 PST

@tetracycloide: No, Gears of War.

PriorMarcus

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

tetracycloide — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:12:56 PST

@PriorMarcus: didn't they already make a ghost recon/halo style game with a relentless hive mind enemy that uses superior numbers and lack of individuality to assault foes? wasn't it called halo?

tetracycloide

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

PriorMarcus — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:11:14 PST

@Yatta!: They do indeed, but just to point out - these bugs came first.

PriorMarcus

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

MrJellytree — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:10:40 PST

@Belabras:

My sentiments exactly. Am I alone in not being able to sit through a movie with really poor acting, even if there is lots of "cool stuff happening"? That Saw movie was unwatchable for this reason. And I still have trouble watching Mark Hamill in Star Wars.

MrJellytree

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Yatta! — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:07:35 PST

The bugs look very much like Antlion Guards.

Yatta!

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

zerofritz — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:03:58 PST

you guys can all blame me: i was the one who leant them the $36.50 for special effects. Sorry.

zerofritz

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Belabras — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:56:42 PST

Wow, this looks like a late night Sat Sci-Fi channel fair. By which I mean b a d.

Belabras

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

ManchuCandidate — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:47:39 PST

@Git Em SteveDave:
Probably just more football pads and hockey helmets.

ManchuCandidate

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Simpsons-Movie-ruled — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:43:45 PST

Is the 1st one with those horribly overgrown Lice?

Simpsons-Movie-ruled

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Git Em SteveDave is a poor substitute for LindsayJoy — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:43:38 PST

No mention about the shot of the power armor? I am surprised. I think that THAT could save the movie if it is indeed bad. I admit re-reading stuff about the suits and all of their different features from the original novel.

Git Em SteveDave is a poor substitute for LindsayJoy

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Tim Faulkner — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:40:16 PST

@PVIII: Um, I got the intent. Get that Heinlein's book is a classic and is a satire. Don't get how that makes the flick brilliant though. Is every bad movie of a good book brilliant satire now, or is it a good concept losing its purpose through poor execution? I mean I'll gladly put it in the so bad it's good category but not "classic satire." Respect satire too much for that.

Tim Faulkner

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

PVIII — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:31:56 PST

Yeah, and how do you not keep the original score? That's just mindboggling to me.

PVIII

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

PVIII — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:28:44 PST

@Tim Faulkner: Nope - talking about how the original Starship Troopers was a satire on the fascist war-state, and how it depicts military expansionish and the xenophobia which allows for its survival. The first Starship Troopers was genius in how certain people just found it an "awesome shoot-em-up." Because that's just what your fascists leaders want you to think.

Reserving judgement on this but really hope it's great.

PVIII

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Log1c — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:25:36 PST

Haha. that is fucking awesome. I'm going to make sure to see it just to laugh my ass off.

Lets go crack a planet!

Log1c

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Mister Adequate — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:24:52 PST

Given the io9 post the other day about what was planned for ST3, I was kind of hoping for a less hammy approach. I mean sure, if it's just ridiculous like the first one, I will be the first person in the theater to see it. And I'm sure I'll love it. But I'd rather see a more sensible exposition of Heinlein's ideas.

Mister Adequate

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Plague — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:21:02 PST

@Tim Faulkner:
That's his OTHER classic satire.

Commence planet cracking.

Plague

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

PriorMarcus — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:13:39 PST

@EDread83: Maybe. I think I'd enjoy one if it was done as a Ghost Recon/Halo style game with vehicles and squad commands. I know they did a RTS game at one point for the PC, but I thought it looked awful just from the screens.

PriorMarcus

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

EDread83 — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:10:23 PST

hopefully we will get a console game off of this one. i think a Starship game would be fun. Not necessarily original but fun. I never saw the sequel but might rent this one if there is nothing else.

EDread83

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

Tim Faulkner — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:09:19 PST

"Paul Verhoeven's classic satire"? Are you talking about "Showgirls"?

Tim Faulkner

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

JoeyTheHobo — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:01:25 PST

I actually really liked the first one, probably due to my lack of reading the novel. Skipped the second for obvious reasons.... and I am excited over this. I hope it comes out decent. I will for sure give it a viewing.

JoeyTheHobo

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

PriorMarcus — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:52:31 PST

I'm mixed between being rather impressed when compared to the awful sequel, and being horribly upset when compared to the awesome original, so I'm just going to go and stand in the middle and watch shit fly from either side.

PriorMarcus

Starship Troopers 3 Trailer Shows Superbugs In Action

joemono — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:43:37 PST

I'd watch it. I appreciate that they used music from the first movie. Also, I really hate that swooshyish sound effect that they use for flames. It sounds really dumb.

joemono