Paul Verhoeven's Starship Troopers film is a parody of war, Hollywood war films and the control of a fascist state.

submitted by HibikiBlackCaudillo from (theatlantic.com)

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[–]HibikiBlackCaudillo[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

I think there's been a lack of important films making a critique of consumer culture and hyper-capitalism and the consequences it brings to people. This could interest some of you.

So Paul's Starship Troopers film is in fact, a parody of many of the themes of the original book, war, the US/capitalism and the control of a corporatocracy. Paul makes a lot of similar themes with his Robocop film.

[–]pulverize 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I think this mistakes Fascism for Militarism and parody for hyperreality

Corporatocracy in Robocop, sure. I think the world of Troopers was free of any corporate influence and full on government propaganda. I don't see any critique of capitalism in the film or the novel

[–]Ergu 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Sargon of akkad did a long analysis of this. The funny observation was that verhoven meant to create a pointed criticism of some kind of fascist dystopia, but if you look for it, there is no repression to be found. Everybody is free to choose their own path. Rico wants to join the military, which is indeed harsh, but it's his choice. His father is against the military, never joined, and is able to provide a charmed life for his family. It's kind of hilarious that people like verhoven think that this society is somehow oppressive when it gives its populace greater freedom than almost all human civilizations that have ever existed.

[–]Chipit 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Heinlien's Starship Troopers was an outstanding novel whose theme was the relationship between the state and its people.

But precious little Paul Verhoeven couldn't stand it. He got about five pages in before throwing it away in disgust, because he can't tolerate thoughts that are not his own. So he made a stupid movie about what he thought the book might have been about.

[–]HibikiBlackCaudillo[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

It's fine if you don't like Paul's version but he is free to dislike the book itself.

[–]Chipit 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I think if you can't even read the book you shouldn't be allowed to make the movie of the book.