Starship Troopers (25th Anniversary SteelBook) [4K Ultra HD]
[{'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2018', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "Starship Troopers is a great war movie in the guise of a B-rate sci-fi action thriller. And like many great war movies, there is a strong anti-war sentiment that runs throughout the film. The run time is incredibly long at well over 2 hours. Half the film is devoted to establishing the back story which follows a group of high school friends from the classroom and through boot camp and training and eventually into war. This is the pattern of all great war movies going all the way back to All Quiet on the Western Front. In fact, this film could be seen as a remake of that great war epic. This is a movie so blatantly violent and without emotion that it enhances the impression of satire. There is no sad melody that plays when a major character dies to que us to mourn or grieve. Instead the result is often shock and it is quite a jarring experience at times, like the first time we saw the alien burst out of John Hurt's chest in Aliens. It is fascinating how the film can equally entertain, shock, and still deliver a potent message. This is quality masquerading as mediocre. What we see on the surface as a B-rate, campy, over the top sci-fi action flick is actually an intelligent commentary and satire of war, a remake of many great war films with a compelling love story, a driven plot and excellent performances from some fine young actors. Clearly Doogie Howser's finest film bar none. Add it to your collection before history forgets such fine film gems such as this."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2018', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'This is one of my all time favorites, and an instant classic. The director, who admits to not reading the book, "fought with the book," bc it was fascist apparently, so the movie has a general tone of sarcastic fascism, made obvious with the Wermacht and SS uniforms. However this film depicts Heinlein\'s ideal of a liberal democracy with the moral auuthority of fascism, an ultimate separation of public and private, small government, low taxes, few laws, total governmental transparency and accountability, through the lens of the volunteer only armed forces. The special effects have held up surprisingly well two decades on, especially the Arachnids and gore, terrifying to this day. The character development and writing has a slight and intentional B movie feel to it, and the propaganda (which never lies btw) is amusing in it\'s basis on U.S. WWII why we fight films. Overall an outstanding film that inspires true classical liberal principles in any citizen with enough civic virtue to pick up a rifle and fight an unprovoked existential threat to mankind. If you\'re interested in a breakdown of the politics of the film, I\'d recommend "The Politics of Starship Troopers" by Sargon of Akkad on YouTube. Do yourself a favor and watch or rewatch this classic, and JOIN THE MOBILE INFANTRY!'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2017', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "Yes the 4K UHD is somewhat grainy but that is where the detail comes in since you cannot notice the grain on the standard blu ray. We must remember this is not a digitally shot film. This was filmed on 35mm film in 1997. The grain is not obtrusive as others believe it is (since they are expecting perfect digital image) so they are going to scream about what grain there is. Never has this film looked as bright and detailed as it does on Sony's fantastic HDR 4K UHD disc! The image blows away the standard blu ray by leaps and bounds. And the Dolby Atmos soundtrack is powerful and deep. There are plenty of special features on the 4K disc as well. Sony once again proves they can release magnificent looking 4K UHD discs of their catalog titles. Fifth Element, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Zero Dark Thirty are few other reference 4K UHD discs from Sony."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2018', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "It's always been a Cheesy movie, but it is a fun sci-fi movie about giant killer bugs and a war hungry culture. There are some hammy performances and some really good ones. It's not a new movie but the effects have held up well over the years and it's still just a fun way to spend that hour and a half.\n\nThe transfer to 4K is great. It looks wonderful and times practically 3D. You can really see the film grain but I think that looks really cool because I grew up on film grain and I don't want to see it go away on these older movies. Instead what you get is a high-definition image that's got the classic film grain. If you don't already have it on Blu-ray it's a good movie to get on 4K."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2020', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'OF COURSE I am going to give this 5 stars are you kidding me?! You got J rico, Diz, Carl, Ace, and of course that back stabbin\' too good for everyone Carmen, oh and all those other folks they cast in the movie. BUT back to the important part, the BUGZ!! Probably one of the greatest 90\'s cult classics of ALL time! If you like Sci-Fi, Action, Shootin, Boobies, Killin\' Bugs, Spaceships, Boobies or Space, this has something for everyone!\n\nI was 8 years old when this came out and I was first introduced to this world through the animated series "Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles"(Check this out too!). It wasn\'t until much later that I found out the Movie was the cause for all of it and once I saw it, I was hooked! This movie belongs in the same league as The Fifth Element, the story line is solid, the effects (for its time) are pretty good, and its one of the few I can watch over and over.\n\nI HIGHLY recommend this film, and after my review IF you still didn\'t enjoy the film, maybe try underwater basket weaving'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2018', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Starship Troopers is the seminal interpretation of Heinlein’s Hugo-winning novel. When you consider that this is the BEST film in the careers of Casper van Dien, Dina Meyer, Jake Busey, and Denise Richards (Christmas Jones, really?) it is impossible to argue anything less. Watching the Klendathu Drop in 4K is one of the top 3 reasons to upgrade.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'HAVING SEEN THIS CLASSIC MANY TIMES AND OWNING IT, WHEN I SAW IT WAS ON PRIME IN HD, I DID NOT WASTE TIME. LET ME\nMENTION THAT THE SECOND HALF OF THE FILM CONTAINS EXTREME VIOLENCE, AND MIGHT BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR THOSE UNDER EIGHTEEN. HAVING SAID THAT, THIS MOVIE HAS MAGNIFICENT ACTORS, THE PROTAGONIST IS CASPER VAN DIEN, JAKE BUSSEY, PATRICK MULDOON, THE TALENTED DENISE RICHARDS, AND THE GREAT ACTOR, MICHAEL IRONSIDE. THE SPECIAL EFFECTS ARE UNRIVALED. THE PREMISE IS THAT THE EARTH IS AT WAR WITH A SPECIAL, HIGHLY INTELLIGENT SPECIES OF INSECT LIFE. THIS MAY SOUND INCONSISTENT WITH A GREAT FILM, BUT IT IS DONE IN A VERY SOPHISTICATED MANNER, AND IS QUITE CREDIBLE. AS EARTH IS ATTACKED BY A NUCLEAR DEVICE AND BRAZIL IS DESTROYED, WAR IS DECLARED. THE THREE MAIN\nCHARACTERS DECIDE TO JOIN THE FEDERATION FORCES, I.E. ARMY, AND THE FILM BEGINS WITH SOME EXCEPTIONAL CHARACTER\nDEVELOPMENT AND THE BONDS BETWEEN THE MAIN ACTORS. THE SECOND HALF OF THE MOVIE IS NONSTOP, BREATHTAKING\nACTION, WITH A SERIOUS PLOT. THERE ARE SOME CAMPY SCENES WHICH GIVE THE FILM CONSIDERABLE WIT. WHEN THE\nDENOUEMENT ARRIVES AND THE FINALE IS VIEWED, THIS IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE SCIENCE FICTION PIECE OF CINEMATOGRAPHY WITH SUPERB ACTION AND DRAMATIC ACTING.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2017', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "Verhoeven's classic (and make no mistake, this film IS a classic) arrives on 4K UHD and the picture quality is outstanding. Colors and details pop with the HDR shining. Sure, there's grain but that's to be expected with any movie shot on film. As well, the new Dolby Atmos soundtrack is truly immersive and puts the viewer right in the action. This is a must-own for fans or those who want to see an outstanding sci-fi action flick."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2019', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "I saw this movie in the theaters when I was a kid and absolutely fell in love with this sci-fi war film and completely misinterpreted Paul Verhoeven's sarcastic message. I was pulled into this fantasy world run through state-run website created by the global fascist government called the United Federation. I wanted to learn more.\n\nIn this utopia, mankind has united under a common banner and enjoys the fruits of economic stability and prosperity. From among the civilians are the Citizens of the United Federation. Citizens are ordinary civilians who have joined the military or civil service and serve the United Federation government. Service guarantees citizenship; in which the film implies the citizens enjoy more rights than the ordinary civilians such as voting or getting elected to government positions. The unity of humanity under the United Federation is strengthened by by the ongoing war waged against a dangerous species of space insects called Arachnids.\n\nPaul Verhoeven made a truly enjoyable war film and on the topic of Fascism, which pokes fun at the audience; bringing them in by the seduction of attractive actors and actresses and the tone filmed like your typical High School Beverly Hills 91210. Taking the audience through military boot camp and watching how the main characters mature from innocent and naive younglings to battle hardened and scarred veterans. There are many moments where the filmmakers have you question whether you would truly join a fascist society no matter how perfect and modern their health care and living standards they are; such as how all the citizen adults are badly mauled or injured. The high school science teacher has her eyes burned probably doing some kind of research on space bug acid, and the hs history teacher and recruiting sergeant missing multiple limbs due to fighting with the Arachnids. And as the film progress, you see the next generation much younger than the main characters are now serving as fresh reinforcements for their battered platoon. It really makes you question whether you would want to serve, as the film ends like a recruiting ad trying to empower you to join up with the united federation.\n\nService Guarantees Citizenship"}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2018', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'This two disc 4K UltraHD/HDR Blu-Ray HD + Digital movie set, arrived on time and undamaged. Picture, sound and features are superb. Picture in glorious 4K UltraHD/HDR and the soundtrack in Dolby Atmos in either 5.1 or 7.1, brings the movie to both a whole new level of viewing pleasure and gives the movie the makeover it richly deserves after 21 years since it was first shown in movie theaters in 1997. Nice to watch it again in this new stunning viewing format and is worth paying for in every aspect, when I purchased it from amazon.com. 10 out of 10.'}]