Plot: What’s it about?
The battle against the bug menace continues, though the sheer volume of bug enemies is often enough to overtake the human soldiers. On a distant plain, a band of Mobile Infantry roughnecks do battle with a swarm of bugs, only to be mowed down in quick fashion. Some of the soldiers survive and those that do seek out shelter of some kind, which they find in an abandoned outpost. Here, the men hope to catch their breath, assemble a new plan of attack, and perhaps find some rations or weapons. General Shepherd (Ed Lauter) leads his men through the outpost, only to discover a man who has been locked within the station. That man is Captain Dax (Richard Burgi), who was locked up because he killed his commanding officer. He doesn’t seem to be dangerous, but the roughnecks seem to want to keep him behind closed doors. But when the bug attack arrives, the soldiers are outnumbered and Dax could be of assistance. So Private Sahara (Colleen Porch) releases him from the hold, with hopes he can engineer a win over the bug invaders. He does just that, with his guns blazing and his attitude on full showcase. This battle goes to the roughnecks, but this was just one of numerous conflicts to come. General Shepherd now has new soldiers in his ranks, but will the division survive the mission?
The original Starship Troopers was awesome, an over the top bloodbath with special effects, attitude, and violence to burn. Of course, some folks didn’t like the fascist angles and campish side of the film, two of its strongest points. This sequel could have been awesome too, but a lack of overall resources limited its potential. I know that money alone doesn’t make a good movie, but this is a sci/fi action movie, a genre which demands deep pockets. You need special effects, explosions, stunts, and more, all of which costs serious cash. But Starship Troopers 2 wasn’t given much of a budget, so a smaller scale is undertaken. This more focused approach could have worked, but in the end, the movie fails to ignite the burners. Phil Tippett, known for his special effects work on such films as Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and RoboCop, steps behind the camera as director for the first time, but his inexperience is obvious. Then again, with such a strapped production and all, I doubt Tippett was given a fair chance here. But Starship Troopers 2 isn’t a total loss, as there are some good gore scenes, not to mention ample sex and violence. The edge and intelligence from the original are gone however, so this is not a suitable sequel. Columbia’s DVD is solid all around, but if you’re curious, I’d still recommend a rental.
Video: How does it look?
Starship Troopers is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a dark movie, maybe one of the darkest I’ve seen in a while. As such, the transfer has work overtime to keep detail solid and manage those crucial black levels. This turns out not to be a reference level treatment, but the visuals come through quite well. The image has ample depth and clarity, despite the dark visuals, so this is a solid effort. Even in the darkest scenes, contrast remains consistent, so detail is always just as it should be. The colors are bright and bold, especially in a few scenes that are bathed in blue, which look excellent in this edition. I saw no compression errors either, so in the end, Columbia has given a credible visual treatment.
Audio: How does it sound?
Although the included Dolby Digital 5.1 option doesn’t reach reference status, it is terrific and ranks as a damn impressive audio experience. The inclusion of a DTS option just sweetens the deal, as the audio is allowed to explode in full fashion. The tense and action driven scenes put the speakers through the paces and then some, with creative and highly effective presence, which adds to the eerie, tense atmosphere. The more reserved scenes also sound terrific, while the musical score is tight & immersive here, a very memorable audio treatment indeed. I am thrilled that Columbia went to such lengths with this release, as I never would have expected a DTS soundtrack here, so kudos to the studio on that decision. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
An audio commentary session is up first, as director Phil Tippett, writer Ed Neumeier, and producer Jon Davidson discuss the picture. The trio is candid and honest, letting us know how the studio placed intense demands on the production. The low budget is covered, as well as details on quotas in terms of sex and violence. A nice look behind the scenes of a troubled production, not a common find, to be sure. This disc also includes two behind the scenes featurettes, some still photos, and the film’s trailer.
