Big Cloits
Yes, this movie was better than expected, better than the other sequels (which lowered our expectations)... but that doesn't mean it was actually good. Not even close.Read the book twenty years ago, loved it, and mostly enjoyed Verhoeven's funky interpretation in 1997. Nauseated by ST2 and ST3.Just bemused by this one.A ridiculous predictable plot... continuity weirdness everywhere... flat characters... stilted voice acting... lines so corny they were make you laugh AT the film, not with it.The campy, corny style of the original was part of the satire, and it was kind of brilliant. The corn here was either a tone deaf imitation, or more likely just clunky filmmaking.But! Some good art, tasty eye candy, creative sound, and a few good sci-fi ideas. Definitely not a TOTAL waste of time.
quincytheodore
Many might not know Starship Troopers, despite being a cult classic, has a couple of less than stellar sequels. Opting for all CG approach for the fourth one, Invasion is crafted with heavy anime Japanese touch. It has so many resemblances to video game graphic, down to facial and body structures, which gives it a chance for spectacular effect. Be that as it may, the material still doesn't go beyond generic sci-fi banters.Story follows the crew of Alesia as they perform dangerous missions and uncover secret of the bugs. The graphic is good, an above average quality of CG at that time, and this different direction caters both to franchise fans and general sci-fi enthusiasts. For most part, the rendition is glossy and proportional. It presents its highest production value on gratuitous naked digital girls and gory action. It does stutter occasionally, in a few scenes the action seem rigid and facial expression is rather bland.Japanese video game screenplay is notoriously hampered with campy dialogues or over-the-top situations. Those who have played popular video game franchise such as Resident Evil will notice similar kinks on Invasion. Characters are made with stereotypical personalities and looks, a somewhat westernized army appearance for animation genre. Sexy blonde, rugged soldier and everything in between. The film attempt to give some depth to the characters, but its script just isn't up to task.It can be cringe-worthy to hear what these people say. Macho quips, overly melodramatic lines and even catchphrases are thrown with reckless abandon. Dubbing isn't that bad, they do their best with the jarring lines. Some level of knowledge of the series might be required as it lacks narrative, and even then the story barely wraps up. To its credit, the action part is presentable. A couple of high octane scenes are better than most in sci-fi genre.Starship Troopers: Invasion might not reach the same pinnacle of its original, but as a popcorn flick it provides enough chuckles and gazes for brief delight.
Paul Schlacter
The first Starship movie was a great little flick. # 2 and 3 were quite disappointing. I didn't put much expectation into this movie but I was totally blown away. The CGI was amazing and the characters were all well thought out. Each character brought a little "humanity" into the flick instead of being the traditional "bug" fodder. The gratuitous nude scenes were also humorous and a nice touch to make this movie more a "film" move than an animation. The action was intense and once again the special effects were amazing. I might even go as far as buying a copy for my personal collection. Definitely beat out the previous Starship Trooper movies and may even blow away the first movie as well. I would highly recommend this for any scifi fan out there.
Mason Bliss
After the disappointment of the third movie not quite living up to the expectations I had for it, this addition to the franchise was a sigh of relief, and honestly a fun ride. The thing that made the first movie so great was that it WAS corny, over the top, and sucked you into a universe you thought would be fantastic to live in. This movie gives us what we want. Action, simple story line, and actual empathy with the characters. I honestly felt like I was part of the story at times. While the movie certainly isn't quite 10 star material, it delivers on all fronts the elements that made the first movie so much fun. Plus, if you're a die hard fan of the series, you'll enjoy it just because you get to see the continuation of some of your favorite characters. The CGI was cool but in my opinion it would have been cooler if they just made it live action. At times it felt like I was watching an extended video game cut scene (when are they giving us a Starship Troopers video game???). After the first 30 minutes I barely noticed it, however, and just allowed myself to watch the movie as it was. Overall, it's fun, it's blood soaked, it has just the right amount of nudity and the franchise's attempt at wit to make it very likable. Sometimes a bit predictable and corny, but again, that's what made the first movie such a delight. 8/10, would recommend to sci-fi fans, Starship Trooper fans, and anyone looking to watch a fun movie.
AD
