There are two reasons why I dislike James Cameron’s Titanic: The first, and obvious reason is that it isn’t a very good film, but most importantly it was responsible for me missing out on seeing Starship Troopers on the big screen. So popular was Cameron’s behemoth that every other film was sold out thanks to people being unable to get into see Winslet’s breasts and DiCaprio’s bad acting.

The sheer spectacle of Verhoeven’s bug-blasting epic would have blown my mind on the big screen but thankfully it is still an undisputed joy at home too. Even back in ‘97 it surprised me how few people really got the film. Not only was Verhoeven very well known for his playful and…

"This year we explored the failure of democracy, where the social scientists brought our world to the brink of chaos. We talked about the veterans, how they took control & imposed the stability which has lasted for generations since.."

Verhoeven actually has precious little to say about fascism which we don't already know (at least in the context of 2017) - but even moreso than the advertisements which resemble propaganda of both Republican and Democrat alike, what remains interesting is the dime-store teen angst plot devices, which in their generic qualities reveal to us the propagandistic nature of these devices themselves. More than a film about fascism, it remains relevant because it's a film about the nature of propaganda, media & spectacle.…

"Naked force has resolved more conflicts throughout history than any other factor."

Starship Troopers satirizes jingoism and military ideology by dressing itself up as a Nazi and making us laugh at it. From the Federal Network "Would you like to know more?" propaganda ("Join the Mobile Infantry and save the Galaxy!") to the pervasive "us vs. them" fascist mentality ("I'm from Buenos Aires, and I say kill 'em all!") to the drill instructor who misses the point of his own lessons ("The enemy can't push a button if you disable his hand!"), the film systematically reappropriates military iconography to make it laughable and expose its violent foundation. But the greatest reappropriation of all is the way Verhoeven's film itself takes…

It's afraid... IT'S AFRAID!

Starship Troopers came out in 1997, five years too early. Neoliberal economics seemed to have saved us all! Internet companies were taking in a ton of money based on little actual productive output, something that was definitely sustainable and would have no ill consequences in three years; climate change was something that both sides of the political aisle agreed was an impending problem, but one to deal with in ten years maybe; and while we had maybe paid a little for our 80 years of meddling in Middle Eastern politics, we'd weathered the last attempt to bring down the World Trade Center and we were certain there wouldn't be another.

All of this contributed to the…

This movie is over 20 years old and if I remade it today I’d only change two things. 

1. Add LGBTQ characters. 
There is just enough comments about love and sexuality not to mention your investment in Rico’s personal relationships that throwing in a gay character or two would be natural and relevant.

2. Brush up the SFX/graphics
They are shockingly good really. I wouldn’t touch the bugs with a ten foot pole even today. But it’s impossible to ignore that some stuff could use a little touch up. It’s funny how the lettering graphics in the propaganda ads make this movie feel like it was made in 1997 more than anything else. The band and the dresses in the…