tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post936033206142954789..comments2024-03-28T00:43:37.279-05:00Comments on Future War Stories: FWS Broken Promises: Starship TroopersWilliamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17218428427067689631noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-42835037079528688732018-11-12T12:59:48.774-06:002018-11-12T12:59:48.774-06:00There is a new Starship Troopers movie out now cal...There is a new Starship Troopers movie out now called "Traitor of Mars" that, while still hewing to the Verhoven line, is much improved over it with proper MI jump troopers and better tactics.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05257019441860891929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-44491839438303274232018-08-17T18:32:11.260-05:002018-08-17T18:32:11.260-05:00I think the problem with SST fan's perceptions...I think the problem with SST fan's perceptions of Verhoeven's film is that they miss the point that it's not really an adaptation of the novel, strictly speaking. The film is a satire that takes the novel as inspiration, but builds upon it and takes it in a completely different direction. To give an example, what struck me on first seeing the film is how the MI and Bugs are portrayed very similarly: the MI troopers in battle are running around like a swarm, not in any kind of military formation, just like the Bugs, and when the battle begins, both groups just kinda... smash into each other. It was when I saw this (and it's a visual clue, the MI don't seem to have tactics that I can see) that I realized what Verhoeven was doing. The point was that the society of SST and the Bugs were one's that reduced its members to mindless automatons, indoctrinated into a collectivist and militaristic society that had no real care for the lives of individuals, who are sacrificed in vast numbers and seemingly carelessly. Once you realize the film's a satire (both RoboCop and Total Recall are also satirical, so it's not that hard to figure out), you start to understand what Verhoeven was trying to do. <br /><br />This isn't to defend Verhoeven's appropriation of SST. It would have been better if they hadn't pretended to be making an adaptation (which they obviously weren't), and simply made an original film. That being said, Verhoeven's film is IMHO one of the greatest critiques of militarism in general and of Heinlein's SST in particular, so I can't say I wish it had never been made. And besides, it's a great film in its own right... Leonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-29165054580573871502015-06-04T14:02:56.648-05:002015-06-04T14:02:56.648-05:00Cool! Thanks!Cool! Thanks!Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17218428427067689631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-87670235938199352802015-06-04T12:58:37.898-05:002015-06-04T12:58:37.898-05:00Hi William, I've been a Starship Troopers fan ...Hi William, I've been a Starship Troopers fan since age 11. Per you comments on the Avalon Hill board game, I found a copy of the rules, senarios, etc. Hope this is what you were looking for.<br />Best regards,Mike T.<br />.http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~jesse/wargames/Starship%20Troopers%20Rules.pdfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-35591783256395650862014-11-07T00:51:25.815-06:002014-11-07T00:51:25.815-06:00In all honesty I liked how the movie had it's ...In all honesty I liked how the movie had it's style compared to other movies and provided good action. Also I felt bad for Riko and how his girlfriend ditched him for some a-hole that could fly a ship.<br /><br />Watching the whole film and going over some bits today, I realized that the Federation is really messed up. It's true that the bugs were really violent and aggressive, but it seems like the Federation is not that different. I mean I don't want children fighting over automatic weapons or screaming the words "die, die" on national television anytime soon. Same goes for declaring all criminals guilty instantly.<br /><br />The rest of the film however made me kinda like the Federation, like the little things such as how non-racist or non-sexist it was. I think if the military was competent and the people less messed up it it would be less frightening as an idea. Someguyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04320868434966243515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-43133665355208326892013-01-13T18:13:18.940-06:002013-01-13T18:13:18.940-06:00At one time, I was quite good with a tomahawk...be...At one time, I was quite good with a tomahawk...being raised in Oklahoma and all, and own a current military copy of one. I am prepping a blogpost on modern military edged weaponry.<br />The Martial art I took, Jeet Kune Do trained me to use a knife, and I rather enjoy the Sykes Fairbairn knife design. I do not doubt the role and purpose of the knife, and the lines about throwing knives being a little old-fashioned, comes from another marine's website. I also do realize the role of the sharpened rock spears from the stone age. <br />In terms of military expertise comes from most of my family being military, and that I am a trained historical researcher...my paper on the historical effect of AK47 won a few awards in 2009. I just simply read a great deal and use my brain to bridge the gap between the written word and the hard reality of battle. Some comes from years of MilSim Paintball...yeah, I know...not the same thing.<br />I've never serviced for a number of reason, but I admire the brave people that go into combat on my behalf, and I thank you for your service. <br />I could not help but notice your name and wonder if you are indeed a female? And being a former Marine, I could use your insight on the role and future of female soldiers/marines for a incoming blogpost. <br />Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17218428427067689631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-72773835321169223392013-01-13T07:56:09.804-06:002013-01-13T07:56:09.804-06:00As a fromer Marine. I can assure you that Survival...As a fromer Marine. I can assure you that Survival training is indeed part of Marines/ Soldier training especially units such as paratroopers and special forces. While knife throwing has little use in modern warfare. Knifes, Tomahawks, Machetes, Sabers and swords have made a surprising return in the modern urban warfare in Afghanistan and Irak. (Troops demanding , buying such weapons and USE them!)It is not the large scale tank warfare you know of WWII or an allout WWIII against the Warshaw Pact. It is dirty house to house fighting. Rifles are not the best weapon and sometimes a battle axe (yes!) is a very handy tool and weapon. Same holds true for WWI trench warfare. Trench raiders used knifes a lot and the famous knife maker Randall made a trench knife with steel knuckles for Trench fighting. Special forces commandos from Mossad to Spednatz, from Navy SeALS to Marines train to fight and kill with knifes. The famous Sykes Fairban Knife carried by the British SAS is not a tool, it is meantfor one thing only..Killing! <br />Marines (and every military unit kown carry combat knifes and are trained to use them. A para trooper (or MI) could be stranded without his suit (Because damaged or out of power) and must survive and use any and allmeans to defend himself. Using both familiar and alien weapons ..so training a soldier to throw knifes gives the man an extra skill, condidence in an edged weapon and trains hand eye coordinatio to judge throwing other weapons (rocks, sticks,axes) thrown weapons are as humanity and throwing knifes did not start out in the Circus. <br />You argue that Heinlein made grave military errors dspite the fact he was in the Navy. Let me ask you where did you get your military expertise? <br />Vanessa Ravencrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14939509538982458939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-79428024652526450962012-03-13T16:14:04.123-05:002012-03-13T16:14:04.123-05:00Thanks for the comment! The 1997 film greatly vexs...Thanks for the comment! The 1997 film greatly vexs me...I like it, and watch a few times a year, but then again, I'm a fan of Verhoeven's other films: Total recall and of course, Robocop. The Verhoeven style worked so well with Robocop, it was bloody prefect, but somehow it didn't with SST. Then again, I think that the original text is very hard to translate to a film or series, and Verhoeven did the best job he could. I feel bad about flaming Verhoeven, because I respect elements of his style and his look of blood in combat. For all of its flaws, the 1997 film nailed the Bugs and have Michael Ironside in a film is never a bad thing. Once again, SST the film vexs me deeply. Thanks for reading!Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17218428427067689631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726484495782035142.post-53138611437747692122012-03-13T15:17:54.167-05:002012-03-13T15:17:54.167-05:00Good piece, enjoyable read.
I have to disagree wit...Good piece, enjoyable read.<br />I have to disagree with flaming of the Verhoeven film (probably because I'm Dutch too ;), because he tried to make a film 'based on' SST, and to use it as a mirror or counter-view to many other contemporary military/scifi movies. Yes it had its plot (worm) holes, and people hated it a lot because of it's ending (Rico *NOT* being the ultimate bug killer). But hey, that was Verhoeven's point - doing something different than expected!<br /><br />Well, we can debate it endlessly, but suffice it to say that I agree that SST The Movie was a missed opportunity, and Roughnecks a vastly underappreciated production - still one of my favourite 'cartoons' to this day.<br /><br />Again, good piece!Marcasenoreply@blogger.com