STARSHIP TROOPERS: Film Analysis by Rob Ager

[James Madison]

I came across these vids the other day. Rob gives a great explanation of the underlying themes in the 1997 movie Starship Troopers, connecting it to current events such as American hegemony, jingoism, the War on Terror, and dehumanization during war. Also talks about the parallels between the movie and the real world events of 9/11 and the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Plus, he's a fan of Ron Paul. Enjoy!

 

[Sola_Fide]

This guys videos of Kubrick's 2001 and The Shining are interesting. He identifies some neat little things that escape the naked eye when you watch these films.

 

[dannno]

I love that movie, will have to check out the review later.

 

[AGRP]

Awesome. I suggest watching District 9. Beautiful movie.

 

[Aratus]

Robert Heinlein was a good writer and he lived thru ww2 and he disliked jingoists & tinhorn tyrants.
The film was telling but lumped in with Arnold's 'Total Recall' at the time. The movie is like the book.

 

[Pericles]

The film is a weak shadow of the book. The book explored the relationship between the military and the society it serves. Also in the book was the theme of what constitutes citizenship and the right to vote and otherwise rule in a manner that protects liberty.

 

[James Madison]

This guys videos of Kubrick's 2001 and The Shining are interesting. He identifies some neat little things that escape the naked eye when you watch these films.

Yeah, I never got Kubrick when I was a teen. As I get older, his work seems to become more and more applicable to life.

 

[Yieu]

The book was an in-depth analysis of how tyranny could last a very long time through a centralized military rule world government. The movie mocked that tyranny in the book, and the book glorified it.

 

[Tpoints]

This guys videos of Kubrick's 2001 and The Shining are interesting. He identifies some neat little things that escape the naked eye when you watch these films.

this guy is interesting, he links to Money Masters on his page, but doesn't believe in conspiracy theories.

http://www.collativelearning.com/LINKS.html

 

[idiom]

The film is a weak shadow of the book. The book explored the relationship between the military and the society it serves. Also in the book was the theme of what constitutes citizenship and the right to vote and otherwise rule in a manner that protects liberty.

I think the Movie was a very different take from the book and much more realistic.

I did take away a lot of things that maybe I shouldn't have from the book. Like Everybody Fights. In my TV crews, everybody edits, even the cooks.

 

[QuickZ06]

The only good bug is a dead bug!

 

[thoughtomator]

Starship Troopers film analysis by me: "This film sucks."

 

[Brooklyn Red Leg]

Starship Troopers(audio book) by Robert Heinlein Part 01

As a counterpoint....

 

[Aeroneous]

The book was quite different, but I enjoyed both the book and the film for what they were. Starship Troopers was one of those books that I just blazed through in a couple days, which is rare for me. The movie was just fun to watch. What didn't you like about it thoughtomator?

For those looking to read a similarly themed book check out:
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
Armor by John Steakley

And to the OP: Great videos! Lot's of stuff that I never noticed.

EDIT: Finished watching all 3 videos. I think he was stretching a bit at some points, but overall they are very enlightening. I'm going to have to check out more of this guy's work.

 

[Pericles]

The book was an in-depth analysis of how tyranny could last a very long time through a centralized military rule world government. The movie mocked that tyranny in the book, and the book glorified it.

Your copy must have been different from mine.

One of the themes of the book was the concept of citizenship, and who is morally suited to vote and play a role in determining the rules by which a society operates. Juan's father has the conversation with Juan as to why do service and become a citizen - the only difference it would make in Juan's life, would be the right to vote and hold office. Even as a non citizen, Juan would be just as free, has civil rights, and can own anything. Why would citizenship be worth the sacrifice?

Another theme is the role of the military in society. The military is all volunteer, but after volunteering, you will be assigned a role that the service determines that it needs for you to do. This ties into the first theme that those who are qualified to be citizens, are those who have demonstrated the ability to place the willingness to benefit the group at the sacrifice of themselves are morally fit to determine the rules of the group.