In 1997 the world was introduced to Paul Verhoeven’s sci-fi classic, Starship Troopers. The film was set in a futuristic world where mankind was engaged in a galactic war with giant alien insectoids. It was the perfect blend of camp, propaganda, testosterone and violence. Now, just after twenty years, the franchise returns with it’s fifth film, Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars. Starship Troopers Traitor of Mars review by Kat Hughes.
Starship Troopers Traitor of Mars review
Starship Troopers Traitor of Mars review
Written by Edward Neumeier, the man behind the first outing, Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars is an animated tale that takes place twenty years after the battle of Klendathu and sees the return of everyone’s favourite characters – Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien), Carmen Ibanez, Carl Jenkins and Dizzy Flores (yep that’s right she’s back). It’s not only the characters that return though, as two of the original cast quartet, Casper Van Dien and Dina Meyer, as back to voice Rico and Diz.
Packed to bursting with iconic quotes from the first film, Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars offers a lot of nostalgic moments for fans. Granted, computer animated Rico and Diz don’t look quite how we remember them, but it’s nice to see the pair reunited on-screen. Those fearing a ‘Diz didn’t really die’ workaround should worry not as her inclusion isn’t in quite the way that you might think and, for the most part, works. It’s especially nice for us Diz/Johnny shippers (I never understood what Rico saw in Carmen) to get a bit of closure to the relationship and their scenes together offer up some really touching moments.
Related: Starship Troopers: 15 facts you never knew
The fact that the feature is computer animated and fits within the sci-fi action genre, gives the feeling that the movie is actually a video game. In fact, the opening moments genuinely do feel like a game cut-scene and you may find yourself waiting for the moment when you’ll get to control the characters. Plot-wise the film is also as (un)complex as your typical computer game; the dialogue too, is rather simplistic. It doesn’t manage to have that same bite as the original outing, and as such feels as though it’s being aimed at an audience much younger than it should. The animation is solid and in places the arachnids actually look a lot better than they did in Verhoeven’s work.
Although it has less to offer those not already enlisted into Rico’s Roughnecks. Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars is a nostalgic throwback that will keep avid fans of the original entertained.
Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars review by Kat Hughes, January 2018.
Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars is available to own on DVD and Blu-Ray now.
