Starship Troopers
I find myself going back to some of the strangest movies. Starship Troopers was an sci-fi action movie based on Robert Heinlein’s Sc-ifi classic book. It came out back in 1997 and I remember not liking it that time as I found it campy and silly. But as I’ve gotten older I’ve come to appreciate how iconic that movie was. So many of the famous actors we know of started in that movie like Jake Busey, Denise Richards, Dina Meyer, Neil Patrick Harris, Michael Ironside.
And while the movie was satire in some ways, it had so many good lines taken beyond what the director meant. Taking on cultural significance, unintended I am sure. Just like how Gordon Gecko in the Wall Street movie was supposed to be a villain but audiences ended up venerating his character. Wikipedia says: “Since its release, Starship Troopers has been critically re-evaluated and is now considered a cult classic and a prescient satire of fascism and authoritarian governance that has grown in relevance.”
For those unfamiliar it revolves around several young men and women who join the Federal services as an alien bug race attacks earth & destroys Buenos Aires. Their adventures and war in space begins and it’s gruesome with many of them not surviving. But it is full of really good action and drama.
There is the scene when they meet the processing officer and he says: “Mobile infantry made me the man I am today”, as the young enlistee sees he is missing all his limbs. It’s a stark warning and reminder of the price of freedom and the costs of violence. You inflict it but it can get inflicted back on you.
The concept itself is interesting. They live in a society that is free but where only citizens have the right to vote. And you can’t be a citizen without federal military service. Otherwise you are just a civilian.
“Naked force has resolved more issues throughout history than any other factor. The contrary opinion that violence has never solved anything, is wishful thinking at its worst. People who forget that always pay.”
There is another moment when the main characters are re-introduced to their new unit commander, Lt. Rasczak who also turns out to be their old teacher from school. He says: “This is for you new people. I only have one rule. Everyone fights. No one quits. You don’t do your job, I’ll shoot you. Do you get me?” He is tough but respected and why the unit has such high esprit de corps. What a scene. But it’s also a wake up call for us. We are in big trouble in the West and if we aren’t willing to fight we will lose. As commander Raznak memorably says before battle: “Come on, you apes! You wanna live forever??
I also learned basic leadership from him. After victory in battle, he says to his unit: “I expect the best. And I give the best. Here’s the beer. Here’s the entertainment. Have fun. That’s an order.”
And there is even good life advice, he gives his student Rico who keeps overlooking the beautiful fellow trooper Isabelle who is infatuated with him. “You once asked me for advice. You want some now? Never pass up a good thing.” He wisely takes this advice.
It’s a fun, silly at times, entertaining and yet serious movie at heart. I think people drew the wrong lessons from this movie. There is much to appreciate and in the long years of relative peace since 1997, we have forgotten what true evil is and that mindless violence can come at any time from threats within our society and from outside our western civilization. Vigilance is necessary now more than ever.