It's A Good Day To Die! New Starship Troopers Trailer!

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

When I was first sent this I thought it was a game at first.. They need to make this into a game.

Of course I will watch this, but IT NEEDS TO BE A GAME

Don't tell anyone I told you this, but it's called 'Helldivers' ...and it's as close a game has gotten to the spirit of the film so far.

I was playing the actual Starship Troopers game. Good Times!

That game looks terrible though, why would you impose that upon somebody else? :O Some things are best forgotten.

Aww, its not so bad. Didn't age well sure, but as a piece of forgotten gaming history, I don't mind it. Besides one of the few 90s era games I can remember where you wake up naked next to a lady type on a battleship before putting on power armor to shoot aliens.
And at the end of the day, is that not what Starship Troopers is all about?!

Wait ... is this the shooter, or the squad based tactical game? I didn't mind the shooter, either. Morita-shotgun combo was fun. Brainless, harmless fun. I can barely remember the shooter, but if it cropped up on GOG or somethingI might throw a few bucks its way again.

I can remember one insanely fun horde level where you and a bunch of inevitable meat shield human squadmates were trying to protect a silo or something? You had an engineer to begin with fix the electrowalls?

The game did a good job of capturing the whole; "Infantry are cannon-fodder" feel because damn were there a lot, and damn did they die quick. I remember being impressed at the time of the sheer number of enemies and allies they could cram onto a screen at once. The technical capabilities they must have invested serious dollars into back then of tweaking the game engine so most PC could hack it meant a decent amount of skill must have gone into it.

On that basis alone it's worth a few words of praise.

And when I say there were a shitload of enemies, serious volumes of enemies. Each level you could imagine yourself playing a soldier in that siege bit in the first movie. First time you play you seriously doubt you can carve through them all as you see a moving carpet of bugs just loop around towards you ... but you can mow them down. Pure power fantasy fuel.

I challenge any modern developer to make a similar game and not have it glitch the fuck out trying to partly render such waves. Give it to Bethesda and half the bug deaths will be caused by them falling through the geometry.

 

[Neurotic Void Melody]

Aww, its not so bad. Didn't age well sure, but as a piece of forgotten gaming history, I don't mind it. Besides one of the few 90s era games I can remember where you wake up naked next to a lady type on a battleship before putting on power armor to shoot aliens.
And at the end of the day, is that not what Starship Troopers is all about?!

It sounds good theoretically, but how would it be received by the everyhuman newcomer without an established emotional connection to the experience? Even back in the day it didn't review so well, I dont know how much kinder a modern player would be willing to be with it though.

 

[Lil devils x_v1legacy]

When I was first sent this I thought it was a game at first.. They need to make this into a game.

Of course I will watch this, but IT NEEDS TO BE A GAME

Don't tell anyone I told you this, but it's called 'Helldivers' ...and it's as close a game has gotten to the spirit of the film so far.

Wasn't that Pay to win?

 

[Hawki]

Yeah but ask yourself if the novel really deserves to be taken seriously? I mean look at Batman for example. People think Adam West's Batman and the Schumacher are some great stain on the totes serious legacy of a rich man in a bat costume fighting clowns and people who self identify as penguins. How serious should we be taking then, and is the comedic/satirical approach really that different from the straight-laced approach?

As someone who's read the novel, I'd say it does. I don't agree with Heinlein's arguments (and that's what the book is, an argument presented via narrative), but I can respect the man and his ideas. I also can't deny the influence the novel had on the genre as a whole and the academic discussion it generated.

 

[Far Star]

I'm pretty sure Verhoeven said it was satire in several interviews, so I don't think whether or not its satire is up for debate. Now whether or not its good satire is another matter. Granted there's nothing wrong with enjoying it as an action flick.

What's intended is one thing, and it's a perfectly reasonable way to read it. However if you invoke the death of the author it doesn't really matter. I'm glad you can see it as a brilliant satire, but all I got out of it was a dumb action flick with some fascist undertones.

 

[Neurotic Void Melody]

When I was first sent this I thought it was a game at first.. They need to make this into a game.

Of course I will watch this, but IT NEEDS TO BE A GAME

Don't tell anyone I told you this, but it's called 'Helldivers' ...and it's as close a game has gotten to the spirit of the film so far.

Wasn't that Pay to win?

Can't remember any microtransactions being in it. Will have to recheck on that.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

As someone who's read the novel, I'd say it does. I don't agree with Heinlein's arguments (and that's what the book is, an argument presented via narrative), but I can respect the man and his ideas. I also can't deny the influence the novel had on the genre as a whole and the academic discussion it generated.

I don't get this argument, can't a medium ever critique its source material? I doubt Verhoeven's biting commentary of Heinlein would have been as impactful if it didn't reference the book directly. I'd go so far as to say that Verhoeven's movie would have been impossible unless it directly assumed its namesake.

Arguably all the good things Heinlein introduced are staples of other sci-fi shows. We have mecha ... and ... help me, I'm drawing a blank. Take for instance the new BSG ... it's pretty good, but it decided to ditch the weirdly Mormon aspects of it (almost) completely. Even so far as to retcon out of all possibility of BSG 1980 by delivering us the whole; "We found Earth!" Turns out to be a radioactive hellscape.

I still like the original BSG (in fact half the characters are cooler). I even kind of like BSG 1980. But I can't watch it without constantly thinking Mormons ... in .... SPPPPAAAAACCCCCEEEEEE! Also Mormons back in time. And Mormons to the rescue. It was ... blatant. Ity was a lot of fun, but no one could question it was almost religious fanfiction.

Should the new one have been exactly like the vision ofthe original? I mean arguably it takes more deviations from the source material than Verhoeven, because at least Verhoeven actually delivered us a pretty fair representative of Heinlein's Federation when you stop and think about it.

 

[Hawki]

I don't get this argument, can't a medium ever critique its source material? I doubt Verhoeven's biting commentary of Heinlein would have been as impactful if it didn't reference the book directly. I'd go so far as to say that Verhoeven's movie would have been impossible unless it directly assumed its namesake.

What argument? I was commenting only on the book, that IMO, it's worthy of the fame and analysis it's received. I wasn't commenting on the adaptation in of itself.

If we're talking about the nature of adaptations, well, I can certainly understand why fans of the book would dislike the movie. I'm fine with it, but I can't help but wonder how I'd feel if someone adapted a piece of material I liked, and then did a 180 on it. But, I'm fine with the principle. I like the novel, movies, and TV series for different reasons.

Arguably all the good things Heinlein introduced are staples of other sci-fi shows. We have mecha ... and ... help me, I'm drawing a blank.

More power armour than mech suits, if I'm nitpicking. He deserves credit for pioneering the concept in sci-fi. Also the trope of a "bug species" - massive numbers, low individual intelligence, hive mind, etc. But even then, I think the novel is well written and does convey its points well, even if trope-wise, multiple medias have expanded on said tropes. Is 1984 less worthy of a novel that the year has long since passed for instance, or, in the realm of tropes, Dune less a masterpiece of worldbuilding when in popular culture, the likes of Star War Wars and Warhammer 40,000 (which take from the setting liberally) has superseeded it?

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

What argument? I was commenting only on the book, that IMO, it's worthy of the fame and analysis it's received. I wasn't commenting on the adaptation in of itself.

If we're talking about the nature of adaptations, well, I can certainly understand why fans of the book would dislike the movie. I'm fine with it, but I can't help but wonder how I'd feel if someone adapted a piece of material I liked, and then did a 180 on it. But, I'm fine with the principle. I like the novel, movies, and TV series for different reasons.

Ahh ... fair dos.

I like both versions of BSG ... but I doubt I would have liked the new one if it was just Mormonism on crack like the originals. I think repetition does any media a disservice. Then again I like Atelier games, so ... you know.

More power armour than mech suits, if I'm nitpicking. He deserves credit for pioneering the concept in sci-fi. Also the trope of a "bug species" - massive numbers, low individual intelligence, hive mind, etc. But even then, I think the novel is well written and does convey its points well, even if trope-wise, multiple medias have expanded on said tropes. Is 1984 less worthy of a novel that the year has long since passed for instance, or, in the realm of tropes, Dune less a masterpiece of worldbuilding when in popular culture, the likes of Star War Wars and Warhammer 40,000 (which take from the setting liberally) has superseeded it?

Kind of? I challenge the idea of bugs in sci-fi. I mean, nah. Lovecraft stuff, for instance. At the Mountains of Madness, The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, etc. Specifically low intelligence ... possibly? Maybe? A lot of creatures and concepts Lovecraft drew up were more insane and unintelligibly alien than simply remarking their cognitive capabilities. Some did operate on a level of group thinking that was almost impossible to ken (Mi-go) ...

Arguably Lovecraft did 'bug creature' better than Heinlein could dream of. We alrady have bug creatures on Earth that can swarm and kill you. Hard notto port some deadly arthropod and make it even scarier.

At the Mountains of Madness you've basically got the entire plot of the Alien franchise. Arguably also the Predator crossovers. Lovecraft basically popularized the entire idea that space will be unkind to us, and beset with unimaginable horror that will break us. Also the more dangerous aspects of suicide pact technologies (we'll never see it coming, because to do so is to become mad or entertain the words of the mad) and the dangers inherent when confederations of all too smart and curious people delve a little too deep into the mysteries of the universe and understanding the true metaphysics of existence that an insane universe may allow.

 

[Vigormortis]

Still waiting for the adaptation that shows the bugs with the lasers they're supposed to have.

Look no further than your avatar pic.

For all intents and purposes we already got the Starship Troopers adaptation(s) that adhere more closely to the book.

It looks...decent. Fun B movie shlock, but nothing spectacular. I'm glad they have power armor like they're supposed to, although I always thought it was supposed to be bigger than that.

They were. But we can always turn to Battletech for something more inline with the novel.

 

[Vigormortis]

He deserves credit for pioneering the concept in sci-fi.

Mostly agree with your other points, but this one baffles me.

In science fiction, there were quite a few literary pioneers before Heinlein. Mary Shelley is generally accepted as the 'inventor' and pioneer of science fiction. And even then, we had the likes of Verne and Wells before Heinlein.

Don't get me wrong. I absolutely believe Heinlein deserves the praise he receives. But beyond a fair number of staple sci-fi themes and conceptual designs (of which we see damn near everywhere nowadays) he didn't pioneer all that much for science fiction.

 

[Zetatrain]

I'm pretty sure Verhoeven said it was satire in several interviews, so I don't think whether or not its satire is up for debate. Now whether or not its good satire is another matter. Granted there's nothing wrong with enjoying it as an action flick.

What's intended is one thing, and it's a perfectly reasonable way to read it. However if you invoke the death of the author it doesn't really matter. I'm glad you can see it as a brilliant satire, but all I got out of it was a dumb action flick with some fascist undertones.

Actually, as far as satire goes I'd rate it about average or above average. The first half is pretty good with its satire of a militaristic society but once it gets to the the war with the bugs the satire feels lazy. I feel the second half doesn't do enough to distinguish itself as something other than an action flick.

 

[jademunky]

I don't see how the film could ever be made without making it a spoof the same way the original film is.

Seriously, the source material is so bad and presented with such earnestness that it almost feels like a parody of fascist wankfodder (as opposed to the genuine wankfodder it is).

Still a better read than 'Stranger in a strange land.'

 

[Hawki]

He deserves credit for pioneering the concept in sci-fi.

Mostly agree with your other points, but this one baffles me.

In science fiction, there were quite a few literary pioneers before Heinlein. Mary Shelley is generally accepted as the 'inventor' and pioneer of science fiction. And even then, we had the likes of Verne and Wells before Heinlein.

Don't get me wrong. I absolutely believe Heinlein deserves the praise he receives. But beyond a fair number of staple sci-fi themes and conceptual designs (of which we see damn near everywhere nowadays) he didn't pioneer all that much for science fiction.

By "concept" I meant the concept of mech suits and whatnot, not the concept of sci-fi in itself. All the people you listed of course came well before Heinlein.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

I don't see how the film could ever be made without making it a spoof the same way the original film is.

Seriously, the source material is so bad and presented with such earnestness that it almost feels like a parody of fascist wankfodder (as opposed to the genuine wankfodder it is).

Still a better read than 'Stranger in a strange land.'

Its a very goofy book. I likened it to Batman. There's only so much seriousness its allowed.

 

[Tanis]

When I was first sent this I thought it was a game at first.. They need to make this into a game.
Of course I will watch this, but IT NEEDS TO BE A GAME

Play the EDF games.

You. Like. Killing. Giant Bugs.
We. Like. Killing. Giant Bugs.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

We are going in with on the first and only day! Means more movie for us to watch! You watch all the trailers, you eat everything that's popped or corny, you get me?!

Spoiler

Go do your part, citizen. Today and today only in theaters. Watching guarantees more movies. I'll let you all know how it is.

 

[tippy2k2]

We are going in with on the first and only day! Means more movie for us to watch! You watch all the trailers, you eat everything that's popped or corny, you get me?!

Spoiler

Go do your part, citizen. Today and today only in theaters. Watching guarantees more movies. I'll let you all know how it is.

It's.....it's not at my theater....

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

We are going in with on the first and only day! Means more movie for us to watch! You watch all the trailers, you eat everything that's popped or corny, you get me?!

Spoiler

Go do your part, citizen. Today and today only in theaters. Watching guarantees more movies. I'll let you all know how it is.

It's.....it's not at my theater....

Get the doc! Go back in time a few hours and drive!
I'm currently sitting in the theater waiting for the special features to stop so the movie starts.

 

[tippy2k2]

Get the doc! Go back in time a few hours and drive!
I'm currently sitting in the theater waiting for the special features to stop so the movie starts.

It's too late for me!

Although let me know how it is. I mean...I'm probably buying it no matter what you say but it would be nice to hear that it's good