Starship Troopers [25th Anniversary] [SteelBook] [Digital Copy] [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray]

Paul Verhoeven (Total Recall, Robocop) directed this science fiction action adventure, an adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein's novel. This early press release described the film's basic plot: "The heroes of the Starship Troopers story are Johnny Rico and Carmen Ibanez, high-school sweethearts who join the armed forces of the future. Separated in training, they are reunited on a crucial mission after Earth is attacked by an intelligent race of giant insects from across the galaxy. When Carmen is taken prisoner, Johnny saves her, and though the war is far from over, Johnny and Carmen will fight on together." The story focuses on a group of military grunts, trained as a fighting unit. Relaxation time includes the futuristic sport jumpball (a type of indoor football). After alien insects attack, the lives of all the Troopers are altered forever. As the war escalates, the notion of human extinction becomes a possibility. With 90% of the alien bugs computer-created, a variety of creatures are depicted-from the brain bug and the queen bug down to breeder bugs (who activate anti-aircraft plasma bugs), and armored tanker bugs. Fanged warrior bugs use their fangs and claws to dig holes, halve humans, rip off arms and legs, and slice, dice and shred their other human victims. The film employed hundreds of extras and used 400+ special fx sequences. Filmed in California (LA and Long Beach, where Cal State's pyramid gym was used for the jumpball game), New York, South Dakota, Wyoming (Casper, Hell's Half Acre), and Utah (an abandoned Wendover airstrip where the Enola Gay WWII bomber crew trained). At Mile Square Park (an abandoned airfield in Fountain Valley, California), an elaborate set was constructed to resemble a military boot camp of the future-complete with an array of pup tents, gull-winged spaceship, hurdle obstacle course, and training facility buildings. In one on-set accident, Dina Meyer had to reach in a hole and pull actor Michael Ironside out, but instead, she fell in the hole and was flown to a hospital. Licensing included toys from Galoob.