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[WolfEyes]

Uh, no. If one doesn't get that Earth is ruled by a fascist - or more precisely, militarist - regime in the film, they're either not paying attention, too focused on the good looking stars and cool special effects, or too young when they saw it. Or Verhoeven is just too subtle a director for them (!!!).

Heinlein's book is set up with an Earth run by a military elite, though I'm not sure he would have thought of it as oppressive. He also probably wouldn't have called it fascist or militaristic, but with his strange views on libertarianism (which he believed he was espousing in the book), I'm not sure what you would call it.

Also note the film's writer didn't even know about the book Starship Troopers when first writing the script. A producer noticed the similarities between the works, and it was eventually decided to buy the rights for the title and the basic storylines/characters, and to garner more interest from the studios.

That's what I said.

Me two.

It just isn't what it reminded me of. I wouldn't want to live in a stratocratic regime which is what the Untied Citizen Federation was. I don't know anyone who would that isn't in the military and most of them wouldn't either.

Just in case anyone doesn't know: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratocracy

 

[Free]

That's what I said.

OK...

 

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

Right. From what I understand, the book made it clear this was an oppressive, fascist regime. The movie really didn't.

Nah, you're an American so it seemed not outlandish at all.

I mean, hi.

 

[Soen Eber]

Nah, you're an American so it seemed not outlandish at all.

I mean, hi.

First I pressed flame. Then a few second later I changed it to agree.

After a few more seconds, award seemed to be the obvious, inevitable reaction.

 

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

First I pressed flame. Then a few second later I changed it to agree.

After a few more seconds, award seemed to be the obvious, inevitable reaction.

First up I'd like to say, I'm pulling for all you Yankistanis and not just for selfish reasons. As far as Imperial Cores go, America wasn't the worst, room for improvement to be sure but, eh. Improvement over time is all we got.

Second I'd like to say my travels in the USA usually end up with the experience of a 'Sliders moment' where it's easy to feel everything's normal until suddenly it's apparent you're not at home anymore. Much of it has to do with what looks like military fetishization to my foreign but similar eyes.

 

[WeFlossDaily]

The movie really didn't.

Why do you think they had to fight bugs?
Fascist regimes tend to treat their enemies as less then human.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

Uh, no. If one doesn't get that Earth is ruled by a fascist - or more precisely, militarist - regime in the film, they're either not paying attention, too focused on the good looking stars and cool special effects, or too young when they saw it. Or Verhoeven is just too subtle a director for them (!!!).

Heinlein's book is set up with an Earth run by a military elite, though I'm not sure he would have thought of it as oppressive. He also probably wouldn't have called it fascistic or militaristic, but with his strange views on libertarianism (which he believed he was espousing in the book), I'm not sure what you would call it.

Also note the film's writer didn't even know about the book Starship Troopers when first writing the script. A producer noticed the similarities between the works, and it was eventually decided to buy the rights for the title and the basic storylines/characters, and to garner more interest from the studios.

I was quite young when I watched it, and probably need to re-watch it. That was probably a factor in my opinion, yes. The rest of your post doesn't really refute my statement since you are referencing the book. I get the book likely made this blunt as a hammer but the movie only mentions the form of government in passing. I do vaguely remember a mention of how you had to join the military to gain "citizen" status which was a big hint, but that kind of thing is easy to miss as a kid or really anyone who never read the book.

But if anyone can point out what was in the movie, and not just the book, that made this clear, I'll gladly concede the point. As I said, I watched the movie when pretty young, so I know I might have missed some other big hints.

Why do you think they had to fight bugs?
Fascist regimes tend to treat their enemies as less then human.

Yes, but that's symbolism that is a bit subtle in the movie. It's easy for most viewers (especially young ones) to just think it's a movie about fighting literal bug monsters in space.

Nah, you're an American so it seemed not outlandish at all.

I mean, hi.

This is fair. As an American, especially a young one when I watched it, I was used to seeing military propaganda EVERWYHERE so that kind of thing doesn't immediately set off alarm bells.

So in conclusion, I'll watch the movie again (when I get around to it) and see if I pick up on any big hints that I just missed as a kid.

 

[Free]

But if anyone can point out what was in the movie, and not just the book, that made this clear, I'll gladly concede the point. As I said, I watched the movie when pretty young, so I know I might have missed some other big hints.

For those like me who like the movie alot (and yes, for more than the fascism = awful perspective), this is a good summary of the film. However, at 32 minutes it might be more than one wants to go through. But at around 26:30, it moves on to discuss the film's underlying fascist elements.

 

[Argent Stonecutter]

I haven't seen the movie and it's decades since I read the book but I remember it as a typical Heinlein libertarian-flavored military dictatorship. Nothing exceptional in his ouvre. They really should have done Mindbridge or The Forever War.

 

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

Yes, but that's symbolism that is a bit subtle in the movie. It's easy for most viewers (especially young ones) to just think it's a movie about fighting literal bug monsters in space.

Then there was the brain bugs with vagina mouths that can suck a man's brain out.

And when they captured one the main scene was determining 'It's afraid!' to ruckus cheering. Because fascism needs fear more than victory.

 

[Caete]

Really, the best thing from the movie is the massive amount of props they made and rented out to other studios to make some cash on. The suits, helmets and rifles are all over.