Starship Troopers (1997)

Film of 2012 #54

One of my all time favourite films based on the novel by Robert A Heinlen which I reviewed here. This film is very different from the book but they both follow Johnny Rico as he goes from High School in to military service with the mobile Infantry, through his training and the war with the bugs. The book is a much smaller narrower story with the only focus being on Johnny and his position within the war, the film as it probably has to takes a larger look at the situation of the war.

You have an interesting cast as there are quite a few well known actors, even if they are not the best in the world. Johnny is played by Casper Van Dein, Denise Richards plays Carmen, Neil Patrick Harris plays Karl, with Michael Ironside playing Lt Rasczak, Dina Meyer as Dizzy and finally Clancy Brown as Sergeant Zim. The actors are nothing special but they fulfil the role required and are all campy enough to carry the feeling that Paul Verhoeven was going for in his direction. The film plays like a recruiting video for the Mobile Infantry and throughout the film he goes with a similar idea as he did with Robocop in cutting to the idea that you are watching infomercials 'Would you like to know more?'

This film is not perfect it has it's flaws but overall it works really well for me and is a film that I try and watch at least once a year. There is talk of a remake and I would be interested to see what they can do with the material and hope that they perhaps try and go more for what the book did. Make it more of a study of the individual rather than the set piece of the war and would also love to see what they do with the suits. This is a solid 5 star recommend with the understanding that i know not all of you will enjoy the film.

Highlander (1986)

Film of 2012 #16
Some Spoilers

The classic 80's film where a Scotsman plays an Egyptian, a Frenchman plays a Scotsman and Clancy Brown steals every scene that he is in. I have seen this film so many times and back in my early teens me and several of my friends tried to re-write and film a new version if this film. We were not very organised and I think it lasted 2 days across a Summer holiday, but this film holds a special place in my nostalgic heart. Christopher Lambert plays the title character who cannot die and you see his story across the years until present day New York and the gathering. You have Sean Connery as his mentor and an Egyptian who worked for a Spanish King. The final main character is Clancy Brown as the main bad guy and another Immortal playing the Kurgan an evil and vindictive man. 

Now this film's basic concept is that throughout time individuals are born who cannot die unless their head is removed, and over time they will get whittled down to one who will win the great prize of power and knowledge. The major problem comes when you try to look at this film and analyse the ideas behind it and what it tries to do and then you end up with so many questions and plot holes it is ridiculous. But I think that if you just watch it as a film about sword fights and fights across time it is a fun romp which poses some interesting questions on what would you do if you were immortal. 

Finally the sound track for this film is almost more iconic than the film with most of the songs written and performed by Queen and it is tremendous and I could actually listen to the sound track all of the time. Now if you need coherent film making with no dodgy effects this film is not for you, if you just want the fun of sword play and great tunes then give this film a go, by the way I like the sequels as well even though they introduce a new idea that ruins the original idea but anyway give it a watch. This is a 4 star film for me, the soundtrack alone and some of the witty comments are brilliant but overall I think it is the deep sense of nostalgia I get whenever I watch this film. 

Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

Went to see the Western/Sci-Fi cross over film from John Faverou, starring Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig and Olivia Wilde. There were some good Cameo's from Sam Rockwell and Clancy Brown, two actors who always make any film better. Now I am not a fan of Westerns but I love the Sci-Fi genre so was watching this film with a bit of trepidation as half of the premise was not for my tastes. This is actually a Western film with a Sci-Fi element, normally when a film has any element of Sci-Fi the film automatically gets classed in that genre as it is the strongest genre there is, as the simple premise of Sci-Fi is usually unbelievable and can take you out of a setting.

So you have Daniel Craig wakes up in the desert with a bracelet on his wrist and no idea who he is or where he is. Harrison Ford plays essentially the bad guy of the piece. His son Percy is an arrogant show off that gets away with everything simply because his Father is the richest man in the locality. Daniel Craig is like the lone drifter that wanders into town, and then the Aliens turn up. Now from this point onwards this is teh Sci-Fi film that I wanted, the Western element was good by my standards it was basic and simple and did not get to carried away. The characters trying to bring you back to the Western theme was a bit clunky especially the scene when Daniel Craig is coming out of the water and what he says to Olivia Wilde it feels very, oops lets remind everyone that this is the 1800's.

Overall I enjoyed this film the Western element is small enough and the Sci-Fi is strong enough that it maintained my interest so overall I give this 3 stars, worth watching especially if you like the action Sci-Fi films.