Starship Troopers 3: Marauder

Starship Troopers 3: Marauder is a 2008 American military science fiction direct-to-video film written and directed by Edward Neumeier and starring Casper Van Dien, who returned as Johnny Rico from the original film, along with Jolene Blalock and Boris Kodjoe. It is a sequel to Starship Troopers (1997) and Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation (2004) (which were both written by Neumeier) and the third installment of the Starship Troopers film series. The film was released directly to DVD in the U.S. on August 5, 2008.

"Marauder (film)" redirects here. For other films, see Marauder (disambiguation).
Starship Troopers 3: Marauder
Official DVD cover
Directed byEdward Neumeier
Produced byDavid Lancaster
Written byEdward Neumeier
Based onStarship Troopers
by Robert A. Heinlein
Starring
Music byKlaus Badelt
CinematographyLorenzo Senatore
Edited byMichael Bateman
Production
company
Distributed bySony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release date
  • July 19, 2008 (2008-07-19) (Japan)
  • August 5, 2008 (2008-08-05) (United States[1])
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
South Africa
Germany
LanguageEnglish
Budget$9[2]-$20 million[3]

Plot

In the eleven years of "The Second Bug War", the Mobile Infantry has improved their weapons and tactics, while the Bugs have countered by developing many new Arachnid variants. The United Citizen Federation now finds itself engaged in prolonged trench warfare. The Federation puts out a positive spin through the media, while using its judicial and military authority to suppress peace protesters and religious fanatics.

Colonel Johnny Rico is stationed on the agricultural planet Roku San, where the popular Sky Marshal Omar Anoke pays a visit. Rico's old friend, General Dix Hauser, gets into a bar fight with farmers protesting against the war. When Rico stops Dix from shooting a farmer, Dix orders his arrest, but the base defenses suddenly fail due to an alien attack. Rico knocks down Dix and leaves to fight the Arachnids. When Roku San falls, Rico is blamed by the Federal Media and condemned to execution for insubordination.

Captain Lola Beck is piloting Anoke to Sanctuary, the Fleet's secret HQ, when they are marooned on classified planet OM-1. Admiral Enolo Phid suppresses this information, but Dix learns of the situation and has Rico's execution faked, wanting him to lead a rescue mission.

On OM-1, an apparent earthquake causes Dr. Wiggs to fall into a crevasse, where Anoke sees a giant eye staring from below. Cynical cook Jingo Ryan is next to die after he takes shelter within a cluster of rock outcroppings, which are actually Arachnid limbs which pull him below. Engineer Bull Brittles asks the deeply religious Holly Little to marry him, but dies shortly after.

On Earth, General Hauser confronts Admiral Phid about why she is abandoning the Sky Marshal, only to be arrested. Phid reveals to him that Anoke is responsible for the downfall of Roku San, having used psychic powers to communicate with the "Brain of Brains", also known as "Behemecoatyl", through a Brain Bug captured in the first movie. The Sky Marshal, deluded into thinking that he could save humanity if he could make peace with them, adopted the Bugs’ religion. He turned off the electric barrier surrounding the base on Roku San to demonstrate his willingness for peace. The Federation now believes the original Brain Bug allowed itself to be captured in order to pass on intelligence from inside the Federation. When the Federation decides to kill and dissect their Brain Bug, it somehow discerns their plot. It retaliates by unleashing a telepathic attack, and slaughters many soldiers before Hauser kills it.

It is revealed that Admiral Phid ignored the distress calls from OM-1 so she could become the new Sky Marshal; however, she failed to take into account that highly skilled Beck would be with Anoke.

On OM-1, the stranded make contact with Behemecoatyl, who communicates with them through the corpses of their fallen comrades and soon kills Anoke to absorb his knowledge; Beck and Holly, the last survivors, begin praying to be saved.

Rico leads the Marauders, an elite team of troopers, on a rescue mission, using the Federation's new battle-suits. They defeat the Arachnid warriors on OM-1, suffer no casualties, and rescue Beck and Holly. OM-1 is revealed to be the home of the Bug Hive, the Arachnids' ruling body, and Fleet destroys it from orbit with a "Q Bomb".

Rico is cleared of all pending charges, promoted to the rank of General and given command of the Marauder program. Anoke is reported to have died in a terrorist attack, staged by the government to explain his disappearance. Dix and Beck are married, Admiral Phid is appointed the new Sky Marshal with Dix as her second-in command, and Holly becomes a Federal chaplain. Dozens of peace protesters are hanged in connection to the purported terrorist attack. Phid, impressed with the way that Sky Marshal Anoke was rendered servile by the Arachnids' religion, decides the Federation should adopt a religion, and Christianity is embraced by the Federation.

Cast

Production

Ed Neumeier, wrote the screenplay of the previous two Starship Troopers films, and makes his directorial debut with this film.[4] Neumeier says that he sees the Troopers as each reflecting different wars, and where the first film is inspired by the Second World War movies, this film is more of a Vietnam War film. The story also deals issues of religion and politics, and is about "how the state can use religion both badly, and for good."[5]

Casper Van Dien returned for the third film and had been wiling to return for the second film, but said Phil Tippett wanted to go a different direction.[6]

Production started in May 2007, with principal photography commencing in South Africa.[7]

Robert Skotak served as Visual Effects Supervisor, and Roger Nall was the Digital Effects Supervisor responsible for the CGI creature design and the marauder battle armor sequences. Nall lead a team of about 25 people. Their team worked on over 350 effects shots for the bugs, and the Marauder sequence required about 100 shots more. Other companies worked on sequences such as space ships, puppet work, wire removal and more, an estimated 150 additional effects shots.[8]

Release

Home media

The film was released both Blu-ray and DVD on August 5, 2008.[9] It is also part of Starship Troopers Trilogy DVD set, which contains the first three films in the series.

Reception

Critical response

Starship Troopers 3: Marauder received mixed reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 50% based on 6 reviews, 3 positive and 3 negative.[10]

Joe Leydon of Variety said: "Die-hard fans of Starship Troopers, Paul Verhoeven's notorious 1997 cult-fave sci-fi spectacle, will be pleased to note that its second made-for-vid sequel gamely attempts to replicate the original pic's over-the-top style and self-satirical tone. Unlike 2004's negligible Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation, a relatively straightforward actioner, the latest episode reprises Verhoeven's love-it-or-hate-it mix of gruesome mayhem, overstated melodrama, peek-a-boo nudity and tongue-in-cheek fascist aesthetics."[4] Alex Dorn of UGO.com stated that "fans of the original movie should be pretty happy with this venture" but that those "expecting the whiz-bang big budget wonder of the original will be disappointed." He gave the film an overall rating of a B minus.[11] Scott Weinberg of FEARnet gave the film a positive review, stating that the film is "probably a rental more so than a must-own, but certainly worth a look if you dug the first film".[12] Ain't It Cool News gave the film a mixed review, saying the effects were a step down from the work of Phil Tippett in the second film, but welcomed the return to the satirical tone of the first film. The reviewer found the satire uneven, too specific at times, but also at other times unclear. He notes the problems and limitations of direct-to-video productions but concludes "if you can get past that and you enjoy this world then there is goofy fun to be had."[13]

Scott Lowe at IGN gave the film 3 out of 10 and although he was impressed by the production values, he was not impressed by the film: "The bottom line is that Starship Troopers 3 is a film that even Starship Troopers fans will have trouble enjoying. Even the return of Casper Van Dien and added studio interest and budget could not salvage this film from the perils of its own shortcomings."[3] David Nusair of ReelFilm found it less effective than the second film and called it "a misfire of near epic proportions".[14]

Accolades

In March 2009, Starship Troopers 3: Marauder was nominated for a 2009 Saturn Award in the Best DVD Release Category.[15]

See also

References
  1. "'Starship Troopers 3: Marauder' DVD Cover Art and Specs". scificool.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
  2. "Box office / business for Starship Troopers 3: Marauder". IMDb.
  3. Scott Lowe (12 May 2012). "Starship Troopers 3: Marauder Blu-Ray Review - IGN". IGN.com.
  4. Leydon, Joe (August 13, 2008). "Starship Troopers 3 Review". Variety.
  5. Anders, Charlie Jane (February 23, 2008). "Starship Troopers III Actually Based On Heinlein Novel This Time". Gizmodo. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  6. A. C. FERRANTE, Editor in Chief Published 8/5/2008. "iFMagazine.com: Exclusive Interview: CASPER VAN DIEN BLASTS BUGS FOR ANOTHER TOUR OF DUTY IN 'STARSHIP TROOPERS 3'". iFMagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2008-08-07.
  7. Deckard, Sean (June 18, 2007). "Now Filming- 'Starship Troopers: Marauder'". Screenhead. Archived from the original on August 6, 2012.
  8. Tara Bennett (August 5, 2008). "'Starship Troopers 3: Marauder': The CG Bugs Are Back in Town". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on 2020-05-19.
  9. Levy, Emanuel (2020-06-25). "Starship Troopers 3: Marauder". Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  10. "Starship Troopers 3: Marauder (2008)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  11. Dorn, Alex. "Starship Troopers 3 Review". UGO.com. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011.
  12. Weinberg, Scott (August 19, 2008). "Starship Troopers 3: Marauder (2008)". FEARNet. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012.
  13. Hercules Strong (10 August 2008). "The DoubleHeader You've All Been Waiting For! Vern Reviews STARSHIP TROOPERS 3 And ROGUE!!". Aint It Cool News.
  14. David Nusair (August 11, 2008). "The Starship Troopers Sequels - Reviews by David Nusair". www.reelfilm.com. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  15. "Nominations for the 35th Annual Awards". Saturn Awards. Archived from the original on February 9, 2010.
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