this post was submitted on 01 Dec 2023
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[–] someguy3@lemmy.ca 84 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (3 children)

I've wondered what the reception to Starship Troopers would have been if it was released 10 years later in 2007, as the US was bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Instead it was released during the era of dumb action movies and was treated as such.

[–] the_post_of_tom_joad@sh.itjust.works 34 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (3 children)

I was way too young and credulous to understand what starship troopers was doing. Other than feeling a little bad for the alien worm at the end i just watched it like an action movie.

Now that I'm a more experienced adult, it is overt in its commentary to the point it's hard to believe i missed or the first time.

I use this lesson for myself when i find it hard to believe other people cannot see the propaganda that we are immersed in daily, or get a different message from a piece of media.

After all, I missed it too. I watched the same movie at two points in my life and saw two very different things. I think about that alot

[–] Necronomicommunist@lemmy.dbzer0.com 20 points 11 months ago (1 children)

To me the thing that made me go "how did I miss that" was a one armed man proudly proclaiming "the Army made me into the man I am today"

"Service guarantees cotizenship!"

[–] FireTower@lemmy.world 9 points 11 months ago

I use this lesson for myself when i find it hard to believe other people cannot see the propaganda that we are immersed in daily, or get a different message from a piece of media.

This is a very good take away from that experience. One of the worst things to assume is that you are any different.

[–] otter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 11 months ago

I'm sure the alot thinks about you too, sometimes. 🤗

[–] yesman@lemmy.world 18 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Paul Verhoeven is such a mixed bag. You get inspired trash like Robocop and Starship Troopers together with actual trash like Showgirls and Hollow Man.

But I don't agree that the timing would have made much of a difference. If anybody took more notice of the movie, it'd be the chuds who mistake the lampooning of fascism as glorification. I've been quoted Rasczak's class lecture about force and democracy unironically more than once.

A friend of mine screens tender matches by asking potential dates about Starship Troopers or Fight Club. It's hilarious bc the chuds think she's chill af right up till she unmatches.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.ca 13 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

He made a movie about fascism when no one was taking about fascism or eternal wars or anything like that. This was the blissful period between the end of the cold war and the start of the war on terrorism. It was the time of kick back, turn your brain off, and watch Arnold blow shit up. Watch aliens blow up the Whitehouse. Starship Troopers completely mismatched the time.

[–] LilB0kChoy@lemm.ee 10 points 11 months ago (2 children)

There’s a book by John Steakley called Armor that reminds me a lot of Starship Troopers and really captures the feel of an embattled military operation.

[–] crashoverride@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

To reach out to the modern people, I really think that we need to move away from books. Attention spans are getting a shorter, and who the fuck has the time to read a book? I think we need media to update themselves for the times if they want to message to reach the largest audience possible

[–] LilB0kChoy@lemm.ee 1 points 11 months ago

I read lots of books and, honestly, I often find them more compelling than most visual media. When I read a book I see the world and the characters in my imagination. When I remember books I read I remember the visuals from my imagination, not the body of that text.

I do like being able to share the experience through movies and shows with other people though.

I suppose being one of those old millennials I’m not really representative of that younger changing culture anymore.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.ca 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Armor

I'm wondering if I read this. There are two points that I remember. First they were going through whatever device to another world and he gets a bad feeling and against protocol he readies his weapon before he goes through. And thus is one of the only survivors. The second part I remember is him or another person got snuck up on by one of the insects, and someone was bugging them imitating how a huge insect would sneak up on someone. Is that the book?

[–] LilB0kChoy@lemm.ee 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yeah. Basically there’s this on going war, the Ant War, with any like alien creatures. There’s high casualty cost like in Starship Troopers and the main character is infantry. Most infantry only survive a couple drops but he’s done like 60 or something.

It’s in my queue to read again.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.ca -2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

I'm not asking what the book is about. The question is more along the lines of: do you remember the points I outlined happening in Armor? Because I'm trying to remember if that's the book.

[–] LilB0kChoy@lemm.ee 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

End of your comment:

Is that the book?

Beginning of mine:

Yeah.

Not sure why you’re confused.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.ca -2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Yeah but then the rest of the reply (the entire context of how yeah was used) was about something else entirely.

*Lol 3 downvotes in a 2 week old thread? Tell me you're using alts without telling me you're using alts.