[Starship Troopers 3:Marauder]
Plot:The war against the Bugs continues! A Federation Starship crash-lands on the distant Alien planet OM-1, stranding beloved leader Sky Marshal Anoke and several others, including comely but tough pilot Lola Beck. It's up to Colonel/General Johnny Rico, reluctant hero of the original Bug Invasion on Planet P, to lead a team of Troopers on a daring rescue mission.

Cast:Casper Van Dien, Jolene Blalock, Boris Kodjoe.

My Thoughts:Still has some merit after all these years.

Review:The "Starship Troopers" series is back with it's third entry into the library, "Starship Troopers 3:Marauder". The film doesn't connect itself to the first sequel, "Hero Of The Federation", the 2004 direct-to-dvd release, but it does share a strong link with the first film. In this new entry, Casper Van Dien returns as Johnny Rico. This time, while stationed on a farmer planet, his old friend Dix (Boris Kodjoe) returns to help with the war against the bugs. Joining Dix is Lola (Blalock), Dixes girlfriend...and another old friend of Johnny's. This creates a difficult situation considering it seems that Dix and Johnny might be entering a vieing contest for Lola's affections. But when the attacking bugs manage to break into the facility, and force the troopers into an all out war with them, more important things soon step to the forefront.

With Johnny Rico having been arrested for insubordination as part of a power play by Dix, just before Lola and a few others escape the overrun facility on a ship only to crash land on a desert planet crawling with new bugs...now it's up to her to keep herself and a few survivors alive long enough for help to arrive via the federation. This third entry isn't as good as the original "Starship Troopers", but then again you don't really expect it to be. The third time isn't always a charm, but in this films case...it turns out to be alot better than the second time, so in that regard it is sort of a charm.

"Starship Troopers 2" was extremely stupid in plot and script, but part three is boasted from the return of Van Dien, and the above average performances of Blalock and Kodjoe. These three manage to solidify a strong performance ranking backed up by a few decent supporting cast members. This really helps the movie not to annoy the viewer, as the last thing anyone wants to see in the third entry of a series which shouldn't have even had a sequel are horribly bad actors. Van Dien is interesting in this movie though. He really seems to have stepped back into the role of Johnny Rico with ease having the act down pat, and even aging gracefully as well.

I think the guy is a pretty talented actor. Not many people could slip back into a role in 2008 that they last performed in the late 90's. It's not an easy task, considering some actors have a problem getting back into a role they last left behind two years ago. There's the typical amount of "Starship Troopers" action (i.e. gunplay, explosions, impalements) in this third movie, mostly involving the arachnids who per usual, attack in packs which overrun people and then they start impaling them and the like. The brain bug from part one who was shown to be captured at the end of that film makes an appearance in part three, and plays a very vital role in the movies subplot which involves one of the federations most decorated air marshalls.

There's also a new bug which is a planet unto itself, although budget restraints clearly play a part in that bugs overall activity, particularly at the climax of the film. More new bugs make an appearance in the movie also, including some which act as explosive devices. There isn't much bug versus trooper action though, but enoguh to fill up an hour and 44 minute picture. Unlike in part one where the troopers and the bugs go at it often, in this movie...the bugs are more stalkerish, waiting for the right time to strike instead of just going right at the troopers. Among all of ths there are also a number of character subplots which involve Dix, Johnny, Lola, and a few others.

The federation "propaganda" commercials make an appearance of course, to give the movie that vintage feel, and keeping in line with today's major issue, the Iraq war, free speech, religion, and war protestors are all mixed into the subplot pot of the movie to give it a social message of sorts. This adds alot of depth to an otherwise run-of-the-mill "Starship Troopers" film. The ending of the film is a bit silly and ridiculous in some areas, but it still manages to come through in a pinch. "Starship Troopers 3" doesn't touch the original, but it certainly surpasses part 2, which is pretty much all you can ask for from the second straight-to-dvd entry, and the third entry overall of an under-the-radar sci-fi/horror series.

Positives:Casper Van Dien's performance, Blalock and Kodjoe do a great job in their roles as well. Interesting new bugs, subplots which parody the wars and politics of 2008.

Negatives:The ending was a bit outrageous and cartoonish.

Overall:Two and a half stars.





( Talk about it in the Forums!)



( Back to the main page)