Starship troopers (1997)

Paul Verhoeven is in ... his own league as usual. In good and bad ways. Starship troopers is a sleazy sci-fi movie that one may or may not interpret as a parody of what a fascist utopia would be like. Or if one leaves that high-brow interpretation behind, one could just say that Starship troopers is a ridiculous movie swimming in repulsive ideals. Mankind is under threat and this time, the threat is embodied by giant bugs, horrific-looking and terribly hostile, of course. The film shows mankind at war with the bug-things, which are entirely reduced to their killing capacity. We are introduced to a bunch of kids who are about to do their military service in this war. Military service is a way to earn citizenship, it turns out. A fine political system, eh? These kids embrace the warrior culture. When we do not see them falling in love with each other, they are at it with the bugs. At it in battle, yes. What makes this film overwhelmingly entertaining is that it is so, so bad. Everything looks ridiculous, funny and every turn of the "plot" is giggle-inducing in their implausibility. The bugs are cute to watch, spit and mush and all. A charming piece of pulp.