Written By Steve
Score: 3/10 (Cruddy!)
Bottom Line: Save Your Money
To-The-Point: An embarrassment on all levels, Starship Troopers 3: Marauder is a clumsy mess slopped together with a miserable script. Following an absolutely ridiculous storyline, Marauder displays Z-grade actors, dull directing, and special effects that would cause the Sci-Fi channel to cringe. Simply put, there is absolutely no reason for this film to exist outside of somebody's poorly constructed fan fiction.
Complete Truth: Starship Troopers is one of my favorite films of all time, combining B-movie thrills with astounding special effects to create a sci-fi epic brimming with memorable moments. When a straight-to-DVD sequel was announced, I was excited but skeptical of how Hero of the Federation would translate the grand nature of the Troopers universe into a low budget affair with no returning actors from the original. Needless to say, it failed spectacularly in the worst manner possible - yet, somehow, it was approved for another sequel.
Once again, I felt my hopes rising for a film that could match the original in tone, style, and intensity. With each announcement, I started to believe. Casper Van Dien reprising his role as Johnny Rico. Edward Neumeier - screenwriter of RoboCop and Starship Troopers - handling screenwriting and directing duties. Rated R for violence, language, and nudity.
Oops.
I should've learned that straight-to-DVD sequels are horrible little creatures that attach to your soul - your very being - and leech the life out of your withering body until you hate yourself. Or that sci-fi action epics aren't feasible with a budget equivalent to how much Lucy charges for psychiatric help. Or that most trilogies shouldn't exist - and almost never end well.
I wonder if I was hired for a role in Casper: A Spirited Beginning just becaused of my name...
Side Note: The original Starship Troopers received a generally favorable reception, as it currently has a 62% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The first sequel, Hero of the Federation, currently enjoys a whopping 12% while Marauder is an "improvement" with 27%.
Starship Troopers 3: Marauder, a Sony Pictures release, is Rated R for violence, language and some nudity.
Total running time is 105 minutes.
Starring Casper Van Dien, Jolene Blalock, and Stephen Hogan. Written by Edward Neumeier. Directed by Edward Neumeier.
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