Futuristic Chad Space Fascism — Talking STARSHIP TROOPERS with Movies vs. Capitalism
One of Verhoeven's greatest.
I joined my friends Frank and Riv at Movies Vs. Capitalism to discuss the 1997 Paul Verhoeven classic, Starship Troopers. Though the movie is based on the 1959 book of the same name, the two couldn’t be more different. While the book is an explicit argument for martial fascism, the movie is a satire that relentlessly mocks the fascistic elements of 1990s America. As Frank points out early in the episode, the satire went over the heads of audiences and critics, leading many to criticize Starship Troopers as endorsing fascism.
If you watch the movie today, it’s hard to miss the satire. Verhoeven’s depiction of the futuristic military society is what I imagine Pete Hegseth dreams of — a society in which only soldiers can vote, guns are locked in FULL AUTO mode, and women are allowed in the army only if they’re a solid 10. As the war on the bugs rages, the movie grows bolder with its message. One of the last shots is a young Neil Patrick Harris in a complete Nazi uniform, making Verhoeven’s point inescapable.
What surprised me the most about rewatching Starship Troopers was how much Verhoeven got right about the future. Premiering four years before 9/11, the movie accurately predicted so many of our modern-day problems: the collapse of democracy, the asexual misogyny of the Manosphere, and the wartime indoctrination that eventually drove American society collectively insane.
This is my third appearance on Movies Vs. Capitalism. I was invited back for a farewell tour as Frank and Riv sunset the podcast and move on to other projects. Though I’m sad to see one of my favorite podcasts go, the Movies Vs. Capitalism backlog will remain open. If you’re unfamiliar, I highly suggest checking out some previous episodes.
You can listen to the episode here, or wherever else you get your podcasts. (Also, it’s 100% my fault that my microphone was too low.)
Enjoy!
In Solidarity — Joe