Starship Troopers: Invasion Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray transfer of "Starship Troopers: Invasion" delivers a somewhat mixed bag in terms of video presentation, reflecting both commendable and disappointing elements. Utilizing a 1080p AVC/MPEG-4 codec, the film's image quality is predominantly characterized by muted, grayish tones that lack the vibrancy typical of high-quality CGI animations. The military drab color palette—dominated by olive green, gray, and steel blue—fails to provide the lively, eye-catching contrast expected from the medium. Blacks appear more like dark gray, resulting in a slightly washed-out appearance throughout. Skin tones are notably pallid, contributing to an overall sense of visual flatness. While fine details are present, particularly on mechanical suits and weapon textures, the visual presentation is marred by minor banding and light aliasing/moiré effects.

Despite these drawbacks, certain aspects of the Blu-ray transfer do stand out. The level of detail is generally satisfactory; viewers can appreciate the intricate gore effects on both human and bug characters as well as the wear and tear on mech suits. Whites retain their gradation well due to elevated contrast, ensuring bright scenes maintain sufficient detail without appearing blown out. However, the high definition transfer does suffer from occasional noisiness and scattered shimmering, which detracts from the viewing experience. The application of color, inspired by titles like "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within," falls short tonally, leaving much to be desired in terms of visual impact and depth.

Overall, while the high definition transfer of "Starship Troopers: Invasion" possesses certain merits such as clarity and detail in specific sequences, its underwhelming color scheme and occasional technical imperfections create a somewhat flat and uninspired viewing experience. This presentation is free from severe compression artifacts but could use improvement in delivering a richer and more engaging visual experience to fully satisfy discerning audiences.

"Starship Troopers: Invasion" boasts a robust DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack that successfully propels listeners into its futuristic, action-packed world. The audio presentation is meticulously balanced, avoiding unnecessary loudness, and maintaining a clear, entertaining flow throughout. Action sound effects are adeptly scattered, creating a vivid sense of space within the film's large, often metallic, environments. Heavy mechanized footfalls, bug screeches, and other effects extend seamlessly into rear channels, effectively transforming the soundstage into the perilous interstellar settings depicted in the film. Particularly noteworthy are the subtle ambient sounds, such as shipboard alarms and beeps, which heighten the atmospheric realism.

Gunfire is another highlight, with the rattling automatic weapons and .50 caliber rifle blasts coming across with clarity and impact. The low-frequency effects (LFE) provide potent bass that lends depth to explosions and gunfights, enhancing the film's militaristic tone. The dialogue remains generally clear and discernible, though slightly muffled beneath helmets at times – a detail that adds to the authenticity but doesn’t detract from overall comprehension. Music is well-integrated into the front-side spread, ensuring it complements rather than competes with other audio elements. Despite not delivering an entirely immersive experience or pushing audio systems to their limits, the sound design of "Starship Troopers: Invasion" is convincing and effectively supports the film’s narrative, rendering an entertaining auditory experience for viewers.

The special features on the Blu-Ray of "Starship Troopers: Invasion" provide a robust and engaging array of content, perfect for fans and those interested in the filmmaking process. The filmmaker commentary by Director Aramaki and Sony Pictures' Ishizuka offers detailed insights into the film’s stylistic choices, ties to Heinlein’s original novel, character development, motion capture, and more, with multiple subtitle options enhancing accessibility. The Making of Starship Troopers: Invasion is a comprehensive 11-part documentary that dives deeply into the creation process, from concept genesis to final compositing. Additional materials include a concept art gallery showcasing hand-drawn images and computer renderings, two deleted scenes, and a moderately fun gag reel. Everything is presented in high-definition, ensuring a visually appealing experience.

Extras included in this disc:

• Filmmaker Commentary: Insightful discussion on film elements and universe.
• Concept Art Gallery: Hand-drawn images and computer renderings.
• Deleted Scenes: Two omitted sequences.
• Gag Reel: Amusing alternate voice acting.
• The Making of Starship Troopers – Invasion: Extensive documentary in eleven segments covering various production aspects.

"Starship Troopers: Invasion" presents a straightforward and action-oriented addition to the acclaimed Starship Troopers franchise. The story revolves around two starships tasked with defeating a bug infestation at a Federation outpost. When one ship goes dark, the remaining troopers scramble to rescue the crew and face an escalating threat. The film reintroduces iconic characters Johnny Rico, Carmen Ibanez, and Carl Jenkins, though it lacks the original's satirical edge, focusing more on visceral combat and gore. With advanced CGI, it showcases blood-soaked battles and the familiar bugs' brutality but falls short in the character development department, reducing most new characters to forgettable tropes.

From a technical perspective, the animation feels akin to high-quality video game cutscenes, lacking emotional resonance and depth. The powered armor worn by soldiers remains a nod to Heinlein's original concept but is underutilized in the film. Characters engage in repetitive shootouts while their supposed advanced gear barely impacts their survival strategies. The lip synchronization with dialogue is inconsistent, diminishing the viewing experience. Despite these shortcomings, the film maintains an engaging pace, blending elements of sci-fi horror with intense action, albeit often at the expense of meaningful narrative development.

In essence, "Starship Troopers: Invasion" offers a visually competent but emotionally hollow continuation of the universe originally brought to life by Paul Verhoeven. While it excels in delivering relentless bug-killing action and paying homage to its video game inspirations, it struggles to replicate the depth, satire, or character-driven storytelling that made the 1997 film memorable. Fans seeking a return to the franchise's roots might find the film a serviceable diversion, provided they set aside expectations for narrative complexity and focus squarely on its kinetic and brutal combat sequences.

Starship Troopers: Invasion, directed by Shinji Aramaki, delivers a visually dynamic yet narratively uneven entry into the Starship Troopers franchise. The movie merges familiar characters like Rico, Carmen, and Carl with an array of new ones who are serviceable but ultimately forgettable. The film excels when focusing on the dramatic arcs of these seasoned leaders rather than endless bug battles. Sadly, the animation, though state-of-the-art, sometimes appears akin to an extended video game cut scene, falling short of the cinematic depth seen in Paul Verhoeven's 1997 original.

The director's approach seems particularly tailored to the Japanese market, where the franchise holds a stronger foothold. This may explain the storyline's resemblance to Capcom video games and its appeal to younger audiences craving ultra-violence and animated risqué scenes. While fans may appreciate this installment as a decent animated adventure and a worthy successor to past films, the Blu-ray release disappoints technically. The picture quality seems subpar for a movie boasting advanced animation techniques, and audio performance is merely adequate.

In conclusion, Starship Troopers: Invasion's Blu-ray edition performs admirably in delivering an engaging, if flawed, animated experience. It finds its strengths in character-driven moments and nostalgic callbacks, yet suffers from inconsistencies in visual and audio quality. It's a recommended watch primarily for die-hard fans of the franchise but may fall short for those seeking a transcendent sci-fi experience.