Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation (2004)

Plot Outline: A group of troopers is overwhelmed by a massive onslaught of the bugs and take refuge in a seemingly abandoned outpost, little realising that as much danger waits for them inside as it does outside.

The Review: Taking out all of the zest and energy from of the original, as well as the satire and superior budget, special effects man Phil Tippett makes an uninspired first time directorial debut with this by-the-numbers straight-to-video sequel. Sequels usually come in two forms: those that have twice the budget of the original and just throw every penny at the screen or those which don't have half as much and thus are forced to cut back. Considering the original had a hell of a lot of special effects, gore and some decent sets, you wouldn't be wrong for realising that this falls into the latter category. In fact most of the money must have gone on the opening as a group of troopers fight off hundreds of giant bugs - arguably the best scene in the film. The bugs still look big and bad but being blue-screened in behind the actors doesn't do them any favours. It's a fairly energetic, if somewhat unconvincing opening sequence and the film soon falls off the rails when the budget runs out and they arrive at the outpost. Then it's time to cue our paranoia/alien in closed space clichés as a variety of body swapping insect begins to take over various members of the expedition. I HATE body swapping films simply because I feel there are more creative ways to show something being transferred from different bodies except to have the actor playing the role look a little different than they usually do. Needless to say, the middle part of the film is grossly uninteresting as most of the characters aren't given much dialogue and we're supposed to care when they get killed off? Yes there is one chick who takes her top off but I couldn't even pop for that because I was so disappointed with the film at that point. Bland characters and bland dialogue really put a damper on what should have been a quality T&A moment. The rest of the film lacks energy and zest or even a wacky sense of humour. The outpost seem to consist of the same two sets as well, so it's hard to imagine this small group of people being able to be attacked in secret when they are practically crawling over each other to find room!

Final Verdict: The original is one of the best guilty pleasures of recent memory. It put it's money where it's mouth is and provided superb action set pieces, some great CGI and quality characters. The sequel serves up only two action set pieces, of which neither were particularly thrilling, little CGI and some really bog standard characters. This series deserves better than being relegated to the small screen but with Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation, critics have something they can use to back that up with. It's criminal to follow up the original like this.....but they have.

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