So, have you given thought to the idea that the bugs might not actually be the aggressors at any point? Dovetails nicely into the rock theory, doesn't it?
You mean the Skinnies or the Brain Bugs running things, or the Skinnies being under the control of the Arachnids... it's all confusing with novel, movie, and TV continuity getting mixed up amongst my memory banks.
It's been a long time since I've read the book, but wasn't there something about how we (the humans) had started the war, and that the alien aggression was just a response? Or was that a later idea for the TV show or something?
I know that was the premise for the war occuring in the series Above&Beyond(Awesome show, btw). There was an animated series, Roughnecks, probably as a spin-off of the movie but the show's producers were more faithful to the book and showing that the bugs weren't the only race humanity was dealing with. Of the episodes I got to see, it had excellent continuity and quite possibly did better with the storyline than Heinlein felt inclined to. Speaking of the novel, I did take the time to read it. Much as people want to attach Heinlein-isms to it, I got the feeling the author wasn't so attached to the story as people want to believe. There feels like there are gaps in the storyline, and it jumps around too much with no real closure to anything begun. It's like he started an outline, and then threw it together in a hurry when his publisher was pushing him for a book.
Yeah, the Roughnecks show was much more series-oriented, with a developing plot, etc. The humans have to fight the Skinnies (humanoid methane-breathers), until it's found out they've been under Bug control, and they help fight once freed.
I wonder how the "success" of the movie version led to the better than average Starship Troopers: Roughnecks animated series. Which did have the power armor. And Skinnies. I can't remember if it had much in the way of Heinlein's themes though...
It went off the air before I could see if everything I'd been hearing about it being good were true. I wonder if that was due to freedom given to the writers, or somehow just a happy coincidence?
Frankly, I think if they wanted to make a movie with those sorts of themes, they should get off their asses and make an Ender's Game movie already, instead of trying to remake Troopers.
See, problem with remakes, is that even if it's a remake of a bad movie, people are still going to have a fixed concept of how the movie should be. This is why 'Director's Cut' versions are usually ignored except by the movie snobs - the general public is happy to watch Stuff Blows Up III without thinking too much on the plot.
And that's really something of a problem with Sci Fi in general. People expect to see lots of 'pew pew pew'. Spaceships exploding among the stars. Creepy aliens. Giant robots. Movies that embrace character development and plot apects are seldom summer blockbusters.
As much as we would like to think of cinema as a fine art, the sad fact is that there are more people willing to pay more money for lots of explosions and the occasional side-boob.
It is, but where Expendables is cool to watch and Transformers is iffy is that Expendables didn't try to layer on the drama too thickly as Bay did with Transformers. If people want action and drama then they will want to see Air Force One. If people want just action, then The Expendables is the better choice that won't leave you a bitter taste in your mouth like if you kissed your sister.
I'm only posting this next item because I can't put my finger on what it reminds me of, exactly. A guy was trying to shoot a squirrel, but it ran up his leg, and he shot himself trying to shoot it. I can't remember the cartoon, but I'd swear I saw an animated show where "our hero" was on the outside of a giant robot that proceeded to shoot itself repeatedly while trying to off the good guy... but I can't recall what it was. :(
That's just what I was thinking, but that wasn't the first time that occurred in a show, and the robot wasn't shooting itself in The Incredibles so much as stabbing itself. I bet the same show that Aaron is trying to remember is the same one that's on the tip of my brain. I hate that nagging feeling.
You mean Highlander: Endgame, right? I thought it was sort of disappointing, but I wouldn't go with "horrible." Because as far as I know, Highlander didn't have any other sequels. LA-LA-LA-LA-NO-OTHER-SEQUELS-I-CAN'T-HEAR-YOU-LA-LA-LA-LA.
Comments 25
Reply
It's been a long time since I've read the book, but wasn't there something about how we (the humans) had started the war, and that the alien aggression was just a response? Or was that a later idea for the TV show or something?
Reply
Speaking of the novel, I did take the time to read it. Much as people want to attach Heinlein-isms to it, I got the feeling the author wasn't so attached to the story as people want to believe. There feels like there are gaps in the storyline, and it jumps around too much with no real closure to anything begun. It's like he started an outline, and then threw it together in a hurry when his publisher was pushing him for a book.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
See, problem with remakes, is that even if it's a remake of a bad movie, people are still going to have a fixed concept of how the movie should be. This is why 'Director's Cut' versions are usually ignored except by the movie snobs - the general public is happy to watch Stuff Blows Up III without thinking too much on the plot.
And that's really something of a problem with Sci Fi in general. People expect to see lots of 'pew pew pew'. Spaceships exploding among the stars. Creepy aliens. Giant robots. Movies that embrace character development and plot apects are seldom summer blockbusters.
As much as we would like to think of cinema as a fine art, the sad fact is that there are more people willing to pay more money for lots of explosions and the occasional side-boob.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
The Incredibles?
Reply
I bet the same show that Aaron is trying to remember is the same one that's on the tip of my brain. I hate that nagging feeling.
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment