Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation

The original “Starship Troopers” was fun. It was over the top, funny and a bit of a guilty pleasure. The Movie Scene said in their review, “"Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation" is none of that, a poor direct to video sequel made on a tiny budget and whilst not the worst movie I have ever watched is certainly a misguided attempt to capitalize on the popularity of the original.” In all honesty, there are only two things that are good about “Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation,” released in 2004, are Brenda Strong and Richard Burgi since the rest of the cast is as forgettable as the movie.

A Federation Mobile Infantry unit is stuck in an abandoned remote base as they are completely outnumbered by the bugs. However, they are not along as they find locked in the furnace Captain V.J. Dax, played by Richard Burgi, who had been imprisoned for killing his superior officers, but being outnumbered they need his supreme military skills to defend the outpost. However, having a murderer help them out is not the only problem they have to face as while they try to keep the bugs out, they have another enemy inside.

“Starship Troopers 2” starts by recapturing that over-the-top feel of gung-ho military with a public announcement but it is only for a short while because quickly the true “Starship Troopers 2” shows itself. That true “Starship Troopers 2” is a poorly made sequel which not only has poor special effects which often keeps the CGI and actors separate along with the dark but also bad script. There is nothing in the least bit clever or original about a small group of troopers stuck in a remote base where the danger is inside and the outside. To be honest for a lot of the movie looks like it is trying to distract you with superfluous scenes, filling it with cheap thrills like a naked woman.

This means that “Starship Troopers 2” fails to do anything that was good about the first movie and just gives some routine sci-fi action nonsense. The Movie Scene says, “When it does eventually just focus on the action and as the title suggest on a hero it becomes almost reasonable but before that, which basically means the first 80 minutes it is dull. It almost feels wrong for it to be called a sequel because whilst we have the troopers battling bugs none of that camp feel of the first movie manifests itself.”

What also doesn’t help this weak sequel is that we are thrown right into the middle of action and don’t get introduced to the characters. Between having plenty characters and a lot of the drama taking place in the dark, especially in the beginning it is hard going trying to figure out who is who and how important they are. The Movie Scene said, “In the end whilst Colleen Porch is watchable as Pvt. Lei Sahara and Ed Lauter is recognizable as Gen. Jack Gordon Shepherd it is the duo from "Desperate Housewives" Brenda Strong and Richard Burgi who make the biggest impression but only because they have strong characters which allow them to over act the macho side of them.”

To summarize, even though this isn’t the worst movie ever made, “Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation” is a huge pain to watch for a direct to video sequel. Anything which was enjoyable about the first movie is missing in this weakly made sequel that ends up just giving generic sci-fi action.

As all of you can predict, this is a terrible sequel. But what can you expect from a direct-to-video sequel? Not that many of them work, and I don’t think they should have made a sequel to the movie. This was should be avoided at all cost. Don’t watch this because you will feel nothing but pain while watching this.

Next week we’re going to look at a decent sequel in “Starship Troopers Month.”