STARSHIP TROOPERS 2: HERO OF THE FEDERATION (2004)

MORGAN'S RATING

A small group of troopers find themselves taking refuge in an abandoned outpost as they attempt to fight against the encroaching arachnids, not realizing that a much graver danger is actually infiltrating their unit.

Bill Brown (Pvt. Ottis Brick), Richard Burgi (Captain Dax), Kelly Carlson (Pvt. Charlie Soda), Cy Carter (Pvt. Billie Otter), Tim Conlon (Fleet Pilot), Sandrine Holt (Pvt. Jill Sandee), Robby C. King (Smiling Lt.), Ed Lauter (Gen J. G. Shepherd), J.P. Manoux (T/Sgt. Ari Peck), Lawrence Monoson (Lt. Pavlov Dill), Colleen Porch (Pvt. Lei Sahara), Drew Powell (Pvt. Kipper Tor), Ed Quinn (Cpl. Joe Griff), Jason-Shane Scott (Pvt. Duff Horton), Sebastian Siegel (Smiling Lt.), Stephen Stanton (Voice of Fed Net), Brenda Strong (Sgt. Dede Rake), Brian Tee (Corp. Thom Kobe), David Wells (Recruiting Sgt.), Jesse Grce (Handsome Young Trooper), Jonathan Passow (Lt. Spears, General's Guard), Elizabeth Keller, Oliver Keller (Troopers, uncredited).

THEY'RE COMING BACK TO WIPE US OUT!

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

DIRECTOR: Phil Tippett. WRITER: Edward Neumeier. PRODUCER: Jon Davison. CO-PRODUCERS: Edward Neumeier and Phil Tippett. EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Glenn S. Gainor. ORIGINAL MUSIC: John W. Morgan and William T. Stromberg. DISTRIBUTOR: TriStar Pictures.

CRITICAL COMMENTS

"While it is a letdown from the original, Tippett and crew get the most out of the limited budget and make a mostly entertaining if flawed follow-up." -- Gareth J. Von Kallenbach, Skiewed and Reviewed

"Isn't Verhoeven's original, but it's still a pleasing second coming for the bug squashers." -- Clint Morris, Moviehole

"If anything the original felt like it could warrant a sequel, as it ends fairly abruptly and with plenty left to resolve. Unfortunately, this isn't the sequel it deserved." -- DVD Times

"There's almost no redeeming value to Starship Troopers 2 at all." -- Nixflix.com

FACTS

RELEASE DATE: June 1st, 2004 (USA) (DVD PREMIERE) SHOOTING DATES: May 2003 -- June 2003 - Clancy Brown was asked to reprise his role of Sgt. Zim from the first movie, but he was unavailable due to his commitment to Carnivale (2003). The part was then re-written as a new character, Capt. Dax, played by Richard Burgi. - The character of Dax is named for Col. Dax in Paths of Glory (1957), played by Kirk Douglas. Both men are officers who become disenfranchised and feel betrayed by their own military. - The character of Kobe was originally written as an Indian named Haji. Sony, the studio behind the film, requested an East Asian character for the eastern markets, so Haji became Kobe.

"Well-made considering the limited budget, but overall there really isn't anything new to report with this direct-to-video sequel that you haven't already seen in the first film." -- Morgan Muscat, The Action Kings