A devastating attack of suspicious origins is exploited by a cynical government to justify their imperial adventures. A complicit corporate media whip the populace into a murderous froth, and countless new recruits are thrown into a meat-grinder combination of bad intelligence and faulty equipment against a desperate and determined enemy. George Bush's post-9/11 America? No, it's director Paul Verhoeven's 1997 film "Starship Troopers." On February 23rd, 2005, Cinema Verde, Laemmle Theatres and a coalition of Southern California Greens invite you to rediscover this sci-fi gem, and participate in the live post-show Q&A with Mr. Verhoeven, writer Ed Neumeier and producer Alan Marshall. Already one of the cleverest films of the past decade, it has been propelled into prophetic brilliance by current events. Proceeds from the event will benefit United for Peace & Justice and California Green Party peace work. Showtime is 7:00 p.m. at Laemmle's Monica 4-Plex in Santa Monica, 1332 2nd St. While no one will be turned away for lack of funds, there is a suggested donation of , and tickets will also be available at the theater box office or online at www.laemmle.com.

The flick is a piece of shit and you are all fools for supporting the Green Nazis.

Heinlein must be spinning in his gravity boots.

Thanks for the positive energies, Mr. Negroponte.

That the Greens would hold a benefit screening of Paul Verhoeven's "eerily prophetic 1997 film 'Starship Troopers'" shows the confusion and lack of analysis now plaguing the left. First off... the film is very loosely based on the novel by Robert Heinlein, and Heinlein's work if anything, is the result of the Cold War. In the novel the enemy humanity must face and defeat is alien... but could easily be switched for the "Red menace". Heinlein's novel is loved just as much by those on the right as by those on the left. Secondly... Verhoeven's film is so different from Heinlein's novel that it should have been renamed. It is a shabby, confused mess - an action film with superb digital effects that plays like a "kill 'em all" computer game. I've punished myself twice watching the movie and cannot see anything even remotely "prophetic" or subversive about it. It's just a "bug" killing spree. For those who want to read into the movie a tale of authoritarian government and brainwashed individuals... fine, go ahead, delude yourselves. But I had the feeling watching the film that the viewer was supposed to be sympathetic to, rather than critical of, the imperial military. As I said... the film's a mess. What's worse, the Greens are inviting folks, without warning, to view what is a VERY violent film. The second half of the film is nothing but intensely gory combat. The film is neither "clever", "prophetic", or "brilliant". If you want to give your money to the Greens then just send them a check... but don't bother with this miserable film.

If you want to see a Science Fiction movie that has TRUE subversive content that IS clever, prophetic and brilliant, rent or buy a copy of John Carpenter's, THEY LIVE! That is the film the Greens should be screening.

The book held some interesting themes about civilian authority who had to be voted in by honorably discharged verterns which was interesting.

Also the book's depiction of terrorism on an overt state (planetary-federation) level was interesting. I should ring bells about 'rapid reaction forces'.

The movie did really suck as it sodomized the original authors analysis on warfare.

...and it's one I had considered. The corporate space yuppies are a great idea, and done so badly they're campy-good. And it's Rowdy Roddy Piper's best work since "Hell Comes to Frogtown." You should put a benefit screening together. Also, you should come talk to the filmmakers of "Starship" and see just how offbase our reading of that film is. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Maybe it's one of those movies that gets a different reading from people who think they're really clever :0(

When I was younger, I thought Robocop was great because it was such a scathing critique of privitization and law enforcement, but others thought the cop was cool. Well. There ya go.

People are probably "misreading" Starship Troopers the same way.