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STARSHIP TROOPERS
Stirring, spectacular action sci-fi feast
A review by JAMES SOUTHALL

Music composed by
BASIL POLEDOURIS

Rating
* * * *



Performed by
UNNAMED ORCHESTRA
conducted by
BASIL POLEDOURIS

Orchestration
STEVEN SCOTT SMALLEY
STEVE BRAMSON
GREIG MCRITCHIE

Engineered by
TIM BOYLE
Music Editor
CURTIS ROUSH
Produced by
BASIL POLEDOURIS
TIM BOYLE
CURTIS ROUSH
ERIC COLVIN

Album running time
36:18

Released by
VARESE SARABANDE
Catalog number
VSD-5877

Album cover copyright (c) 1997 TriStar Pictures, Inc. and Touchstone Pictures; review copyright (c) 2006 James Southall

Paul Verhoeven's satirical science fiction film got surprisingly positive reviews, but not much of an audience.  As usual with Verhoeven's "deliberately awful" films, I'm not entirely convinced that too many members of the cast were in on the joke, and to be honest I'm not completely certain whether Verhoeven was either, but even so it's highly-enjoyable stuff, ridiculously expensive, and great fun.  One person who certainly "got it" was composer Basil Poledouris, hired for the third time by Verhoeven, and providing his biggest score of the 1990s.

After the brief news theme parody "Fed Net March" comes the first of the score's gigantic action pieces, "Klendathu Drop", which includes the score's brilliant main theme and is tremendously exciting.  The excitement never really holds up, with the album consisting of one super-size piece of action music after another.  It's all brilliantly-written, orchestrated and performed.  As you might imagine, this isn't a film which provided Poledouris with much chance for quiet reflection, but he does manage to squeeze some in from time to time, with "Asteroid Grazing" being particularly beautiful, and a welcome break from the action.  Later, "Dizzy's Funeral" somehow manages to be genuienly affecting, and is also welcome.

Those pieces apart, it's action all the way, and deliciously over-the-top action at that.  Pick of the bunch is probably "Tango Urilla", a terrific piece which builds and builds into a ferocious, intense frenzy.  "They Will Win" later gives it a run for its money, with Poledouris having his tongue firmly implanted in his cheek as he provides some ludicrously stirring, uber-patriotic music.  

This is great music from Poledouris all the way through, rousing and exciting and marvelous fun.  Sadly it's one example where the album really is a bit too short - apparently because of the way the recording sessions were structured it was financially impossible to release any more (this was before the days of the Union concessions that allow longer releases today) but just a little more of  the softer cues to allow a little breathing room would have been a big help.  Regardless of that, it's still hugely-enjoyable and strongly recommended.

Tracks

  1. Fed Net March (:49)
  2. Klendathu Drop (4:29)
  3. Punishment / Asteroid Grazing (4:50)
  4. Tango Urilla (3:50)
  5. Hopper Canyon (2:44)
  6. Bugs!! (2:20)
  7. Dizzy's Funeral (1:18)
  8. Destruction of Roger Young (3:27)
  9. Brainbug (3:59)
  10. They Will Win (4:01)
  11. Into It Zoe Poledouris (4:36)
    12.