Starship Troopers' Casper Van Dien Shares His Five Favorite Films
Johnny Rico reveals himself to be...a Star Wars geek!
It's been eleven years since we last saw Casper Van Dien as Federation soldier Johnny Rico in Paul Verhoeven's sci-fi cult film, Starship Troopers. Two sequels later, Van Dien is back with a new crew, new weapons, new dangers, and the same familiar problems with authority figures and alien bugs. Van Dien spoke with Rotten Tomatoes to share his Five Favorite (Sci-Fi) Films of all time, discuss his longtime friendship with Starship Troopers: Marauder director Ed Neumeier, and reveal how the last decade and two sequels have changed Johnny Rico and the Starship Troopers franchise.
Starship Troopers: Marauder premieres on DVD Tuesday, August 5; click here to preview two exclusive behind-the-scenes clips for peeks of the new Marauder suit and weapons. Read on for Casper Van Dien's 5 Favorite (Sci-Fi) Films of all time!
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982, 92% Tomatometer)
First we have Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. That would be because of "Khaaaaaaaaaan!" "Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!" That's number five.
First we have Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. That would be because of "Khaaaaaaaaaan!" "Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!" That's number five.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 100% Tomatometer)
Then I would have to go probably with T2. It was another great sequel to a great movie. I loved the humanity of Arnold Schwarzenegger. I loved the humanity in the cyborg, in the Terminator. I loved the fact that he was not human and he had more humanity than most humans do. And he was just cool.
Then I would have to go probably with T2. It was another great sequel to a great movie. I loved the humanity of Arnold Schwarzenegger. I loved the humanity in the cyborg, in the Terminator. I loved the fact that he was not human and he had more humanity than most humans do. And he was just cool.
Star Wars - Episode IV: A New Hope (1977, 95% Tomatometer)
Then I would go with the first Star Wars, which is actually the fourth episode, because I remember standing in line; I was one of those bazillion kids that were standing in line opening day. My poor mother and father had to do that with me. I remember my mom left, and came back a day later. So my dad stood there with me. I think that is one of the most incredible memories for me. It was an awesome film; I'll never take anything away from the film, but the fact that I had a father who was willing to stand in line with me all that while...let's see, I was born in '68, so I was 8 or 9. Eight or 9 and my dad stood in line for me. Yeah, I was there for like a day and a half!
Then I would go with the first Star Wars, which is actually the fourth episode, because I remember standing in line; I was one of those bazillion kids that were standing in line opening day. My poor mother and father had to do that with me. I remember my mom left, and came back a day later. So my dad stood there with me. I think that is one of the most incredible memories for me. It was an awesome film; I'll never take anything away from the film, but the fact that I had a father who was willing to stand in line with me all that while...let's see, I was born in '68, so I was 8 or 9. Eight or 9 and my dad stood in line for me. Yeah, I was there for like a day and a half!
The Matrix (1999, 86% Tomatometer)
And then I would put The Matrix. The first Matrix. Are there any others? [Because of] Neo. And it was just so cool. Everything in that movie made you see how we're all interconnected; I think that the internet is like a man-made version of, the closest we can come to conceptualizing God. It shows how we're all connected, and this Matrix is really that more defined. The Wachowskis were just a couple filmmakers who did an incredible job.
And then I would put The Matrix. The first Matrix. Are there any others? [Because of] Neo. And it was just so cool. Everything in that movie made you see how we're all interconnected; I think that the internet is like a man-made version of, the closest we can come to conceptualizing God. It shows how we're all connected, and this Matrix is really that more defined. The Wachowskis were just a couple filmmakers who did an incredible job.
Aliens (1986, 100% Tomatometer)
And my all-time favorite number one science fiction movie would be...Starship Troopers! Because I'm vain! And full of myself! No, actually I'm excluding me from this, but I would put that on the list. But I can't do myself, because it just isn't right. I would say Aliens. Because, as Jim Cameron himself said, "Why are they making Starship Troopers? I already did!" He was wrong, by the way!
And my all-time favorite number one science fiction movie would be...Starship Troopers! Because I'm vain! And full of myself! No, actually I'm excluding me from this, but I would put that on the list. But I can't do myself, because it just isn't right. I would say Aliens. Because, as Jim Cameron himself said, "Why are they making Starship Troopers? I already did!" He was wrong, by the way!
Bonus Answer: RoboCop (1987, 85% Tomatometer)
Actually, I have to add one more in. I have to add RoboCop only because of the one line at the very end, when they go, "What's your name?" And he says, "Murphy." It's the greatest way to end any movie, ever. It's true, if you think about that. Everybody in the audience stood up and screamed. They went ballistic; I know, I was there. I'm probably revealing some geekdom here. I was there in the theater opening weekend! I remember everybody -- as soon as he said his name, he got his humanity back, and it was such a powerful moment. It was awe-inspiring.
Actually, I have to add one more in. I have to add RoboCop only because of the one line at the very end, when they go, "What's your name?" And he says, "Murphy." It's the greatest way to end any movie, ever. It's true, if you think about that. Everybody in the audience stood up and screamed. They went ballistic; I know, I was there. I'm probably revealing some geekdom here. I was there in the theater opening weekend! I remember everybody -- as soon as he said his name, he got his humanity back, and it was such a powerful moment. It was awe-inspiring.
(1-20 of 48 posts) | Reply
 on Aug 04 2008 05:29 PM he may not be that good of an actor, but he sounds like a really cool guy (Reply to this) |
 on Aug 04 2008 05:30 PM I was rather impressed by his favorites - a pretty solid bunch of flicks, and his Star Wars story is adorable. (Reply to this) |
 on Aug 04 2008 05:51 PM The first one is definately a guilty pleasyre of mine, I know its stupid but I cant help not being mildly entertained. I didnt see the 2nd one, maybe I will rent this someday. Also no 2001 what the deal?!??!? My top Sci Fi Movies 1-2001: A Space Oddyssey 2-Blade Runner:Final Cut 3-Back to the Future 4-Terminator 2 5-The Matrix 6-Aliens 7-Dark City:Director's Cut 8-Alien 9-ET 10-Close Encounters (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 04 2008 06:34 PM yea! going to try to get the trilogy tomorrow on blu-ray awesome// when the second one came out i was kind of reluctant to see it but it had richard burgi who was doing a show i was watching at the time called 'the sentinel' it turned out to be pretty good! so i'll just go ahead and get all 3 (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 04 2008 06:50 PM I was going to get the trilogy on Blu-ray until I heard that the third one sucks. Even fans are saying it's terrible. And since I hated the second one, there's no point in getting all three films. I'm just going to get the first one. (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 04 2008 07:21 PM The first 20 minutes of 2001 are boring. (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 04 2008 07:35 PM Casper Van Dbag. (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 04 2008 08:18 PM I agree with jokerboy, minus the overuse of punctuation. Any list of the best science fiction films that doesn't include 2001: A Space Odyssey is a pretty crappy list. Although his is pretty good for a crappy list. Also, as much as I love Star Wars, I will always maintain that it is much closer to the fantasy genre than science fiction. (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 04 2008 08:19 PM Oh, and Empire is better than New Hope any day. (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 04 2008 08:26 PM Oh crap I forgot to put Empire on my list! (Reply to this) |
 on Aug 04 2008 08:26 PM In reply to this comment (#1953177) Nobody asked. (Reply to this) |
 on Aug 04 2008 08:29 PM 2001 is so yesterday. (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 04 2008 08:59 PM In reply to this comment (#1953332) How Dare You!??!??!?!?!?!?! (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 04 2008 09:13 PM i don't get the love for 2001; never have (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 04 2008 09:27 PM It's easy to not get why 2001 is so highly regarded if you don't pay attention to every little detail. There's only dialogue in about a quarter of the movie, and it's one of the few modern films that is really, truly visual. And not only visual, but made with the assumption that the viewer is smart enough to pick up on things as the story progresses. It's not a movie you can watch once and really appreciate. As far as I'm concerned, it's the perfect example of how movies should be made, taking full advantage of the medium and affecting the audience in a way other methods of storytelling can't. (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 04 2008 10:07 PM I'm the biggest Starship Troopers fan and goddamn was Marauder a disappointment. I mean just fookin' terrible :( Dien does seem a cool cat though, good list! (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 04 2008 10:26 PM AFAIC Kubrick screwed up the ending of 2001. He blew off the whole point of the story with his psychedelic light show, and incomprehensible David Bowman metamorphosis. I've actually had to defend Clarke's novel against people who think the story degenerates into an acid trip at the end because they only saw the movie. The fact that a lot of people in '68 loved watching it on drugs doesn't make it OK. 2010 was a MUCH better movie--very true to Clarke's vision and it explained the ending of 2001 better than 2001 did. (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 04 2008 10:28 PM I think Casper Van Dien did a great job in both of the ST movies he was in, I remember watchin Starship Troopers again a few years after it came out and wondering why he wasnt starring in more movies I always thought he'd be a good leading actor in other stuff. I remember the episode of Married with Children i think it was where he played a successful guy at a high school reunion, and he did some PAtrick Bateman stuff that never made it into the movie. Overall hes a cool guy. (Reply to this) |
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on Aug 04 2008 11:36 PM In reply to this comment (#1953664) Well I think Kubrick always intended to have the ending be based on somebodies opinion, so nobody can really be right or wrong about the ending. If its a movie you dont like, I understand it. I think its amazing but if someone says it isnt I wont get in there face about it because I can understand why some people dont like it. I did have to watch it like 20 times to really get it. (Reply to this) |
 on Aug 05 2008 12:09 AM he actually seems like pretty stand up guy. very surprising. almost makes me want to see the movie....almost. good choices too. (Reply to this) |
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