Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Starship Troopers 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Join Up Now!

Sony has released Paul Verhoeven's widely acclaimed Sci-Fi satire film 'Starship Troopers' to the UHD format. The disc offers new 4K video with HDR colors and a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack. No new extras are included.

Starship Troopers 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc. Watch for 4K screenshots at a later date.

Starship Troopers released in 1997, was shot on film, and according to its packaging, the UHD is sourced from a "new 4K restoration." The movie has always been a highlight on home formats, offering very impressive picture quality upon its release on DVD and again in the early days of Blu-ray. This new 2160p UHD is no different, offering a substantial boost in stability, definition, and color alike. The image more than impresses in every shot; even visual effects hold up rather well. Grain retention is largely consistent and generally complimentary with only a few scenes, such as in the classroom near film's start, appearing a bit more dense and snowy. The image gains significant improvements in clarity and sharpness. Fine details are much more revealing across the board. Faces reveal fine hairs, pores, and scars with depth and detail that's comparatively absent on the Blu-ray. Uniforms, berets, helmets, armor, terrain on bug planets, manmade structures at the training camp and on Planet P, practical bug effects, and torn human bodies all find significantly more clarity and attention to fine detail, even at distance and even considering more insignificant background elements. The HDR enhanced color palette is a joy. Color depth is much stronger. Skin tones offer improved accuracy and depth. Orangey fireballs pop with significant punch in chapter 10, followed by splattering of green and orange bug blood moments later that reveal the true increase in saturation without betraying the movie's core appearance. There are a handful of speckles, though the only really noticeable ones come when Rico's father chews him out after he's joined up; there's been a fair bit of clean-up here when viewed against the comparatively debris-heavy Blu-ray. Outer space black levels hold impressively deep. This is a considerably better image over the Blu-ray; fans are going to be ecstatic.

Starship Troopers 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Starship Troopers' UHD release features a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack that delivers a high-yield listen. Music builds over the open with impressive clarity, effortless spacing, and stage-commanding depth. Movement through the stage is fantastic. Whether planetary defense missiles that fly through the stage early on, swarms of bugs that all but trample the listener, heavy cruisers rumbling about the listening area, or drop ships veering about (the latter with a significant overhead presence as one lands to rescue troopers on Planet P), the listener will always feel totally immersed in the movie's sound moments of significance. The added overheads aid in creating a fuller listen, adding to the chaos of battle while extending a few key elements, particularly PA system announcements at school and, later, similar sounds during the arena football-style game. Gunfire hits hard. The stage is often flooded by infantry rifle fire but mounted emplacements on Planet P offer much more punch. Nukes explode with force and send powerful waves rumbling through the stage. Dialogue is satisfyingly clear, positioned, and prioritized. This is a superb Atmos soundtrack and a wonderful companion to an amazing film.

Starship Troopers 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Sony's UHD release of Starship Troopers contains no new supplements, but it does carry over the pair of commentary tracks from the original Blu-ray. It also, of course, contains the usual Sony UHD bonuses, including cast and crew still photos and a collection of categorized "moments" (2160p/HDR/Atmos): Rico, Dizzy, Carmen, and The Bugs. A UV digital copy code is included with purchase. Below is a basic listing of the supplemental material available on the included 1080p Blu-ray, which is identical to the previous release. For complete supplemental reviews, please click here.

• FedNet Mode
• Recruitment Test
• Put Yourself in the Movie
• Director and Cast Commentary
• Commentary with Paul Verhoeven and Ed Neumeier
• Blu-Wizard
• Death From Above
• Featurettes: The Making of Starship Troopers
• Featurettes: The Spaceships of Starship Troopers
• Featurettes: Bug Test Film: Don't Look Now
• Know Your Foe
• FX Comparisons
• Storyboard Comparisons
• Scene Deconstruction with Paul Verhoeven
• Deleted Scenes
• Screen Tests
• Previews

Starship Troopers 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Starship Troopers is a wonderful film, full of pointed satire, large-scale action, cranked-up Verhoeven violence, a hot young cast, terrific production design, and great special effects. It's right up there with the best the Dutch director has ever released, and the movie remains an ever-relevant and highly entertaining cautionary tale across many fronts. Sony's UHD is nearly as much a masterpiece as the movie. The new 4K restoration is nothing short of spectacular. The Atmos sound is just about as good. No new extras are included, but the bundled Blu-ray's supplemental package covers plenty of ground. For the SteelBook collectors, there's one at Best Buy. This UHD release of Starship Troopers is my current favorite on the new format and it earns my highest recommendation.