I am a huge fan of Robert A. Heinlein. I read my first Heinlein book, Friday, when I was about 13. When I bought it, the pretty girl on the cover is what caught my attention, but by the time I was done with the first page I was hooked on the writing.

Heinlein's genius was his ability to infuse fantastical and outlandish tales with high degrees of intelligence and wit. His book, Starship Troopers, is a perfect example of his mastery. Troopers is the story of a future where mankind is at war across the galaxy. The population is divided into citizens, who have the power to vote, and non-citizens, who enjoy every right except the right to vote.

To become a citizen, one must serve in the military. The logic is that one who has risked their life for the right to vote will be more responsible with their vote. Though controversial, there is a certain amount of elegant logic to the notion.

A good deal of the book is concerned with the politics of the social structure and, at times, discussions of the war with an arachnid race. And still, for all of the book's discussion, it never lags in the action department. Not only is Troopers one of Heinlein's best, but it's also one of his most thought-provoking.

When I heard that a filmed version was in production, I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, the thought of Troopers coming to life with all of the modern day tricks of filmmaking was thrilling. On the other hand, I wondered if anyone would have the courage to fully and honestly deal with the politics of the book.

Unfortunately, director Paul Verhoeven's choice for the film is frustratingly wrong. He manages to include much of the book's politics, but does so nearly by way of farce and undermines the message of Heinlein's original work. Perhaps this was because Verhoeven was so adamantly against the story's politics; or maybe it's because he wasn't sure how to seriously convert the book to film. Either way, those who haven't read the book won't receive an adequate picture of Heinlein's skill as a storyteller and those who have will be disappointed by the film's lack of depth.

You might ask if it's fair of me to compare the film so strictly against the book. It's a fair point, and yet the book is one of my favorites. My opinion can't help but be tainted by it. It doesn't help that whoever wrote the script very obviously read the book as many details are correct.

The film follows a group of post-high school friends as they join the military and the war against the bugs. Johnny Rico and Dizzy Flores (Casper Van Dien and Dina Meyer) find themselves in the military's main fighting wing, the Mobile Infantry. Dizzy has a think for Rico, but Johnny is more interested in Carmen Ibanez (Denise Richards). Carmen, meanwhile has been accepted as a pilot and her physical distance from Rico creates an emotional distance as well. The final member of the small group of friends, Carl Jenkins (Neil Patrick Harris), joins military intelligence in an effort to find a psychic means to defeat the enemy.

While the kids are in basic training, the arachnid enemy attacks by flinging meteors at Earth. One of them strikes Buenos Aires, the kids' home city, and kills millions, inspiring a renewed interest in fighting.

Verhoeven tells the story like a spoof of propoganda films, filled with commercials extolling the virtues of military life and complete with great looking soldiers who have little else to worry about but falling in love and killing bugs. The problem is that Heinlein's story was solid to begin with and converting it into farce didn't help.

That's not to say that the film isn't somewhat entertaining. The special effects are fantastic and there are some exciting moments. The trouble is that there is nothing emotional to latch onto. It's like watching a video game. And just like a video game, even a well-done video game, when it's over, there is nothing but the pretty visuals to last in your memory.