Home Media Magazine - Agent DVD - July 2008 - (Page DVD30) *SCI-FI/FANTASYFILES Q&A Director Ed Neumeier (left) with Casper Van Dien on the set of Starship Troopers 3: Marauder. TRIPLE THREAT STARSHIP TROOPERS 3: MARAUDER Available Aug. 5 on DVD ($27.96), Blu-ray ($38.96) and UMD ($24.94) STARSHIP TROOPERS Available Aug. 5 on Blu-ray ($28.95) STARSHIP TROOPERS TRILOGY BOXED SET Three-disc set available Aug. 5 on DVD ($39.95) and Blu-ray ($89.95) Sony Pictures Home Entertainment ‘TROOPER’ on a relatively tight schedule. But I was supported by an immensely talented crew. Agent DVD: How true to the “Starship Troopers” world is this third installment? Neumeier: I think all three movies have stayed true to the world, but No. 3 will feel much more like the first installment because Casper is back as Rico, and we have also returned to the social commentary and humor that was the hallmark of the first “Starship” movie. Agent DVD: What sets it apart from the first two? Neumeier: There are several new characters: Lola Beck played by Jolene Blalock (“Star Trek: Enterprise”) and Dix Hauzer played by Boris Kodjoe (Soul Food), who along with Casper as Col. John Rico each have their own adventures. It’s also set 10 years after the first Starship Troopers, and this reflects the state of the war, the society and Rico’s transition from young man to seasoned veteran. Agent DVD: Van Dien seems like he had fun reprising the role. Neumeier: There’s only one Johnny Rico, and he can only ever be played by Casper Van Dien. I think he had a blast, but then Casper sort of makes it his business to have a good time. At the same time, he makes sure everyone around him is, too. For me, as writer, he was a dream. As a director under a lot of pressure to make my day, he was a zero-maintenance actor who arrived on the set prepared and in character every day. I think our biggest regret together was that I had not written more scenes for him. Agent DVD: What home video extras are there? Neumeier: As someone who very much enjoys special features on DVDs, it was important to me as well as to producer David Lancaster that we have something to show fans about the making of the movie. In addition to many crew and actor interviews, Lancaster made sure that there was plenty of behindthe-scenes footage. There are featurettes about the bugs and the special-effects guys who made them. We also did two different commentary tracks, one with myself, David and visual-effects genius Robert Skotak, and a second with Casper Van Dien and Jolene Blalock from the actors’ perspective. Agent DVD: What are your thoughts on Blu-ray? Neumeier: I’ve been very impressed by Blu-ray, by what it can do and what it one day will do. BY CHRIS TRIBBEY he third film in the “Starship Troopers” franchise is set for a home video debut Aug. 5. Starship Troopers 3: Marauder director Ed Neumeier spoke with Agent DVD about his directorial debut and bringing back Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien). T Agent DVD: You worked on previous “Starship Troopers” films as a producer and writer. How different is it in the director’s seat? Neumeier: I found directing more fulfilling, but also a good deal more frightening. Agent DVD: What were some new challenges? Neumeier: ST3 is an ambitious movie, and we shot it AgentDVD.com AGENTDVD JULY 2008 29 http://agentdvd.com
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