I was just wondering why they wouldn't have just nuked Klandethu instead of send instead of sending in the infantry (a plan that they very quickly learned was futile). They quite clearly have the technology
shareI like the explanation given by someone else that it's because its a factor the totalitarian state: its a system of control, a way of organizing and manipulating its people. From a story perspective, this is a good reason, its very thoughtful. Well done.
The truth however is that Verhoeven wanted the movie to have a WWII vibe, and you can't do WWII by nuking and paving from orbit. WWII and nazi references are everywhere in the movie, the bug types have WWII combat machinery equivalents, and that's why this movie resonates. Same reason why Star Wars resonates or Lord of the Rings, our modern science/fantasy drama epics are fundamentally based on the horror and memory of WWI and by extension WWII.
Nuclear bombarding of the surface of the planet would not completely destroy the bug armies in their caves. However you'd think the space fleet would have nuclear smart bombs and bunker busters that they could drop from space and have fly inside the bug caves,but don't worry the Q bomb does the job in part 3. lol
shareWhy would they want to nuke a planet when the government wants a war?
share[deleted]
Criztu - Comparing the US to Nazi Germany or the USSR??? Anyone that has lived in either country (Nazi Germany or USSR), would really beg to differ!
shareBloody hell this post is insane, compared to what it started with to were it is now, in the end did anything get resolved were any answers answered.
shareUhhh... the director of the film most certainly *did* see Nazi Germany and is making a point about what America (circa 1997) *could* become without a course correction.
,Said the Shotgun to the Head--
Saul Williams
If you nuke and they survive, your troops will need to deal with bugs + radiation. Way to go Sky Marshal!
They didn't have planet buster bombs, and they couldn't hit the highest castes from the air. It didn't make it to film, but it's actually brought up in the book. (I happened to re-read that section this morning.)
shareI understand not nuking but always thought a little more air support like done on Planet P would have made more sense. It would have made the ground invasion a lot easier. The smaller aircrafts would have avoided the giant plasma shooting bugs or taken them out, and dropping a few bombs on the insect pack would have stopped the MI from being over run.
shareNuking would be pointless, as the bugs live deep underground. Also, in the book, they talk about how they wouldn't just blow up the planet because the bugs had human prisoners of war (and they wanted to capture the higher castes) .
~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.