MovieChat Forums > Starship Troopers (1997) Discussion > Neil Patrick Harris makes Colonel in abo...

Neil Patrick Harris makes Colonel in about a year?!

posted 2 years ago by FootOfDavros (8246)
36 replies | jump to latest

I think this movie starts with their first invasion and then says "One year earlier...". going back to when they are graduating.

Neil Patrick Harris heads off to military intelligence - presumably not as the sole recruit for that particular year.

By the time the brain bug is captured - on their second mission (some time but clearly not years after that initial failed mission) - he's strutting out in his gestapo jacket as a Colonel!

How exactly could this have happened?

[–] kenburke (2377) 9 months ago

Direct services commission.

[–] xergan (1067) 9 months ago

I don't remember the movie 1 by 1, but for me there was always a serious time jump within the movie. Yes, most of it happen within a year, but imo there is not just a year between graduation and the defeat of the brain bug.

For comparison some Nazis:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Galland With 27 reached OF-2, with 30 OF-7
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Robert_Jauss 19 reached OF-1, 22 OF-2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Witt reached OF-5 (Colonel) with 35
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Kraas reached OF-5 with 33
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietrich_Peltz OF-5 and OF-6 with 29
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_B%C3%A4renf%C3%A4nger OF-6 with 30 (but was end of war)

Looks like getting high in ranks is easiest as pilot.

[–] Mustang (5447) 9 months ago

In war time promotions are quick due to losses in combat as well as the military expanding so more of every rank is required. I am guessing that is how Doogie rose through the ranks so quickly not to mention he would have started as an officer as that is how I presume it would work in his line of work, like pilots for example.

[–] xergan (1067) 9 months ago

It also depends on how many psychics they had. He definitely seems to have something special, if this is seldom, it will help also to raise in ranks. Reading minds also helps to do whatever your superior wants. If you tell them always exactly what they plan to say, they will think you are a genius and protege you, which helps of course massively.

[–] Mustang (5447) 9 months ago

I'm thinking it would not be in the millions like infantry, more like thousands. I found it odd they put someone like that right in the superbugs path but I guess they lack the ability to read minds remotely.

The character seemed like the type to play politics well and rise quickly, same with Denise Richard's character.

[–] DarthAckbar (2083) 9 months ago

i am starting to think it's not a true story

[–] AndyKing1967 (38423) 9 months ago

I thought it was a documentary.

[–] DarthAckbar (2083) 9 months ago

lol

[–] AndyKing1967 (38423) 9 months ago

I did wonder why it wasn’t on the National Geographic channel 🤔

[–] DarthAckbar (2083) 9 months ago

haha

[–] Mustang (5447) 9 months ago

It's a trap!

[–] DarthAckbar (2083) 9 months ago

LOL!