Paul Verhoeven question...[about controversy]

[Invincible]

I'm on this site at the moment http://www.paulverhoeven.net/ cause I've decided to read up on this great director, and if you point on the first icon of Paul, the one on the left...it gives you this quote


"I like controversy, it has always been inspiring to me...to say, 'Fuck it, if nobody thinks I am going to shoot it, I'll shoot it!'"


I can list some controversies...

Hollow Man - rape scene
Basic Instinct - legs scene
Robocop - mutant (toxic waste) scene? does that count?
and Showgirls?

but my real question is, what makes Paul Verhoeven controversial?? style of shooting a film? stories?

provide examples.

[Fisting Ackbar]

Originally posted by Invincible
but my real question is, what makes Paul Verhoeven controversial??

Just the fact that he adds tons of (explicit) sex and violence in his films, sometimes even in a time when that was uncommon (see TURKISH DELIGHT).

[Fraenkl]

He's pushing the boundries of tollerance of violence and sex in movies way up. Here in the Netherlands the movies 'Turks Fruit' and 'Spetters' are labeled as very controverial. But 'Turks Fruit' is nowadays become a classic. Times are changing...

[rupert pupkin]

in starship troopers we see his satirizing pushed to the limit..

...he likes to show the full excesses of the human spirit.....in all areas....sex....violence.....deviancy....

this doesnt always work.....but his movies are nnonetheless always an event for this reason

[Scarface98.9]

It's usually controversial what he puts in the movies, mainly lots of nudity, sex, and violence. He was even quoted during the making of Showgirls as saying he loves to see naked women, and to film naked women. And as we Showgirl scholars know, there's quite a bit of that in the movie

[Invincible]

Yeah I now know what you guys means...

Yes, I've noticed how he likes 'sex & violence' in his movies

Starship Troopers has lots of explicit violence on screen, "half torso" is a good example

Basic Instinct, the 'crossing legs' scene, where you see Sharon Stone's bush?

Hollow Man, invisible rape

I'm going to try and get my hands on those two Dutch films you are talking about Fraenkel.

Verhoeven is a very cool filmmaker, gotta love him.

[Jon Lyrik]

Verhoven wouldn't know subtilty if it bit him in the ass.

But, Showgirls be damned, he is a great filmmaker.

Look at Robocop and tell me that isn't borderline brilliant.

Tell me how Starship Troopers isn't the most gratutious fun possible.

[rupert pupkin]

i am not sure if he isnt thattt subtle.....depends on who its targetted to

i mean...most people could see that starship troopers was a satire of both modern society and the violent hollywood blockbuster

yet many didnt...

[neco82]

The guy just makes excessively violent movies with sex that are loads of fun. And nowadays not many filmmakers do that. Starship Troopers was dumb and had shit acting, but was a blast to watch because of the violence; it was the only thing that saved Hollow Man (aside from the effects and Kevin Bacon) from being a generic slasher flick; and the uncut version of Robocop is so excessive in its violence that it's just hilarious.

[The Delfonics]

Originally posted by Jon Lyrik

Tell me how Starship Troopers isn't the most gratutious fun possible.

Starship Troopers is on my all time Top 20. Its so underrated. Its got great action and a cool story with some satire.