"Just a fast action summer popcorn flick that you may or may not enjoy."
When I originally saw the trailer to this film, I didn't care too much for it. Those "accelerator suits" looked too outlandish. I kept thinking they destroyed what I remember of the G.I. Joe mythology. But then the screenings came and the first few critics actually praised it. Rottentomatoes had an 83% rating on the film at the time (its gone down since). I thought "Wow, maybe there IS hope for this flick". Well, let me say that the film is simply an action packed summer flick with enough flashback character development to actually care about the antagonists and the protagonists of this film. Don't expect the Dark Knight. But don't expect Wolverine either. Here's the lowdown:
A prologue in 1641 features James McCullen Destro (David Murray), a Scottish man who has been selling arms to both sides in the English Civil War but who is branded with an iron mask soldered onto his flesh when he is caught. Then the film moves forward to present day when an ancestor of McCullen - James McCullen (Christopher Eccleston), head of the arms manufacturer MARS, has just clinched a deal with the US government for four potentially devastating warheads. As an army unit led by Duke (Channing Tatum) and Ripcord (Marlon Wayans) is driving the warheads from MARS headquarters in eastern Europe, the convoy is ambushed by a crack team of armed warriors including the glamorous Baroness De Cobray (Sienna Miller, sashaying her way through the bad girl role with much confidence) who happens to be Duke's former fiancée. Just as the Baroness is about to make off with the warheads, soldiers from the GI Joe force (or "Joes") arrive to save the day.
Duke and Ripcord are taken to GI Joe headquarters in an underground complex called The Pit in the Sahara Desert. There they meet the head of the Joes General Hawk (Dennis Quaid). They are trained to enter the GI Joe team and meet other members such as Scarlett (Rachel Nichols), Snake-Eyes (Ray Park), Heavy Duty (Adewale Akkinuoye-Agbaje) and Breaker (Said Taghmaoui). Just as they are accepted into the unit, the Baroness and her sidekick Storm Shadow (Byung-hun Lee) break into The Pit and steal the warheads. Backed by McCullen who has diabolical plans to conquer the globe, they set about detonating one of them.
Although GI Joe was created in 1964 as an action figure, an entire mythology was developed for the 155-issue Marvel Comics series in which GI Joe evolved into a team of super-elite soldiers from around the world fighting the evil Cobra organization. The film, which includes all the characters from the GI Joe universe, is less an origins story (ala Wolverine or Batman Begins) as a standalone action film explaining the origins of Cobra and the arrival in the unit of Duke and Ripcord.
I've read a few reviews and I am appalled by the fact that some critics claims that this is a rip-off of the puppet satire Team America. Who are they trying to kid? If anything, Trey Parker and Matt Stone (creators of Team America) ripped off from G.I. Joe. Team America was released in 2004 where as G.I. Joe (the team concept) has existed since the early 1980's. But that's neither here or there. You're either going to like this film or not.
Though our main star is Channing Tatum, who does well as Duke, there are two other acting performances that steal the show. Sienna Miller as The Baroness and Ray Park as Snake Eyes. Miller took The Baroness character and perfected that role with confidence. She is gorgeous to look at and wonderful to see when she has that evil, sly smile after pulling off a no-good deed. Her coolness is transparent right before the shit is going to hit the fan. And I absolutely loved it when she laughed or smiled after every failed G.I. Joe attempt to catch her. She embraced her character and you truly believe she IS the Baroness.
Ray Park is absolutely amazing with his martial arts skills. That almost goes without saying considering the parts he's played in past movies. But his portrayal of Snake Eyes is jaw dropping. It was absolutely gut clinching excitement every time he fought his nemesis, Storm Shadow. The clashes between these two characters is worth the price of admission alone.
The rest of the cast is done well also. Dennis Quaid plays General Hawk with authority. Channing Tatum plays the confident Duke with determination. Marlon Wayans plays Ripcord as the comic relief, but one who can fight and be a hero as well. And Rachel Nichols plays the feisty but beautiful Scarlett to perfection.
We have other good portrayals such as Arnold Vosloo as Zartan, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as The Doctor (who will become Cobra Commander in the sequel... if there is one), Christopher Eccleston as McCullen/Destro, Jonathan Pryce as the U.S President (which makes no sense since the U.S. President is required to be born here in this country... and Pryce's accent clearly shows us he's not), Byung-hun Lee as Storm Shadow, Said Taghmaoui as Breaker, and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Heavy Duty. We even get a brief cameo by Brendan Fraser as Gung-ho (I think he was Gungho anyway) and Karolina Kurkova as Cover Girl.
G.I. Joe is directed by Stephen Sommers, whose credits include the first two Mummy films and Van Helsing. Its as if Sommers knew his audience. He introduced the "accelerator suits" and used them appropriately in the film and didn't get too carried away with it. He did, however, get too excited with using CGI which was above average at best. Sometimes it looked a little cartoonish. Especially the underwater battle between the Joes and the Cobra forces as well as some of the weapons and military vehicles used.
Giving this film the rating I did was not difficult for me because I've been a fan of the mythology for quite some time. Saying that, however, the film will be hit or miss with the average movie goer... much like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was this year (but look how well that movie's done financially). And if G.I. Joe does well financially, expect a sequel eventually. The fact is... this film is a fast action summer popcorn flick that you may or may not enjoy. It all depends on your taste. Me? I give it four stars... just like I did with Revenge of the Fallen. I love my mindless, action, popcorn blockbusters. And I won't apologize for it.
MOVIE RATING SCALE:
5.0 stars = A MUST SEE
4.5 stars = Excellent
*** 4.0 stars = Outstanding ***
3.5 stars = Good
3.0 stars = Above Average
2.5 stars = Average
2.0 stars = Disappointing
1.5 stars = Bad
1.0 stars = Terrible
0.5 stars = Horrible
0.0 stars = UNWATCHABLE
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As for the Baroness... if you recall they were NOT able to take out that stupid mind controlling mechanism from her head. Ten to one that in the sequel, they'll simply regain control of her.
And you're right about the film's budget. But the film grossed over 100 million domestically and abroad the first three days. I honestly don't think it WILL break even domestically. It'll probably peak at 140 to 160 mil but they've already green lighted a sequel. So part two is happening.
And believe me... I know what you're trying to say. I just think Miller played the evil Baroness well. Even if it wasn't voluntary. Even if it was mind controlled. She played it well in my opinion. So they changed a major storyline, that's ok. I can live with The Baroness as a good guy who is made to do evil deeds due to mind control. When she's being controlled she's still the evil Baroness. Just like Spock has a shit more feelings in the new Star Trek than in the old series. I mean... making out with Uhura.... NICE! haha But everyone is still cool with that cause he's still Mr Logic. Same here (with me that is). The Baroness is still cool as Ms Evil even though she's under mind control while she is.
Nice debating with you... on certain things. Again... hope you enjoy the next flick. ;)
You're also right about the movie making 56 million in its first weekend. It's the fourth highest grossing movie to ever open in August. However, it was made for 170 million. Considering how movies tend to drop off, I wonder if there is concern from the studio execs that they might struggle to break even domestically. Transformers 2 made over 60 million on its Wednesday opening, and finished the weekend at over 200 million. Simply put, Transformers 2 paid for itself in its first five days and paved the way for movie #3. I'm worried that if the movie doesn't at least break even domestically, they may not make a sequel(After all, where's Superman 2?). Believe it or not, I want them to make the sequel. I want to see what happens in future movies, with the hopes of a better flick.
As far as me being a geek, yeah, I'll own that. I'm an English major, so maybe I look too closely with a critical eye. However, you're still missing my point. I never expected the movie to adhere totally to my "beloved cartoon mythology." I was glad that the movie seemed to portray Storm Shadow as the killer of his and Snake Eyes' master(remember, in the comic it was Zartan). Why? Because it didn't effect anything in the storyline. Snake Eyes believes Storm Shadow did it, and Storm Shadow never cared to correct him. So they remove Zartan from that equation(seemingly). Big deal; it doesn't hurt the continuity of the story. But what they did with The Baroness greatly altered what is to come.
As far as me hitting you with that logic remark, calm down son. It was just a little joke. After all, you're the one who brought up Star Trek. I'm not taking this as seriously as you believe. Truth be told, I'm just killing time until classes begin in three weeks. Anyways, this is the last I'm talking about this movie. I've enjoyed the last few days sparring with you. If we have differing opinions in the future, I'll gladly debate you. If that debate doesn't materialize, I'll consider it no big loss.
The 1989 Batman changed something important too but no one bitched about it. The Joker NEVER killed Bruce's parents in the comics, but according to the '89 Batman movie, he did. So fucking what! It was still a good movie.
You say.. "G.I. Joe would have been better served without these alterations" as if you know better... but the movie just opened with $56 million the first weekend. Hmmm. I have nothing against you or your opinion (cause you're definitely entitled to it) but to get all rattled because of someone else's opinion is taking this a little too seriously.
Relax... whether you liked or hated the movie... whether you agree or disagree with my opinion... and just wait for the next film you want to watch.
Peace brother. ;)
You wrote that Abrams did the same thing with Star Trek. The difference between Star Trek and G.I. Joe is big. Kirk and Spock were not portrayed as childhood friends that changed over the course of time. Nothing in Star Trek was irreparably changed: Kirk and Spock will still explore the final frontier and become great friends along the way. On the other hand, G.I. Joe made it all too convenient having Duke, Baroness, and Cobra Commander linked years before. The world is up for grabs, and it's being fought over by former friends, one of which is now the evil terrorist trying to take over the world(doesn't that sound familiar? I mean, you have seen Goldeneye, right?) Also, by knowing this, it takes the mystery out of Cobra Commander's character and makes him look like nothing more than an angry, hurt child throwing a temper tantrum who is bent on revenge. Meanwhile, Destro is turned from a truly dominating presence into a sad shell who needed nano technology to get a woman. Wow, those changes sound wonderful, don't they?
See, when they alter the past, the future is also changed. Think about it. You said that Sienna Miller made you believe she was The Baroness. The problem with that statement is that The Baroness didn't truly exist. She was being controlled by her brother into being Destro's girlfriend. She broke free of the mind control and ended up in Duke's embrace? So what happens with her character now? Does she end up being Duke's girlfriend or wife? Does Cobra Commander brainwash her again, conveniently turning her evil again? Does she discover feelings for Destro, after all he let happen to her? Could she be a double agent, only pretending to be reformed? Seriously, these scenario's appeal to you? The makers of this movie essentially eliminated the great character known as The Baroness, not to mention all of the fun, devious things she would go on to do. But you say you're okay with this? Even though you also say that you're a fan of the mythology? It's a good thing that you like mindless movies, because it seems like logic is out of your reach.
Rustman... you actually wake up and the first thing you think about is GI Joe? That's sad bro.
eik1... what don't you understand? I like the mythology but that doesn't mean I can't like the character connections Sommers made in the film. Abrams made alot of changes in character connections in his new Star Trek, yet many loved the film. The problem is... there are way too many geeks out there that absolutely refuse any change on their beloved cartoon characters.
Pypebomb... I took a look at your account and all I see is a grumpy punk who has nothing better to do but bitch at the world. Everywhere you comment is negative. (I know I know... that's because everyone on this website sucks and you're a fucking God). Yea... see I know you're kind. I know exactly how you think. You're pissed off at everyone cause no one likes you. You're pissed off at the movie business because no one wants to hire you. You're pissed off at Movieweb cause... well, cause you're always pissed off. Whatever dude. People on this site should just not comment or respond to you.... including me. So this is just a heads up. Write whatever the fuck you want about me or my reviews cause this is the last response you're getting out of me. Hope your life gets better before you get pissed off at yourself and commit suicide.
btw, I LOVED Team America lol