GI Joe: Rise of Cobra

[ZFarms Productions]

GI Joe was the shi* when I was growing up. Cobra Commander was always my favorite character. When I came down to Full Sail, some people were talking about GI Joe and COBRA, and a few of us banded together to start our own COBRA group.

I'm really looking forward to this movie, although with Stephen Sommers (sp?) in the director's seat, I'm not setting the bar very high. Plus Brendan Fraser is in it. Come on.

I do like the casting of Dennis Quaid, and I'm looking forward to how Joseph Gordon Leavitt handles Cobra Commander.

What do you think?

[Mark Harris]

When I came down to Full Sail, some people were talking about GI Joe and COBRA, and a few of us banded together to start our own COBRA group.


Cobra Group? Wait, is Full Sail a college or a grade school?

[ZFarms Productions]

HAHA. We just all have a love for the Cobra, man. Its just a group of close friends who like Cobra and Cobra Commander.

[Deepfocus88]

Anyone else remotely interested in this, or am I the only perpetual 12 year old that wants to see it this weekend?

[ChipG]

I wasn't really excited about Dennis Quaid or some of the other cast but I think I'm going to go see it this weekend. I'm just expecting a rock n sock em shoot em up movie, all of a sudden the tracking has come on really strong so I might wait until Monday when the crowds thin out.

When I was a kid my G.I. Joe was THE ladies man and used to do sexual things to my sisters barbie, I hope they remembered to put that in the movie. Dh'O!

[ChipG]

I really like this trailer with kid rock's american bad ass song, that's what gi is about to me, an american bad ass.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RCS5OAXRm8&NR=1

[Deepfocus88]

When I was a kid my G.I. Joe was THE ladies man and used to do sexual things to my sisters barbie

Funny, a co-worker said almost the same thing verbatim this morning.

Yeah, liking this movie goes against all my better judgments, but if I got fooled by a cool trailer it would not be the first time.

[ChipG]

You'll see some cool cgi sets that have never been done before (actually lots), loreno d. who produced it produced the transformers movies which I have never seen (ya I know :)) so I'm in the same boat being 39 years old but I'm looking forward to seeing it, it does look really fun. I almost feel like it is my patriotic duty to go see g.i. with an american flag hanging from my car antenna, the windows rolled down and kid rocks american bad ass turned up to 11!

[Sad Max]

It's kind of interesting that with 'GI Joe' the studio has basically said we're not going to show this to the usual critics because 'Transformers' has proven that the critics' opinion is basically irrelevant, for big noisy silly over-the-top kind of summer movies.

Almost like they're admitting that it's crud* up front, but from a business perspective crud sells, and why let critics try to interfere.



*highly polished, technically sophisticated crud, of course.

[ChipG]

It's kind of interesting that with 'GI Joe' the studio has basically said we're not going to show this to the usual critics because 'Transformers' has proven that the critics' opinion is basically irrelevant, for big noisy silly over-the-top kind of summer movies.

Almost like they're admitting that it's crud* up front, but from a business perspective crud sells, and why let critics try to interfere.



*highly polished, technically sophisticated crud, of course.

I have been following most of that, it's like the critics expect every movie they see to be oscar worthy, come on, these are fun rock n' sock em summer movies made for teen age boys / young adults. All critics like to grandstand by invalidating any movie that is less than oscar worthy including super hero movies.

[Nektonic]

I don't know, this film looks like a mess. It just seems all over the place. First we got these GI Joe soldiers with their high tech battle armor, then there is the whole Cobra underwater base that looks like something out of a Jules Verne turn of the century sci-fi adventure. Plus, they are probably going to have to shoe horn in all kinds of cheesy sayings like "go Joe" or something along those lines. Remember the Mortal Kombat film (I wouldn't be surprised if none of us did) and how they had to include fatalities and sayings like "finish him"? They even had the toasty guy standing in a crowd as they watched a fight. Now, all of this stuff works successfully in a video game, but not in a film. This stuff just annoys me when Hollywood can't grasp how to successfully adapt something as simple as Mortal Kombat, GI Joe, or Transformers.

Also, GI Joe is directed by Stephen Sommers, who did the sleep inducing atrocity of a creature feature known as Van Helsing. Seriously, I put Van Helsing a notch above The League of Extraodinary Gentlemen, a film I can image they play on an endless loop to all the poor souls in hell. I'll admit that I did enjoy The Mummy, and The Mummy Returns was somewhat fun too, but after Van Helsing I'm very cautious about going to a film by Stephen Sommers.

GI Joe, Transformers, etc... these might be fun but are ultimately unforgettable once you are leaving the theater. Actually, this summer's films have all been kinda like that, with a few exceptions. I had fun with Transformers, Star Trek was technically well done but a disappointment, and I thought Terminator Salvation was solid. I'm burnt out on big budget blockbusters.


I have been following most of that, it's like the critics expect every movie they see to be oscar worthy, come on, these are fun rock n' sock em summer movies made for teen age boys / young adults. All critics like to grandstand by invalidating any movie that is less than oscar worthy including super hero movies.

I agree Chip. I think that sometimes critics do go into movies with bloated expectations, or that they simply don't like these types of summer blockbusters with the exception of the ones that are a bit more realistic and serious like The Dark Knight.

I have to admit though, that I actually had a good time with Transformers 2, even though it has a thin plot and characterization, something about Michael Bay's style is just fun to watch, in addition to rampaging robot destruction. The problem is, besides some nice visual FX, I couldn't really recall anything amazing standing out as I walked from the exit to my car once it was over.

As for GI Joe, I'm gonna sit this one out and wait for District 9 and Inglorious Basterds.

[Sad Max]

I have been following most of that, it's like the critics expect every movie they see to be oscar worthy, come on, these are fun rock n' sock em summer movies made for teen age boys / young adults. All critics like to grandstand by invalidating any movie that is less than oscar worthy including super hero movies.

I don't think anyone - critic or not - seriously expects every film to be an Oscar(tm) contender.

But I think they do hope that even a summer action movie can be competently plotted, with compelling characters and interesting dialog. And frankly that is not even a slightly unreasonable expectation, considering the resources dumped into projects like this.

Unless of course one's perspective is, the audience digs crap, which means that crap should pass by unquestioned.

[Richard J. Johnson]

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gi_joe/ still fresh on rotten tomatoes so far. we will see though. I am going to check this out when I get back from Puerto Rico.

[ChipG]

Wenstien is being bashed all over town for cutting a trailer to Bastards that has nothing to do with the movie, it'll be interesting to see how that one plays out. Lot's of pissed off people will be walking out of theater scrathing thier heads on that one.

[Sad Max]

Happens all the time. Can't tell you how many people were bitching about Jarhead being set during Desert Storm when they felt the promos had led them to think it was an Iraqi Freedom-themed movie...

[ChipG]

Happens all the time. Can't tell you how many people were bitching about Jarhead being set during Desert Storm when they felt the promos had led them to think it was an Iraqi Freedom-themed movie...

I know it does but not like this, I'm telling you, different plot etc. it's the worst trailer pull over ever in history.

[Nektonic]

I know it does but not like this, I'm telling you, different plot etc. it's the worst trailer pull over ever in history.

Hmmm... I didn't know this about the Basterds trailer. I've read a little of the script, just the opening, and have heard enough about its premise coupled with the fact that it is Tarantino to not really need to trailer to entice me.

But I do have to admit, the trailer did seem a little off to me having known a little about the film beforehand. It comes out soon enough anyway, so I can easily avoid any previews and trailers.

As for trailers, you bring up an interesting point. Luckily before I had a chance to view The Lovely Bones trailer, I heard that it gave away a ton of the plot, so I've decided I'm going to avoid the trailers for it. I just want to see the darn movie. Same thing with James Cameron's Avatar.

[ChipG]

Yea, Cameron doesn't even need a trailer for avatar :)

[Sad Max]

Not that the Avatar 'trailers' on the web show or tell you anything about the actual film...

[Nektonic]

Yea, Cameron doesn't even need a trailer for avatar :)

Well, for the general public he will, but I've heard so much hype for this over the last year, and am such a big Cameron fan, especially his science fiction stuff, that I don't need a trailer to convince me. I'll be there at the 3-D Imax showing on opening day.

I just hope Avatar doesn't get over-hyped and the film can't live up to it come December.

[ChipG]

Is anyone seeing gi tonight? Some citys have a thursday night opening.

[Deepfocus88]

Is anyone seeing gi tonight? Some citys have a thursday night opening.

LOL, trying to see if I can crowbar it into a "date night" tomorrow.

Indian food & GI Joe....the perfect combo!

[ChipG]

LOL, trying to see if I can crowbar it into a "date night" tomorrow.

Indian food & GI Joe....the perfect combo!

I live in Kansas City where AMC theaters is based, they have thier new model theater they are testing here, it is guaranteed to get any chic to a guy movie, it is awesome, women love it!

It's 26 seats in huge leather recliners that you can ly all the way down flat and sleep if your in a chic flic, they have a button on them to call a waitress who will bring you food and drinks, a restraunt that is actually pretty good food (I'm a very picky eater) and a big bar. It cost $20 per person and then you get a $10 credit towards restraunt food or alcohol / soda. They are probaby losing thier ass on it but right now things are really good in KC getting your girl to see a guy movie :)

[RodThompson]

I saw the screener. I'm trying to figure out a way for them to bring Destro and Baroness back to life for a sequel, but I don't see it happening.

The accellerator suits were okay, but I think the idea of turning Duke into a cyborg after he gets blown up to be a bad move in the plot. I mean, he should have never been blown up at all! He's DUKE!!!

Anyway, I give it a B. Entertaining but this review is full of lies and made up malarky.

[Sad Max]

I found the accelerator suits the best feature of the film (along with Joseph Gordon Leavitt, who can do no wrong even when slumming).

More than anything they reminded me of the battledress descriptions from the old Traveler RPG.

[Sad Max]

This is actually very funny. Don't let it put you off the movie, though, I guess. If you *really* want to see it, that is.

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/popvox/archive/2009/08/07/why-i-had-to-stay-up-half-the-night-watching-gi-joe-rise-of-the-cobra.aspx

[Deepfocus88]

Sarah, it's "A Real American Hero", not "All-American Hero" Some GI Joe groupie you turned out to be.

But yes, Sad, a funny article.

I must be a glutton for punishment, I still want to see it. Did I not learn my lesson from Fast and Furious earlier this year? Cover me Jenkins, I'm going in.

[Nektonic]

But yes, Sad, a funny article.

I must be a glutton for punishment, I still want to see it. Did I not learn my lesson from Fast and Furious earlier this year? Cover me Jenkins, I'm going in.

I hardly ever walk out of a movie, even if it is bad. It would have to be excruciatingly bad for me to walk out, but...

... this is where a back-up plan comes in handy. When I am tempted to go see a movie of questionable taste, I make sure that I go at a time so that if the questionable movie sucks, I can just pop on over to another screen and see something else that is a safer bet. Hell, even if it is something I've already seen but really enjoyed, at least you have an out.

[Stephen Mick]

From the people I've talked to who've seen this movie, I think that backup plan is a great idea.

:D

[Sad Max]

Or go the Homer Simpson route: just make up a different movie inside your head, and watch that instead.

[Nektonic]

From the people I've talked to who've seen this movie, I think that backup plan is a great idea.

:D

Deepfocus,

Just time it out so that you and your wife can pop on over to Terminator Salvation if it gets really rough. I'm sure she will love that.


Or go the Homer Simpson route: just make up a different movie inside your head, and watch that instead.

But I do that everyday whether I'm in the theater or not.

[ChipG]

I have never seen so many reviews come in that are all over the board.

http://screenrant.com/gi-joe-reviews-vic-20363/

[Sad Max]

...uh...

...how can your ancestors avenge you? Seeing as your ancestors came and went before whatever revenge-worthy thing was done to you, in the first place...

Maybe he just doesn't happen to know the difference between an ancestor and a descendant. Just the level of sophistication I look for, when searching for someone to evaluate a film for me.

[ChipG]

I'm noticing how most the critics are mentioning in thier reviews that P wouldn't pre screen it for them, could be some big media fallout from that one.

[Kholi]

See it with a massive crowd. There's no better way to see a questionable movie that everyone else is probably questioning.

[ChipG]

See it with a massive crowd. There's no better way to see a questionable movie that everyone else is probably questioning.

I agree, I had a private screening to Star Trek for my bday but enjoyed it alot more with a big crowd that was going crazy.

[Sad Max]

That's great advice, Kholi. It's true, a good movie can be enjoyed alone but getting anything out of a bad one really requires company.

[Dayzerox]

I really do not care about reviews on this one. I have to many fond memories of my man "dolls" as a kid :-)

[ChipG]

Wow, the internet said it had a really good friday and should make around $55m this weekend. Maybe I'll go see it today instead of waiting until Sunday or Monday.

[Big Bad]

It was poorly written and acted, but the action was fun and I had a good time anyway. Just about what I was expecting.

[ChipG]

Just saw it after reading it did $100 mil worldwide this weekend. I went in without any expectations and liked it, there were holes in the script but in all fairness they did write it in 2 weeks to beat the writers strike. I'm 39, got some good laughs out of it and had fun. I have never seen so many explosions or action in a film. The kids in the theater all left with big smiles on thier faces, it is a good fun summer pic to take your kids to. I'm more of the Iron Man type guy than gi joe type but had fun.

[Deepfocus88]

It was poorly written and acted, but the action was fun and I had a good time anyway. Just about what I was expecting.

Sounds like my kinda movie! Based on this and Chip's review, I look forward to seeing it sometime this week.

[RodThompson]

I think a lot of people are expecting some epic, smart film about a covert group of soldiers, when in all reality, this movie is a direct mimic of the battles I had with my Joes as a kid. Seriously, it was like they took some kids, stuck them in a room with some Joes and wrote out the story these kids came up with as they played.

I seriously thought this movie was KILLER! Me and my eight year old were constantly sharing looks saying, "Kick ass!"

[ChipG]

I think a lot of people are expecting some epic, smart film about a covert group of soldiers, when in all reality, this movie is a direct mimic of the battles I had with my Joes as a kid. Seriously, it was like they took some kids, stuck them in a room with some Joes and wrote out the story these kids came up with as they played.

I seriously thought this movie was KILLER! Me and my eight year old were constantly sharing looks saying, "Kick ass!"

Yep, the whole movie is bassed off what kids did with thier gi joe's. Base station was under water re: playing with gi in a creek or the bath tub when you were a kid, rocket suits were added because kids would throw them off balconies etc.

They are going to make a couple more, they are starting devlopement on the second one now, they will have more time to write the script. This first gi movie is expected to sell $200 million worth of toys in 4 months worldwide so yea, there will be more.

[RodThompson]

Good...I thought it kicked ass!

[ChipG]

Just saw it a second time and liked it even more. The theater was full of kids going crazy, it was exciting.

[pathfinder]

Lots of actions and the chasing sequence through the streets of Paris with the destructions of who knows how many cars flipping over all over the places is just a bit of an overkill but still a fun flick. I'm pretty sure the studio is banking on the popularity of GI Joe...and the two hot chicks in there because the acting is half decent and most of those cast members are no name actors. I still have no clue who the leading actors are, including the two chicks.

[ChipG]

Still trying to figure out how many cars were destroyed in paris.. Here is how I see it, the french are pretty anoying so the more cars destroyed the better!

[pathfinder]

Still trying to figure out how many cars were destroyed in paris.. Here is how I see it, the french are pretty anoying so the more cars destroyed the better!

Phhhahahahah...amen to that. No offense to any dvxuser french patrons in here though. :thumbsup:

I kept thinking at any moment this Marlon Wayans guy is going to break out into one of his weird but colorful comedy routines but I'm glad they didn't let him do that and kept it at minimum.

[Sad Max]

Team America World Police's treatment of Paris is still my favorite...

[RodThompson]

NO! There was no overkill in the action, or in how many cars were destroyed. Watch your kids play with toy cars and see how many times they wreck them into each other.

Likewise, I FINALLY get the accelerator idea...when you were a kid, playing with an action figure with your friends and your friend is a bad guy on the run...how did you catch up?? "YEAH!? Well my guy has a super power pneumatic suit that makes him faster than yours."

:D

[ChipG]

They threw 300 gi joes off the roof of a hotel in kc this morning for a promotion, there is a gi joe convention here in town this weekend.

Video:

http://videos.kansascity.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=5613480

[Sad Max]

...and here I thought it was only critics plummeting from rooftops, over this movie...

[Deepfocus88]

This is actually very funny. Don't let it put you off the movie, though, I guess. If you *really* want to see it, that is.

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/popvox/archive/2009/08/07/why-i-had-to-stay-up-half-the-night-watching-gi-joe-rise-of-the-cobra.aspx


This dizzy broad should stick to reviewing films like The Time Traveler's Wife.

GI Joe kicked ass! Bested my expecations. I'm really excited about potential sequels. Easily the loudest movie I've ever attended. Check your disbelief at the door (and maybe bring some earplugs?)

FYI, I could watch the Baroness strut across the screen all day. Go Joe!

[jkc123]

I went in thinking this is going to be worse than Transformers 2; but nothing is worse than that movie. Gi Joe turned out to be O-K I suppose.

I didn't get the whole Duke/Baroness thing; we fanboys are disappointed that the writers didn't stick with the Duke/Scarlett/Snake-eyes love triangle.

Baroness spends the entire movie trying to off Duke and his pals, kills her husband w/o a second thought but saves Duke right before he gets ready to buy it.

I don't.

But at the end of the day, IMO this is the best "action" movie of the summer.

jeez, what does that say about this summers movies?

[Deepfocus88]

Baroness spends the entire movie trying to off Duke and his pals, kills her husband w/o a second thought but saves Duke right before he gets ready to buy it.

I don't.



Ha ha.

If I can offer an explanation, I think Baroness' brother infected her brain with some sort of controlling device/syrum. So she really wasn't herself. Only in the end she was able to mentally overpower it. (You know, just like they do in every other crappy film or TV show of this genre.)

Ahhh, what the hell do I know? The whole movie was one big blur. Fun, but not worth over analyzing. :Drogar-Kriz(DBG):

[Chamber005]

Finally saw this on blu-ray. Totally beat my expectations. All the crazy sh%t that happened reminded me of being a kid and playing with my GI Joes. Kids have got to be LOVING this movie!

SO much better than either of the Transformers movies.

Good start to a cool franchise, I think. The underwater sequence was a great idea -- a way to make a Star Wars-type space fight.

This is the way stupid, fun action movies should be all the time. Completely over the top action scenes, hot chicks in leather, and bad ass sci-fi weaponry. Aces.

[ChipG]

Finally saw this on blu-ray. Totally beat my expectations. All the crazy sh%t that happened reminded me of being a kid and playing with my GI Joes. Kids have got to be LOVING this movie!

SO much better than either of the Transformers movies.

Good start to a cool franchise, I think. The underwater sequence was a great idea -- a way to make a Star Wars-type space fight.

This is the way stupid, fun action movies should be all the time. Completely over the top action scenes, hot chicks in leather, and bad ass sci-fi weaponry. Aces.

How was the audio on blu-ray? Awesome in a theater btw.

[ChipG]

I LOVE g.i. joe btw... To many adults forget about what it's like to be a kid. HORSESHIT!

HORSESHIT! best gift Ever is when you can be 7 again and again...

[Chamber005]

How was the audio on blu-ray? Awesome in a theater btw.


The audio was solid. Pretty much identical to Revenge of the Fallen. I've only ever ran into one despairingly bad blu-ray audio, and that was on Rise of the Lycans.

[Chamber005]

I LOVE g.i. joe btw... To many adults forget about what it's like to be a kid. HORSEshi*!

HORSEshi*! best gift Ever is when you can be 7 again and again...


Exactly. I think the critics that panned it forget that this movie really is supposed to be for kids (both in age and in spirit). I thought this movie was like a seven year old's greatest GI Joe fantasy.

That's also why I think Transformers 2 failed in every way except the special effects -- the movie was filled with nothing but sex, cock and sack jokes throughout. Personally I don't remember ever having one of my Transformers humping the leg of someone.

But yeah, GI Joe was spot on. Really fun stuff.

OH! And was that Jinx in the original scene with the camo suit? Dude, if she dons the red outfit for the sequel it's gonna be way too sweet.

(And Brendan Frasier was Falcon, right?)

[pmark23]

Finally saw it. Yeah, I had a GI Joe doll (who was in constant battle with his nemesis, Steve Austin. Hey, it was the seventies).

I was surprised at how bad the effects were. Bad light matching, unstable match-moves, feet that didn't line up with the floor, bad keying, wrong perspectives. Very, very bad. Story was as I expected.

My kid wasn't interested at all, and wanted to see the "evil robots" movie again instead (Terminator Salvation).

Speaking of Terminator, that had some bad compositing too (but nowhere near as bad as GI Joe). Surprising for a film at that level.

[Deepfocus88]

I was surprised at how bad the effects were. Bad light matching, unstable match-moves, feet that didn't line up with the floor, bad keying, wrong perspectives. Very, very bad. Story was as I expected.



Ignorance truly is bliss. I thought it looked great on the big screen and can't wait to get it on Bluray.

[pmark23]

Oh, I still enjoyed it (for the effects). And they were pushing the envelope with the amount of CG work and effects so can be forgiven. I probably learned more from seeing the mistakes because I was able to figure out a lot easier how things were done.

It's funny because I get these movies "for the kids", but I'm the only one who watches them.

[ChipG]

The blu ray audio is awesome, I have two velodyne 18" digital drive subwoofers in my home theater and this movie shakes the concrete foundation. Loudest bru ray I have.

[Richard J. Johnson]

G.I. Joe was the worst movie I have seen in a very long time. I rented it for $1 at Red Box and wanted that sh!t back. just horrible in every aspect.

[ChipG]

G.I. Joe was the worst movie I have seen in a very long time. I rented it for $1 at Red Box and wanted that sh!t back. just horrible in every aspect.

Shhhhhhh, it's for kids just like the toys.

[Deepfocus88]

G.I. Joe was the worst movie I have seen in a very long time. I rented it for $1 at Red Box and wanted that sh!t back. just horrible in every aspect.

Anyone who would say that must be in cahoots with Cobra Command. :grin::grin:

Snow day! I'm gonna have to fire up the Bluray.