Joe Sergi's Cup of Geek
  • About Joe
  • Publications
  • Reviews
  • Cup of Geek's Amazon Store
  • SKY GIRL
  • Great Zombies in History
  • Cup of Geek
  • Comic Book Law for Comic Creators Course
  • Links

Review: Yo Joe: GI Joe Provides Predictable Plot with Popcorn Pleasure

8/8/2009

4 Comments

 
 
Picture
As a kid growing up, each day I would rush home and watch G.I. Joe.  In some strange way, the animated show, which was based on the Marvel Comics, which was based on the line of toys, was original.  With a hearty, "Yo Joe!" the cartoon provided action, adventure and a catchy theme song.  Stephen Summers tries to recapture some of that magic on the big screen.  For the most part he succeeds.

The plot of G.I. Joe is simple.  A group of elite paramilitary soldiers fights to stop an evil organization bent on world domination. The movie is an origin story, but not of the Joes, who are already established before the film begins.  Instead, as the subtitle states, the film focuses on "The Rise of Cobra" and the rise to power of James McCullen, who becomes a major Joe villain.  If you have seen the dozens of commercials currently promoting the movie, you have seen about 60 percent of this movie.
    
The acting is not going to win any academy awards, but is not intrusively bad.  In short: Rachel Nichols is beautiful as the red-haired Scarlett, Channing Tatum is ruggedly handsome as the scarred Duke, Christopher Eccleston is evil as McCullen, Marlon Wayons is funny as Ripcord, Sienna Miller is sexy as the Baroness, and Dennis Quad and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje are charismatically inspiring as the Joe's commanders. 
But seriously, are you really going to see G.I. Joe for the Shakespearian acting or the riveting plot? Of course not, the movie is based on toys made by Hasbro.  You want action, and the film delivers plenty of it. The Joes fight in the air, the sea, on the ground and under it.  Once again however, Summers relies a little too much on CGI characters (though not as much as he did in the not-very-good Van Helsing).  For example, I was not enamored with the (over)use of the Delta-6 Accelerator suits in the Paris chase scene.  On the other hand, the character of Snake Eyes (played by martial artist Ray Park) was the perfect ninja superhero.  (I should also mention that Park is producing an upcoming Snake Eyes comic with writer Kevin VanHook and artist S. L. Gallant).

As a father, the only note I will make about the action is that there is a lot of death and violence.  For some reason, more people get stabbed in this movie than in a standard horror flick.  That being said, a lot of the violence is against the mindless robot-like Cobra soldiers, which makes the action more like the many stormtrooper deaths featured in the various Star Wars films.  That being said, you should decide on your own whether your children can handle it.         

There are certainly nods to the toys and comic books, including a mod to the original G.I. Joe's, which had "kung fu grip" and "lifelike hair." They are also some major differences in characterization. Most notably, one hero has become a villain and one major villain ends up a hero. Another major difference is the addition of preexisting relationships between a lot of the character (these were all told through flashback, which was occasionally overused and interfered with the action).

To sum this review up, if you liked the Mummy, you will like this.  (There are a few nods to the Mummy, including a base in Egypt and the fact that Brendon Fraser plays an uncredited role of a character that is a direct descendant of Rick O'Connel, the hero Frasier originated in the Mummy Franchise.) If you didn't like the over-the-top action in that movie, you will most likely not like G.I. Joe.  And, if you are looking for a live action interpretation of the comics (created by the great Larry Hama), you will still be waiting when the credits roll.  For those people, I recommend one the many new GI Joe series from IDW Publishing.  If you are seeking to determine who will the Oscar for best picture, skip this.  Otherwise, grab a big tub of popcorn and enjoy two hours of over the top action. 

Now you know, and knowing is half the battle. 

YO JOE!

4 Comments
Justin
8/8/2009 02:49:35 pm

Wait, I grew up watching to cartoon too. How long was it on? A decade?

Reply
Joe Sergi
8/8/2009 02:55:55 pm

Almost a decade, it was on from 85 to 93

Reply
Karen
8/10/2009 04:32:24 am

If you've ever wondered what the other half of the battle was....http://nerduo.com/thebattle/

Reply
Joe Sergi
8/10/2009 10:41:09 pm

That's the other half of the battle? Now I know. And knowing is . . . Wow, that's an infinite loop.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Joe's Cup of Geek

    Trying to keep you up with all the news, reviews and views that's fit for geeks.

    If you have anything you want to see on this site, have something you want reviewed, or would like to be a guest blogger, please send me an email at:

    CupofGeek@gmail.com

    Archives

    June 2016
    September 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009

    RSS Feed