03.23.08

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Rumors are already abounding about the upcoming big budget Paramount studios G.I. Joe movie that is set for a 2009 summer release. I have known about the project for some time now and was reminded while reading Kitsune Noir tonight that I needed to write about it. So, my thanks to Bobby for reminding me to get off my ass and familiarize my readers with G.I. Joe as well. It was by far one of my favorite line of toys and cartoons as a child, so I have no idea why I have neglected so far to write about it. My younger brother and I were just discussing over this weekend how we use to run home from school so we wouldn’t miss it.

Here is the plot synopsis so far as it was released by the studio: “From the Egyptian desert to deep below the polar ice caps, the elite co-ed GI JOE team, based from it’s headquarters The Pit, deploys the latest in next-gen spy and military equipment to fight crooked arms dealer Destro and the growing threat of the mysterious COBRA organization from plunging the world into chaos.”

Hmm. Sounds fairly similar to the cartoons we grew up with as young bright-eyed American school boys. My mom never throws anything away and apparently has most of my younger brother and I’s G.I. Joe toys at home stashed away in a box in her basement. My brother and I had a huge collection of G.I. Joe action figures and kids would come form all around the neighborhood to play with them. We used to stage full on wars in my bedroom and even take them outside do battle on our deck in the back yard. When we were let out at recess during elementary school we would role play as different G.I. Joe characters breaking into teams to wage war on the playground. It was always fight as to who got to be Snake Eyes. You can see why with the attached image featuring the full on Snake Eyes regalia from the movie. Every kid is a sucker for ninjas.

The complaint so far about the movie seems to be that they have shifted focus away from the G.I. Joe team having any affiliation with the American Army. Paramount has confirmed that in the movie, the name G.I. Joe will become an acronym for “Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity” Fans are already upset at the action but the studio claims that the current world political outlook is more than a little unfriendly at the notion of a group of American military superheros who have set out to stop evil from ruling the world. I can’t imagine why they would assume such a thing. Sorry for the sarcasm, I just couldn’t resist.

The real question is, will the movie be good or are we due for another Transformers? Stephen Sommers has been chosen as director for the project. Summers is the man behind a string of campy movies including The Mummy series and Van Helsing. Screenwriters have been chosen who have helped pen movies like the Pirates of the Caribbean and Swordfish. Lorenzo di Bonaventura will produce G.I. Joe along with Hasbro honcho Brian Goldner. Sommers and his partner Bob Ducsay will also produce. Apparently Sommers first walked away from the project only to walk back on and take the deal. So, will all of the collective experience with these over-the-top blockbusters be what G.I. Joe needs to create the magic sauce? I think it’s anyone’s guess.

Here is how the cast is shaping up so far:

Channing Tatum / Duke
Sienna Miller / The Baroness
Joseph Gordon-Levitt / Cobra Commander
Dennis Quaid / General Hawk
Rachel Nichols / Shana ‘Scarlett’ O’Hara
Christopher Eccleston / Destro
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje / Heavy Duty
Ray Park / Snake Eyes
Marlon Wayans / Ripcord
Arnold Vosloo / Zartan

There are some interesting players on the roster. Apparently George Clooney was originally sought after for the role of Duke but who could blame him for saying no after his experience with the Batman series. So, is anyone else wondering when they are going to make the Gobots or Thundercats movies? Is anyone else also wondering why they would make more of these movies? Well if you are, I can give it to you in a word and that word is ‘money’. I am on the fence as to whether or not I really think producing movies like this is a good idea or not. I would just like to see our generations Clockwork Orange come along one of these days but it seems like so much money goes towards the productions of movies like G.I. Joe. Then again, you could ask me, ‘Will you go see it?’ To which I would have to reply, ‘probably’.

written by Christopher | tags: , ,