Movie Review Remix (CCFMDS): G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

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Movie Review Remix (CCFMDS): G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

G.I. Joe overcame some bad buzz and lackluster trailers to have a decent 54.7 million dollar opening weekend in the US, and a surprisingly strong 43 million overseas, where it will need to make some serious cash if there is ever hope of producing a sequel. G.I. Joe (much like the superior Transformers) doesn’t really depend so much on critics as it does hardcore fanboys who eat up the merchandise like a dude eating a water ice on a hot summer day. The Rise of Cobra is the first live-action vehicle for the awesome figure and 80s cartoon of my youth, G.I. Joe. The live-action movie is surprisingly well-made, exciting, and fun for much of its bloated runtime. Towards the end it kind of implodes into a Transformers-esque overkill, minus the photo-realistic effects and stylish action. G.I. Joe is still worth a trip to the multiplex though. The cast is mostly spot-on, and until the end the action and effects are both first-rate.

G.I Joe is about a team of special operatives taking on a sinister arms dealer who later becomes known as Destro, played with hammy relish by the terrific Christopher Eccleston of Dr Who fame. Eccleston sneers and smirks with relish, having a lot of fun with this character. The bad guys are really the reason to see this movie. A cold-blooded (and hot-looking) Sienna Miller struts around Paris playing Baroness like a model right off of Project Terrorism, killing people left and right with a smile, and actor Byung-hun Lee makes a very cool Storm Shadow. Arnold Vosloo adds good support as Zartan, a totally crazy badass, but it’s hipster Indie God Joseph Gordon Levitt who stole the movie for me doing a very odd voice and strutting around his base like Dr Frankenstein who has sipped one too many frozen margaritas. His voice and utter glee at finally playing a villain make him my favorite character from the movie. Channing Tatum broods and flexes ably as Duke and the rest of the Joes are also up to the task. The stuntwork and fight scenes were top-notch and the Paris pursuit scene was exciting and brilliantly staged. That chase scene is easily the best action scene in the flick. It’s only towards the end when the movie takes an odd turn towards cartoony underwater action that the flick loses its momentum. The final scene has a nice twist, but it’s too little too late.

G.I Joe is an exciting way to spend 2 hours at the cinema. It’s action-packed, summer blockbuster goodness for 100 minutes or so. The last twenty minutes are a bit of a letdown with iMAC worthy CG-effects (where is ILM when you need them) and an ending that feels DOA. Still, G.I. Joe is a nice way to start a franchise and I’m hoping the second film can build on this one and make for a very good franchise.

Movie Grade: B

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