Dvd
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
From the director of The Mummy is this actioner adapted from the line of Hasbro toys (originally created in the 60s). The film is an origin story, charting the rise of the evil Cobra Organisation and the formation of team G.I. Joe – which includes Dennis Quaid as General Hawk, Channing Tatum as Duke, Marlon Wayans as Ripcord and Sienna Miller as The Baroness.
Starring Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans, Sienna Miller, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Saïd Taghmaoui, Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Directed by Stephen Sommers ('The Mummy', 'Van Helsing')
Written by Stuart Beattie, David Elliot, Paul Lovett
Science Fiction, Adventure, Action | 1hr 51mins | Rated (M) | contains violence | Origin: USA
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- Scene from Film
- Teaser Trailer
- Superbowl TV Spot
- Flicks Review
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- The People's Reviews
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- Press Reviews
- Official Site
Flicks review
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For the most part, G.I. Joe is jam-packed with exciting and coherent action sequences. Director Stephen Sommers keeps a short leash on his effects team, while the script allows room for genuine characterisation and the cast seem perfectly suited to their parts. Put simply, this film begins as a blockbuster that exceeds expectations.
When the third act arrives though, the film falls apart under its own weight. Take our advice: leave the theatre when you see the CGI-created polar bear. Its appearance marks the turning point where a once-fun movie becomes a noisy monotonous mess of submarines and explosions. Set in the murky depths of the Arctic from then onwards, it becomes awfully hard to understand who's firing at whom. The actors, no doubt surrounded by green screens while they filmed this skirmish, make no effort to hide their apparent boredom. Easily distracted kids mightn't notice the tonal shift, but you can bet their parents will.
The Rise of Cobra is a patchy way to start a franchise, but there's enough potential here to inspire some really fun sequels.
By Daniel McClelland, Flicks.co.nz
The Peoples voice
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Lame times seventeen or so
1
Let's begin with the fanboy review:
Lame. Lame, lame, lame.
(I'd say SPOILER ALERT, but who cares)
Snakeyes (who everyone thought could save the movie) ... lame.
Snakeye's stupid-ass molded mask ... lame.
Snakeyes vs. Stormshadow in what should have been some awesome fight scenes ... lame.
Little kid Snakeyes vs. little kid Stormshadow ... lame. And cliche.
And maybe stereotypically racist?
Snakeyes and his "vow of silence" ... lame.
The Baroness with no accent ... lame.
The Baroness' transition glasses ... lame.
The Baroness as Duke's girlfriend ... lame.
Zartan ... lame. And underused.
Zartan being in the movie for all of three minutes while being one of its most critical plot points ... lame.
Accelerator suits ... lame.
Nanomites ... lame (though not completely un-GI Joe like).
Destro without his metal face ... lame.
Destro WITH his metal face ... lame.
"The Doctor" aka Cobra Commander ... surprisingly not lame. They got the voice down, though I don't know why they needed to deviate from the classic shiny silver face mask. Or the cowl.
"The Doctor" and Duke being besties from way back ... lame.
Marlon Waylons ... surprisingly not lame.
Brendan Fraser's cameo ... lame.
I won't even get into the whole "international force" deal, because it wouldn't have bothered me if the rest of the movie wasn't so ... lame.
Now, putting aside the hundred-some comics and closet full of toys, here's a more impartial review:
GI Joe wasn't unwatchable, in the way "Spiderman 3" or "Spawn" or "Street Fighter" (with Jean Claude) were unwatchable. It was generic, sure. And it wasn't the GI Joe movie I would make (or want to see made), but for those without years of emotional attachment to the characters, it's a run-of-the-mill action movie that totally connects with little boys.
Yes, it was full of over-loaded action scenes that make it impossible to really tell what's happening. And yes, instead of coming away awed, you leave a little overwhelmed. But that's what's popular these days. No, there wasn't any real character development, and what was seemed trite and silly. But it's GI Joe, not Shakespeare.
Think like a 8-year-old boy and you'll be fine.By Famous
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thee best
5
it is so cool evry person got to see it
By blake
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Worth Watching
3
Not the best Action movie of the year,but it does bring good Action Material and Special Effects..
By Film Reviews
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as fun as a cavaty search
1
so gay its scarey if you plan on watching this take something that lights on fire so you can burn your eyes after and never have to watch anything like this again.
By james
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MORE MEAT THAN A BIG MAC!!
4
Hell, it's based on a toy! Why would we expect it to be "Full Metal Jacket"? Or "Apocalypse Now"? Well, I got more than I was expecting. Serious flashbacks with a nod to real world war zones, full-on Sommers action scenes and a script that was neither laboured nor cynical. All adds up to a fun movie that surprised me and engaged me a lot more than the Transformers sequel. It reminded me of an old Bond movie crossed with Thunderbirds. A lot of fun and I would recommend it. Ignore plonker revues from the likes of Empire and the N.Y. Times, this burger has more meat in it than a big mac!
By RexH
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4
That was a well-done movie. Not perfect, and a bit cheesy, plenty to be worked on for the sequel, but it was a lot better than I expected. It also blew Transformers Revenge of The Fallen away, even though I'm a fan of Transformers and not G.I. Joe. I do wish the doctor and Cobra Commander were two separate characters, though.
By Thomas
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BEST MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5
Awesome fighting scenes, awesome action sequences it's the best movie i've ever seen
By Lewis Simeon
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okish
3
plot basic. kinda boring,
By bella
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Piece of crap
1
Sucks hard core.
By Jason
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wow
5
the best movie ive seen holly crap that was like OMG
By genral
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Ouch
1
Since when does ice sink? Huh? I mean really... how do you crush a submarine with ice... This movie is so stupid that my brain gave up and went on holiday. I am still suffering.
By Chris
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1
2 hours of torture. crap acting crap script and over the top CGI that just dont compensate for everything that is wrong with this movie.
I really thought it would be a good movie, very very dissapointed. I'll give it 1 star for the CGI onlyBy Alexey
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ok i guess
3
i havent seen the movie but i have seen the trailer and it looks like crap
By katy
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Exactly what you think it is...
5
This movie is great! It won't win any Academy Awards, but then again, you don't go to a movie like this expecting to see award-winning dialogue or character development...
It's 2 hours of fun, action, and flashbacks. It never takes itself too seriously, so you never feel bad laughing :) It's a visceral visual extravaganza!By Adam
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OMG
5
BLUDDY AWESOME!!!!!!!!!
By jabroni
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whoohoo
i remember the toys from the 80s and LOVE GI joes (and yes im a nearly 31 yr old female pplz!!) and cant wait to see my fav toys projected as a movie on the big screen !!
oh and duke is lookin HOT!!By rachael k
Press Reviews
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Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Certainly better than "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." How so? Admittedly, it doesn't have as much cleavage. But the high-tech hardware is more fun to look at than the transforming robots, the plot is as preposterous, and although the noise is just as loud, it's more the deep bass rumbles of explosions than the ear-piercing bang of steel robots pounding on each other.
Click to read the full review -
Empire (UK)
2 2 out of 5 stars
Bond without the style and Team America without the bellylaughs. The moronic script and nonsensical plot are good for a snicker, though.
Click to read the full review -
Hollywood Reporter
After nearly two hours of nonstop mayhem, the film ends on a surprisingly muted note, though pains have been taken to make sure that the hoped-for sequel has been carefully set up.
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Los Angeles Times
The action is mostly brisk and bracing and the battleground, particularly Cobra's headquarters -- a vast network of tunnels under the polar ice cap -- are wonderfully imagined, as are the futuristic machines at the Joes' disposal. Basically, the Joes are not bad, it's just that they could have been much better with a little less conversation, a little more action.
Click to read the full review -
New York Times
This pricey, juiceless pulp could never have been killed by critics, simply because it was already dead.
Click to read the full review -
NZ Herald (Russell Baillie)
3 3 out of 5 stars
The second big screen toy story of the year is better than some might expect.
Click to read the full review -
Variety (USA)
While thesping is not the main game here, having a cast of bright young things certainly helps, and Quaid gets in a few nice John Wayne-like moments as the no-nonsense boss.
Click to read the full review
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