G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
BY Ryan LaMarca / 2009-08-12
Yo, Joe! "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" is one heck of a fun movie. Directed by Stephen Sommers and based upon the popular Hasbro toy line and animated series, "G.I. Joe" doesn't offer high intellectual discourse, but after the mental beat-down brought about by the stupefying and mind-numbing "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," I'll take it. With an upbeat feel and tons of action to boot, "G.I. Joe" is a fitting end to the summer season.
Scottish industrialist James McCullen (Christopher Eccleston) and the MARS Corporation have developed futuristic nanotechnology for NATO forces capable of eating through large quantities of metal. En route from the factory to NATO, the Army convoy transporting the nano-tech warheads is attacked by the ruthless terrorist organization known as Cobra. After the entire team nearly perishes, support comes in the form of G.I. Joe, an international task force designed made up of the best of the best from all over the world.
Duke Hauser (Channing Tatum) and Ripcord (Marlon Wayans), the two surviving soldiers from the convoy, are brought back to the Joes' base and briefed on the situation, only to have Cobra strike again and steal the warheads. With the deadly nanotechnology in their possession, Cobra plans to launch nano-tech lased missiles at several world capitals leading the world into chaos, allowing them to easily take control over the planet.
"The Rise of Cobra" is a movie about secret agents in armored accelerator suits, women in skin-tight leather outfits, futuristic weaponry, secret underground headquarters, and mad science out of control. It is the stuff of fantasy, and although the movie is laced with real-world violence and destruction, it always feels fantastical, never becoming oppressive. That I believe is what seriously hindered "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" from even remotely being an enjoyable experience. It was too self-important and weighed heavily on making the violence the heart of the movie by shoving it in your face. "G.I. Joe" has its fair share of violence, but unlike Michael Bay, Stephen Sommers dishes it out in fair amounts and portions.
Whereas the perpetual supply of explosions in "Transformers" served no purpose other than to fuel my rage, those in "G.I. Joe" actually feel exciting. Filled to the hilt with action sequences that dazzle the eye and explosions that engulf everything in sight, "The Rise of Cobra" is completely watchable and enjoyable. Its characters have distinction and its plot has a means to an end and is one not easily contradicted by everything else in the film.
But the most important aspect of "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" in regard to its action is that it is always diverse. Rather than two and a half hours of non-stop robot transformations and explosions, a wide variety of activity is put forth in "G.I. Joe." Traditional gun fights and tank battles are used, but so are more advanced futuristic weapons, like a sonic blaster, weapon of choice for the Baroness (Sienna Miller), the Cobra agent infamous for her femme fatale characterization and trademark glasses.
Just as in the television series, the villains of "G.I. Joe" are a special highlight. As the heroes sometimes come off too stiff for their own good, the villains get a chance to unwind and showcase their menace. Nevertheless, they act in traditional stereotypical villainous ways to glorious results. Christopher Eccleston's rendition of Destro makes the character distinguishably menacing and ruthless. And while Mr. Eccleston's Destro may seem like a typical classic villain, the characterization of Cobra Commander (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), complete with oxygen mask and monocle, makes him even more so.
With an almost limitless supply of characters to pool from, "G.I. Joe," for the most part, cherry picks the most recognizable batch from the cast. Most of the characters retain their original looks and stories while others are changed to match the movie's decision to make "G.I. Joe" an international organization. For instance, Ripcord is now black, and Breaker, the communications expert, is Moroccan instead of American. Overall, minor changes in ethnicity such as this are not major detriments to the film, but are nonetheless worth pointing out.
Lovely ladies are also pushed to the forefront of the film with actresses who handle themselves well on screen. Sienna Miller as the Baroness and Rachel Nichols as Scarlett get a chance to have at it and fight. To match this combination are the rival ninjas, Snake Eyes (Ray Park) for the Joes and Storm Shadow (Lee Byung-hun) for Cobra. Raised together in Japan as youngsters, their rivalry is one for the ages, and is set in motion once again as their respective factions are pitted against one another.
However, as for Duke and Channing Tatum, he remains the movie's weakest link in the casting department. Not nearly half as affirmative or aggressive as he should be, Mr. Tatum isn't quite up to the task of making Duke a believable character. Often forced and resorting to shouts and grunts, his performance is only passable at best, although it seemed as if Marlon Wayans and his quick comedy routines help bring about the best in him. Despite improving over past credits, Mr. Tatum still has a lot to learn if he wishes to be taken seriously as an actor.
With impressive technical credits, casting that is near-perfect, and a clear and direct atmosphere of pure fun, "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" is a fantastic way to end what has turned out to be a lackluster summer movie season. To be sure, a sequel film is on its way, and only little would have to be changed in terms of the franchise's dynamic to make it an even better movie than its predecessor. Know this: if you're looking for a genuine fun time at the movies, then "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" is for you.
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