G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
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| G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra | |
|---|---|
| Attribution | |
| Director | |
| Rating |
PG-13 |
| Runtime |
118 minutes |
| Release date | |
| Also known as |
Dark Sky: First Strike (fake working title) |
| General information | |
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is a live-action film directed by Stephen Sommers and released on August 7, 2009. The story involves Conrad "Duke" Hauser and Wallace "Ripcord" Weems being recruited for a special forces team while in the process of trying to protect a military convoy. Set in "the not too distant future," the film features a mixture of realistic military action and sci-fi style weaponry, such as concussion pistols and nanomites.
Contents |
Detailed summary
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In the near future, weapons expert James McCullen (Christopher Eccleston) has created a nanotechnology capable of destroying an entire city. He sells four warheads to NATO, and the U.S. Army is tasked with delivering the warheads.
Duke (Channing Tatum) and Ripcord (Marlon Wayans) are delivering the warheads when they are ambushed by the Baroness (Sienna Miller). Duke and Ripcord are rescued by Scarlett (Rachel Nichols), Snake-Eyes (Ray Park) and Heavy Duty (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje). They take the warheads to General Hawk (Dennis Quaid), head of the G.I. Joe Team.
Hawk takes command of the warheads and excuses Duke and Ripcord, but when Duke reveals that he knows the Baroness, Hawk allows them to train to join G.I. Joe.
McCullen and his mysterious associate the Doctor are revealed to be using the same nanotechnology to build an army of soldiers. McCullen plans on using the warheads to cause a panic. Using a tracking device, McCullen locates the G.I. Joe base and sends Storm Shadow (Lee Byung-hun) and the Baroness to retrieve the warheads. After a fight, Storm Shadow and the Baroness retrieve the warheads and take them to Baron DeCobray, the Baroness's husband, for him to weaponize. They then plan to attack the Eiffel Tower.
G.I. Joe track down the Baroness and Storm Shadow and pursue them through the streets of Paris, but are unsuccessful in stopping them from launching the missile. The nanomites eat through part of the tower before Duke hits the kill switch, but in doing so he is captured and taken to McCullen's base under the Arctic Circle.
McCullen loads three missiles with nanomite warheads. Ripcord pursues the missiles while Scarlett and Snake Eyes rescue Duke.
The Doctor reveals he is Rex Lewis (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), the Baroness's brother that Duke left for dead on a mission four years ago. He was trapped in a bunker with Dr. Mindbender (Kevin O'Connor) and learned about the nanotechnology. He was disfigured in a blast which Duke and the Baroness believed killed him. The Baroness tries to free Duke but the Doctor reveals he has implanted her with nanomites.
McCullen tries to kill Duke, but he is unsuccessful and his face is burned as he flees with the Doctor to an escape vessel. Duke and the Baroness pursue him while Scarlett, Heavy Duty and Snake-Eyes attempt to stop the missiles and shut down the Arctic base.
Snake-Eyes destroys the first missile using his Ice Sabre. Ripcord takes off in a prototype jet, and destroys the second missile before it reaches Moscow. In destroying the third warhead, he has to take it to the atmosphere. He ejects and lands in Washington DC.
The Doctor heals McCullen's burned face, but in doing so he encases it in silver, and he declares McCullen to now be Destro, he then says that he is now the Cobra Commander. They are soon captured by G.I. Joe. In the White House, Zartan is now seen posing as the president in the White House. Whistling to himself "For he's a Jolly Good Fellow", Zartan prepares for word on Cobra's next move.
Appearances
Featured Characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| G.I. Joe | Cobra | Civilians | Others |
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Featured Vehicles & Equipment
| G.I. Joe | Cobra |
|---|---|
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Memorable quotes
- None yet.
Other notes
Continuity errors
- No errors known.
G.I. Joe references
- The Baroness describes Duke and his team as "real American heroes."
- When the Baroness suggests that Snake-Eyes has given up his pursuit, Storm Shadow warns her that "he never gives up" - a line from the 1980s cartoon themesong (He never gives up/He's always there/Fighting for freedom/Over land and air.)
- As Duke and Ripcord avoid the missiles launched from the Steel Crusher A.P.V., the camera moves to be in front of them, and the scene briefly freezes, framing the two men with an explosion behind them: just as in the card art for the '80s figures.
- The nanomite injections The Doctor gives the Neo-Vipers leave behind a scar in the shape of the classic Cobra logo.
Real-world references
- No references.
Development
The development of a live-action feature film goes back to the height of G.I. Joe's popularity back in the 1980s. For many reasons, the project went into what is called "development hell," a term referring to the difficulties of getting a planned feature film into actual production. Other possible reasons may be the toyline's popularity started to ebb on its entry into the 1990s, and the failure of other toy-based feature films, notably Masters of the Universe.
In 2003, Paramount Pictures obtained the entertainment rights for some of Hasbro's properties. Producer Don Murphy originally negotiated for the rights to develop a live-action G.I. Joe feature film following the success of the toy's relaunch and the direct-to-video animated movies. However, following the United States' war in Iraq, the live-action project stalled and the option was given to develop Transformers instead.[1]
In an ironic twist, the success of the 2007 Transformers feature film helped Paramount regain interest in developing G.I. Joe once more. The film was slated for a 2009 release date with Stephen Sommers as the director[2][3] and Stuart Beattie as the scriptwriter.[4]Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, who served as producer for Transformers, produced this film. Hasbro executive Brian Goldner was also onboard as executive producer. Di Bonaventura, in an interview, said that if the original cartoon movie was like the 1989 Batman film, this film was more akin to Batman Begins.[5] To help achieve this claim, di Bonaventura signed on famed G.I. Joe comics writer Larry Hama as a creative consultant.[6][7]
Initial details said the film was to feature an international task force based in Brussels.[8][9] Reports said the team would be called called G.I.J.O.E. (Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity) and composed of members from different countries. The primary villains were to be Destro and the Baroness, with Cobra Commander in control behind-the-scenes.
Rampant speculation forced Hasbro to clarify the story. They assured fans that the film would still feature the familiar G.I. Joe vs. Cobra concept; the Joes' headquarters will be called the Pit as it was in the comics; there will be characters from the U.S. and locations around the world, but "G.I. Joe" will not be an acronym; and that Duke would be the lead character.[10] The story setup would be based on the theme and feel of the comic series published by Marvel. Addressing the rumored toned-down patriotic feel, Brian Goldner reiterated that this would not be an issue.[11]
In June of 2009, there were rumors that, due to the film getting record low scores from test screenings, the director and editor had been fired, and a new editor had been brought in to attempt to save the film. However, these rumors turned out to not be true.
Casting
In the last quarter of 2007, Sienna Miller was the first actor to be confirmed for a role in the movie.[12] Not long after, Ray Park was announced for the role of Snake-Eyes.[13] Before the year was over, the Hollywood Reporter released to press three more actors, Rachel Nichols, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Said Taghmaoui as Scarlett, Heavy Duty and Breaker respectively.[14] Byung-Hun Lee was said to be in the running for the role of Storm Shadow.[15] It was finally confirmed on Arirang Radio.
Actor Sam Worthington was apparently, at one point, the choice for Duke,[16] a role that eventually went to Channing Tatum.[17] Though Marlon Wayans was indeed the final choice as Ripcord, an erroneous report by Variety upset and confused fans as the Ripcord character is described as the "leader" of the Joe Team.[18]
By end of January 2008, Variety reported Dennis Quaid was cast as Hawk[19] and a quick follow up from IESB revealed Arnold Vosloo as Zartan.[20] David Murray was reported to have signed on as Destro.[21] However, the role eventually went to Christopher Eccleston.[22] The rumor was that Murray's work visa has not been approved for the February 13 shooting start date.
The one role that received the most speculation is that of Cobra Commander. Joseph Gordon-Levitt's name was attached to the project very early on. The Official G.I. Joe Club was among the number of websites to confirm Gordon-Levitt's role as Cobra Commander but quickly removed the news soon thereafter, leaving many to think it was erroneous information.[23] However, the presentation at the International Toy Fair 2008 in New York indeed confirmed Gordon-Levitt as having signed on to play the Cobra leader.
The lineup of cast is as follows:
Marketing
For toys, a series of action figures based on the actors and vehicles as they are seen in the movie are guaranteed for sure. Other possible tie-ins are comicbooks, movie novelizations and product placements. Electronic Arts recently acquired the license to produce games based on Hasbro's properties from rival publisher Activision, the video game version of The Rise of Cobra being the first game made under this new deal.[26] Before the release of the movie, a prequel comicbook mini-series written by Chuck Dixon was released by IDW Publishing.[27]
To increase anticipation, promotional images have already been released by the studio. The first of these feature actor Ray Park dressed as Snake-Eyes. The earliest preview of footage from the film is seen in the 2009 Super Bowl TV spots.
Posters
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Sequel
A sequel has been announced with all actors signed on except director Stephen Sommers.
Reception
- Coming soon.
Miscellaneous trivia
- No special items of note.
References
- ↑ Don Murphy talks on Transformers
- ↑ Variety.com: Stephen Sommers to direct 'G.I. Joe'
- ↑ Reuters: "G.I. Joe" accepts movie assignment
- ↑ Reuters: "Collateral" scribe reports for "G.I. Joe" duty
- ↑ IESB Exclusive Interview: A Chat with G.I. Joe Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura!
- ↑ IESB: Larry Hama Boards G.I. Joe!
- ↑ Exclusive: Larry Hama Enlists With G.I. Joe Movie!
- ↑ IESB.net: Quick Details on Stephen Sommers' GI Joe Feature Film
- ↑ IGN.com UK: What Does G.I. Joe Stand For?
- ↑ Hasbro Clarifies Some G.I. Joe Speculation
- ↑ Exec Producer Reveals Details
- ↑ Sienna Miller Recruited for G.I. Joe
- ↑ EXCLUSIVE: Ray Park Cast as Snake Eyes in G.I. Joe Movie
- ↑ Go 'Joe': 3 more join the action
- ↑ Latino Review on Storm Shadow and Scarlett casting
- ↑ Sam Worthington in talks for G.I. JOE
- ↑ Tatum will Duke it out in 'Joe'
- ↑ Wayans enrolls in 'G.I. Joe' - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety
- ↑ Quaid, Tatum enlist in Par's 'G.I. Joe'
- ↑ IESB Exclusive : G.I. Joe's Zartan Revealed!
- ↑ IESB Exclusive: G.I. Joe's DESTRO Unmasked!
- ↑ IESB Breaking News: G.I. Joe's Destro Has Been Re-Cast!
- ↑ Joseph Gordon-Levitt is Cobra Commander In G.I.Joe
- ↑ G.I. Joe's Cover Girl Revealed!
- ↑ CAST: Gerald Okamura is G.I. Joe Hard Master
- ↑ EA develops Hasbro properties
- ↑ Word Balloon interview with Chuck Dixon
External links
- G.I. Joe IMDB entry
- www.gijoemovie.com - official movie website
| Comics |
| Prequel |
| Comic adaptation |
| Books |
| Novelization |
| Prequel novel |
| The Rise of Cobra Mission Dossier |
| Toys |
| Toyline |
| Games |
| EA game |
