G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (2013)

Directed By: Jon M. Chu 
Written By: Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick 
Cinematography By: Stephen Windon 
Editor: Roger Barton & Jim May 

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Ray Park, Jonathan Pryce, D.J. Cotrona, Byung-Hun Lee, Adrianne Palicki, Channing Tatum, Ray Stevenson, Walton Goggins, Joseph Mazzello, RZA, Elodie Yung, Bruce Willis, James Carville, Ryan Hansen, DeRay Davis

The G.I. Joe team is framed for crimes against the country by Zartan, disguised as the President, and Cobra Commander has all the world leaders under his influence, with their advanced warheads headed towards innocent populaces around the world. Outnumbered and outgunned, the surviving team members form a plan with their original leader, General Joseph Colton, to rescue the President and face off Cobra Commander, his accomplices and the world leaders.

This film stays true to the cartoon by stating more cartoon like when it comes to action, logo and characters. It might also remind the audience of the ridiculous over the top action films of the 80's. As it throws everything to the side to make the main characters not only heroes but cool.

It also makes the action a little hard to follow and every character without a name is easily disposable. Though as the film goes along a strange thing happens it turns campy. It seems meant to be as to go along with the cartoon series. Though it then takes any suspense and traces of taking any of it seriously away.

Though inspired by the animated tale, Here they can hit targets and kill where as in the cartoon they seemed to always miss and If they hit anything it was a vehicle or background rarely a person and if they did all the shot did was stun. Though plenty of deaths on this film. They are for anonymous characters and extras. The only known characters who perish have no names really other then he star death you know is coming.

It fits Into the GI Joe spirit by not having any actual blood either and even the heroic death where it looks like he is done away by explosion, When they find his body nothing charred or on fire. His body looks fine he is just dead.

I will say I enjoy what is happening here more then what is happening with the TRANSFORMERS MOVIES.

Though it's strange as this film makes no improvements and actually makes more mistakes then the first film.

Luckily the film moves quickly so there isn't much time to dwell on anything that happens or really think about it. The film tries to distract with the shiny impossible technology as they have a weapon for every occasion or some tech that can do whatever they need for a mission.

This film was originally scheduled to be released on June 29, 2012. Paramount had begun a substantial ad campaign which began in February with an expensive ad during the Super Bowl. But in May 2012, Paramount announced they were delaying the film's release until March 29, 2013 in order to to add 3D effects. It was later revealed that the real reason for the delay was for re-shoots including more scenes with Channing Tatum. Test audiences wanted more scenes between Tatum and Dwayne Johnson and Tatum suddenly became a box-office star.

The first live action G.I. JOE: RISE OF THE COBRA was also campy and stupid and it surprisingly won me over as far as enjoyment. It was ridiculous but had some thrilling moments.

So when it was announced there would be a sequel I wasn't looking forward to it personally, but I thought ok maybe it wouldn't be tragic. Then of course you realize that half the celebrities from the first film wouldn't be returning nor the director Stephen Sommers. The film feels so changed other then tone that this film feels more like a reboot. That especially makes thy message clear by killing off Channing Tatum who was probably contractually obligated to be in the film as he starred in the first one before becoming an A-list star and as he didn't want to comeback asked to be killed off.

Now I can understand his dilemma as his career changed so much since the first film as he seemed to set out and be lucky enough to get others to believe in him to allow them to show his range and sense of humor In roles. As if not it seemed like he was doomed to repeat roles like these. With the action hero who is kind of a sweet doofus and clumsy. Obviously he is better in other films. Not as stuck In a mold as films like these tend to put him in.

His replacement it seems is Dwayne Johnson who seems to be using This film to have an action franchise. Though in this film he acts like he is doing it a favor by appearing in it. As throughout the film he is never truly engaged with his character nor anyone else. Which really doesn't help as this is partially a revenge film.

"President" Zartan addresses one of his impostor Secret Service agents as "Zandar." In the 1980s and 1990s G.I. Joe comic books, toy lines and cartoons, Zandar was Zartan's brother who had similar disguise abilities.

The film was originally to be called "G.I. Joe: Cobra Strikes".

Roadblock was originally to appear in G.I. JOE: RISE OF THE COBRA. Common turned down the role at that time.

The film is influenced by G.I. JOE: RENEGADES, where Cobra turns the authorities against the Joes, making the Joes into hunted fugitives

The film brings a certain 80’s cheesy spirit, Strangely it feels more in tone with the cartoon series of the 80’s. Though supposedly global it never feels vast. The film stays strictly small and limited.

In the G.I. Joe cartoon Flint and Lady Jaye had a bit of a romantic relationship with each other. In the comic book series, they are an actual couple. This relationship is foreshadowed following Lady Jaye's visit to the presidential party.

Cobra Commander has a different helmet then he had in G.I. JOE: RISE OF THE COBRA: a black one bearing a snake design. He now looks more like Cobra Commander from the original G.I. Joe.

This film also has cameos though the casting choices not as shocking or inspired. It is nice to see so e familiar faces. Though as much as the RZA is into Kung-fu his time in this film not only embarasses him, but it would embarass the film if it didn't already follow his lead, In bad quality and ideas.

The film seems to try to for the character of flint played by DJ Cartona into the new hero mold as one of the new recruits who is mentored by duke. Hen throughout the rest of the film while each character gets a moment or scene to shine. They really give him nothing to do but be around. Maybe they were thinking next time around? Because here he never gets a chance to shine.

Though special mention must be given to Adrienne Palicki whose character is as sexy as she is dangerous I only wish they have her more to do as she seems to deserve her own franchise. Just like Scarlett Johannson's black widow character in the marvel series of films. Only here Palicki’s Lady Jaye is more by the book and not given too much personality as most of the movie she is only focused on the mission.

 Grade: F