fairplaythings.com

September 7, 2009

Cobra Rising

Filed under: GIJoe — fairplaythings @ 2:43 pm

Over at Poe Ghostal’s Points of Articulation, there was a review of GIJoe: Rise of Cobra, a movie that (given my love of GIJoe: A Real American Hero) seems like a huge oversight on my part. In putting together a response that mostly agreed with the summary that the film was a good bad movie, I found myself pontificating at great lengths. So to fill the noticeable gap in my recent writings, I give you a slightly modified version of the opinions expressed at Poe and add it here for your consideration.

I was really surprised how much I enjoyed GIJoe. In fact it was a far better movie in my opinion than Transformers: Rise of the Forgotten Guy Who Use to be a Prime but is now Called the Fallen. I think that’s mainly because of anticipation (positive for Transformers, negative for GIJoe). And that I could tell the characters apart.

I thought (particularly after rumour that director had been hauled out to the back alley and shot) GIJoe would be unbearable, and so I went more out of morbid curiousity than devoted loyalty. Having seen two clips at Botcon for Transformers: Electric Boogalo, and enjoyed the first one, I had big expectations that were sadly squished like a bug. With GIJoe, the reverse was true. I had negative expectations that the movie could not help but exceed.

Yes, a lot of the plot points were bad comedy. So the unnecessary “Hazing of Duke and Ripcord”, the convenience of skills coming into use at just the right time (Ripcord’s piloting skills, Scarlett’s language skills), the weird triangle between the Baroness, Duke and Cobra Commander, I mostly overlooked and tried not to dwell on.

Where I really got upset about the story? Two parts. One, the idea that Cobra has enough money to build an undersea base but needs NATO funding for the nanotech bombs. It would be understandable if the whole point was simply to make NATO aware of the bomb’s existence, but that really wasn’t it, so I was put off by that. But the worst was the “let’s take away the Baroness’ free will at the end of the movie and make her a puppet of Rex.” Really. That sucked. As did the “And you shall call me Commander” line. Up there with the infamous “NOOOO!” of Darth Vader at the end of Revenge of the Sith.

To the good? Well, the characterization might not have been great but at least I could tell who was who. And Joes acted in character. For instance, they didn’t just beat up the arresting officers in France - they managed to get themselves out of the jam with the police in time to save the world, instead of shooting their way out and running (or to use the TF analogy, murdering the villains because they failed to consider other options).

Meanwhile, I got Christopher Eccleston (who I love), Snake Eyes mostly in an original costume and well portrayed, a decent Duke in Dennis Quaid and the surprise of Adabisi as Roadblock… er… Heavy Duty. And I loved the Heavy Duty shout out of “Yo Joe” after they destroyed the underwater base, and various other fan shout outs (the U.S.S. Flagg for instance - there was another one there that was BRILLIANT but it has slipped my mind for now.)

And EVIL WON, which I totally didn’t expect.

So I watched it once in the theatre and left not thinking I was going to have to punch the manager in the face. Not sure if that is two thumbs up but at least I don’t feel like I was ripped offf. I’ll probably grab a fancy box edition during the upcoming DVD release campaign. Because, it really could have been much much worse.

And knowing that is half the battle.

23 Comments »

  1. A lot of thanks for your own work on this blog. My niece take interest in going through investigation and it’s really obvious why. A number of us hear all about the compelling medium you present functional steps via this blog and even boost participation from others on this article and my girl is always learning a great deal. Take pleasure in the remaining portion of the year. You are always performing a pretty cool job.

    Comment by off white hoodie — November 25, 2023 @ 3:25 pm

  2. I must point out my gratitude for your kind-heartedness giving support to persons who actually need guidance on this particular topic. Your real dedication to passing the message throughout ended up being certainly invaluable and have regularly encouraged most people much like me to achieve their goals. Your personal insightful instruction entails a lot to me and still more to my mates. Thanks a ton; from everyone of us.

    Comment by jordan outlet — December 12, 2023 @ 4:56 am

  3. I must voice my admiration for your kindness in support of visitors who really need help on your question. Your personal dedication to getting the message all-around became pretty advantageous and has in every case encouraged folks like me to get to their aims. Your entire warm and friendly tips and hints implies much a person like me and much more to my office colleagues. Many thanks; from everyone of us.

    Comment by golden goose glitter — December 25, 2023 @ 1:44 am

  4. I’m just commenting to make you be aware of what a superb encounter my cousin’s princess found visiting the blog. She discovered so many pieces, including what it is like to have an ideal coaching nature to get the others without problems learn some extremely tough things. You actually did more than people’s desires. Many thanks for displaying these helpful, healthy, revealing and as well as fun tips on that topic to Tanya.

    Comment by supreme hoodie — December 25, 2023 @ 4:32 pm

  5. I want to show my admiration for your generosity giving support to those people who require assistance with in this situation. Your personal dedication to passing the message along came to be certainly beneficial and has continuously enabled men and women just like me to achieve their goals. Your own warm and friendly guidelines implies much a person like me and much more to my office workers. Thanks a ton; from each one of us.

    Comment by goyard bag — December 27, 2023 @ 3:45 pm

  6. Your house is valueble for me. Thanks!?

    Comment by golden goose superstar sneakers — December 27, 2023 @ 8:10 pm

  7. I intended to draft you a tiny remark to help say thanks over again with your splendid pointers you’ve documented on this page. This is incredibly open-handed with you to grant unhampered all that a number of us might have supplied as an electronic book to help make some dough for themselves, precisely seeing that you could possibly have done it in the event you considered necessary. The basics also acted to provide a great way to fully grasp other people online have a similar fervor similar to my personal own to see a little more pertaining to this condition. I’m sure there are numerous more fun instances in the future for many who find out your blog post.

    Comment by off white outlet — December 28, 2023 @ 7:19 pm

  8. Thanks for all your hard work on this site. My daughter enjoys managing research and it is easy to understand why. A number of us hear all relating to the compelling mode you deliver important techniques via the web site and encourage contribution from website visitors about this area plus my princess is understanding a lot of things. Take advantage of the rest of the year. You’re performing a really great job.

    Comment by jordan 1 high — December 29, 2023 @ 9:14 pm

  9. I enjoy you because of your own hard work on this blog. My mother really likes carrying out investigations and it is obvious why. I hear all relating to the dynamic tactic you give very important suggestions by means of this web site and therefore increase contribution from other ones on the subject matter while my princess is truly learning a whole lot. Have fun with the remaining portion of the new year. Your performing a superb job.

    Comment by kd12 — January 2, 2024 @ 7:57 am

  10. Aw, this was a really nice post. In thought I want to put in writing like this additionally ?taking time and actual effort to make a very good article?but what can I say?I procrastinate alot and by no means seem to get something done.

    Comment by golden goose purestar — January 2, 2024 @ 6:15 pm

  11. I not to mention my buddies came reviewing the best ideas from your web page then at once got a horrible suspicion I never expressed respect to the web blog owner for those tips. All of the ladies ended up totally very interested to study all of them and already have in truth been taking advantage of these things. Appreciation for really being well kind and also for finding certain superb themes most people are really desperate to be aware of. Our honest apologies for not expressing appreciation to you earlier.

    Comment by off white jordan 1 — January 3, 2024 @ 4:34 pm

  12. I’m just writing to let you be aware of what a cool discovery my wife’s child had browsing your site. She discovered so many details, most notably what it’s like to possess a very effective giving character to have other folks without hassle know just exactly specific extremely tough things. You undoubtedly exceeded her expectations. Thanks for churning out the great, safe, informative as well as fun tips about that topic to Janet.

    Comment by bape hoodie outlet — January 4, 2024 @ 10:30 pm

  13. Thank you so much for giving everyone such a pleasant opportunity to read articles and blog posts from this site. It is often so awesome and jam-packed with amusement for me personally and my office colleagues to visit your web site at minimum thrice in one week to read through the latest tips you have got. And of course, we are certainly amazed concerning the beautiful things you serve. Certain two points in this posting are clearly the most beneficial we have ever had.

    Comment by fear of god essentials hoodie — January 6, 2024 @ 5:24 am

  14. I wish to voice my passion for your generosity for those who have the need for assistance with that matter. Your personal dedication to passing the message up and down appears to be particularly practical and have in every case empowered many people just like me to achieve their objectives. Your entire interesting guideline denotes much to me and further more to my office workers. Warm regards; from everyone of us.

    Comment by jordan outlet — January 7, 2024 @ 1:46 pm

  15. I am commenting to make you understand of the really good experience my wife’s princess gained visiting the blog. She came to understand lots of things, which include what it’s like to possess a great coaching heart to make others without problems grasp specific complicated things. You undoubtedly surpassed our own expectations. Thank you for giving those practical, safe, educational and as well as fun thoughts on that topic to Jane.

    Comment by curry shoes — January 8, 2024 @ 8:36 pm

  16. I want to express my thanks to this writer for bailing me out of this dilemma. Because of scouting through the the net and meeting methods which were not beneficial, I believed my entire life was well over. Existing without the presence of solutions to the problems you have fixed as a result of your entire guide is a critical case, as well as those which may have negatively damaged my entire career if I hadn’t come across your website. Your actual ability and kindness in playing with the whole lot was tremendous. I am not sure what I would have done if I hadn’t discovered such a step like this. I’m able to at this point relish my future. Thanks for your time very much for your professional and results-oriented guide. I will not hesitate to refer your site to anybody who will need guide about this subject.

    Comment by fear of god — January 10, 2024 @ 12:21 am

  17. I needed to write you the very small word to help give thanks over again considering the splendid ideas you’ve provided at this time. It was certainly wonderfully generous with people like you to present without restraint what many individuals could have offered as an e-book to end up making some money for their own end, especially considering the fact that you might well have tried it if you ever desired. These guidelines as well acted like a great way to know that the rest have the same eagerness just like my very own to learn more related to this issue. I’m sure there are thousands of more enjoyable situations in the future for those who looked over your website.

    Comment by kyrie irving shoes — January 12, 2024 @ 2:03 pm

  18. Your home is valueble for me. Thanks!?

    Comment by golden goose sneakers men — January 13, 2024 @ 5:46 pm

  19. Thanks so much for providing individuals with a very memorable possiblity to read in detail from this blog. It is often so enjoyable and packed with a good time for me and my office friends to search your blog more than 3 times in 7 days to find out the newest guides you have got. Of course, I am just always amazed with your breathtaking points you give. Some 2 ideas in this article are basically the most impressive we have all ever had.

    Comment by supreme outlet — January 13, 2024 @ 7:06 pm

  20. I want to convey my passion for your generosity giving support to men and women who should have help with the idea. Your real commitment to passing the message along came to be incredibly informative and has truly made guys and women just like me to reach their objectives. The insightful tips and hints implies a lot to me and especially to my fellow workers. Regards; from everyone of us.

    Comment by supreme clothing — January 15, 2024 @ 12:13 am

  21. I wanted to post a simple word to say thanks to you for some of the superb concepts you are sharing here. My time consuming internet search has finally been compensated with beneficial facts and techniques to talk about with my company. I would admit that most of us site visitors actually are really lucky to exist in a really good website with many lovely people with helpful advice. I feel very much privileged to have discovered your entire weblog and look forward to many more cool times reading here. Thank you once again for everything.

    Comment by bape outlet — January 17, 2024 @ 2:40 am

  22. I would like to voice my gratitude for your kind-heartedness in support of visitors who really want guidance on this area of interest. Your special dedication to passing the message up and down came to be particularly useful and has all the time empowered most people much like me to arrive at their goals. Your entire informative guidelines denotes a lot to me and somewhat more to my mates. With thanks; from each one of us.

    Comment by jordans — January 18, 2024 @ 3:10 am

  23. My wife and i ended up being satisfied when John could complete his researching from the precious recommendations he grabbed from your web page. It is now and again perplexing to simply find yourself giving away secrets and techniques that many others might have been making money from. And we know we need you to give thanks to for that. Those illustrations you’ve made, the simple website menu, the friendships your site assist to engender - it’s mostly sensational, and it’s really facilitating our son and the family understand this idea is amusing, which is seriously mandatory. Many thanks for everything!

    Comment by off white — January 19, 2024 @ 5:17 am

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Leave a comment

Powered by WordPress