Paramount Already Having To Do Damage Control For GIJoe Movie???

[Glue]

I wouldn't go to a Transformers or GI Joe movie and expect to see "realism". I certainly don't see how the casting of Wayans makes it more real or "real" (has he even been confirmed?). There are a lot of things that are cool that are completely unrealistic. I think he, or preferably any of the other Wayans, could do Stalker well if played straight, but "always getting into trouble" doesn't have a good ring to it.

 

I don't get the draw of an actor's name argument. Or rather, I think either people or the studio execs are way overstating it. Yes, when I go to see a movie, I'll look for one of the leads to be somewhat recognizable. But no, I don't think, "This GI Joe movie is gonna have MARLON WAYANS! I am SO there!" I don't know that he's a great or bad actor, but I have a LOT of doubts for a comedy actor in an action film, for the apparent character he's portraying, and how it affects the overall tone of the final film. I'm also not comforted by Wayans having tried to get the role of Robin back in Batman Returns.

 

And what is this "for the general audience" stuff? EVERY male of the age demographic, or adults who have disposable income anyway, knows what GI Joe is. Who else is there to impress? The girls are just gonna go for their boyfriends/hubbies. They and everyone else who tags along will be sure to get an "education" on anything they don't understand. Yes, some of us are still fans enough to be reading these boards (some more than others), but Joe and TF fans have pretty much grown up to become the general audience, or at least the male side of it, as well as the primary consumers of action films. I've no idea who these people who know absolutely nothing about GI Joe and yet are in "the general audience" are supposed to be.

 

My hope is that, with most of the actors being around their late 20s (for the girls) and their early 30s (for the guys), that most of them either loved ARAH themselves or at least have a healthy respect for those of us that do, and will try to do it well. But Hasbro, despite being the owner of the franchise, and Paramount sound like they just wanna milk it however they can, and that has generally not helped the marketability of the franchise when they have done so (firing Sunbow for DiC?).

 

(It would be cool if we could avoid further conflating the entire handling of the TFs movie with the handling of this one. I know there are valid points to be made by doing so, for either way of looking at it, but I think all it will really accomplish is stir up bitterness. I'm exactly holding the tiniest shred of hope in my mind that the Joe movie might end up being nothing like how the TFs movie was handled.)

[Goldbug]

And what is this "for the general audience" stuff? EVERY male of the age demographic, or adults who have disposable income anyway, knows what GI Joe is. Who else is there to impress? The girls are just gonna go for their boyfriends/hubbies. They and everyone else who tags along will be sure to get an "education" on anything they don't understand. Yes, some of us are still fans enough to be reading these boards (some more than others), but Joe and TF fans have pretty much grown up to become the general audience, or at least the male side of it, as well as the primary consumers of action films. I've no idea who these people who know absolutely nothing about GI Joe and yet are in "the general audience" are supposed to be.

 

I can add to that. When I was buying my 25th Joe 5 pack a teenager in front of me at the register saw them & said "Cool G.I.Joe!"

When I returned a 25th figure the employee said she knew them from back when she was a kid.

Pretty much most people know what G.I. Joe is.

[Stevy Maximus]

Pretty much most people know what G.I. Joe is.

Yeah, most recognize the brand name GI Joe, and maybe a character or two and a few descriptions, but 99% of people won't be able to tell you who the original 13 were, or Snake eyes' relation to Storm Shadow is aside from both being ninjas.

 

Same issue with Transformers, most people before the movie could cite Optimus Prime, Starscream, maybe Bumblebee, and "the boombox guy with the kick ass voice". And most thought the line had ended years ago because of the changes the brand went for market considerations, and because they didn't buy toys anymore. Remember that it has only been in the past few years (and primarily thanks to the Star Wars brand) that adult action figure collectors have gained any sort of legitimacy in the public eye.

 

And it bears reiterating that regardless of many fans OPINIONS of the movie, the FACT remains that Transformers was a HUGE success WITH THE MASS MARKET beyond all expections. Hasbro DOES know what they are doing with this stuff, and maintains a control over the film. I recall they axed a LOT of early pitches about Transformers which strayed a hell of a lot farther from the core concept that the final film did. Transformers as human made controllable mecha anyone?

 

GI Joe, like Transformers, will NOT be a translation of the 80s fiction. It will be an adaption, and changes will be made. Given Sommers track record, I expect GI Joe to be a lite hearted action film that fans and critics will probably be neutral or negative on, and the mass market will make a respectable success. I still have doubts as to whether it will generate the toy sales that Hasbro's hoping for, but that is another issue.

[JoeRhyno]

not to mention, look what the TF movie did for Hasbro and the TF toys.. 1/3 to 1/2 an aisle of toys, end caps galore, not to mention the lines after the movie, did you see all those empty pegs around the movie, they couldn't keep the stuff on the shelves and they had 4-6x the shelf space Joes had.. not to mention a new animated series, that while a little goofy JLA looking, still, if you ask me looks a lot more like G1 than the movies did... and guess what, more toys, post-movie and animated toys.. so I really think TF the movie did good for the line, a lot more than the original G1 animated movie did for the line back in the 80s

 

No matter what, even though I disagree with some of the stuff like a black ripcord, or the whole Duke's buddy thing.. I really think the move will be a good thing for GI Joe over all.. I mean, wouldn't it be nice to walk into the aisle and have 1/3 to 1/2 filled with GI Joes? then possibly a new animated series with more toys based on that? I'm not saying it's set in stone for that to happen, but it's possible... and I'm excited for it to even have that chance!

[Doom Saber]

Anyone seen that Dungeons and Dragons movie with Marlon Wayans as the sidekick? I wonder if Gi joe will be similar? LOL

[yojoebro82]

good or bad it doesnt effect me really in anyway. i still love my figures!

 

TM

 

That's basically my attitude too.

[GILTYONE]

I SEE NOTHIN BUT DOOM AHEAD! I HATE TO BE NEGATIVE BUT MARLON AS RIPCORD COME ON NOW (AND I'M NOT RACEIST I'M PUERTO RICAN, BLACK AND ITALIAN I HAVE NO ROOM TO BE) RIPCORD IS WHITE? I THOUGHT THIS WAS GOIN TO HAPPEN WIT SNAKE EYES LOL. OH WELL GUESS IT IS JUST WHAT I EXPECTED ANYWAY!

[Glue]

Yeah, most recognize the brand name GI Joe, and maybe a character or two and a few descriptions, but 99% of people won't be able to tell you who the original 13 were, or Snake eyes' relation to Storm Shadow is aside from both being ninjas.

 

Same issue with Transformers, most people before the movie could cite Optimus Prime, Starscream, maybe Bumblebee, and "the boombox guy with the kick ass voice". And most thought the line had ended years ago because of the changes the brand went for market considerations, and because they didn't buy toys anymore. Remember that it has only been in the past few years (and primarily thanks to the Star Wars brand) that adult action figure collectors have gained any sort of legitimacy in the public eye.

 

And it bears reiterating that regardless of many fans OPINIONS of the movie, the FACT remains that Transformers was a HUGE success WITH THE MASS MARKET beyond all expections. Hasbro DOES know what they are doing with this stuff, and maintains a control over the film. I recall they axed a LOT of early pitches about Transformers which strayed a hell of a lot farther from the core concept that the final film did. Transformers as human made controllable mecha anyone?

 

GI Joe, like Transformers, will NOT be a translation of the 80s fiction. It will be an adaption, and changes will be made. Given Sommers track record, I expect GI Joe to be a lite hearted action film that fans and critics will probably be neutral or negative on, and the mass market will make a respectable success. I still have doubts as to whether it will generate the toy sales that Hasbro's hoping for, but that is another issue.

Man, *I* couldn't tell you who the original 13 Joes were. So what? I have a distinct memory of what the cartoon was like.

 

So much for keeping the TFs debate out.. @doh@ Yeah, I've heard this argument before with the TF movie. Even when people don't remember Bumblebee's name, or think it's "Scooter", they still remember what he and Prime looked like.

 

Besides, if it's as you say and they don't remember, then they don't care either. So their expectations don't need to be met, because they have none. So make it for those who do.

 

Although, I find the belief that there exists some "mass market" out there of our age group who doesn't have a sufficient memory of the '80s to be unfounded and really poor reasoning. As with TF fandom, it seems like some fans are just ashamed of being associated with those other whiny fans, and want to separate themselves from them. So they cook up the fallacious "mass market" argument thinking that this is just some geek hobby. It was the childhood icons of EVERY boy in our sub-generation! We ARE the entire mass market! So what is wrong with having movies about our kid stuff actually catering to us? They did it for all the other generations before us. In another 10 or 15 years, they'll do the same for Pokemon or Power Rangers, because those kids will be the entire mass market.

 

Hasbro knows what they're doing with this stuff? Is this the same Hasbro that gave us Pretenders? Or the fantastic decade of the whole '90s? Y'know, I don't have a prob with Hasbro/Paramount/Dreamworks making movies that aren't for me. Just don't pretend like it's actually for me in any way, shape, or form, especially by calling it ARAH or even suggesting it's "based on it". If I was interested in that kinda handling, I would've followed any or all of the way they've handled the franchises over the years. Those were all "based on ARAH" too. Lookit how fantastically Sigma6 has done! Sorry, but I'm just not wowed by how full the aisles are of toys I have no interest in.

[Stevy Maximus]

Besides, if it's as you say and they don't remember, then they don't care either. So their expectations don't need to be met, because they have none. So make it for those who do.

 

Although, I find the belief that there exists some "mass market" out there of our age group who doesn't have a sufficient memory of the '80s to be unfounded and really poor reasoning. As with TF fandom, it seems like some fans are just ashamed of being associated with those other whiny fans, and want to separate themselves from them. So they cook up the fallacious "mass market" argument thinking that this is just some geek hobby. It was the childhood icons of EVERY boy in our sub-generation! We ARE the entire mass market! So what is wrong with having movies about our kid stuff actually catering to us?

Most of the people who went to Transformers just wanted to see a kick ass action movie, on which it delivered. It certainly didn't make $300 million plus off of the collectors/fans. And regardless what is done, NO big budget action film will ever satisfy fans, who all have varying opinions on what should or should not be included.

 

There IS a "mass market". They are the people working 5+ days a week to support their family who have vague recollections of childhood favorites. They haven't bought a toy or read a comic or watched a cartoon about GI Joe in over a decade at least. They are not collectors, they are not fans in the same way as those of us who post on message boards regularly are. They have fuzzy memories about childhood and that is it.

 

Hate to break it to you, but this IS just some geek hobby. We're grown men buying toys intended for 6 year olds. THAT IS A FACT. Adult collectors cannot maintain a mass market retail line without support of kids/parents. I've seen it in Transformers, I've seen it with Star Wars, and I've seen it with GI Joe.

 

As fans, we can't agree on anything. You can't cater to a group that have 2000 views on how a live action movie should and should not be made. As is, the powers that be conceded a LOT on Transformers, but in the end, they did their own thing and it was SUCCESSFUL.

 

Hasbro knows what they're doing with this stuff? Is this the same Hasbro that gave us Pretenders? Or the fantastic decade of the whole '90s? Y'know, I don't have a prob with Hasbro/Paramount/Dreamworks making movies that aren't for me. Just don't pretend like it's actually for me in any way, shape, or form, especially by calling it ARAH or even suggesting it's "based on it". Sorry, but I'm just not wowed by how full the aisles are of toys I have no interest in.

Dude, step into the decade. Hasbro has changed in the past decade or two.

 

GI Joe will be for the fans as much as Transformers was, take that as you will.

 

This is the Hasbro that has given its fans Transformers Alternators, Titanium, and Classics. And kept Transformers from being about people piloting transforming cars.

They've given Star Wars fans figures that they thought will never be made, not to mention more and more that was never featured in the films.

They kept GI Joe 3.75 running online when it was pulled off retail shelves. Before which gave fans things like classic sculpt figures and comic packs. Not to mention the 25th line which has completely rejuvenated the brand among casual consumers.

 

All said and done, Hasbro has been VERY good to its adult collector base, but that consumer base won't make the big bucks. Kids will.

 

Another thing I hate to break to you, but toys aren't THAT intended for us. Yeah, lines like 25th are GEARED to us, but we are clearly not the only ones buying, as evidenced by the fact the line is continuing into the next year.

[RobbieDigital]

Another thing I hate to break to you, but toys aren't THAT intended for us. Yeah, lines like 25th are GEARED to us, but we are clearly not the only ones buying, as evidenced by the fact the line is continuing into the next year.

 

 

I still say that collectors are responsiable for a larger percentage of sales than most toy companies are willing to admit.

 

All I know is when I go into Target and Wal-mart on average I see maybe 2-3 figures sitting on empty pegs.........I highly doubt that kids/parents are the ones responsable for this......with no card game/video game/cartoon/movie right now. It's collectors and over the holidays I traveled to 3 states and it was the same everywhere 25th Joe wise.

 

But this is a topic for a whole 'nother time

 

 

Also.....I don't want to get into a war with Transfans.....but I would say that the "GI Joe" brand is more widely known and recongized cause it has been around since the 60's and the term was around since the 40's............I remember talking about GI Joe with one of my professors and I told him I collected them....he said that he still has a complete figure with foot locker......then I said "Oh I collect the 80's Joes, you know the little ones" and he quickly gave me a look of disdain. It was pretty funny.......but almost everyone knows the term "GI Joe" and knows its military.

[ARROW]

I still say that collectors are responsiable for a larger percentage of sales than most toy companies are willing to admit.

 

Why would they not want to admit to a influential sales demographic--you'd think they be loudly and decisively capitalizing on it??

 

 

 

but almost everyone knows the term "GI Joe" and knows its military.

 

But what more do they know beyond that?

Ask "most people" who Destro is and they will not be able to answer you.

Name any 10 of the code-names for the RAH GIJOEs and "most people" will not know who you are talking about--even the 10 most promient codenames.

(I'd bet you a $100 outa my wallet that most folks wouldn't know who "Duke" is, if you mention him by name--they'd think it John Wayne, Duke Ellington or European royalty you are talking about........)

[Glue]

So that's an excuse to just ignore fans because this is what "the mass market" wants? And I AM someone who hasn't bought toys since the '80s until like the last year or so. I worked 40-60hrs a week doing all the same hubbub. I increasingly wonder why I even came to these internet boards since doing so evidently means I don't know about "the mass market".

 

Again, if they don't know or remember, then they DON'T CARE. "Don't care" means these things being changed aren't relevant to their decision process. Besides, who would ever say, "I demand to see something that isn't like what I remembered as a kid!"?

 

And your test has no merit. If someone mentioned "Duke" with no context, even I would make all those other guesses first, because they're just more likely to be relevant in any random topic that's raised. That doesn't logically infer that our peers during the '80s magically forgot who Duke was or even the general sense of what the GI Joe show was like. Almost every girl I've ever known who was remotely near our age, ones who weren't even alive at that time, who no one would ever call geeks instantly know what GI Joe is if they saw even a scene of it. I think you guys give way too little credit to the "mass market", the fans, or both.

 

But whatever. We're not gonna convince each other, and all this is doing is dredging up the exact same fruitless debates as with the Transformers movie. Wotta waste.. Tell ye what, I'll just buy the toys I like, see the movies I wanna see, an' stop coming to these fan forums. Then ye won't have to put up with my fanboy geekness. This has made me regret my interest ever piquing again to want to seek out and talk to other fans.

[Pit Viper]

Everybody besides us hardcore Joe fans are going to leave the theater saying, "I don't remember that Ripcord guy at all." They will probably go through all the black characters they can remember in their heads trying to place him. Then if they care to, they will google Ripcord when they get home only to learn he was a white guy with no real connection to Duke.

[Glue]

Everybody besides us hardcore Joe fans are going to leave the theater saying, "I don't remember that Ripcord guy at all." They will probably go through all the black characters they can remember in their heads trying to place him. Then if they care to, they will google Ripcord when they get home only to learn he was a white guy with no real connection to Duke.

Heh. Dunno that they'd really care to that extent. But if they don't... why not just make him.. white?? Or make him Stalker? Just an idea...

 

Although I'm willing to be more fair. Wayans hasn't been officially confirmed as in the cast, much less what role he'd be playing. So far, the cast itself doesn't look thaaat bad. At least it still seems like it could go either direction, so little point getting our panties in a knot over stuff that hasn't happened yet.

[ARROW]

But whatever. We're not gonna convince each other, and all this is doing is dredging up the exact same fruitless debates as with the Transformers movie. Wotta waste.. Tell ye what, I'll just buy the toys I like, see the movies I wanna see, an' stop coming to these fan forums. Then ye won't have to put up with my fanboy geekness. This has made me regret my interest ever piquing again to want to seek out and talk to other fans.

 

Wha...?

 

You do not want, or cannot handle an intelligent discussion on a geeky topic?

Did you expect EVERYONE to agree with you?

 

 

Hey, the secret to getting along is to not make it personal and not take it personal.

If that's a problem for you, then the internet in general is probably not safe for you. If its not a problem, then jump right in and always remember that secret about getting along.

[Glue]

I get along fine with reasonable people (and even some unreasonable ones). But part of that lies in not subjecting myself to the same pointless discussions again.

[harkiri]

Although I'm willing to be more fair. Wayans hasn't been officially confirmed as in the cast, much less what role he'd be playing. So far, the cast itself doesn't look thaaat bad. At least it still seems like it could go either direction, so little point getting our panties in a knot over stuff that hasn't happened yet.

 

 

That is the most common sense rational answer I have seen in a while. the movie is going to be a while till it comes out. even if wayans gets the job, so what, I personally see the words "bullet stopper" in his future. not to bring transformers into this again, but I think we got alot of fandom nods in that movie, more then most directors would have went for.

 

Little story for you all. Happened yesterday at local walmart.

 

I was there looking for figures when I saw a new shipment of figs had arrived, I am a huge snake eyes storm shadow fan so I of course went for those first. they must have got in both wave 4 and 5 becuase they had both of the 5 pack versions of SE AND SS. I grab up the last two on the shelf.and hear a kid and his mom coming around the corner. the kid says that he cant see and gi joe figs. I think for a second and ask what he is looking for. the kid is looking for sigma six figs, which that walmart hasnt carried in a while. Making polite conversation I ask who his favorite character is he, says snake eyes. I tell him "mine too" and then show him that they have new figures out and tell him they are just like what I had as a kid. he looks at them for a second, obviously unconvinced that they can be as cool as the figures he liked. I look at the shevles again and see that they still had one of the SE with Timber from the first wave. so I show that too him and he gets kinda excited, then I hand him the Snake Eyes I had in my hands and told him these figures cost less then the S6 figures so his mom MIGHT get him 2 this time since they are cheaper. I look at her and she is smiling and kinda nods her head to say yes. he looks up and sees her say yes and now is happy. I start to walk away and the mom catches me just around the corner and says I must be a collector and probably really wanted that figure. I say yes I am but tell her that when I was his age that was one of my favorite toys and I would be pretty horrible if I kept another little kid from enjoying a toy I loved at his age. she smiled and thanked me and I jokingly told her not to thank me becuase he may turn into a toy geek like me now. she laughed again and I left.

 

Bottom line of the story. we are adults playing with toys we had as a kid. for every figure we buy there might be a kid who doesnt get one they wanted. we may not be able to find the figures we want, but the Sigma Six line that kid and other kids his age know as Gi Joe has disapeared. the Movie may bring out a whole knew version of our favorite characters that we may not like. but it will bring alot more kids to a line of toys we loved as kids. I am happy my favorite character got cast well, I cant wait to see Ray Park with the mask on. I am going to love it becuase it IS GIJOE, and hopefully so will that kid, even though it isnt Sigma Six.

[Valdin]

This funny thing keeps popping in my head. Gi joe needs as much comedy relief as oh say Star Wars episode 1 PHANTOM MENACE. In other words i'd rather pass on comic relief thank you very much. I keep seeing the comparison of Jar Jar Binks with marlon wayans, and it doesn't look good. Yeah the movie made a lot of money, but now it is my least liked of the Star Wars movie, the only thing likeable to me was Darth Maul and his Fight Scenes. Personally I don't want to see Jar Jar Wayans in any form in the new Gi Joe movie. I know there are countless other movies that got killed with unneeded comic relief but the top on my list was Phantom Menace

[ARROW]

Hakiri--great story.

You probably just planted that kid's butt ( and his Mom's) in seats at the theatre for the movie and cemented them buying the DVD when it comes out.

 

And hooked the kid on the new toys too!

 

Joeheads are not born, they are made.

You done good.

[Slaughter]

I think what it boils down to, what we're all trying to say is "STOP RUINING OUR CHILDHOODS, HOLLYWOOD!!!!!" There's updating and adapting but then there's Fixing what aint broke. Stop turning our TVs into Fishtanks, kinda thinking. I'm one for overkill to prove a point, so bear with me. If we're gonna start changing things, lets cast Beyonce and HAWK, MR. T as Scarlet, Christopher Walken as Roadblock, and Lassie and Snake Eyes. There Hollywood, I felt like changing it for no reason. They're all gonna wear pink tutus and combat boots. AND i'm gonna call it GLOBAL GLADIATORS. Then I'm gonna make OPTIMUS PRIME a 10 speed Shwinn bicycle and Megatron a Freaking SNOWGLOBE. THEN, I'm gonna redo BAD BOYS with Paris Hilton and Britanny Spears. How do you like my movie so far. Rules have it "YA don't tug on Superman's Cape, Ya Don't Spit into the wind, Ya Don't pull the mask off of Ol Lone Ranger" and YOU DON'T CHANGE MY CHILDHOOD THAT SHAPED WHO I BECAME AS AN ADULT. You know somebody wanted to put Spiderman in Black leather somewhere.

 

I met PETER CULLEN, OPTIMUS himself, and asked him what he thought of the movie 3 months before it came out. He said "if your a Transformer fan, you'll love it". I gave it a chance. I liked it very much but many valid points were made on this thread too about confusing all the robots because they look alike, like bugs. I'm a Fanboy and can't figure why every comic movie has been changed soooooo much. I still go in hope that someday somebody will be tru to the characters. Spidey is the closest to the original.

 

NOW WHY do fanfilms and costumer who do really good jobs with their arts, get cease and desist notices from CORPORATE AMERICA? Lucas went after everybody who made GOOD STORMTROOPER ARMOR. Have you seen RUBIES stormtrooper costume? JUNK! Hasbro goes after guys to do Really good GI JOE films, yet they turn out this garbage, that cause us to gather like this to gripe about it. WHY???? Why did Hollywood turn down Frank Welker as Megatron....he did it for all those years. If Christopher Latta were alive I'm sure he'd have a thing or two to say about STARSCREAM and COBRA COMMANDER. Does HASBRO not remember what killed GI JOE the first time around??? Stupid things like COBRA LA (NEVER HAPPENED....Cobra cares joke). Cobra Commander was once a man (said so himself several times), not some lizard freak with 20 eyes in COBRA LA.

 

So my point is what we've all been saying....DO HOMEWORK, KNOW WHAT IS WHAT, and don't MIX and MATCH, or Make up things. STARBUCK AND BOOMER WERE NOT WOMEN, if fact BSG is nothing more than old scripts of SPACE ABOVE AND BEYOND. Anyhoo, IF Nothing is Sacred and Corporate America can't get it right, then they shouldn't go after the little guys to can do it better. Today's America is all about how bad can we screw you over, and keep you coming back for more. I say Put ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER and Jessie VENTURA in the WHITE HOUSE, Sgt. Slaugter as head of Defense and lets start knocking heads in America and Hollywood. We'd be safe from Terrorists, Terminators, Predators, and Aliens.

 

In Music ther is what is called a remake. That's where you take the EXACT SAME WORDS and update a song to a more hip time. There is also something called MASH UPS. This is when you cant write a NEW song so you sample several old songs and use the REMIXED music to write new words to. In a Movie Related Example....HAD Dolph Lundgren's HE-MAN stayed on Eternia and he was Prince Adam occasionally, that movie might have been a Good Remake and not a Mashup. The CGI ANIMATED TMNT was a Really Good REMAKE, keeping tru to the MOVIES before it. BATMAN 3 and 4 were mashups trying to take BURTON's BATMAN and mixing with ADAM WEST's Batman. TrainWreck. We need HOLLYWOOD IDOL. Randy says YO dog, that's a pretty good itea, Paula says It has potential, nurture it and let it grow, Simon says WHAT THE HECK WERE YOU THINKING, that's the worst thing I've ever heard. That's not even Music (or in this case Filmworthy).

 

That's my rant, that's what we're all thinking basically. Did I miss anything?

[Devilbat]

(lol) Too funny!! Best post in this thread Slaughter!! Oh man... @loll@ (Welcome BTW...)

 

Here's my two cents, for what it's worth: When it comes to Transformers, I tend to consider myself one of those aforementioned "Geewunners". But when it came to the changes they made to the mythos for the movie, I loved it. In my opinion it was different and visually stunning. I loved the "techno-organic" look the Transformers had. But I will always have my toys, 'toons and comics to fall back on if I want to enjoy the source material. I can understand die-hard fans wanting a straight-up translation on film of what they're familiar with, but...I don't know. I guess I'm just thinking of the pleasant suprises I've experienced with movies over the years.

 

Case in point: Back when Demolition Man came out with Sylvester Stallone years ago, I was really looking forward to seeing it, being the big Stallone fan I am. But then some of my friends who saw it before I did said it was really funny. "Funny? What the crap?!" I was kinda disappointed since I was expecting this futuristic throw-down of an action flick with Stallone and Wesley Snipes, not a comedy. But I reserved judgement, and when I actually saw the movie, I LOVED it. It was funny, but appropriately so IMO. It made the movie great. It's still one of my favorite movies to this day...

 

Now I'm not saying I'm one of those "wait-and-see" fans necessarily. We all have our own definitive vision of what we think a G.I. Joe movie should look like. And heaven knows we've all been let down at one time or another with other films. And we have certain expectations because of our memories and tastes. I'm just saying that in my experience, I've gotten concerned over nothing when nine times outta ten the movie I wasn't 100% sure of turned out to be very cool. Recent examples for me have been Spider-Man 3, Transformers, X-Men, Batman: The Dark Knight (from what I've seen of it; I'm mainly referring to the casting of Heath Ledger as The Joker, God rest his soul), and the recent Rambo, to name just a few.

 

I guess my point is, as was the case with Transformers, I'm gonna keep an open mind and reserve judgement until I actually see the G.I. Joe movie. And I know some think by then it's too late to "do anything about it", and yeah...maybe internet buzz and a large, vocal fanbase can alter or influence how a movie is made. Actually, it's the same thing as screen-tests they've always done to garner initial audience reaction, except with the internet feedback is instantaneous, which really is cool, but anyway...I'm gonna bide my time for now since I've not seen anything that's a critical change IMO. Marlon Wayans as Ripcord? Ahh...it has the potential to be a huge mistake I guess, but it's just like when I saw Hugh Jackman for the first time as Wolverine in the trailers for X-Men. I thought to myself, "Him?! That's Wolverine??!! Bah!!" But then I saw the movie and was blown away by his performance and thought he nailed it perfectly (even though he is too tall). Or like when Daniel Craig was announced as the next Bond, he didn't fit the stereotypical image of Bond and everyone was up-in-arms over it. But y'know what? It turned out that Craig was a pretty bad-ass Bond that pleasantly suprised alot of people, including me. Besides, to me Ripcord was never a major character anyway. Just as long as Wayans doesn't portray him as a complete idiot...like Tunnel-Rat in the Sigma 6 'toon. (lol) Now that would be a disaster...

 

I would really like to see the costume designs. That's when I really get excited about a movie project...usually. I just hope that there's no nipples on Snake-Eyes's costume... (lol)

[Chaiser83]

if they go the comedy route.(i hope not) make him Big Lob that way he fits. they will ruin the good name of ripcord if they do that...

[Goldbug]

...

That's my rant, that's what we're all thinking basically. Did I miss anything?

 

You forgot to rant about Rex who is Duke's friend becoming Cobra Commander.

 

You know why this movie will suck? It is because of the writer's strike. They are obviously going with whatever script they have which was the one most of us do not like. @grumpy@

[Pit Viper]

...

That's my rant, that's what we're all thinking basically. Did I miss anything?

 

You forgot to rant about Rex who is Duke's friend becoming Cobra Commander.

 

You know why this movie will suck? It is because of the writer's strike. They are obviously going with whatever script they have which was the one most of us do not like. @grumpy@

 

I know Duke is a "friend to all" according to his filecrad but how many friends is he going to have in this movie? Ripcord and Rex?

[slim19722]

Reading some of the plot from Hisstank, the movie sounds good. No mention of Rex and as far as Ripcord & Duke go, Ripcord is spending his time flirting with Scarlett.