So now we've seen the first footage of "G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra," and reaction in fandom circles has been decidedly mixed. And while I admit to being slightly thrown off by the plethora of skin-tight black outfits, there are a number of reasons why director Stephen Sommers' take on the iconic 1980's toy line may be worth standing in line for. And just so you know where I'm coming from, along with possessing over a hundred action figures, I own every "G.I. Joe" comic ever printed, including "Special Missions," "Yearbooks," the 3-D one-offs and the European printings of "Action Force." So yeah, I'm legit. But back to the film...
First and foremost, "Rise of Cobra" relies on Larry Hama's classic 155-issue comic book run as its source material, rather than the considerably more childish television show. Not only that, but Hama himself was hired as a consultant. As such, key relationships from the comic -- such as the link between Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow -- are carried over, and important details like Snake-Eyes staying silent are left intact. Having spoken to Hama, the godfather of "Joe" has an intense enthusiasm for the project and swears on its faithfulness, and as the man who single-handedly crafted my childhood, I take him at his word.
Another big one on the checklist: using the correct Cobra Commander. Instead of the cartoon's screechy supervillain characature, comic book readers know the terrorist chieftain as a deeply complex, sadistic character who entombed his own son. If the movie was leaning towards the former, you could automatically count out legions of fans. But thankfully the filmmakers are following the Hama tradition and bringing us the evil leader we know and fear. Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura promised me that their version of Cobra Commander will be "very twisted," and the actor playing him, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, revealed to us that he underwent a significant transformation for the role.
All that bodes well for the tone of the film and seemingly promises us that, while the Super Bowl spot plays up the action, there's actually a lot more going on. But of course, there's nothing wrong with explosions. And to that end, we're promised a global epic. "We're talking about a story that's going to take us all over the world, from the desert to under the water, to the mountains to cities," Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner -- who doubles as the movie's executive producer -- told me last February. Goldner also promised that, in a nod to fans, we'll see some of the classic vehicles in their nascent forms.
When you combine all those assurances and everything we know from interviews, it's clear this is a passion project all around. They also recognize that if they falter out of the gate the movie franchise is over before it begins, so everyone seems dedicated to getting it correct from the start. As a lifelong "Joe" fan, I have high hopes that "G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra" will be everything I always dreamed it could be, and it seems like we're heading in the right direction.
So that's what I think. Now chime in with your own thoughts. Is "G.I. Joe" looking true for you, or do you already have some nit-picks?
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