Starring: Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, Marlon Wayans

Directed by: Stephen Sommers

So now that I FINALLY have a day off of work, I spent the day at the mall to catch the new “G.I. Joe” movie and here is my review:

Plot/synopsis: The world’s famous action figures and cartoon series has finally hit the big screen in a live action film!!! That’s right, Yo Joe, you’re the real American hero! G.I. Joe. This film is just an introduction so it starts off small to explain how the G.I. Joe army group got together and how the Cobra army was formed. The G.I. Joe military team get together to battle against Destro from forming this evil army to help destroy the world.

Of course, after reading some reviews by critics and other movie fans, this movie is getting another one of these, “love or hate” kind of things. Most people are saying the acting is bad but the action scenes are great, that was it, but I think I’ll take some time to defend this movie.

Yes, of course, the acting of these flicks are going to be bad. In popcorn action flicks, the cast don’t have to have Oscar worthy acting skills, it’s never going to be that way in popcorn action flicks. It’s been that way for years. In popcorn action flicks over the years, it’s always been about the fun and the kick ass action scenes that put smiles on our faces. It’s typical for popcorn action flicks, so why trash “G.I. Joe” about the acting skills of the cast when it’s been the same for other popcorn action flicks in the past? In these kind of movies, the acting skills is not really a big deal and not important.

I have no problem with the acting skills. Yes, I agree the acting is not that great, but it don’t have to be when it’s a popcorn action movie. Hope you get my point.

My thoughts on the film? I was kind of blown away. In my opinion, it’s one of the best popcorn action flicks I’ve seen in a long time. I wasn’t bored and had a smile on my face watching the kick ass action scenes. The action scenes were brilliantly done and such a blast, and a thrill ride to watch!

There aren’t many characters in this first “G.I. Joe” action movie, but like I said, this is just an introduction. The only G.I. Joe characters the new film has are General Hawk, Duke, The Baroness, Snake Eyes, Heavy Duty, Destro, Cobra Commander, Scarlett, Cover Girl, and I think that’s about it.

I’m sure the sequel to “G.I. Joe” live action will bring in more characters from the action figures and cartoon series.

The fight scene between Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow was absolutely amazing, two ninjas sword fighting each other, wow. Lots of kick ass car chases between Ripcord, The Baroness and Scarlett.

I would say my favorite characters in the movie are Ripcord played by Marlan Wayans, I also liked Snake Eyes, The Baroness…but my only complaint is the new Cobra Commander face mask. They also reinvented the Storm Shadow character, the ninja with the white suit on which I also didn’t really like.

Of course, the film has a few little things I didn’t like here and there, but other than that Stephen Sommers did a fantastic job with the movie. I really enjoyed it. The CGI effects were actually pretty impressive and the sound was great, going to look and sound great on my home theater system when this film hits DVD.

Pretty funny because I haven’t enjoyed a Stephen Sommers movie in years since most of his movies suck considering this guy is the director of, “The Mummy” series, and I don’t like “The Mummy series” at all. The movie was fun and kicked ass.

In the sequel, I’m sure we will see more of the Cobra Commander in the Cobra uniform and see more of Destro as well. I also hope they add these characters to the sequel: Major Bludd, Lady Jaye, Tomax and Xamot, Roadblock, and Bazooka.

Bring on the sequel!

Score for “G.I.Joe – The Rise of Cobra” = **** (4 stars as in “Excellent”)

Kev