G.I. Joe: The Movie

My review was written in December 1988 after watching the feature on Celebrity video cassette.

"G. I. Joe" takes the familiar animated and toy characters comfortably into an action-packed animated film, released direct-to-video in 1987.

Title refers not to an individual but is a codename for a U. S. anti-terrorist team, pitted against the monstrous villains known collectively as Cobra, headed by Serpentor (voiced by Dick Gautier),k Golobulus (Burgess Meredith) and Pythona (Jennifer Darling's vocal) in battle to obtain the experimental Broadcast Energy Transmitter.

Don Johnson's immediately recognizable voice works well in the role of womanizer Lt. Falcon, while pro wrestler Sgt. Slaughter brings his gruff voice and animated wrestling moves to play his own tough self, whipping the heroes into combat readiness.

Animation by Toei of Japan is effective with minor fantasy elements well-integrated into what basically is a military actioner.

I saw this film last night for the first time in ten years and I must say I still knew most of the dialogue! I saw it about a 1000 times when I was 10 years old. This film didn't loose the 'magic' when I reviewed it last night (other shows and films from my youth like Airwolf, A-Team and the Thunderbirds did loose their 'magic').

G.I. Joe The Movie is still a great, entertaining and fun cartoon. It's all about the origin of Cobra (G.I. Joe's nemisis). An ancient tribe of mutants (the ancestors of Cobra) want to take over the world and it's up the the Joe's to avoid this.

Despite its many flaws (some plotholes, continuity-goofs, etc.), it's still a great time watching it. This is certainly a film that defined my youth.

A 9 out of 10.

If you loved the 1980s TV show you will love this movie. G.I. Joe the movie is not mearly as good as the TV show, but rather is much much better. This movie comprises of the same guys we love (or love to hate), such as Duke, Sgt. Slaughter, Cobra Commander, Serpentor etc etc. However, it is the new characters that really bring life and intrigue into this movie (ie. jinx, lt. falcon, nemesis enforcer, golobulus etc etc).

My favorite scene of this movie was the opening scene where pythona infiltrates the inpenetrable terradrome. I also loved the slaughterhouse training, and the many changes that occur within Cobra Commander. Then again, as a child I watched this movie all the time so I may be just a tad bit biased.

G. I. Joe the movie is a film that is good, if not perfect, as it is severely underrated. The plot is after their latest failure, Cobra finds some new allies in the civilization of Cobra-La, led by Golobulus, who is revealed to be the one who gave Doctor Mindbender the idea to create Serpentor, Cobra's current leader. However, the Joes also receive new recruits, one of them being Lt. Falcon, Duke's half-brother, who is also reckless, as it proves as he leaves his post to flirt with Jinx, resulting in Cobra initiating a prison break. Now the race is on to stop Cobra's latest plot to spread spores that will turn humanity into snakes.

This movie went through a troubled history. Announced first, it had plans to kill off Duke (whose action figure was being discontinued at the time). However, this would inspire Transformers: The Movie to kill off Optimus Prime, a move that caused so much controversy and outrage from fans and parents of kids who were traumatized by that scene, that Hasbro reversed the decision, and Sunbow were forced to rewrite the scene so Duke fell into a coma. Also, the poor box office performances of Transformers: The Movie and My Little Pony: The Movie (the original, not the one with Twilight Sparkle) resulted in G. I. Joe: The Movie skipping theaters and heading directly to video. Despite the edits to keep Duke alive, it is still a good movie, as it has a good story, voice cast (especially with the likes of professional wrestler Sgt. Slaughter, alongside the cast of the cartoon), and the action is excellent. My only gripe is the movie focuses too much on Falcon (whose is basically Hot Rod, only worst), and some of the plot points sound a bit corny (especially the reveal that Cobra-La was the ones who gave Mindbender the idea to create Serpentor).

First, G.I.Joe, I never really pay attention to the show, Because I'm a huge Transformers Fan.

However I figure I would give G.I. Joe The Movie a chance. To me, when it comes to movies and TV show, I always believe in the saying "Don't Judge People Until You Give Them A Chance" Well, I have some good and bad things to say about G.I.Joe: The Movie First, The Good: The Voice is awesome!, I'm Surprise that they got Actors like Don Johnson And WWF superstar,Hall Of Famer Sgt. Slaughter to star in this movie. The animation is Phenomenal, there's rarely a mistake in G.I.Joe The Movie. The Story is well-written, The writers wrote a very new story for G.I. Joe fans Now, for the bad: My main complain about the movie is that the music was just awful!, Only good song in G.I. Joe The Movie was the opening theme song, The Music came from The Transformers Series. I just love the music in Transformers The Movie, because it was new and all of the music in the movie match every scene.

Also, There were a few scenes that make no sense what so ever.

However, I didn't dislike G.I.Joe The Movie, But giving the chance between Transformers: The Movie and G.I.Joe: The Movie, I would watch Transformers: The Movie.

All in all, I thought that G.I. Joe: The Movie was a Okay movie, It's a movie for G.I.Joe fans.

I give G.I. Joe: The Movie 7 Out Of 10 YO JOE!!!!!