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 can't say enough times that I love the eighties for their great cartoons and great movies. The creativity during that time was awesome. As far as I am concerned 2 cartoons really stuck out in the eighties, namely GI Joe and The Transformers with Transformers being my personal favorite. For years I have been waiting for a return of those 2 cartoons to television. Their return would bring some class to the crap that now exists on television, like X-Men, Spiderman, Power Rangers, VR Troopers... The list goes on and on. What makes GI Joe and Transformers so great is the great storylines along with the absence of a Disney mode. Anyway, I read that a dvd of GI Joe The Movie existed so I forked over my cash to buy it right away and boy was it great to relive some memories. It was pretty good, although I didn't like Globulus and his crew. GI Joe was always about the battle against Cobra, not some mutated freaks.The whole GI Joe cartoon series screams DVD release (as long as they aren't sold for rip-off prices, like for example happens with the Battle Of The Planets cartoon or animes). As far as I am concerned GI Joe and the Transformers are the standard for cartoons. If you have never heard of GI Joe The Movie then check it out, but if you are a fan "What are you waiting for ?". Go rent it or buy it and enjoy the antics of Duke, Flint, Hawk, Beach Head, Sgt Slaughter and the rest of the gang. Quote of the movie: 'We're all going home or nobody goes home"

G.I. Joe: The Movie is okay, but it's not as good as it should of been. There is an introduction to some new characters, which takes away from the other characters; leaving them just as undeveloped as usual. There barely showed the great Snake Eyes!! The best thing about G.I. Joe is the origin of Cobra Commander and why he's trying to take over the world. That is pretty cool, but not enough to make this movie great. If they would of took it easy on the new guys and focus more on the old, who we still don't know, this movie would of been better. But 'ol well, it's G.I. Joe, so it's a must see.

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.