GI-Joe to become international task force

[roach]

For the reasons mentioned time and time again?

1. To potentially better suit international tastes and audiences
2. Allows for a wider scope and scale for the movie's plot and locations
3. Acknowledges the work of all soldiers and counterterrorists, regardless of nationality
4. The characters have international backgrounds when sold overseas/internationally
5. To prevent a situation where the only prominent non-American characters are all villains
6. The established franchise has not always been (and is currently not) 100% successful, so change might be needed

Doesnt seem to hurt James Bond's numbers

 

[roach]

First of all roach, God bless you for your service in the military.

thanks

 

[TheVileOne]

Which is why I said 'potentially'. There's no concrete evidence and is purely speculative (as far as we know) but it is still something the producers are concerned about. And as it's a multi-million dollar investment (and they probably have researchers on the subject), I would say it's a fair concern.

Ugh whatever. Most of this just seems to come from media hype and the strange Hollywood mindset.

That was then and this is now. The political climate is greatly different, especially after the U.S. invaded Iraq. It's quite possible (though not necessarily certain and backed by evidence that I know of) that a movie featuring a group of purely American soldiers would not get away with traipsing around the world going wherever they please. The belief is that an international group is less offensive since they're 'citizens of the world' kind of thing.

Even in the comics they aren't going where ever they please since they are constantly working under the threat of the enemy and danger.

I don't see why people would be less offended by an international group going where ever the hell they want and doing as they please by your own logic. None of it makes any sense.

Also, the JOES have ALWAYS been a diverse group.

How so, specifically within G.I. Joe or Paramount within recent years?

Within GI JOE.

I agree. Personally, I wouldn't be too offended by it. However, there will be individuals and social/political groups who will be. And there will be troublemakers out there who will make a huge fuss regardless whether they personally feel that way on the topic just to feed the flames. Evidence of this can be seen in the various 'less than objective' online reports regarding the decision to make G.I. Joe an international group despite having little details on the issue beyond the fact.

This is just arrogant paranoia on your part. Any individuals or whoever complains would be an extreme minority that few will actually care about. These people are the film scholars that consider Back To The Future to be racist, pro-white middle American, and pro neo-con Ronald Reagan propaganda.

Or the people who call Dirty Harry fascist which is the farthest thing from the truth.

Actually, the Sigma Six line was initially successful but recent sales have drastically declined. So much so that Hasbro has currently placed the entire 8-inch line on hiatus creatively with no plans on continuation beyond the currently planned waves, at least for the time being.

At press time, it was reported in the latest issue of TOYFARE MAGAZINE they ARE continuing with the 8-inch line, it is simply no longer being called Sigma Six since the TV series which was on for two seasons is now over. And the Sigma Six line was the best anything under GI JOE has sold in YEARS according to Hasbro.

So they went to re-branding GI JOE as Sigma Six which was a big success which they phased into the 25th Anniversary series which is also very successful currently.

Again, this is not entirely accurate. For a long time (about a decade or so), G.I. Joe was not a commercially viable line and existed only as a direct-to-consumer product through Hasbro without the use of new sculpts and weren't available at retail to the average kid. Hence, at least for Hasbro and pop culture, it isn't a complete success.[/QUOTE]

 

[mr. peasant]

I don't see why people would be less offended by an international group going where ever the hell they want and doing as they please by your own logic. None of it makes any sense.

People would potentially be less offended on the grounds that the international team is not wholly comprised of a particular nationality. Hence, it's not promoting a single nation as the savior of all others.

Within GI JOE.

A little details on where, when and how would be very helpful.

This is just arrogant paranoia on your part. Any individuals or whoever complains would be an extreme minority that few will actually care about. These people are the film scholars that consider Back To The Future to be racist, pro-white middle American, and pro neo-con Ronald Reagan propaganda.

I'm not sure. Media-wise, the degree of complaints would probably be around as influential as the current batch of articles condemning the movie for going international. And as I've said before, the overall international reaction is uncertain and Paramount probably doesn't want to take the risk.

At press time, it was reported in the latest issue of TOYFARE MAGAZINE they ARE continuing with the 8-inch line, it is simply no longer being called Sigma Six since the TV series which was on for two seasons is now over. And the Sigma Six line was the best anything under GI JOE has sold in YEARS according to Hasbro.

So they went to re-branding GI JOE as Sigma Six which was a big success which they phased into the 25th Anniversary series which is also very successful currently.

I'm not sure about that but from what I heard based on reports from SDCC, while the 8-inch line was divided into Adventure, Combat and Commando, the creative team has stopped producing new designs and that there were no plans thus far for the 2008 calender year.

 

[TheVileOne]

People would potentially be less offended on the grounds that the international team is not wholly comprised of a particular nationality. Hence, it's not promoting a single nation as the savior of all others.

I say SUCKS to potentially. Show me facts.

A little details on where, when and how would be very helpful.

Specifically there was a Russian soldier they worked with on an op in a recent run of the DEVIL'S DUE series before it became America's Elite. At the end of the story she left her current status and joined the Joe team. I'm sure there have been other instances as well. In the animated series in the 90's one of the main team members was a Brit, and he led an op when Cobra tried to kidnap the Queen and her dog.

I'm not sure. Media-wise, the degree of complaints would probably be around as influential as the current batch of articles condemning the movie for going international. And as I've said before, the overall international reaction is uncertain and Paramount probably doesn't want to take the risk.

I say sucks to the risks I've still not seen enough legitimate proof of existing. France elected a leader that met with George Bush and was OK with Bush and the US. Yet the French hate us and all that or so the media says.

I'm not sure about that but from what I heard based on reports from SDCC, while the 8-inch line was divided into Adventure, Combat and Commando, the creative team has stopped producing new designs and that there were no plans thus far for the 2008 calender year.

Either way the line was a success and re-invigorated GI JOE in a way that hasn't been for years. The GI JOE line has gone through similar phases/gimmicks before, but SIGMA SIX was an unprecedented success and gave GI JOE some of their best selling toys in a long time. GI JOE isn't in danger of dying right now like Transformers did in the early 90's.

Also they pretty much did everyone they could for SIGMA SIX. Everyone except 8 inch versions of Scarlett, Jinx, and Baronness which was clear they weren't going to make. But we at least got 2.5 inch versions.

The main point I see with SIGMA SIX is that purists said it couldn't work and they were opposed to seeing GI JOE done in this new scale and in a radical way, but it did work and it was successful.

 

[mr. peasant]

Specifically there was a Russian soldier they worked with on an op in a recent run of the DEVIL'S DUE series before it became America's Elite. At the end of the story she left her current status and joined the Joe team. I'm sure there have been other instances as well. In the animated series in the 90's one of the main team members was a Brit, and he led an op when Cobra tried to kidnap the Queen and her dog.

Fair enough. Though, I would like to point out that the plot for the Brit one was quite British-centric in that it wouldn't really have worked to have the Joes calling the shots and doing all the work without making the Brits seem foolish/helpless, no?

I say sucks to the risks I've still not seen enough legitimate proof of existing. France elected a leader that met with George Bush and was OK with Bush and the US. Yet the French hate us and all that or so the media says.

I think you've got it wrong. From a business perspective, the hard, incontestable proof we should be looking for is that the international audience would not act adversely to a movie featuring strictly American characters combating terrorists comprising of a variety of nationalities. This is because doing so would be a statement and thus a risk.

Either way the line was a success and re-invigorated GI JOE in a way that hasn't been for years. The GI JOE line has gone through similar phases/gimmicks before, but SIGMA SIX was an unprecedented success and gave GI JOE some of their best selling toys in a long time. GI JOE isn't in danger of dying right now like Transformers did in the early 90's.

Also they pretty much did everyone they could for SIGMA SIX. Everyone except 8 inch versions of Scarlett, Jinx, and Baronness which was clear they weren't going to make. But we at least got 2.5 inch versions.

The main point I see with SIGMA SIX is that purists said it couldn't work and they were opposed to seeing GI JOE done in this new scale and in a radical way, but it did work and it was successful.

I will agree with you there. Sigma Six reinvigorated and repopularized the G.I. Joe brand. However, Sigma Six strongly deemphasized the patriotic overtones of the previous Joe phases; lack of American military grades, no inclusion of birthplaces, reduced use of the 'red, white and blue' color scheme, etc. And as it proved popular, this could be taken as evidence that an international group of Joes might work better than a strictly American one.

 

[TheVileOne]

Fair enough. Though, I would like to point out that the plot for the Brit one was quite British-centric in that it wouldn't really have worked to have the Joes calling the shots and doing all the work without making the Brits seem foolish/helpless, no?

No not at all.

I think you've got it wrong. From a business perspective, the hard, incontestable proof we should be looking for is that the international audience would not act adversely to a movie featuring strictly American characters combating terrorists comprising of a variety of nationalities. This is because doing so would be a statement and thus a risk.

Which I've still yet to see any legitimate proof of either way.

I will agree with you there. Sigma Six reinvigorated and repopularized the G.I. Joe brand. However, Sigma Six strongly deemphasized the patriotic overtones of the previous Joe phases; lack of American military grades, no inclusion of birthplaces, reduced use of the 'red, white and blue' color scheme, etc. And as it proved popular, this could be taken as evidence that an international group of Joes might work better than a strictly American one.

The team was still American based. And it wasn't an international group either. All the members of Sigma Six were American. Spirit Iron-Knife, Snake Eyes, Duke, Heavy Duty, Jinx, Kamakura, and Scarlett from the original team = all American. They did globe-hop in subsequent episodes though. But they were not based out of the US.

 

[MaximusCannabis]

No not at all.



Which I've still yet to see any legitimate proof of either way.



The team was still American based. And it wasn't an international group either. All the members of Sigma Six were American. Spirit Iron-Knife, Snake Eyes, Duke, Heavy Duty, Jinx, Kamakura, and Scarlett from the original team = all American. They did globe-hop in subsequent episodes though. But they were not based out of the US.

They pretty much have the cast I think most could accept right there:
Duke
Snake Eyes
Spirit
Scarlett

I'd just replace Heavy Duty with Roadblock, and Jinx and Kamakura with Flint and Action man(if they must.)

A core team of Duke, Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Flint, Action Man, and Spirit IS pretty good. Your cameos would be from the likes of Roadblock, Hawk, Stalker, Wild Bill, Gung Ho, Shipwreck, Falcon, Lifeline, Chukkles, and Billy.

 

[mr. peasant]

Which I've still yet to see any legitimate proof of either way.

True. I think that right now, the producers are simply being politically conscious and cautious with the material. Whether they are being overly so or not is debatable. What isn't is their right for being so given that for them, it is literally millions of dollars at stake, a figure which nobody ever takes lightly and could easily make or break companies.

The team was still American based. And it wasn't an international group either. All the members of Sigma Six were American. Spirit Iron-Knife, Snake Eyes, Duke, Heavy Duty, Jinx, Kamakura, and Scarlett from the original team = all American. They did globe-hop in subsequent episodes though. But they were not based out of the US.

I won't agree that the team was comprised wholly of Americans or that it was comprised of international members. Rather, at least to me, it was a non-issue. It didn't matter whether the members were New Yorkers, Montrealites or from the backwaters of Afghanistan. Unlike the RAH versions of the past, Sigma Six deemphasized the nationality of the characters. I suspect this will be the direction the movie might take; which doesn't explicitly mention the nationality of the individual members, leaving it vague.

I'd just replace Heavy Duty with Roadblock, and Jinx and Kamakura with Flint and Action man(if they must.)

Whether you want it or not, I don't think Heavy Duty will be replaced by Roadblock. Firstly, HD is the one currently being sold commercially in the toy stores. Secondly, if I'm not mistaken, I think Hasbro's got some copyright problems with the Roadblock name.

 

[TheVileOne]

Roadblock is being released as part of the RAH 25th Anniversary series from Hasbro.