Gi Joe

[OptimusCannabis]

http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/793/793859p1.html

G.I. Joe Re-Enlists
Paramount, producer renew pact for movie adaptation.
by IGN Staff



US, June 4, 2007 - Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura has long eyed turning the toy and comic book franchise G.I. Joe into a feature film for Paramount Pictures. He's even talked about casting his Shooter star Mark Wahlberg as Joe team leader Duke. Today brings the news that Paramount's pact with Joe toy maker Hasbro recently expired.

However, Variety reports that Hasbro's reps at the William Morris Agency renewed a deal between the toy manufacturer and Paramount to bring G.I. Joe to the silver screen.

Di Bonaventura will still produce the movie, but there was no word on whether the project will still use Skip Woods' screenplay or not.

That particular take on G.I. Joe, which reportedly had Duke teaming up with the Action Man character, has met with a mixed-to-negative response from many fans, according to reader feedback and message board postings.

Perhaps this contract with Hasbro was the major stumbling block for years. Now, whoever makes this film will have more control.

 

[Kable24]

Here's what I posted on Comingsoons message board about the movie and how to do it justice...

I think you can do a serious PG-13 G.I. Joe movie and not have it be cheesy. Go with a core team of Joes. Gen. Hawk, Duke, Flint, Snake-Eyes, Stalker, Road Block, Scarlett, Lady-Jaye and a few others. Have guys like Doc, Grunt and others make small cameos. Have the vehicles that we know and love like the Vamps, Dragonfly, Mauler Tank. Keep it grounded in a real world military feel with just a touch of futuristic. As for Cobra same thing goes. Cobra Commander, Destro, Baroness, Major Bludd, Storm Shadow and tons of Cobra Officers. Work the story that Cobra has been a myth for years. They are an urban legend, but the Military knows that they are real, but hasn't done anything because up until now Cobra hasn't been a threat. Secretly though they have been organizing a Spec. Ops team code named G.I. Joe and have been building new attack vehicles for the new team. We learn about how Hawk and Duke become team members and how they decide who gets picked to become the core team. We learn about Snake-Eyes being this major Black Ops commando and keep him all mysterious and not talking. There are hints throughout the movie about the connection between him and Storm Shadow. The world then finds out that Cobra is real and they try to take over the US and rule it in a dictatorship. Like I stated before Cobra does some major terrorist attack on the US and then the G.I. Joe team is activated. They make mention on why they have code names. They have them because they have family and there true names have to be kept classified to protect the families.
If this movie is to be taken seriously they have to go this route. They can have their actual costumes like they did in comics and put a real world military spin on them.

Things to avoid:
Lasers
BAT Troopers
Cobra-LA
Battle Force 2000
Cobra Commander being a whiny *****
The more far fetched characters and vehicles


I would love to be involved in the story development, but I have no experience writing anything of this magnitude, but I have read, watched and played with the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero since 1983, so I feel I know a good bit about the characters and how they should be done. Sadly in the end it will probably be nothing like the G.I. Joe I know and love.

 

[TheVileOne]

Thing is it would be hard to do any of that, especially Cobra without being a LITTLE cheesy.

But that's part of why I like Cobra Commander.

In the comics I do like that Cobra Commander is a lot more focused, vicious, and dangerous. For example, he doesn't ever try to execute any campy doomsday plots or try to carve his face into the moon with a laser.

 

[Timstuff]

Maybe one of Cobra Commander's underlings could be giving him too much lip, so he whips out his pistol and caps him right on the spot. That would certainly make people take him seriously.

 

[Timstuff]

BTW, Vin Diesel as Destro, PLZ.

 

[BobJM]

Does anyone have a plot idea? I've been thinking, but have thus far come up with nothing.

 

[TheVileOne]

Maybe one of Cobra Commander's underlings could be giving him too much lip, so he whips out his pistol and caps him right on the spot. That would certainly make people take him seriously.

You mean like Kim Jong Il in Team America?

Villains killing their underlings is not a new thing. They've been doing it since Bond films in the 60's. Famously in the Bond films as made fun of by Austin Powers.

 

[OptimusCannabis]

Does anyone have a plot idea? I've been thinking, but have thus far come up with nothing.

I don't have a specific idea because I am not sure what studios, fans, and anyone wanting to work on the film are looking for.

There are three basic routes to take. One, is the cartoon series - although I can't imagine anyone wanting to see a movie franchise based off of that. Second, are the comic books. Most G.I. Joe nuts would campaign hard to have the comic books as the sole referral for the films. The third possibility is a brand new story for G.I. Joe with only the characters being the same as the books or cartoons. My preference, although wishy-washy, would be a combination of all three. The drama and depth of the comics combined with the lightheartedness of the cartoon while being given an all new spin as a rated PG-13 movie that is borderline 'R' rated.

I definitely see this being more than one movie so before deciding on a plot it must be determined wether or not the films will be intertwined or not.

There are many questions that need to be answered before writing begins. What characters do fans most want to see? What relationships are most compelling? Do fans want it to be more action or more political drama? What settings are most desired? Jungle? Arctic? Desert? Mountains? Urban? Aerial? Sea? All these questions need to be answered BY the true fans before writing begins because the best way to make a previously successful idea translate into box office success is to get the opinions of the people who loved the original idea first and foremost.

 

[Artist_Chick]

If Vin Diesel is in this movie....I will flat out NOT WATCH IT.

First off...Destro is SCOTISH!!!!
Vin CAN'T ACT...

Stone Cold Steve Austin...ALSO can't act...

Why...why must they TORTURE....

When I first heard about them making a GI Joe movie a while back I was excited...and then I heard the plot....I was turned off. Thanks to the success of TF...They want to do a REAL GI movie..with all the characters...Give me a good plot line and some awesome actors and I'm happy...is that too much to ask? REALLY??!

I'm hoping to GOD they don't have extreme A-listers.

...........

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
....

George Eads as Flint... :heart:

 

[BobJM]

I was watching "Shooter" last night, and I really do think that Mark Wahlberg would make a good Duke.

Also, I think Kate Mara would make a great Scarlett. She's sexy, redhead, and she can actually act! There's this kickass scene where she's just shootin' guys left and right with a shotgun in her underwear.

 

[OptimusCannabis]

If Vin Diesel is in this movie....I will flat out NOT WATCH IT.

First off...Destro is SCOTISH!!!!
Vin CAN'T ACT...

Stone Cold Steve Austin...ALSO can't act...

Why...why must they TORTURE....

Stone Cold as Destro? Absolutely not! I could however see him as
Gung-Ho.

 

[OptimusCannabis]

I was watching "Shooter" last night, and I really do think that Mark Wahlberg would make a good Duke.

Also, I think Kate Mara would make a great Scarlett. She's sexy, redhead, and she can actually act! There's this kickass scene where she's just shootin' guys left and right with a shotgun in her underwear.

Wahlberg is a definite possibility, however, I think they are much better candidates.

As for Scarlett, I know this will be rejected, how about Lindsay Hohan?

As much as people dislike her I really think her look fits the part.

 

[Artist_Chick]

.......................

Scarlett isn't supposed to look like a child.....and Lohan can't act. and she's far too young for the role.

 

[CobraCommander]

Like I always say, please stop worrying about casting. Worry about who's producing, because that's the problem at the moment.

 

[OptimusCannabis]

Like I always say, please stop worrying about casting. Worry about who's producing, because that's the problem at the moment.

I kind of like the idea of Spielberg producing it even though it's not really his genre. They will probably get Michael Bay to direct it though.

 

[The Shredder]

I kind of like the idea of Spielberg producing it even though it's not really his genre. They will probably get Michael Bay to direct it though.

I pretty much doubt Bay will be directing a G.I. Joe movie if they want the film out anytime soon. Since I am sure they are currently negotiating for him to return and helm TF 2.

 

[Speedball]

.......................

Scarlett isn't supposed to look like a child.....and Lohan can't act. and she's far too young for the role.

Lohan can act. I don't know what films you've seen, but from what I've seen she's very talented.
And I say this role is perfect for Lindsay.
Her career is beginning to go down the tubes, and a huge action picture will help it.
Plus she'll be going back to being a red head and have to put on weight for the role.

 

[BobJM]

Lohan isn't that bad of an actress, you're right, but that still doesn't mean she should in any way be connected to a G.I. Joe film.

I don't know why more people have not mentioned Kate Mara. She's not a huge A-lister, but she has talent worthy of that status. She looks the part, she has experience in an action film, and she's worked with Mark Wahlberg (who could possibly be the next Duke) and Lorenzo di Bonaventura.

Also, here's a few other casting choices that I've come up with:

DUKE........................... Mark Wahlberg
SCARLETT.................... Kate Mara
SNAKE-EYES................. Ray Park
TUNNEL RAT................. Paul Francis (II)

BARONESS.................... Rhona Mitra
STORM SHADOW............ Will Yun Lee

 

[Timstuff]

Lohan can act. I don't know what films you've seen, but from what I've seen she's very talented.
And I say this role is perfect for Lindsay.
Her career is beginning to go down the tubes, and a huge action picture will help it.
Plus she'll be going back to being a red head and have to put on weight for the role.

Her career is going down the tubes because she's a bratty drunk who parties like it's 1999 every other night. Why does she deserve to be part of GI Joe?

 

[OptimusCannabis]

I pretty much doubt Bay will be directing a G.I. Joe movie if they want the film out anytime soon. Since I am sure they are currently negotiating for him to return and helm TF 2.

With the way it is going Tranformers 2 will be done with before they even have a non-Di Bonaventure script.

 

[OptimusCannabis]

Lohan can act. I don't know what films you've seen, but from what I've seen she's very talented.
And I say this role is perfect for Lindsay.
Her career is beginning to go down the tubes, and a huge action picture will help it.
Plus she'll be going back to being a red head and have to put on weight for the role.

Glad someone agrees, thanks Speedball. Her acting ability(or lack there of) is not a concern for me. I imagine the problems with casting Ms. Lohan in this role would be her height(5'5") and age(21.) It's not realistic to have a 21 year old female as a key figure in an elite military organization. Of course, if she continues her wild ways she might look 32.

 

[Artist_Chick]

Lohan does not fit in the GI JOE realm. Unless she's an innocent bystander...who gets shot...with laser guns.

 

[OptimusCannabis]

Lohan isn't that bad of an actress, you're right, but that still doesn't mean she should in any way be connected to a G.I. Joe film.

I don't know why more people have not mentioned Kate Mara. She's not a huge A-lister, but she has talent worthy of that status. She looks the part, she has experience in an action film, and she's worked with Mark Wahlberg (who could possibly be the next Duke) and Lorenzo di Bonaventura.

Also, here's a few other casting choices that I've come up with:

DUKE........................... Mark Wahlberg
SCARLETT.................... Kate Mara
SNAKE-EYES................. Ray Park
TUNNEL RAT................. Paul Francis (II)

BARONESS.................... Rhona Mitra
STORM SHADOW............ Will Yun Lee

I see Mark Wahlberg as having the same problem as Lohan, too short(5'7".) Duke, in my opinion, needs to be at least 6'0".

Kate Mara is okay but still too young. Lohan is younger but I'd rather have her because she looks older and tougher than Mara.

Ray Park is a real good option for Snake Eyes but would he really be
intrested in another comic book/cartoon type of role?

Paul Francis appears too old, too tall, and too tough to be Tunnel Rat. I could however see him as Flint.

I like Rhona Mitra as Baroness except for... again, the height(5'6".)

Will Yun Lee as Sturm Shadow? Absolutely not. I lok at that guy with Storm Shadow and mind and do not see it whatsoever.

 

[OptimusCannabis]

Lohan does not fit in the GI JOE realm. Unless she's an innocent bystander...who gets shot...with laser guns.

I have a laser gun for her.

 

[BobJM]

I see Mark Wahlberg as having the same problem as Lohan, too short(5'7".) Duke, in my opinion, needs to be at least 6'0".

Height is the least of Lohan's problems. And besides, if height is the only problem factor with Wahlberg, the right pair of boots can add an inch or more.

Kate Mara is okay but still too young. Lohan is younger but I'd rather have her because she looks older and tougher than Mara.

By the time this film comes out (2010 or, more likely, later), Mara will be in her late 20s or early 30s. Give her a strict workout regime like Jessica Biel went through for Blade and she'll be perfect.

Ray Park is a real good option for Snake Eyes but would he really be intrested in another comic book/cartoon type of role?

Last time I checked, Park hasn't really done too much lately. If offered the part, I'm sure he'd accept in a heartbeat.

Paul Francis appears too old, too tall, and too tough to be Tunnel Rat. I could however see him as Flint.

If you see Francis in pictures from "Tears of the Sun", you'll see that he looks exactly like Tunnel Rat (not from Sigma Six, but the comics).

I like Rhona Mitra as Baroness except for... again, the height(5'6".)

Is Baroness required to be tall? If she is, I'm sure the Baroness's wardrobe will require her to wear high heels.

Will Yun Lee as Sturm Shadow? Absolutely not. I lok at that guy with Storm Shadow and mind and do not see it whatsoever.

Why not? He's Asian, has experience in action films (Die Another Day, Elektra...in which he wielded a sword), and he knows martial arts. You don't have to have an Oscar winning actor to portray a vengeful ninja who will probably do more fighting than talking.