In defense of "Globally Integrated" Joes:

[Timstuff]

I've been thinking a lot lately about the complaints that in Rise of Cobra, GI Joe are no longer "Real American Heroes." When I first heard that the GI in GI Joe now stood for "Globally Integrated" and that some cast members would be given different nationalities from the cartoon, I was just as ticked off as anyone. But the idea did eventually grow on me, and here's why:

Growing up as a little kid watching GI Joe, the cartoon always brought out the best the military had to offer, not just in their skills but also their values. The Joes all believed in protecting liberty and working together as a team. It was not claiming "war is fun" or anything like that, but it was saying that the ideal of American military service men and women was a good one to look up to.

In Rise of Cobra, it takes a step backwards and shows that these ideals are not exclusively American, and that there are other countries like us who value freedom and are willing to fight tyranny. Watching the movie, you still get to see American heroes fighting bravely to protect freedom, except now they are not alone. America does have allies, and ideally we work with them and not around them. Since GI Joe has always represented an ideal of military values, shouldn't it make sense that they are a cooperative effort?

Just some food for thought.

 

[lou2099]

Very good assessment, and you may very well be right. But in the end, it is probably just Hollywood superficial We Are The World bullcrap

 

[The Guard]

I just think it makes about twelve times more sense for an elite military unit like that to be multinational, for several reasons, not the least of which is financial. Otherwise it'd just be something we already have in some capacity. But then, I'm a RAINBOW SIX fan.

 

[TheVileOne]

How about we make James Bond Korean?

 

[Red Mask]

I think South Korea already has its own spy heroes on film. ButI think France's OSS-117 is more amusing than James Bond.

After watching the film I'm not bothered by the changes they made to the concept. But I don't think it would have harmed the movie if they did stick to the 'Real American Hero' angle. Like Superman and Indiana Jones, G.I.Joe was a franchise that restored faith in American might and values. That's not a bad thing, it's just history and reality have made people more cynical.

But I'm waiting for Stormwatch to get made, so we can see what an official international team of superheroes can accomplish and why it lead to the Authority.

 

[Punisher Rising]

I've been thinking a lot lately about the complaints that in Rise of Cobra, GI Joe are no longer "Real American Heroes." When I first heard that the GI in GI Joe now stood for "Globally Integrated" and that some cast members would be given different nationalities from the cartoon, I was just as ticked off as anyone. But the idea did eventually grow on me, and here's why:

Growing up as a little kid watching GI Joe, the cartoon always brought out the best the military had to offer, not just in their skills but also their values. The Joes all believed in protecting liberty and working together as a team. It was not claiming "war is fun" or anything like that, but it was saying that the ideal of American military service men and women was a good one to look up to.

In Rise of Cobra, it takes a step backwards and shows that these ideals are not exclusively American, and that there are other countries like us who value freedom and are willing to fight tyranny. Watching the movie, you still get to see American heroes fighting bravely to protect freedom, except now they are not alone. America does have allies, and ideally we work with them and not around them. Since GI Joe has always represented an ideal of military values, shouldn't it make sense that they are a cooperative effort?

Just some food for thought.

I agree with all of this 100% and couldn't have said it any better. I didn't mind the global Joe team at all.

 

[TheVileOne]

I think South Korea already has its own spy heroes on film. ButI think France's OSS-117 is more amusing than James Bond.

So does everyone else. Why can't we keep GI JOE American?

 

[Franklin Richards]

At least Jesus was American.

 

[Red Mask]

So does everyone else. Why can't we keep GI JOE American?

Five members were clearly American but had no problem wearing U.N. colors. That's good enough. To be honest, this kind of concept doesn't need to be faithful to the source material. Just look at the "Ballad of G.I.Joe". Sommers dodged a bullet by not making the costumes too accurate.

 

[Red Mask]

At least Jesus was American.

So is Gary Coleman.

 

[Raith]

I didn't mind it too much that they were a global force, after all, the world is shrinking by leaps and bounds. Even while I was watching the movie and saw how they jumped from France to Egypt to Antartica, etc. I was thinking how the technology is just at a point now that you can pretty much get anywhere inside 24 hours. It's enough for me to think that it was America's IDEA and they had general Hawk running it, who was part of the American military.

I thought it was wierd how France kicked out the Joe's that let the tower get slammed. If France is part of the group, then they are kicking out their own operatives? Imagine Brittain kicking out Bond forever,

Also, im used to being surrounded by people from different countries and speaking with accents all the time. It's just the norm now.

 

[TheVileOne]

Once again, their feeble attempt at catering to worldwide box office is stupid because this movie's box office is not even going to come anywhere close to Transformers. So if they kept it as an American military unit would it really have made less?

 

[Red Mask]

Transformers aren't American either. But did it's success mean the countries loved watching U.S. forces get their butts whooped by the Decepticons?

 

[TheVileOne]

Transformers aren't American either. But did it's success mean the countries loved watching U.S. forces get their butts whooped by the Decepticons?

Uh did you watch the movie? Its the freaking reverse?

 

[DACrowe]

Well logistically it makes sense that to avoid international incidents they only operate in nations that are part of their movement. Kind of like a covert UN.

But...

it is such a silly concept, it really doesn't matter one way or the other.

 

[The Guard]

I have yet to hear a decent reason as to why GI JOE should remain American, beyond "That's what they've always been". What's the actual advantage of that?

 

[Franklin Richards]

Patriotism.
Source material.

 

[Red Mask]

Uh did you watch the movie? Its the freaking reverse?

Those victories were mostly due to the efforts of Prime and the Autobots. Was the sinking of the carrier proof they could kick Decepticon butts on their own? Nope. It's doubtful they would have been able to stop the Sun Harvester from being used if not for Prime. Also, Sam is not a U.S. soldier, but he was worthy of the Matrix of Leadership.

 

[Red Mask]

Well logistically it makes sense that to avoid international incidents they only operate in nations that are part of their movement. Kind of like a covert UN.

But...

it is such a silly concept, it really doesn't matter one way or the other.

That's why I think Stormwatch should be made for the screen. Ironically, the best stories of that comic were written by Warren Ellis, who wrote G.I.Joe: Resolute. Ellis's stories sometimes mocked the U.S. government and their military. Isn't that amusing?

 

[TheVileOne]

Warren Ellis is British.

 

[jebhdb]

I have to disagree with you Vile in that making the team international didn't help the films international box office. G.I. Joe led the international box office for two weeks in a row and I don't think it would have done that if the team had been exclusively American.

 

[Red Mask]

Warren Ellis is British.

Exactly. How ironic the most mature G.I.Joe cartoon ever made was written by a Brit.

 

[Blade X]

Once again, their feeble attempt at catering to worldwide box office is stupid because this movie's box office is not even going to come anywhere close to Transformers. So if they kept it as an American military unit would it really have made less?

I agree with every single thing you said.

 

[Blade X]

I have yet to hear a decent reason as to why GI JOE should remain American, beyond "That's what they've always been". What's the actual advantage of that?

Because the "G.I." in G.I. JOE stands for "Government Issued", not "Global Integrated". So if the studio wanted an international team of soldiers, they shouldn'yt gave made a movie called "G.I. JOE", instead they should have remade MEGAFORCE.

 

[Blade X]

Those victories were mostly due to the efforts of Prime and the Autobots. Was the sinking of the carrier proof they could kick Decepticon butts on their own? Nope. It's doubtful they would have been able to stop the Sun Harvester from being used if not for Prime. Also, Sam is not a U.S. soldier, but he was worthy of the Matrix of Leadership.

But all of the soldiers in both TRANSFORMERS movies were American, and they were (at least in the first movie) partly responsible for "saving the day".

Heck, in many ways the soldiers in the TRANSFORMERS movies seemed more like G.I. JOE then the JOES in the actual G.I. JOE movie did.

I said it before, and I'll say it again. Bay should have directed G.I. JOE and Sommers should have directed both TRANSFORMERS movies.