Is the G.I. JOE movie going to be massively changed from the cartoon/comic?

[toddly6666]

I still say make this move an early 1980s period piece, so they can have all the gung-ho american stuff in this flick. Problem solved.

 

[mr. peasant]

I don't understand what the big issue is of adding international characters into the G.I. Joe without the exclusion of American characters in the team. Considering Cobra will likely be portrayed as a global threat (it's a representation for terrorism), why shouldn't G.I. Joe be portrayed as a global response to such a threat?

Why is there such elitism and xenophobia that you all don't want non-Americans to be portrayed as 'good guys' in the movie? To have no international members is to convey the message that only Americans are actively involved in combating terrorists while the rest of the world sit idle and simply not care.

 

[TheVileOne]

edit, dp.

 

[TheVileOne]

Sorry toddly, but I'd hardly consider that list definitive.

I don't understand what the big issue is of adding international characters into the G.I. Joe without the exclusion of American characters in the team. Considering Cobra will likely be portrayed as a global threat (it's a representation for terrorism), why shouldn't G.I. Joe be portrayed as a global response to such a threat?

I don't see anyone having this issue really. But maybe we just don't want to see a stupid Action Man crossover movie where Action Man is married to Scarlett and in a love triangle with Duke.

Why is there such elitism and xenophobia that you all don't want non-Americans to be portrayed as 'good guys' in the movie? To have no international members is to convey the message that only Americans are actively involved in combating terrorists while the rest of the world sit idle and simply not care.

Once again, not it at all.

 

[Timstuff]

What makes me POd is that the producers are so ashamed of America that they think that GI Joe needs to have their HQ in Brussels and not the US. I mean, the US is where the UN is hosted, so is it really that big a stretch for GI Joe to be based there, even if they did turn them into a "Globally Integrated" unit?

 

[toddly6666]

I still believe that the movie will be more marketable if they change the title "G.I. JOE" to "LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY JOES." And the core group of characters should be an international group of heros stationed in Oslo, Norway - Alex Mann, Action Man, Action Force Man, Tom Sawyer, Zorro Jr., Nacho Libra, Naruto Man, John Cena as the new Sgt. Slaughter, Fluke (a combination of Flint and Duke), and Captain Scarlett. To avoid insulting the Iraqis and the French, the leaders of the JOES will be Alpine and Snowjob. They should totally not even have Cobra in the movie, and just start fresh and have the main villain be ex-G.I. JOE Tunnel Rat. This way, people won't think that it's a USA propaganda movie. And if the white American TUNNEL RAT is the main villain, G.I. Joe fans in the Middle East, especially Afghanistan, won't get insulted.

Screw Cobra Commander and Destro, this should be the villain in the movie:

The only Cobra character worth keeping for the film is:

Croc Master's side-kick should obviously be:

But Stephen Sommers and producers all agree to change him to be an dinasoar. Because international audiences, especially boys, love dinasoars:

If they do keep more Cobra characters, then the villain foot soldiers should also be clones of G.I. Joe - JINX. This would be the most politically correct way of keeping the Snake Eyes/Storm Shadow element in the film. The film can obviously not have Storm Shadow or Snake Eyes in the movie because it's too rascist - Snake Eyes is all "black" and Storm Shadow is all "white." These two characters are pushing boundaries and would cause too many controversies, so the best way to keep ninjas is to have the female Jinx in the film. Furthermore, the movie will make more money because the JINXs will snag the female demograph. The army of Jinx clone characters should also have red nail polish just like the original action figure. This way, G.I. JOE fans will be happy that the director/producers will be following the exact look of the original action figure.

I think Sommers could do a really great G.I. JOE movie with this new group of JOES versus the evil Tunnel Rat, Croc Master, Raptor, and Jinx clones.

 

[Blade X]

Why is there such elitism and xenophobia that you all don't want non-Americans to be portrayed as 'good guys' in the movie? To have no international members is to convey the message that only Americans are actively involved in combating terrorists while the rest of the world sit idle and simply not care.

You're missing the point. No one is saying that we don't want to see non-Americans portrayed as "good guys". What we are complaining about is the decision to turn G.I. JOE from an American military team to an international military team because they (Hasbro and Paramount) are afraid that the movie won't be well received in the international market. Is it so wrong to depict the American military in a positive light for a change?

OMT, America is made up of people from all over the world. The same goes for our military. So it is hardly "elitist" or "xenophobia" for us to want to see an all American G.I. JOE team made up of Americans from various racial,ethnic,and religious backgrounds who were either born here or immigrated here from another country.

 

[mr. peasant]

You're missing the point. No one is saying that we don't want to see non-Americans portrayed as "good guys". What we are complaining about is the decision to turn G.I. JOE from an American military team to an international military team because they (Hasbro and Paramount) are afraid that the movie won't be well received in the international market. Is it so wrong to depict the American military in a positive light for a change?

It's not a refusal to depict the American military in a positive light but rather a sharing of said light with other countries. American characters are still going to be in the movie.

The thing about making G.I. Joe purely American is that this leaves non-Americans down to smaller, bit parts or as villains. The latter would be where (whether rightly or wrongly) the film would then be accused of xenophobia. Hence, Hasbro's taking a precautionary step in preventing this by ensuring the international audience is represented amongst the protagonists as well.

OMT, America is made up of people from all over the world. The same goes for our military. So it is hardly "elitist" or "xenophobia" for us to want to see an all American G.I. JOE team made up of Americans from various racial,ethnic,and religious backgrounds who were either born here or immigrated here from another country.

Even if what you say is true, they probably form a small minority in the military and will probably still be viewed in the big screen.

What makes me POd is that the producers are so ashamed of America that they think that GI Joe needs to have their HQ in Brussels and not the US. I mean, the US is where the UN is hosted, so is it really that big a stretch for GI Joe to be based there, even if they did turn them into a "Globally Integrated" unit?

Well, to be fair, Geneva, Switzerland also headquarters the UN. Additionally, they might be going with the 'secret headquarters' vibe in which case the U.S. seems to obvious and not exotic enough a location for it to be hidden.

 

[Desslar]

The political element is called being politically correct so no one will get offended and everyone will love it and make it an Academy Award winner.

Someday I'd like to visit the universe where GI Joe movies can become Academy Award contenders.

Hey, according to Don Murphy, putting Tom Sawyer in LXG would make the movie popular with Americans and make the movie commercially lucrative and a big hit. Yuppers . . . oh wait.

You don't think the movie being a pile of crap might be the primary reason for its failure?

Because Hollywood is ALWAYS right and in touch with their target audience. They know ALWAYS know what to do to make their target audiences happy and for the movies to NEVER bomb. ALWAYS, 100% perfect.

Show me a business that does make the right decision 100% of the time. I'd sure love to invest in it.

 

[co2]

G.I. Joe was basically the comic that got me into collecting comics as a hobby when I was a kid. I really will be heart broken when this movie comes out because they are just going to screw it so badly. Next thing we will hear, it is going to be a comedy.

 

[Starscreamer]

CC was akin to Starscream because it was a cartoon.

CC has been handled seriously in the comics, and could easily be a credible threat in a GI Joe film.

Unlike Starscream though CC IS actually the leader and Destro never had the ability to overthrow him they had to create Serpentor to do that

 

[TheVileOne]

You don't think the movie being a pile of crap might be the primary reason for its failure?

Tom Sawyer was part of that. He symbolized what was wrong with that stupid movie.

Show me a business that does make the right decision 100% of the time. I'd sure love to invest in it.

Pixar is pretty spotless and you should invest in them.

Obviously the joke flew over your head. My whole point was that they are making the wrong decisions here and that Hollywood most of the time when in their infinite wisdom they make these stupid changes to make the property more commercially lucrative, they are way off.

It's not a refusal to depict the American military in a positive light but rather a sharing of said light with other countries. American characters are still going to be in the movie.

But it's always been an American team with a diverse group of people made up in it.

The thing about making G.I. Joe purely American is that this leaves non-Americans down to smaller, bit parts or as villains. The latter would be where (whether rightly or wrongly) the film would then be accused of xenophobia. Hence, Hasbro's taking a precautionary step in preventing this by ensuring the international audience is represented amongst the protagonists as well.

When have people EVER accused GI JOE of being xenophobic before? This claim is totally unfounded, and I'd like to see where it comes from. To me that's a stupid, naive, and quite frankly baseless fear.

 

[mr. peasant]

Tom Sawyer was part of that. He symbolized what was wrong with that stupid movie.

And what was is that he symbolized, aside from Americans (Not saying there's anything wrong with being American. Just seeking clarification on what Sawyer represented.)?

Pixar is pretty spotless and you should invest in them.

Can't argue with you there. Pixar's got a pretty flawless record when it comes to CG family movies.

When have people EVER accused GI JOE of being xenophobic before? This claim is totally unfounded, and I'd like to see where it comes from. To me that's a stupid, naive, and quite frankly baseless fear.

If you're referring to the comic, that's because they've been largely unavailable outside of North America. If you're referring to the cartoons and toys, that's because they were marketed as 'International Heroes', thus were cast as not exclusively American.

Additionally, the cartoons, toys and comics are largely only exposed to their target demographic which is somewhat small. A movie on the other hand has a much wider audience, and will be held under scrutiny by many other people (non target audience), especially given it's subject matter (terrorism).

 

[Timstuff]

Tom Sawyer symbolized that the studio execs. were the ones in charge of LXG, and that they were willing to butcher the source material for the sake of widening the target demographic. Sounds a lot like the GI Joe movie, no?

If the GI Joe comics and cartoons are not well known outside of the US, but the toys are, then the movie will be seen as a toy movie outside of the US, which I don't think will fare very well. If they want to make a movie that does well internationally, they should just make a new IP. GI Joe is as American as apple pie, so the American audience should come first, even if that means giving the movie a lower budget and making profit on a slightly smaller scale. That does not mean that they should make a movie that's impossible to sell internationally, but if that is the focus of the descision making (which it is), then they shouldn't be making a GI Joe movie!

It's like making a James Bond movie where Bond works for the UN. He's FREAKING MI6, and you can't change that! If James Bond can be a British intelligence agent, then GI Joe can be US special forces.

 

[mr. peasant]

GI Joe is as American as apple pie, so the American audience should come first, even if that means giving the movie a lower budget and making profit on a slightly smaller scale.

I am well aware that G.I. Joe is 'as American as apple pie' in America. But also remember that everywhere else in the world, it's mostly known as 'Action Force' or 'G.I. Joe: International Heroes' and has been so for decades. Hence, the argument for an international team (which includes Americans) is just as valid as one for a purely American team.

The problem with shrinking the scale is that the movie rights belong to Paramount, which is a very big company as far as movies are concerned. Hence, they won't (and probably can't due to reputation) focus on a small movie aimed at a small audience, especially when said movie had the additional cost of purchasing a brand name added to it.

It's like making a James Bond movie where Bond works for the UN. He's FREAKING MI6, and you can't change that! If James Bond can be a British intelligence agent, then GI Joe can be US special forces.

The difference here is that the James Bond movie franchise made its name in an era where portraying Brits versus Russia was widely acceptable. Additionally, at the time it was made, James Bond was largely targeted at a British demographic but became internationally popular (because its theme was acceptable in that era). The G.I. Joe movie is one targeting an international audience.

Anyway, my argument is that a G.I. Joe movie featuring and focusing on the American military under the control of the American government is unfeasible given the target numbers movies now aim for and the current political climate. Perhaps if it was done ten or twenty years ago when the issue of terrorism wasn't such a touchy subject (and number one international issue) or in another ten or twenty years down the road when (hopefully) America's international reputation and image have improved. Currently, the best bet for a revival and reintroduction of the G.I. Joe franchise to a new generation lies in making the movie with an international flavor.

 

[MaximusCannabis]

Wait a minute. We're talking about toys here, not the real military. The only person getting disrespected is Larry Hama.

Hama should feel honored for creating such discussion. We should all be so lucky.

 

[TheVileOne]

And what was is that he symbolized, aside from Americans (Not saying there's anything wrong with being American. Just seeking clarification on what Sawyer represented.)?

Butchering the source material and not staying true to the source material to increase your audience and making it more appealing. Just like Hollywood is trying to do to GI JOE now.

If you're referring to the comic, that's because they've been largely unavailable outside of North America. If you're referring to the cartoons and toys, that's because they were marketed as 'International Heroes', thus were cast as not exclusively American.

The casts and stories remained the same. It was changed in NAME only.

Additionally, the cartoons, toys and comics are largely only exposed to their target demographic which is somewhat small. A movie on the other hand has a much wider audience, and will be held under scrutiny by many other people (non target audience), especially given it's subject matter (terrorism).

EH, GI JOE is practically a household name. It's a big franchise and brandname. It has roots from the 60's. GI JOE was part of the childhood of a lot of kids growing up. Not just the material that's been around for 25 years.

If they hate the influences that badly, just change the name to ACTION FORCE or whatever.

 

[Blade X]

The thing about making G.I. Joe purely American is that this leaves non-Americans down to smaller, bit parts or as villains. The latter would be where (whether rightly or wrongly) the film would then be accused of xenophobia. Hence, Hasbro's taking a precautionary step in preventing this by ensuring the international audience is represented amongst the protagonists as well.



Even if what you say is true, they probably form a small minority in the military and will probably still be viewed in the big screen.

Let me ask you a question. How many foreign made action movies have American characters in them? Do you think foreign made movies in general should include Americans and other nationalities in order to appeal Americans and other foreign countries?

And if you think the racial,ethnic,and religious diversity in the American military is rare or very small, you definitely don't know a damn thing about our military, or our country for that matter.

What country are you from and where do you get your information about America and our military?

 

[mr. peasant]

Let me ask you a question. How many foreign made action movies have American characters in them? Do you think foreign made movies in general should include Americans and other nationalities in order to appeal Americans and other foreign countries?

The difference is that most foreign films are marketed specifically for members of said nationality. Primarily, only American and British movies have a general international appeal and following.

Additionally, my point is not that all action movies need to have international characters but rather it's needed for this movie in particular. The reason for this is the subject matter, which relates to international terrorism. Hence, the movie ought to give credit where credit is due and thus could, and probably should give credit to the work done by anti-terrorist organizations around the world and not solely the American military, since as stated before, the movie is going to be shown worldwide.

And if you think the racial,ethnic,and religious diversity in the American military is rare or very small, you definitely don't know a damn thing about our military, or our country for that matter.

I never denied that there is racial, ethnic and religious diversity in your military. What I'm saying is that I suspect that only a small percentage (if any) of your military is comprised of foreign nationals of which none hold any high ranking posts.

 

[Blade X]

The difference is that most foreign films are marketed specifically for members of said nationality. Primarily, only American and British movies have a general international appeal and following.

Additionally, my point is not that all action movies need to have international characters but rather it's needed for this movie in particular. The reason for this is the subject matter, which relates to international terrorism. Hence, the movie ought to give credit where credit is due and thus could, and probably should give credit to the work done by anti-terrorist organizations around the world and not solely the American military, since as stated before, the movie is going to be shown worldwide.



I never denied that there is racial, ethnic and religious diversity in your military. What I'm saying is that I suspect that only a small percentage (if any) of your military is comprised of foreign nationals of which none hold any high ranking posts.

Well they could always introduce special anti terrorist task forces from various countries if they don't want to show only American's fighting the war on terror. Heck, they did it with the Russian version of G.I. JOE, the October Guard in the comics and the cartoon.

My bad, I thought you were talking about racial,ethnic,and religious diversity in our military. That being said, there are many foreign nationals who came to this country when they were children, who serve in our military.

 

[mr. peasant]

Well they could always introduce special anti terrorist task forces from various countries if they don't want to show only American's fighting the war on terror. Heck, they did it with the Russian version of G.I. JOE, the October Guard in the comics and the cartoon.

My bad, I thought you were talking about racial,ethnic,and religious diversity in our military. That being said, there are many foreign nationals who came to this country when they were children, who serve in our military.

No worries, double checked what I said and realized my wording was pretty bad.

Anyway, they could go with the October Guard thing but introducing two anti-terrorist groups in one movie would decentralize the focus from G.I. Joe and could easily lead to confusion. And considering having the groups work together would effectively produce a similar effect as having them all lumped together into a single group. Yeah, it's lazy writing but I reckon it helps to streamline the movie's plot and makes it a little easier to follow (for those unfamiliar with the brand).

 

[bullets]

yeah i think it will be simplified