G.I. Joe: The Movie
G.I. Joe: The Movie | |
---|---|
![]() North American poster | |
Directed by | Don Jurwich |
Written by | Buzz Dixon(uncredited)[1] Ron Friedman |
Based on | G.I. Joe byHasbro |
Produced by | Joe Bacal Tom Griffin |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Masatoshi Fukui |
Edited by | David Hankins |
Music by | Robert J. Walsh Jon Douglas |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Celebrity Home Entertainment |
Release date |
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Running time | 93 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
G.I. Joe: The Movie(also known asAction Force: The Moviein the UK) is a 1987 Americandirect-to-videoanimatedmilitary science fictionaction filmproduced as a sequel to the 1983 animated seriesG.I. Joe: A Real American Hero,based on the originalHasbrotoyline.[2]It was produced bySunbow ProductionsandMarvel Productionsand was animated inJapanbyToei Animation Co., Ltd.
Created at the height of theG.I. Joecraze in the 1980s,G.I. Joe: The Moviewas intended as a theatrical release to be closely followed byThe Transformers: The Movie.However, the G.I. Joe film encountered unexpected production delays which allowed theTransformersfeature to be released first. Due to the poor box office performances ofThe Transformers: The MovieandMy Little Pony: The Movie,G.I. Joe: The Moviewas instead released direct-to-video as well as aired on television in syndication, first in feature-length format[citation needed]and later split into a five-part miniseries format as part of the series' syndication package. It was followed by the 1989 animated seriesG.I. Joe: A Real American Hero(considered a separate series from the 1983 animated series of the same name).
Plot
[edit]WhileCobra CommanderandSerpentorblame each other's stewardship ofCobraas the root cause of the organization's failures, Pythona, a woman from the secret civilization Cobra-La, infiltrates the Terror Drome.[3]While there, she reveals to Serpentor that Cobra-La was responsible for inspiringDoctor Mindbenderto create him through dream manipulation. At her urging, Serpentor plans to captureG.I. Joe's latest weapon, the Broadcast Energy Transmitter (BET).
Cobra assaults the Joes as they test the BET in the Himalayas. The Joes use the BET to activate their automated weapons systems. Serpentor is captured and Cobra Commander orders a retreat. Cobra Commander leads his troops into Cobra-La.
As the Joes celebrate their victory, a new group of rookie Joes are brought onto the team, including the allegedly clumsykunoichiJinx,military police officerLaw and his dog Order,former basketball playerBig Lob,EODspecialistTunnel Rat,undercover officerChuckles,andDuke's reckless half-brother,Lt. Falcon,aGreen Beret.
In Cobra-La, the Joe forces are ambushed and detained within the Lovecraftian living environment. The Cobra soldiers are met by the civilization's leader Golobulus, who has Pythona and his other henchman, Nemesis Enforcer, arrest Cobra Commander. While there, Cobra learns about their history: 40,000 years ago, Cobra-La was a prehistoric civilization that ruled Earth. However, the Ice Age, the evolution of humans and their development of scientific technology resulted in Cobra-La's survivors being forced into caverns within theHimalayas.Cobra-La rebuilt their society in secret as centuries passed. Golobulus vowed to destroy humanity so that his people could reclaim the earth. He eventually discovered a nobleman who was working on biological weapons. The nobleman later became Cobra Commander, charged with conquering the world for Cobra-La. However, Cobra Commander's repeated failures caused Golobulus to use a Psychic Motivator on Doctor Mindbender to create Serpentor.
Meanwhile, a disguisedZaranauses Falcon to infiltrate Serpentor's holding cell. Falcon is put on guard duty by his older half-brother Duke as a punishment for skipping the training earlier. Falcon abandons his post to flirt with Jinx, while the Dreadnoks and Nemesis Enforcer free Serpentor, injuringAlpine,BazookaandGung-Hoin the process.General Hawkscolds Falcon for dereliction of duty and confines him to his quarters untilcourt-martial.
In Cobra-La, Cobra Commander is tried and Golobulus reveals his plans to launch spore pods, filled with mutative spores into space and use the BET to hatch them thus dooming humanity. He punishes Cobra Commander for his repeated failures following his trial by exposing him to the spores,[4]which transforms Cobra Commander into a snake.[5]He flees and makes his way to the Joes' camp with Roadblock.
Convinced by Duke to spare Falcon from a harsh punishment, General Hawk reassigns Falcon to the "Slaughter House" where he is to be retrained bySgt. Slaughterand his "Renegades" consisting of ex-ViperMercer,former football playerRed Dog,and former acrobatTaurus.On a weaponless recon mission in the Terror Drome, the five learn of Cobra's plans and that theBaronesshas discovered the location of the BET. As Falcon and the others destroy the Terror Drome, Cobra launches an assault on the Joes. The Joes launch a counterattack on Cobra, but the BET is stolen. Serpentor attempts to kill Falcon, but Duke intervenes and falls into a coma.
Falcon, the Renegades and the new recruits head to the Himalayas to stop Cobra-La. The G.I. Joe team is led to Cobra-La's lair by Cobra Commander. The new recruits prove themselves valuable soldiers as the Joes rescue their captured teammates. Falcon, Jinx and Sgt. Slaughter confront Golobulus, Pythona and Serpentor. The ensuing fight culminates in Jinx and Slaughter sending Pythona and Nemesis Enforcer falling to their apparent demise. Finally, Falcon sends Serpentor out of Cobra-La and reconfigures the BET to incinerate the spore pods in space and destroying Cobra-La. Immediately following the battle, the strike team receives news that Duke has come out of his coma and is recovering.[6]
Voice cast
[edit]- Charlie AdlerasLow-Light
- Shuko AkuneasJinx
- Jack AngelasWet Suit
- Jackson Beckas Narrator
- Michael BellasDuke,Xamot,BlowtorchandLift-Ticket
- Greg BergerasMotor-Viper
- Earl Boenas Taurus
- Arthur BurghardtasDestroandIceberg
- Corey BurtonasTomax
- William CallawayasBeach Head
- François ChauasQuick Kick
- Peter CullenasZandarand Nemesis Enforcer
- Brian CummingsasDoctor Mindbender
- Jennifer Darlingas Pythona
- Laurie Faso asTunnel Rat
- Hank GarrettasDial Tone
- Dick GautierasSerpentor
- Ed GilbertasGeneral Hawk
- Dan GilvezanasSlip Stream
- Zack Hoffman asZartan
- Kene HollidayasRoadblock
- John HostetterasBazooka
- Don JohnsonasLt. Falcon[7]
- Buster JonesasDoc
- Chris LattaasCobra Commander,Gung HoandRipper
- Morgan Lofting asBaroness
- Chuck McCannasLeatherneck
- Michael McConnohieasCross Country
- Mary Lewis asLady Jaye
- Burgess Meredithas Golobulus
- Ron Ortiz asLaw
- Rob PaulsenasSnow Job
- Pat PinneyasMainframe
- Poncie PonceasRed Dog
- Lisa Raggio asZarana/Heather
- Bill RatnerasFlint
- Neil RossasBuzzer,Dusty,Monkeywrench andShipwreck
- Brad Sanders asBig Lob
- Ted Schwartz asThrasher
- Sgt. SlaughterasSgt. Slaughter
- Christopher TaboriasMercer
- B.J. WardasScarlett
- Vernee Watson Johnsonas Scientist
- Lee WeaverasAlpine
- Frank WelkerasTorch,Wild BillandOrder
- Stan Wojno Jr. asLifeline
Production
[edit]The writers did not originally intend for "Cobra-La" to be the name of the rival civilization; this was merely aplaceholder namein the drafts until a more alien label came to mind, but Hasbro executives fell in love with the name and forced the writers to keep it.[8]
In the film's original script, Duke dies in battle after receiving a wound from a snake spear hurled by Serpentor. After this was written into the script, it inspired the death of the Autobot leaderOptimus PrimeinThe Transformers: The Moviewhile both films were in production.[8]However, Optimus Prime's death sparked a severe backlash among both fans and parents, and Hasbro reversed their decision on allowing Duke's death. While the scene was kept, replacement dialogue was inserted stating that Duke had gone into a coma. In the film's ending, it is stated that he had come out of the coma.[9]Writer and story editor Buzz Dixon said in an interview with JoeHeadquarters.com, "[If] you watch the visuals and don't listen to the soundtrack, it's obvious Duke dies."[8]In the original script, the Joes also held his funeral prior to the final battle.[10]
Home media
[edit]Rhino Entertainment/Kid Rhino Entertainment first released the film on DVD on June 20, 2000, with5.1remastered and remixed “Rhinophonic” sound and contains some extra features.Shout! Factoryreleased a remastered special edition on DVD and Blu-ray on July 27, 2010, featuring audio commentary from story consultant (and series writer)Buzz Dixon,and a printable copy of the original screenplay.[10]
References
[edit]- ^"Audio Commentary With G.I. Joe Writer/Story Consultant Buzz Dixon."G.I. Joe: The Movie.Narr. Buzz Dixon. Dir. Don Jurwich. 1987. Special Edition Blu-Ray. Shout! Factory, 2010.
- ^"G.I. Joe: The Movie (Blu-ray)".DVD Talk.RetrievedAugust 14,2010.
- ^GI Joe Movie 1987: Serpentor Assassination Attempt,13 August 2009,archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-21,retrieved2021-02-28
- ^"Trial of Cobra Commander - YouTube".www.youtube.com.18 April 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-21.Retrieved2021-02-21.
- ^"G.I. Joe (1987) /// Was once a man - YouTube".www.youtube.com.22 February 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-21.Retrieved2021-02-21.
- ^GI Joe The Movie 1987 clip 7,25 December 2016,archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-21,retrieved2021-02-28
- ^"G.i. Don".The Los Angeles Times.Retrieved2010-10-22.
- ^abc"G.I. Joe Interview - Buzz Dixon".Joeheadquarters.com. Archived fromthe originalon 2016-04-04.Retrieved2012-09-17.
- ^"G.I. Joe - A real American F.A.Q."yojoe.com.
- ^ab"G.I. JOE A Real American Hero: The Movie".Shout!Factory.Retrieved2012-10-22.
External links
[edit]- 1987 films
- 1980s American animated films
- 1980s science fiction adventure films
- 1987 animated films
- 1987 direct-to-video films
- American children's animated adventure films
- American children's animated science fiction films
- Animated films based on animated series
- Direct-to-video animated films
- Films about terrorism
- Films based on television series
- Animated films set in the Himalayas
- Films scored by Johnny Douglas (conductor)
- Films scored by Robert J. Walsh
- Films with screenplays by Ron Friedman
- G.I. Joe (franchise) animated films
- Marvel Productions films
- Sunbow Entertainment films
- Toei Animation films
- 1980s English-language films
- 1987 science fiction films