G.I. Joe movie producers decide: U.S. military or “global” outfit?
posted at 3:57 pm on August 25, 2007 by Allahpundit
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The choice was clear. Surprise.
In a follow-up to their confirmation that Stephen Sommers will direct G.I. Joe, Variety offers this new description of the team: “G.I. Joe is now a Brussels-based outfit that stands for Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity, an international co-ed force of operatives who use hi-tech equipment to battle Cobra, an evil organization headed by a double-crossing Scottish arms dealer. The property is closer in tone to X-Men and James Bond than a war film.”…
So why the changes? Hasbro and Paramount execs recently spoke about the challenges of marketing a film about the U.S. military at a time when the current U.S. administration and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are at a low-point in global polls. When a studio makes a film as expensive as G.I. Joe will likely be, they want to know that as many people as possible around the world will want to see it. In other words, G.I. Joe — “A Real American Hero” — is a tough sell.
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Pathetic.
JayHaw Phrenzie on August 25, 2007 at 3:59 PM
Depressing isn’t it? Another American classic about to be ruined by Hollywood leftists.
At least I gave Allah something to post on…
Bad Candy on August 25, 2007 at 4:04 PM
A double-crossing Scottish arms dealer? No wonder the youth of today has no grip on reality.
drmanyee on August 25, 2007 at 4:04 PM
G I J O E ?
Gives In(to) Jihadists OnlyN Europe
William Amos on August 25, 2007 at 4:08 PM
But he’ll set about ye!
ReubenJCogburn on August 25, 2007 at 4:11 PM
Who cares what Polls say. Despite the polls the globe keeps buying American Goods! Controversy sells. Don’t they read the tabloids.
Egfrow on August 25, 2007 at 4:12 PM
Well one movie I can cross off my “to see list” “the new superman” movie was bad enough add to it the last star wars liberal rant fest and it becomes increasingly clear that Hollywood would rather get their message out then make money. Yet, people continue to wonder why video games are out pacing movies in growth. The day liberal take the reins of the video game industry is the day that industry will start to self destruct also.
unseen on August 25, 2007 at 4:32 PM
Pardon my French, but this is seriously fucked. This is worse than when they invented that stupid-ass Cobra idiot.
What’s next, making Holly Hobby the leader of a Dykes-on-Bikes motorcycle gang?
Squid Vicious on August 25, 2007 at 4:34 PM
So Destro now heads Cobra…. why do I think that Cobra Commander got nixed for the possibility of some steamy Baroness screen time.
The exit question should be: What 2nd tier Joe comes out of the closet during the film.
rw on August 25, 2007 at 4:36 PM
If someone just made an apologetically American film about killing terrorists, it would gross a ton.
frankj on August 25, 2007 at 4:38 PM
I mean “unapologetically.”
frankj on August 25, 2007 at 4:38 PM
Hollywood can’t make villains. You see there aren’t any in their view. GI Joe is the villain here.
Egfrow on August 25, 2007 at 4:39 PM
I thought that’s what you meant. Glad you cleared that up.
Egfrow on August 25, 2007 at 4:40 PM
This is the kind of thinking that permeates Hollywierd now. It’s unfortunate that Hasbro has bought into it. They should be sticking closer to the original G.I. Joe, not distancing themselves from it. This movie is going to tank, fast and bad.
eclark1849 on August 25, 2007 at 4:56 PM
It’s so stupid it amazes me. Forget the “world” audience, what’s going to happen when Americans won’t got see the thing? I know I won’t.
Spassvogel on August 25, 2007 at 5:09 PM
Um, we are talking about dolls, right?
Kini on August 25, 2007 at 5:10 PM
GI Joe is a classic, Kini. You don’t screw with classics.
Bad Candy on August 25, 2007 at 5:13 PM
Alright then, I’m all for seeing Barbie in uniform.
Kini on August 25, 2007 at 5:17 PM
They aren’t dolls. They’re action figures.
Huge difference. HUGE. :p
ReubenJCogburn on August 25, 2007 at 5:17 PM
Actually BC, I’ll buy into it, if and only if, George Galloway is the Scottish Arms dealer and these are the new GI Joe
Kini on August 25, 2007 at 5:24 PM
GI Joe is as American is apple pie and football (not baseball anymore sorry)! GI Joe IS the American soldier - that’s what they are called!
woodman on August 25, 2007 at 5:28 PM
Kini, I guess I should clarify, of course, you can just click Allah’s link and know my thoughts on this. We’ve been seeing Hollywood and toy manufacturers ‘remaking’ things that were perfect as they were and turning them to crap.
I got a piece linked here a few days ago on a Ferris Bueller’s Day Off sequel, which you can see at the the link Allah has in the post. I and others are just getting damn tired of seeing classics and childhood memories ruined with crappy remakes. What next, Citizen Kane 2: Rosebud Boogaloo?
Bad Candy on August 25, 2007 at 5:33 PM
Music too, how many crappy remake songs are floating around?
Bad Candy on August 25, 2007 at 5:33 PM
Hollywood is lying when they say they can’t market a movie like this in other countries–ANY movie from America does huge business outside the USA for no other reason than the majority of all other nation’s movies are budgetless amateur films devoid of style or substance. Anything we export to them is treated with awe and wonder because the actors are semi-natural and the action takes place outside a poorly-lit rented apartment in some nondescript European city.
Steven Sommers–of all frickin’ people–KNOWS this to be true. Deep Rising? Those Mummy remakes? Van Helsing? All made 2X more money outside the USA.
If they would’ve done a live-action G.I. Joe movie just like the 80s cartoon, it would’ve been huge. This is purely advancing a political agenda.
ScottMcC on August 25, 2007 at 5:35 PM
I just heard my G.I. Joe
dollaction figure let out a sorrowful sigh.Zaire67 on August 25, 2007 at 5:39 PM
I did read your excellent piece on it BC. I agree it’s the most stupidest idea I’ve ever heard trying to reinvent the classic American toy soldier. It’s obvious a PC way to tone down the American GI Joe look into Euro Claus anti action mamby-pamby hero.
What I find interesting, or rather distressing, is the move to Europeanize Joe and take the Americanization out. Thus the Brussels spin.
A secular progressive Joe to what was a traditional Joe.
My morning coffee
Joewill never be the same again. So, I make lite of it, just to keep my sanity.I know some of my comments fall in line with the intelligence of Teen Miss South Carolina, but there you have it.
Kini on August 25, 2007 at 6:05 PM
In case the film makers don’t understand G.I. stands for Government Issue from the mouths of our own troops during WWII. I really can’t stand Hollyweird and their hate of everything American. Another reason to not watch their crappy movies.
KC-135A on August 25, 2007 at 6:07 PM
Is Hasbro going to learn a lesson via Superman Returns? Nope. Hasbro gets to have the blogs assaulting their agenda before the movie even comes out! At least the backlash against Superman Returns started after the films release. Superman Returns did not even cover production costs in the domestic market.
Now I ask you what is going to have more international appeal Superman or GI Joe? Exactly. The same formula that got Superman Returns less than rave reviews is being duplicated with a less internationally iconic series, to try and market it internationally. Does liberal non sequitor have no limit? Apparently so…
Get a clue liberals your ideology does not sell. Don’t ruin an American icon for the sake of your ideology.
Theworldisnotenough on August 25, 2007 at 6:15 PM
LOL, it will be on the Chinese black market before it gets released here. $2 a copy - no limit.
BobK on August 25, 2007 at 6:17 PM
Hasbro needs to cowboy up.
“Team America. F#ck yeah.”
bofh on August 25, 2007 at 6:31 PM
You are so right about that. For now, if anyone knows how to run a M.A.M.E program, I’d strongly recommend you download Konami’s GI Joe video game from 1992. Go to CoolRom and first get the M.A.M.E component, then go to this page, and when the download button generates, you can download the game. And if you’d like to see what the game is like up front, here’s a recording on YouTube.
I agree. There are movies with more than enough American culture that have done well in foreign countries and nobody complained, so I don’t buy into their nonsensical excuses either. I wonder if Hasbro should be subject to a boycott if they agree to allow their franchise to be tampered with?
Avi Green on August 25, 2007 at 6:33 PM
I went to Hasbro.com and registered my complaints.
http://hasbro.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/hasbro.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php
Then look for the “email us” tab at the top.
I let them have it for approving such a core change to a beloved franchise.
Spassvogel on August 25, 2007 at 7:02 PM
I’ll bet that Hasbro will be putting a baby blue helmet on GI Joe and Hillary will follow up by putting baby blue helmets on all of our military as soon as she can.
Buzzy on August 25, 2007 at 7:45 PM
I wouldn’t mind this, to be honest; but what over-exposed, under-qualified, anti-American bimbo will play her?
except rightists and patriots…
urbancenturion on August 25, 2007 at 8:04 PM
I’m gonna puke.
Iblis on August 25, 2007 at 10:50 PM
Yes, we must teach the children to “think globally.”
Maxx on August 25, 2007 at 10:58 PM
Cobra is now headed up by Fat Bastard???
If they really wanted make money, G.I. Joe would be a movie about American Special Ops badasses kickin’ the crap out of Al Qaeda in Iraq and Afghanistan … because that’s what they’re doin’ right now! It’s a true freakin’ story and those always make the best movies! Look at the success of 300! Look at how “Kingdom of Heaven” bombed! People wanna see good vs. evil and they want THEIR side to be the good guys, dammit! Stupid hollywood punks.
By the way, when I was stationed in England, they had the G.I. Joe cartoon, except they called it “Strike Force” or something like that. All they gotta do is have some British S.A.S. guys fighting alongside Joe (which they ARE) and the problem is solved. Anybody else who doesn’t like it, don’t go see it, but they’re gonna have more people here NOT seeing it for this reason then people SEEING it overseas.
Tony737 on August 25, 2007 at 11:31 PM
Best comment so far: “They’re not dolls. They’re action figures.” - Rueben
hahahahaaaaaa
Tony737 on August 25, 2007 at 11:34 PM
Hey, I just thought of something. The bad guy is gonna be Scottish … I’M Scottish! … I’m OFFENDED! … I’m INSULTED! … I’m ENRAGED! … I’m gonna riot! I’m gonna blow stuff up and burn stuff down! Whoooo hooooo! This is awesome!
Tony737 on August 25, 2007 at 11:44 PM
Remember when G.I. Joe was being held hostage by A.Q.I.? They tried to pass a doll … um *action figure* … off as a live soldier. Thank God our enemies are such morons!
Tony737 on August 25, 2007 at 11:53 PM
So I take it Cobra Commander is now going to have a solid metal kilt instead of a mask?
You can almost guarantee if if Destro is in it, they will unmask him and see he’s really Karl Rove
LordDaMan on August 26, 2007 at 12:18 AM
The only upside: the result may be so stupid as to inspire Parker and Stone to make another puppet movie.
someone on August 26, 2007 at 12:20 AM
Not to worry. The movie will never make it to production.
They won’t be able to find actors with that necessary combination of scarred cheek, lifelike hair and beard, and rivets through their wrists and knees…
Captain Scarlet on August 26, 2007 at 5:32 AM
…although it could merit an R rating, depending on how tha kung fu grip is used…
Captain Scarlet on August 26, 2007 at 5:32 AM
G.I. Joe! (A real
American Herointernational patsy!)BKennedy on August 26, 2007 at 10:35 AM
F*** Hollywood with a post-hole digger.
They have to kiss a lot of a** from here on out to get any of my money.
And no, it’s not just because of this BS move. This is just one of those “tipping points” they like to talk about.
Look, ma, I’m finally coming over to the stupid “boycott” point of view. I feel dirty, but less dirty than I would if I pay money to see this fetid turd.
If they want to do a movie about an elite UN force, the pedophilia, rape and standing by and watching terrorists slaughter innocents would probably get it at least an R rating.
Merovign on August 26, 2007 at 3:56 PM
Which reminds me, what the frick is it with the “totally screw up something existing rather than make your own damned idea” thing?
I mean, the new BSG has been (on and off) a good show, it’s just NOT Battlestar Galactica. Just give it a new name and quit trying to drag an extra few bucks out of a known name you’re not going to honor anyway.
Merovign on August 26, 2007 at 3:58 PM