Apparently 'G.I. Joe' Delivers Big-Time Mindless Mayhem!
Filed under: Action
One of the bigger surprises of the late-summer movie geekery is that Stephen Sommers' G.I. Joe is getting surprisingly positive reviews! I guess it's just that late-summer action flicks are assumed to be moronic by default, but that hasn't prevented a big fistful of online movie geeks from expressing their incredulous praise for the family-friendly action flick. Our own Todd Gilchrist saw and enjoyed the flick, and we'll throw you a teaser excerpt after the jump, but he reminded me that there's nothing really like hyper-kinetic and virtually mindless action films when you're in the mood for something fun.With that in mind, I humbly offer a few of my favorite "Mindless Mayhem Moments."
The final car chase in Doomsday. Well-cut, well-scored, and wonderfully manic.
ANY car chase in Death Race.
The alley brawl in Charlie's Angels.
The alley brawl in They Live.
The ridiculous car chase in The Rock that was actually a late re-shoot.
The phenomenal opening scene of District B-13. And the casino brawl.
The dislodged mill wheel sword fight in Pirates 2.
Gene Hackman delivering a Denzel bitchslap (twice!) in Crimson Tide.
Con Air. Deep Rising. Hard Rain. Yep, all three.
Or if you're in a big hurry, throw Crank, Running Scared and Shoot 'Em Up into a multi-disc player and push "random scene." Do dvd players have that button? Well, they should.
And here's the piece from Todd's review that reminded me how much I actually adore "Mindless Mayhem."
The song that plays over the closing credits of the film is the Black Eyed Peas' new single "Boom Boom Pow," and it – and the majority of their music, quite frankly – is emblematic of G.I. Joe's charms: full of irresistible, disposable hooks, it's superficial entertainment at best, but satisfyingly so if you're into that kind of thing. The characters are just as one-dimensional as when they were actually one-dimensional, including the substance of their heroism or villainy; the action is as ridiculously huge, even if here, as opposed to the eternally-upbeat cartoon, those involved can't always parachute or otherwise escape to safety. But who needs a G.I. Joe universe where things are more complicated or subtle than that? Certainly no one who actually has a vested interest in seeing the film.
Full review next week! And of course you're invited to share your favorite "MM" moments as well.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-31-2009 @ 11:03PM
MCW said...
Just the sheer mention of B13 gives me goosebumps of anticipation for District 14. I am so so ready to be blown away.
To me, GI JOE sounds like the next Fantastic Four. Just pure CGI and action entertainment, no story necessary. That's what made that series fun to watch, and if they did it right, that'll be what will make GI worth it.
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7-31-2009 @ 11:10PM
Wayne said...
Why is Cinematical pushing this movie so hard? The movie looks terrible. Worse than either Transformers movie terrible. Four, count 'em, four, reviews are posted on Rotten Tomatoes. That's too small a sample to suggest the movie is getting positive reviews. I'll be shocked if it scores higher 45% on Rotten Tomatoes by the end of the weekend it opens.
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7-31-2009 @ 11:15PM
MCW said...
Looks can be deceiving. I try to reserve comments until after seeing the full film, no matter what we're talking about. I've been surprised too many times by off-the-wall stuff, to just consider something garbage by a trailer.
I don't know how hard Cinematical's been pushing it, but I'm interested in seeing the film for what it is. Not every film should force the viewer to contemplate what they're watching.
7-31-2009 @ 11:19PM
MCW said...
Take Speed Racer for instance. I could've listened to everyone and NOT watched it, but I did, and I'm glad. It's a pretty good film, and the special effects are particularly amazing. They went overboard with some things, but if I'd judged it based on the trailer alone, I'd be in the same boat as everyone who claimed it was terrible (Judging by sales, none of these people actually saw the movie to begin with).
8-01-2009 @ 12:49AM
Oblique said...
@MCW
I agree with you I was hating on Speed racer at first just following the bandwagon, but when I rented it on Blu-ray my mind changed and I ended up buying it too, that movie is awesome, I just wish the studios would of released it in the fall time and not the crowded summer season, where iron man took it out.
8-01-2009 @ 9:41PM
Andy said...
I beg to differ... there's not a lot that can be worse than living through Transformers 2 in IMAX. Which I somehow did...I was one of the lucky ones that made it.
I haven't seen GI Joe... but I think it's safe to say that if I don't feel physically ill afterward, it will be better than TF2. If I don't leave the theater immediately calling friends and family warning them away with the ferocity of a massive gas leak in their house.... it'll be better than TF2.
Some people are going easy on GI Joe because of the immediately bad buzz it's been getting for no particular reason. If GI Joe can at the very least not act like it's an important drama, like TF2 did during times when clumps of metal weren't clanging into other clumps of metal, it will be a success.
8-01-2009 @ 1:01AM
Stan Winsome said...
Um I'm sorry but Speed Racer *was* utter crap. It's borderline unwatchable. That said, I'm sure GI JOE will make back it's dough.
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8-01-2009 @ 12:37PM
MCW said...
Explain why, please.
8-01-2009 @ 6:12PM
Tortuga said...
Speed Racer is awesome. One of my favorite films.
8-01-2009 @ 7:12AM
pete thomson said...
I dont think that part of a movie being mindless should be seen as a good thing, the context is what makes these action sequences work ! How far have we come where mindless entertainment - that is largely all about advertising the game, merchandise and product placement- is now acceptable. If GI-Joe is rubbish but is a hit due to blanket distribution and marketing then thats yet another more intelligent movie- that doesnt pander to stereotypes- that wont get made. How depressing anyway that we live in an age where what is essentially a kids movie can be so successfully targeted to adults with a bit of sex, glorified mild violence and a few mild wisecracks. I hope the people who go an see it enjoy it and dont question why they never get to see intelligent movies at their local Multiplex anymore!
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8-01-2009 @ 1:41PM
Tom said...
Ho
Lee
Crap
Chill out, people. You're making it sound like you want every single movie to be the exact same movie. I'll try not to delve too much into my own opinion since that's subjective... but Speed Racer was successful (not financially, but as entertainment art) because it was so different and so new. Tell me you've seen anything like it before. That said, comparing GI Joe and Speed Racer is like (pardon the overused analogy) comparing apples and oranges. Yeah, they're both summer movies based on cartoons but they are entirely different beasts (I won't go in to why, the reasons should be obvious). GI Joe has always looked like mere mindless action to me and I'm glad that the few reviews that are out so far have demonstrated that. There's nothing wrong with a little escapism - something that helps people forget their lives for 90 minutes or so. Sure, my very favorite movies are more sophisticated than say, Ultraviolet, but I like Ultraviolet too. It's not a great movie by any means but it accomplishes what it sets out to accomplish. As "McG" has stated on a commentary track, to make a film about the human condition is a great thing but to make a film that forgets the human condition is also great. I hope GI Joe does well just as a slap in the face to the nay-sayers who for some weird reason have been thinking all along that the film is targeted at them (when it is so very clearly a film for young boys, as anything from the Joe line always has been).
If you're going to be pissed about a movie, get pissed about G-Force.
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8-02-2009 @ 3:02AM
scott said...
"Can you just GET asthma?"
I love Deep Rising.
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8-02-2009 @ 3:10AM
King Khan said...
Every movie has its audience. Like most of you a** hole* like shitty speedracer. well i believe the climatic 5 mins car chase of doomsday was better then that shit.
I Hail to michael bay the guyz is god of action. Speedracer is for sissy, barbies. too much color almost make you vomet. it good to see the speed but come on guyz. Even terminator salvation was better standlone version from its predesessors.
for MCW with love. Speedracer was trash. please burn your blue rays & buy Vanishing point or Steeve McQueens Bullit. If you want your heads blown away.
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8-06-2009 @ 7:38AM
The Dutchman said...
First of all, I saw GI Joe today, fantastic movie. Reminds you of what made the cartoon so fun to watch.
I've been reading some of the debating comments and some people to me just seem so stupid.
Movies like Speed Racer, GI Joe and Transformers are summer blockbusters and a summer blockbuster by definiton isn't one of your typical movies where its all story and gripping and academy award winning, I love movies like that but you can't have that all the time. Movies would get boring. A summer blockbuster is just an action packed fun ride with a small story that holds it all together and people really enjoy that.
@Andy, Transformers 2 in IMAX was awesome and I think you're a complete idiot. How can you compare Transformers to a massive gas leak? If you can't watch a movie like Transformers or GI Joe and not enjoy the blockbuster action for the simple fun that it is, then I say you're an idiot.
Critics have given Transformers 2 shit reviews and yet in a little over a month it has made over $800Million. Clearly you, as well as the critics, just don't understand fun.
Transformers, GI Joe and Speed Racer were great entertainment films and I loved every minute watching them.
More power to Michael Bay, the man knows how to make a great film. Comedy, Drama and Action all rolled into a single film. Armageddon any one? One of the best films ever.
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