I was surprised. I was thinking that I was going to come in here and say that I'm never reading another IO9 review again ("thumbs up" for Land of the Lost? Really?) but I've got to admit that was surprisingly fun.
There were moments of silliness. My personal running complaint was that you could see Snake Eye's lips and then I noticed you could see his eyes too, which was also silly, but nothing more then a minor annoyance. Speaking of minor annoyances, did anyone else think the underwater base used to be a underground base? Maybe I missed something but why would breaking up the ice pack bring the ice coming down? Doesn't ice float?
Still I was surprised at how often I got excited about the whole thing. The base reveal was awesome. Reminded me of everything I loved from the cartoon.
This movie was the polar-fucking-opposite of "fun". I'd seen it (against my better judgement) at the advice of the other nerd sites that were obviously compensated for their endorsement. There is not a single redeeming factor in the entirety of this movie. It makes TF2 look like THE DEER HUNTER. And there it is - EVERY geek website said the same shit, pre-release: 1)"Fun." 2)"It's like playing with toys- THE MOVIE"! 3)"Check your brain at the door". 4)MORE "Fun!!!" And yes, due to this I subjected myself to
"FUN" midnight Thursday, no doubt just as the nerd journalist's planes lifted off their respective runways, Barbados-bound... on Paramount's coin. Oh, and I've had more "FUN" contemplating suicide.
@Erin Snyder: All I know is that is the reason I moved away from Calgary. Cuz of the tower.
If I have only ever learned one thing from monster/disaster movies, it's never live in a city with a well known land mark.
Well, I just got back and I liked it. It was a fun brainless movie. But definitely has some editing issues. I assume those will be fixed when the DVD comes out.
I'm starting to notice a trend. You hate all movies.
I'll bet this movie is genuinely good, like a lot of movies I've seen in my life that most critics hate.
Seriously everyone gets so excited about these movies, even yourself, and then you wind up hating them and saying that they suck... first off: Why are you even getting excited about movies in the first place if you hate them all? and secondly: If every sci fi movie you see is so terrible why don't you go make one and WOW the world.
I'm sick of you people.
and don't even start with that: "You people?" line. It's old, it's tired, it's racist.
@mordennight: I actually agree. People want to re-capture the movies that made them nerds in childhood... back when they were more forgiving and didn't have highly developed, critical minds.
Of course now when a movie comes out, instead of just seeing a preview and getting excited, we follow the creation of the film even as far back as when it gets the greenlight, obsess over concept art and casting, pick apart every creative person involved in the creation of the film, decide whether they are hacks or not, have the experience of insulting other people online who may or may not be anticipating the movie... and by the time it comes around, months to years later... it's usually ALWAYS anti-climactic.
Just the price for being part of a cynical world with all the knowledge of the universe at our fingertips.
@cylon_conspiracy:
I agree that the way films are covered on sites like this creates a lot of unique problems we didn't have a few years ago. And yet here I am every day reading it and enjoying it. Wtf is my problem anyway?!
what does this movie have to do with transformers 2? It's a different movie right?
Why must TF2 be bashed in every review for every subsequent summer film (not just this site--every genre site is using TF2 as their basis of comparison)? Can't GI Joe be 'good' without TF2 having to get knocked in the process?
Would you say GI Joe is better than "Whatever Works", the new Woody Allen movie?
@cylon_conspiracy: Both were based on very popular 80's cartoons, which were both, in turn, based on very popular toy lines.
They have a lot in common, so comparing G.I. Joe to Transformers 2 is more fair than just about any other comparison you could make this summer.
@nworobes: They are totally separate movies. It would be one thing if there was passing reference to it, but every review on every site goes out of its way to bash Transformers before it even gets to actually reviewing the movie.
TF2 made a lot of money. So I got everything "I wanted" from it... two hours of mindless, cheesy jokes and action. I indulge from time to time. But there is no way you are going to convince me that GI Joe has more emotional resonance or intelligence than TF2.
It's just kind of insulting that someone would make fun of TF2 fans, then write a positive review of a movie called "GI JOE" and not see the irony.
@cylon_conspiracy: the fact that it made a lot of money means that Michael Bay got all he wanted out of it, not you.
And a nickle had more emotional resonance and intelligence than Transformers 2.
Also, it's because Transformers 2 made a ton of money that its the standard bearer for shitty summer movies based on 80s cartoons based on toy lines that are all splodey and have not plot. hence why it is mentioned in every GI Joe review. It's a reference point.
I think the writer was reaching in trying to find criticisms about the movie. G.I. Joe ROCKS!!! Was it a "perfect" movie? No. Because NO MOVIE IS! The writer, I think, had to find something wrong simply because it is a summer movie based on a toy line, period. If her perspective was'nt expected and typical, maybe I'd take it halfway seriously.
the stink of disappointment from Transformers 2.
I just don't understand how anybody could be disapointed in TF2. That implies you had positive expectations, which, if you saw TF1, was impossible.
@Pessimipposaurus: Sigh. I bow to your grammatical prowess, I should have phrased my response in a clearer way.While at Slumdog Millionaire, the projector broke and the film started to burn (which actually resulted in wonderfully abstract images being displayed on the screen).
Great review Merideth (as always - LOVE your take on True Blood)! I'm definitely going to see this movie now, and I definitely was not sure I wanted to until now.
I have to ask though... you mention "underwater subs," above. Is there another kind? :-)
So Transformers 2 - racism + chauvinism = G.I. Joe?
Actually after reading this review I'm thinking of maybe going to see the movie, which is impressive considering I’d previously completely written it off.
@RandomFrequentFlierDent: Well Transformers 2 had the slow motion Megan Fox and ever other female character so while G.I. Joe had the damsels in distress and stuff I kind of prefer its portrayal of women over Transformers 2.
08/09/09
There were moments of silliness. My personal running complaint was that you could see Snake Eye's lips and then I noticed you could see his eyes too, which was also silly, but nothing more then a minor annoyance. Speaking of minor annoyances, did anyone else think the underwater base used to be a underground base? Maybe I missed something but why would breaking up the ice pack bring the ice coming down? Doesn't ice float?
Still I was surprised at how often I got excited about the whole thing. The base reveal was awesome. Reminded me of everything I loved from the cartoon.
08/08/09
"FUN" midnight Thursday, no doubt just as the nerd journalist's planes lifted off their respective runways, Barbados-bound... on Paramount's coin. Oh, and I've had more "FUN" contemplating suicide.
08/08/09
TF2 look like the DEER HUNTER? LOL
08/08/09
08/08/09
If I have only ever learned one thing from monster/disaster movies, it's never live in a city with a well known land mark.
08/08/09
Oh, and I liked the surprise guest cameo.
08/07/09
08/07/09
I'll bet this movie is genuinely good, like a lot of movies I've seen in my life that most critics hate.
Seriously everyone gets so excited about these movies, even yourself, and then you wind up hating them and saying that they suck... first off: Why are you even getting excited about movies in the first place if you hate them all? and secondly: If every sci fi movie you see is so terrible why don't you go make one and WOW the world.
I'm sick of you people.
and don't even start with that: "You people?" line. It's old, it's tired, it's racist.
08/08/09
Of course now when a movie comes out, instead of just seeing a preview and getting excited, we follow the creation of the film even as far back as when it gets the greenlight, obsess over concept art and casting, pick apart every creative person involved in the creation of the film, decide whether they are hacks or not, have the experience of insulting other people online who may or may not be anticipating the movie... and by the time it comes around, months to years later... it's usually ALWAYS anti-climactic.
Just the price for being part of a cynical world with all the knowledge of the universe at our fingertips.
08/08/09
[putthatshitonthelist.blogspot.com]
08/08/09
I agree that the way films are covered on sites like this creates a lot of unique problems we didn't have a few years ago. And yet here I am every day reading it and enjoying it. Wtf is my problem anyway?!
08/07/09
Why must TF2 be bashed in every review for every subsequent summer film (not just this site--every genre site is using TF2 as their basis of comparison)? Can't GI Joe be 'good' without TF2 having to get knocked in the process?
Would you say GI Joe is better than "Whatever Works", the new Woody Allen movie?
08/08/09
They have a lot in common, so comparing G.I. Joe to Transformers 2 is more fair than just about any other comparison you could make this summer.
08/08/09
TF2 made a lot of money. So I got everything "I wanted" from it... two hours of mindless, cheesy jokes and action. I indulge from time to time. But there is no way you are going to convince me that GI Joe has more emotional resonance or intelligence than TF2.
It's just kind of insulting that someone would make fun of TF2 fans, then write a positive review of a movie called "GI JOE" and not see the irony.
08/08/09
And a nickle had more emotional resonance and intelligence than Transformers 2.
Also, it's because Transformers 2 made a ton of money that its the standard bearer for shitty summer movies based on 80s cartoons based on toy lines that are all splodey and have not plot. hence why it is mentioned in every GI Joe review. It's a reference point.
08/08/09
08/08/09
on the one hand you seem oblivious, but on the other hand this is a good point. i'm torn.
08/07/09
08/08/09
08/08/09
08/07/09
08/07/09
08/07/09
08/07/09
08/07/09
I just don't understand how anybody could be disapointed in TF2. That implies you had positive expectations, which, if you saw TF1, was impossible.
08/07/09
08/07/09
08/07/09
Was it that bad?
08/07/09
08/07/09
I have to ask though... you mention "underwater subs," above. Is there another kind? :-)
08/07/09
08/07/09
such a waste .
08/07/09
08/07/09
You're being kind.
08/07/09
08/07/09
Actually after reading this review I'm thinking of maybe going to see the movie, which is impressive considering I’d previously completely written it off.
08/07/09