Mel Gibson's GI Joe: Yay or Nay?

[nervmeister]

I figure that to make a good war movie that also appeals to the PG-13 crowd can be challenging. And I can count Michael Bay out cause he already did a war movie which supposedly sucked ass. So in a bold move, I've decided to turn my attention to one of Hollywood's more bloodthirsty directors, Mel Gibson. I know his films arent exactly what you would call "subtle" in their depictions of conflict, but I have a good feeling about him. I think we should give him a chance with this. He could still make it relatively kid-friendly while at the same time bring the franchise to bold new heights with a more visceral feel. What do you think?

[jesse_custer]

It might be alright, but I think Mel is too serious for something like this (i.e., an action film for children). Plus, he's not really PG-13 fare anymore (or was he ever, for that matter?).

Personally, I don't think the film should cater to children because G.I. Joe isn't as big with children anymore. If anything, our generation is more attached to the series, and the film should cater to us. So if we could get an R rating, yes, I think Mel should do it. Or maybe someone like John Woo.

[Nyssane]

Personally, I don't think the film should cater to children because G.I. Joe isn't as big with children anymore. If anything, our generation is more attached to the series, and the film should cater to us. So if we could get an R rating, yes, I think Mel should do it. Or maybe someone like John Woo.

It's true, the target viewers should be the kids who grew up with GI Joe who are now adults now. I don't think Mel Gibson should direct it, though. A lot of people just don't like him as a person and I think that'd turn people off to see his movie.

[Chiasm]

Nah to Mel Gibson and nah to R rating.

The teen market loves good action flicks and if you cut them out by making it an R rated movie your shooting yourself in the foot.

And if you make an R rated movie based off of kids toys the media and watchdog groups will go berserk. I hate the watchdog groups but I realize they have enough influence to seriously hurt a movie.

[mgs]

i think he'd be an interesting choice, he would definitely give a lot of attention to the movie, but I think, given his vehement political and religious stance, it would end up being something that might be promoting those ideals.

[jesse_custer]

I would rather the filmmakers cater to the people who love G.I. Joe with a badass R-rated film than make another $300 million blockbuster. Seriously, who cares about the market? Let's hope that there's some people out there who still want to make a cool movie about soldiers.

You wouldn't even need a big budget for G.I. Joe. You could easily make the film at a cheaper rate than the market-friendly and turgid Transformers and probably make a profit from those of us who still love G.I. Joe. Plus, you would pull in the serious action fans who are starving for an R-rated action film in theaters.

Watchdog groups don't matter unless there's children involved. They wouldn't prevent G.I. Joe and action fans from watching the film. Plus, as a culture, we're more relaxed about R-rated violence. Look at 300.

[Jared]

It's true, the target viewers should be the kids who grew up with GI Joe who are now adults now. I don't think Mel Gibson should direct it, though. A lot of people just don't like him as a person and I think that'd turn people off to see his movie.

Apocalypto did pretty well for a subtitled movie with no stars, but Gibson would still be all wrong for a project like this.

[BoosterBronze]

Personally, I don't think the film should cater to children because G.I. Joe isn't as big with children anymore. If anything, our generation is more attached to the series, and the film should cater to us. So if we could get an R rating, yes, I think Mel should do it. Or maybe someone like John Woo.

Yeah, but the GI Joe we grew up loving was not a hard core, John Woo affair. It was asilly, PG rated adventure show. We could make CObra Commander a violent torturer, have Snake-Eyes rip out people's hearts, and watch Duke have sex with Scarlett, but would that really be the GI Joe we loved as kids? Why even call it GI Joe?

[jesse_custer]

I didn't mean that it should include sex and heartripping. Just nonstop action violence along with the suitable profanity for such situations, which would probably equal an R rating. I think that since we have grown up a little, G.I. Joe can grow up a little, too. What works in cartoons wouldn't necessarily make sense in a film. Plus, it may be impossible for the screenwriters and director to replicate the correct feel of the cartoon. But what they could easily and feasibly do is stay true to the characters and their abilities and just make it a bit more mature.

Keep in mind that R-rated action films can be pretty silly and fun at times.

[maczero]

Yeah, but the GI Joe we grew up loving was not a hard core, John Woo affair. It was asilly, PG rated adventure show. We could make CObra Commander a violent torturer, have Snake-Eyes rip out people's hearts, and watch Duke have sex with Scarlett, but would that really be the GI Joe we loved as kids? Why even call it GI Joe?Agreed but I don't want to sit through two hours of red & blue lasers flying around and no one gets hit. It needs to be PG-13.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Mel knows he needs a flick to restore his honor again. I've heard rumors he wants to get back with Donner and do Lethal Weapon V .

[Captain_Video]

I can only imagine what a Mel Gibson G.I Joe movie would look like, it would quite possibly be the most insanely vitriolic right wing movie ever, some kind of twisted propaganda movie.

I would love for this to happen just to see what kind of nightmare came out, I love his self directed movies as you are assured to get a very skewed perspective on the world every time and hey, at least he has a point, even if it is a bizarre one.

[StoneGold]

There sure are a lot of GI Joe Sigma Six toys on the shelves for something not popular with the kids anymore.

[jesse_custer]

Relatively, it's not as popular as it once was.

[ViciousX]

Cobra Commander would be British, and Destro would be a Jew.

Seriously, speaking as a Jew, that fucking Nazi should not be allowed anywhere near a camera ever again. Or out in public.

[Dennis K]

If Mel is only acting as producer/executive producer then Yay. If he's acting in it; Nay.

[mgs]

Seriously, speaking as a Jew, that fucking Nazi should not be allowed anywhere near a camera ever again. Or out in public.

I think i see how you would be offended and all, but why do you really care that much about how racist an actor feels? not like he physically attacked anyone or anything... *NOT defending him, btw*

[Thorlief]

hmm thats a weird idea. I agree with the guy who said it would be a proto-patriotic right wing anti-everyone but Americans (and maybe Aussies) gorefest. Not sure how it could work, actually..its a REALLY weird choice 'meister

[maczero]

I think i see how you would be offended and all, but why do you really care that much about how racist an actor feels? not like he physically attacked anyone or anything... *NOT defending him, btw*Makes sense to me. Would you really want to hand over your hard earned cash to a guy who hates or doesn't respect you?

[StoneGold]

Makes sense to me. Would you really want to hand over your hard earned cash to a guy who hates or doesn't respect you?

Most of the time I don't think about it that much. Do you care if the guy working the counter at McDonalds hates you? Well, bad example, he could spit in your food. But you get the idea.

[maczero]

Most of the time I don't think about it that much. Do you care if the guy working the counter at McDonalds hates you? Well, bad example, he could spit in your food. But you get the idea.Well depends on the reason he hates me.

Let's use Michael Richards as an example. Even if the guy was funny, do you think a lot of brothers are gonna check out his stand-up routine.

[Chiasm]

Seriously though if your going to do a GI Joe movie you need good action and you need explosions.

There are only a handful of directors / producers I can think of a few who could do a GI movie and do it right.

One is Michael Bay. Say what you will about him but he knows how to make a movie with things blowing up. And he does action movies pretty well as long as you don't have to think too hard about them. And one thing we don't want with GI Joe is for it to be a deep thought provoking movie: Anyone remember Hulk which totally sucked because they left out the whole Hulk smash plot element. Given the sheer utter ridiculousness of the whole Transformers concept I think Michael Bay did as good a job as was humanly possible in making that movie.

Another is JJ Abrams. He is very good at frentic multi charactered action shows.

Lastly I'll say Joss Whedon. He has proven he can do ensemble shows and anyone that saw Serenity knows just how much it kicked ass. And he did it on the cheap to boot.

[Michael P]

So much for Voltaire.

But Jesus, no, Mel's all wrong for GI Joe.

[StoneGold]

Well depends on the reason he hates me.

Let's use Michael Richards as an example. Even if the guy was funny, do you think a lot of brothers are gonna check out his stand-up routine.

Honestly? They're probably more likely to now. Just out of curiosity factor. Why the hell would they have seen him before?

[Patient Boy]

Given certain fan reactions to Bay's Transformers before it was released, how do you think a GI Joe film ala the Ben Stiller/Owen Wilson Starsky & Hutch movie would be received? I was just thinking it might be interesting to not make it as a comedy per se, but as a straight forward adaptation of the 80s cartoon, campiness and all.

[nervmeister]

Given certain fan reactions to Bay's Transformers before it was released, how do you think a GI Joe film ala the Ben Stiller/Owen Wilson Starsky & Hutch movie would be received? I was just thinking it might be interesting to not make it as a comedy per se, but as a straight forward adaptation of the 80s cartoon, campiness and all.Though I'm not sure about that, I do think there should be quite a few funny moments among the villains.

[jesse_custer]

If Michael Bay directed G.I. Joe, I wouldn't watch it. It's pointless to watch a director whom you have to "excuse for a lack of talent" to enjoy a movie.

[Monkey]

I think i see how you would be offended and all, but why do you really care that much about how racist an actor feels? not like he physically attacked anyone or anything... *NOT defending him, btw*

As someone who knows a little bit about history and as a Englishman, I do have to admit to sitting though Braveheart with a funny look on my face, and then when he dropped the Patriot on me I couldn't see much at all because of the blood running from my eyes.

You're probably right though, I nearly missed Apco because of it coming from Mel Gibson but I'm glad I saw it.

[brundlefly]

Yeah, but the GI Joe we grew up loving was not a hard core, John Woo affair. It was asilly, PG rated adventure show. We could make CObra Commander a violent torturer, have Snake-Eyes rip out people's hearts, and watch Duke have sex with Scarlett, but would that really be the GI Joe we loved as kids? Why even call it GI Joe?

Well, the long-running 80s GI Joe comic book from Marvel (which was infinitely better than that damned cartoon) did have CC as a cold-blooded torturer and Snake-Eyes killing people in droves. And that's the GI Joe that I loved as a kid, not the cartoon with the silly lasers that never hit anything. But catering to the GI Joe comic book fanbase would be even more of a small niche to go after than older fans of the 80s cartoon, so I know that's unlikely to happen. If a GI Joe movie gets made, it'll be a PG-rated affair desperately trying to rope today's kids in and sell toys, along with revamping all the characters for no reason. :mad:

[maczero]

it'll be a PG-rated affair desperately trying to rope today's kids in and sell toys, along with revamping all the characters for no reason. :mad:Not necessarily. Transformers and a lot of the comic book films have been PG-13. You can follow the entire Marvel story run and not find anything that warrants beyond a pg-13 rating.

[brundlefly]

You can follow the entire Marvel story run and not find anything that warrants beyond a pg-13 rating.

Hmmm, true; given that there's really no swearing or overt sexual content in the comics (just violence), they could have a fairly high body count and some pretty grisly deaths and still get away with a PG-13 (if Live Free or Die Hard is any indicator).