G.I. Joe: Retaliation


G.I. Joe: Retaliation is a 2013 American military science fiction action film based on the G.I. Joe toy line. It is the second installment in the G.I. Joe film series and the stand-alone sequel to G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. Directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the film features an ensemble cast starring D. J. Cotrona, Lee Byung-hun, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Park, Jonathan Pryce, Ray Stevenson, Channing Tatum, Bruce Willis, and Dwayne Johnson. The G.I. Joes fight their enemy Cobra again and also face threats from within the US government.
Originally slated for release in June 2012, the film was delayed to convert to 3D and boost interest in international markets. G.I. Joe: Retaliation was released in the United States on March 28, 2013, by Paramount Pictures. The film, like its predecessor, received generally negative reviews from critics, although it was considered an improvement from its predecessor and grossed $375.7 million worldwide against a budget of $130–155 million.

Plot

Special Forces team commander Duke leads the G.I. Joe Team to the Korean Demilitarized Zone to rescue a North Korean defector. They are then assigned another mission to steal nuclear warheads from Pakistan after the death of its President during a civil war. Deeming them as traitors for causing an international incident, Zartan, still impersonating the president of the United States, calls an airstrike that kills Duke and many Joes. Heavy machine gunner Roadblock, sniper Flint, and covert operator Lady Jaye survive the attack by diving into a well, and they return to the United States to contact General Joseph Colton, who provides them with weapons.
Meanwhile, Storm Shadow, who survived the Arctic base's destruction, and demolitions expert Firefly rescue Cobra Commander from an underground maximum-security prison in Germany, leaving Destro behind. Storm Shadow is injured and retreats to a temple in the Himalayas to recover. The Blind Master, leader of the Arashikage Clan, sends Snake Eyes and his apprentice Jinx, to capture Storm Shadow, allowing him to answer for the murder of his uncle, the Hard Master.
After Zartan announces that Cobra will become the premier U.S. special forces team, replacing G.I. Joe, Lady Jaye deduces that someone is impersonating the President by noting changes in his speech patterns. At a presidential fundraiser, she steals a sample of the President's DNA, confirming that he is Zartan. They escape after a confrontation with Firefly and Zandar, the head of the U.S. Secret Service's Presidential Detail and a member of Cobra.
Snake Eyes and Jinx locate and capture Storm Shadow after a battle with some ninjas loyal to Storm Shadow and take him back to Tokyo, where Storm Shadow proclaims that he did not kill the Hard Master and proves it by fighting Snake Eyes with the weapon that killed the Hard Master, which breaks as it is not Arashikage steel. The Blind Master deduces that Zartan was the one that murdered the Hard Master and framed Storm Shadow for it, who joined Cobra to bring it down from the inside. Exonerated, Storm Shadow accompanies Snake Eyes and Jinx, his cousin, as they join the Joes' efforts to stop Cobra and avenge the Hard Master.
Zartan invites the world leaders to a summit at Fort Sumter, where he launches the entire US nuclear arsenal, forcing the other nuclear powers to do the same. All the world leaders activate the self-destruct for their nuclear arsenals, removing the justification for the retaliation strikes and goads to save the Earth. Zartan proclaims this a nuclear free world and unveils Project Zeus, orbital kinetic bombardment weapons he designed for Cobra. To prove his superiority, he destroys Central London and activates the remaining weapons, offering to disarm them if the leaders submit to Cobra. Storm Shadow betrays Cobra Commander and starts a fight, acknowledging Cobra's deception to the world leaders. Colton kills Zandar and rescues the real President with Lady Jaye, while Storm Shadow kills Zartan. While Snake Eyes, Jinx, and Flint fight Cobra's soldiers, Cobra Commander instructs Firefly to protect the launch device, and escapes by helicopter. Roadblock overpowers Firefly and destroys the orbital weapons. Storm Shadow leaves after avenging his uncle.
At the White House ceremony, the real President addresses the nation and commemorates the Joes, who were awarded by Colton: Roadblock, Snake Eyes, Jinx, Flint, and Lady Jaye. Colton presents Roadblock with an M1911 pistol that belonged to General George S. Patton, to be used when they find Cobra Commander. Roadblock proudly raises the weapon and fires a single shot in honor of his fallen comrades, vowing to avenge them.

Cast

  • Dwayne Johnson as Marvin F. Hinton / Roadblock:
A heavy machine gunner and senior NCO of the G.I. Joe.
  • Bruce Willis as General Joe Colton:
A retired General and the founder and leader of the G.I. Joe team.
  • Channing Tatum as Conrad S. Hauser / Duke:
An intelligence and infantry specialist and a field commander of the G.I. Joe team.
A disguise expert of Cobra who kidnaps and replaces the President in the last film.
A member of Cobra and Snake Eyes's rival. Both were close members of the Arashikage ninja clan. He survived his encounter with Snake Eyes in the last film.
  • * Brandon Soo Hoo and Nathan Takashige as Young Storm Shadow
  • Ray Park as Snake Eyes:
A mysterious ninja commando of the G.I. Joe who took a vow of silence, a close member of the Arashikage ninja clan, and Storm Shadow's rival.
A member of the Arashikage trained by the Blind Master, Snake Eyes' apprentice and Storm Shadow's cousin.
  • Ray Stevenson as Firefly:
An ex-G.I. Joe turned Cobra Demolitions expert.
  • D. J. Cotrona as Dashiell R. Faireborn / Flint:
A sniper and parkour expert of the G.I. Joe.
A covert operator of the G.I. Joe.
The leader of the terrorist organization Cobra Command.
A warden of the Einsargen Subterranean Prison in Germany.
A sniper of the G.I. Joe.
  • RZA as Blind Master:
The Arashikage's blind leader.
A member of Cobra and the head of the detail for Zartan disguised as the President of the United States.
One of the G.I. Joe members.
One of the G.I. Joe members.

Production

Development

After the financially successful release of The Rise of Cobra, Rob Moore, the studio vice chairman of Paramount Pictures, stated in 2009 that a sequel would be developed. In January 2011, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the writers of Zombieland, were hired to write the script. The movie was originally thought to be titled G.I. Joe: Cobra Strikes, which was later denied by Reese. Stephen Sommers was originally going to return as director of the sequel, but Paramount Pictures announced in February 2011 that Jon Chu would direct the sequel. In July 2011, the sequel's name was revealed to be G.I. Joe: Retaliation. Chu would later declare that Paramount wanted a reboot that also served as a sequel to The Rise of Cobra since "a lot of people saw the first movie so we don't want to alienate that and redo the whole thing."

Casting

In January 2011, it was confirmed that Lee Byung-hun would reprise his role as Storm Shadow in the sequel. Channing Tatum and Ray Park also returned, as Duke and Snake Eyes, respectively. Rachel Nichols, the actress who played Scarlett in the first film, stated that most cast members would not be returning, except for the three aforementioned actors. In March 2011, Sienna Miller stated that she would not be returning for a sequel. Joseph Gordon-Levitt also confirmed that he would not be returning as Cobra Commander in the sequel because he was too busy with The Dark Knight Rises.
In June 2011, Dwayne Johnson was cast as Roadblock, D. J. Cotrona and RZA were cast as Flint and Blind Master, respectively, while Élodie Yung was in talks for the role of Jinx. In July 2011, Adrianne Palicki was confirmed for the lead female role of Lady Jaye, and Ray Stevenson was confirmed to portray the villain Firefly. Arnold Vosloo also confirmed that he would reprise his role of Zartan. Jonathan Pryce will reprise his role as the President of the United States. Joseph Mazzello was confirmed to play Mouse. In August 2011, Walton Goggins was added as Warden Nigel James, and it was confirmed that Bruce Willis was cast to star in the film as the original G.I. Joe. The character of Joe Colton was a replacement for fan-favorite Joe character Sgt. Slaughter. Sgt. Slaughter stated that he "was originally supposed to be the part of Bruce Willis' Sgt. Slaughter but because we had a conflict in toy companies, Hasbro and Mattel, I wasn't able to do it. It's one of those things, Rock doesn't have a contract so he can do what he wants to do and he's been very successful".
In September, a casting call sheet leaked to the Internet revealed that Cobra Commander would appear in the sequel, though it was unknown who would play the character. Chu said that fans would get a glimpse of Destro in the film, but Christopher Eccleston would not reprise his role in the sequel. On May 1, 2012, it was confirmed by Jon Chu that G.I. Joe: Retaliations Cobra Commander is Rex Lewis, the same character that Joseph Gordon-Levitt played in The Rise of Cobra.