Action Movies

With the new live-action film GI Joe: Rise of the Cobra hitting theaters in May, fans new to the popular G.I. Joe universe may first want to acquaint themselves with the series’ beloved heroes and villains. The GI Joe universe consists of pose-able action figures, a highly successful cartoon show, an animated film, and a collectible comic book series. Throughout these different mediums, many colorful characters have been introduced and adored, and the new GI Joe movie features live action versions of some of the best known heroes and villains.

G.I. Joe Heroes

The Heroes in this popular franchise are part of an elite American military unit formed to protect the world against terrorist attacks. Below is some information about three well known heroes who are now featured in the new film.

General Hawk Played by Dennis Quaid

In the cartoon series, General Hawk was the official commander of the GI Joe team, and was heavily involved in the action. However, in the new live-action GI Joe movie, Dennis Quaid has revealed that his character is mostly removed from the battles. While this may seem concerning to some fans, the good news is that Quaid has signed on to do two more sequels, so there is definitely a chance we will get to see Hawk in action in another movie. Though Quaid’s role was originally even smaller in this first movie, the filmmakers enjoyed his performance so much, that they prompted the screenwriter to write 10-15 more scenes with him.

Duke Played by Channing Tatum

Duke is the codename of First Sergeant Conrad S. Hauser, who is field commander and second in command of the GI Joe team. This fan favorite is played by Channing Tatum, who is ironically best friends with Joseph Gordon-Levitt who plays Duke’s rival, Cobra Commander. Tatum originally wanted to play Snake Eyes in the GI Joe movie, because he admits that the character is undoubtedly the coolest in the GI Joe universe.

Snake Eyes Played by Ray Park

Snake Eyes is the ninja-like hand-to-hand combat instructor for GI Joe, and because of a helicopter accident, he wears a black visor to cover his scarred face. This is one of the most popular characters in the G.I. Joe universe, and to the delight of many fans, actor/stunt man Ray Park is playing the character in the new movie. Ray Park has played many successful physical roles, such as Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Toad in X-Men, and the Headless Horseman in Sleepy Hollow. In preparation for G.I. Joe, Park studied the character in comic books and the cartoon show, and also underwent wushu
training.

G.I. Joe Villains

The deadly rivals to the GI Joe team are all part of COBRA, a terrorist organization that constantly schemes to rule the world. Below is some information about three devious villains that are now featured in the G.I. Joe film.

The Baroness Played by Sienna Miller

The Baroness’s full name is Baroness Anastasia DeCobray, and in the cartoon series, she served as COBRA’s Director of Intelligence. This character was also romantically linked with Destro, but Cobra Commander notoriously manipulated the couple into putting their relationship on hold. Fans are speculating whether or not the romance will be carried over into the new movie, where the character is portrayed by Sienna Miller. To prepare for the role, Miller went through a rigorous workout routine, and was able to put on five pounds of muscle for the movie.

Destro Played by Christopher Eccleston

Destro’s full name is James McCullen Destro XXIV, and he serves as a weapons designer and dealer for COBRA. In the cartoon series, Destro was always at odds with Cobra Commander, and in many instances, he even betrayed the leader in attempt to gain more power for himself. Fans are waiting to see if this contemptuous relationship will appear in the new GI Joe movie, where Christopher Eccleston plays the character. In the film, Eccleston will wear Destro’s infamous silver mask, but the details behind the mask still remain a mystery.

Cobra Commander Played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Cobra Commander is the mysterious leader of COBRA, and in the cartoon series, his face is always hidden by a hood or chrome mask. While always coming up with ingenious and sometimes insane terrorist plots, Cobra Commander would act cowardly in the face of superior opposition from GI Joe, even though he would abuse his own soldiers for similar weaknesses. In the new GI Joe movie, Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays the evil mastermind, though many details have been kept under lock and key. However, the new action figure for Cobra Commander has been revealed, and shows the new Cobra Commander to have an entirely different appearance than the classic cartoon series. Whether G.I. Joe fans will react favorably to this movie portrayal has yet to be seen.