“G.I. Joe” (2009) [PG-13]

     The 2009 “G.I. Joe” live-action remake has its high points and its low points. Much like original “G.I. Joe” cartoons, it is full of overly dramatic plotting villains and incredibly futuristic gadgets. However, those are the only thing it has in common with the cartoons. The movie itself is great for a summer movie, especially if the viewer doesn’t know much about the original cartoon. The lower points to this film is that it doesn’t follow close to any of the original stories and Channing Tatum who played Duke seemed too much like a boy-band singer to play the normally heroic character.

     There are only two things the movie shares with the cartoon version. One is the portrayal of the plotting villains known as “Cobra.” In the cartoons they are terrorists seeking global domination. The movie does a good job on portraying Cobra in that very same way. The other similarity between the two is the factor of futuristic gadgets. However, none of the technologies in the movie are anything like the ones in the cartoon. These are the only connections between the cartoon and the live-action remake.

     If viewers are looking for a good summer action film, they will find one in this movie. It’s enjoyable for a summer flick and is meant to be pure action, nothing else. It does a great job of entertaining simply with nonstop action. Because it has nearly nothing in common with the cartoons viewers are better off with this movie if they don’t know much about the cartoon. This live action reboot makes an exciting movie if the viewer is looking for something filled with action.

     For what few good things there are in this movie, there are bad things that go with them. First of all, most big fans of the original cartoon usually won’t enjoy this movie too much. It strays too far from the original cartoon and barely does justice for it. In addition, Channing Tatum, who played Duke, was the worst possible choice the makers of this movie could have picked. He was too much like the “pretty-boy” type to play the courageous hero Duke. There’s not much enjoyment to be found in this movie for true die-hard “G.I. Joe” fans.

          My overall rating: 2 out of 5

“Pandorum” (2009) [R]

     “Pandorum” is certainly the best sci-fi/action/thriller I’ve seen this far. It takes an already known story and turns it on end. This film is packed with action and horror—both physical and psychological—will change the way any viewer watches sci-fi movies. Filmed with an amazing futuristic cinematography style, the only bad thing about this movie is that it can get old after several viewings.

     The story for this film takes a basic principle is that of being lost in space in a broken ship with no contact to the outside. The familiar story is turned on its head by giving the characters amnesia at the beginning, from which they slowly recover throughout the movie and little by little discover the truth to the reasons for their journey. This action sci-fi turns the genre itself over by making it a psychological thriller.

     Full of incredible action, this movie doesn’t miss a beat. Dennis Quaid did such a good job on this film, he proves once again that he can play any character and make it believable. The action never stops; fast and heart-pumping, it pulls viewers into the world of the movie. In combination with the Dennis Quaid’s incredible performance and psychological horrors of this movie, the action gets the viewers as close to the fright the characters experience as possible. Not a minute of this movie isn’t scary-good.

     In addition to the story and the action, the visual effects are so great, not a scene goes by without some interesting visual special effect. Even the cinematography itself seems to be one big effect. The way it was filmed simply adds to the futuristic impression given through the whole movie. The single thing wrong with this movie is that the viewers will know what happens after the first couple viewings and the story can get old after several viewings.

          My overall rating: 4 out of 5