G.I. Joe: Retaliation (also known as G.I. Joe 2 or G.I. Joe 2: Retaliation) is an upcoming 2013 American science fiction action film directed by Jon M. Chu, based on Hasbro's G.I. Joe toy, comic and media franchises. It is a sequel to 2009's G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra The film was written by Zombieland writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. G.I. Joe: Retaliation features an ensemble cast, starring Bruce Willis and Dwayne Johnson, with Channing Tatum, Arnold Vosloo, Ray Park, Jonathan Pryce, and Lee Byung-hun reprising their roles from the first film.
After the 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 for the sequel. 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 will direct the sequel. In July 2011, the sequel's name was revealed to be G.I. Joe: Retaliation.
Chu stated that his film will be much different from the original. He said that they do address killing off the characters from the first film a little bit in his film, but his movie is about the new characters, and that it was partially his idea to reboot the franchise. According to Chu, the comic book interprets it in one way, and even the cartoon series switched theme songs in the middle, so everybody interprets it in a different way. "It’s the same world, but at a different point, so let's pay homage to the old stuff, but also do new stuff."
Attempting to foil a robbery, detective Max Lewinsky (McAvoy) is shot in the knee by underworld boss Jacob Sternwood (Strong). Three years later, when his son is hospitalized as a result of his criminal ways, Sternwood returns to London, aiming to find those responsible. Lewinsky attempts to trap him and finally put him behind bars but the two find themselves double-crossed by a group of corrupt politicians and cops intent on pushing their agenda of arming the police force. Reluctantly, Sternwood and Lewinsky team up to expose the truth.
Few sub-genres have produced such a level of mediocrity as the British crime flick. Over the past fifteen or so years, countless low budget Guy Ritchie knock-offs have hit our screens. It seems every week there's a new straight-to-DVD release featuring Danny Dyer as a "cockney hard-man". 'Welcome to the Punch' appears from the outset to be simply a big budget version of the aforementioned, replete with an A-list cast. Thankfully it shares little with its partners in British crime. There are no over-the-top "geezer" characters and it's possibly the first London based crime movie not to feature copious use of the C-word. Save for the accents, it's virtually indistinguishable from its American counterparts.
While the plot is far from original, director Creevy keeps our interest with some brilliantly staged set-pieces. The look of the film seems to have been inspired by eighties thrillers like William Friedkin's 'To Live & Die in L.A' and Michael Mann's 'Thief'. Creevy and cinematographer Ed Wild use light sources in really interesting ways. There are stunning images like a forest illuminated by a nearby explosion, spotlights traversing an abandoned night-club, and a birds-eye view of a flash-light moving through a container yard. What the film lacks in substance, it certainly makes up for with an abundance of style. Add a cracking performance from Strong, who is quickly making a claim to be the new Ben Kingsley, and 'WTTP' is an entertaining, if instantly forgettable, old-school cops 'n robbers tale.
