CREDIT: DWAYNE THE ROCK JOHNSON STARS IN G.I. JOE: RETALIATION AS ROADBLOCK.
Skydance Productions

G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)

Little boys have, for a long time, loved playing with G.I. Joes. You know, the “real American heroes.” For a shorter time, boys, girls, men and women alike have loved watching the big-screen adaptations of these quintessential childhood toys. Well, for all of you in that category you're in luck! The newest big budget adventure of the Joes has arrived.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation is the second in the series of the childhood fantasy flicks, and this time, things are even more action-packed than before. Retaliation begins with the team of Joes being framed for stealing nuclear warheads from Pakistan, the aftermath of which leads to a strike to eliminate the entire team. Unfortunately, not all manage to survive and — spoiler alert! — previous headliner Duke is unceremoniously killed off. Those who survive — Roadblock, Flint and Lady Jaye — swear revenge on those who killed Duke and set out to clear the good name of the Joes. Meanwhile, Cobra is at it again with Cobra Commander being rescued from imprisonment and an impostor being sent to impersonate the President of the United States. When Lady Jaye figures out the President is a fraud, Roadblock leads what remains of the Joes team to the only man who can help them: General Joseph Colton. From there on it's business as usual: Joes fighting Cobra and good doing everything it can to triumph over evil.

This time around, the casting choices for the Joes are being switched up a little bit as some familiar faces leave the series to make way for some big guns. Within the first few minutes of the flick, series star up to this point Channing Tatum, as Duke, is offed. Thankfully, he dies a glorious soldier's death, however it seems strange to kill off the star of the previous installment at the very beginning of the flick.

Coming in to replace Tatum as the leader of the Joes is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Roadblock. Everyone knows that The Rock, as he is so endearingly called in the world of action movies, is a professional wrestler who has made a real name for himself as an action star. As usual, Johnson gives a performance that is all adrenaline-filled, all actionpacked, all the time. Johnson is actually quite perfect for this role, given that he is playing the toughest of the tough soldiers.

Also joining the cast this time around is the pinnacle of Hollywood action stars himself, Bruce Willis. Willis brings to life the hard-ass General Joseph Colton. Bruce Willis is... well, he is Bruce Willis. He is exactly what you would expect of him in this role: hard, intense and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Much like Johnson is, Willis is also perfect for this type of role in this type of movie.

Rounding out the cast are Adrianne Palicki as Lady Jayne, Luke Bracey as Cobra Commander, Lee Byung-hun as Storm Shadow and Ray Park as Snake Eyes.

Filmed and projected in 3D, G.I. Joe: Retaliation gives a new dimension to the action-filled favourite. Even though some people are admittedly not fans of the new technology, it has to be said that flicks like Retaliation are really what 3D is made for. It's fun really to see something so reminiscent of your childhood brought to life not only on a giant screen but also in the third dimension.

If you lived for your G.I. Joes when you were little, or if you even still have some kicking around now, head to the theatre and check out G.I. Joe: Retaliation. You won't be disappointed.

Rating: 4 out of 5