News in April was that Hasbro had started work on a cinematic universe a la DC Comics and Marvel, and in light of my being bored last week by X-men: Apocalypse, I thought, "Perhaps there is room for another action-hero franchise," and watched this 2009 fantasy action based on Hasbro's G.I. Joe action figurines, characters that for a time were the property of Marvel...and it is surprisingly engaging even for someone with no prior knowledge of the franchise, delivers fast and furious comic book action crammed with detail (the backstories are delivered in flashback at furious speed), and there are tonnes of storythreads begging to be followed-up, although Hasbro is sure to reboot the series with the next instalment so don't get too attached to Channing Tatum as Duke, Dennis Quaid as The General, Lee Byung-hun as Storm Shadow (!) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Cobra Commander.
★★★☆☆
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