G.I. Joe: Retaliation ** (PG-13) Well, the recent trend in action flicks continues. 3-D technology advances make the visuals ever more exciting, while the scripts get dumber. Admittedly, my knowledge of the characters’ backstories is wanting, since I didn’t see their 2009 adventure, G. I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra. For fellow newbies, this Joe isn’t just one soldier. It’s the name for an elite unit of special forces with a broad range of military, Ninja and other stylized skills - mortals ranking somewhere between Navy Seals and Robocop.
In the first, they put away some megavillains. Now they’re back in action, and backed by a Lex Luthor-type evildoer who got a makeover for someone (Jonathan Pryce) to replicate the US President, kidnaped the real POTUS, and framed The Joes for a major international incident in order to have them whacked. Three of the Joes, one of whom is a Jane, survive to retaliate against the retaliators. Or something like that.
Director Jon M. Chu delivers a handful of stunning action sequences that must be seen in 3-D for full value. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson does what he does in hero mode. Bruce Willis keeps trying to do what he’s done before in a seeming warmup between Red and its upcoming sequel. The highlight is a dizzying mountainside rescue, chase and swordplay (did I mention Ninja skills?) scene that might cause motion sickness for the faint of heart. Bring a bag if there’s a vulnerable member in your party. It may be more useful for this experience than your intellect. (3/29/13)