The name of a movie can sometimes play a big part in whether someone will want to see it or not. Take Snake on Planes, great name awful movie. Not knowing much about the G.I franchise the movie’s name was uncomfortably near to G.I Jane so I consciously avoided it. But after having to review the DVD to my surprise it’s a neat film.

Although G.I Joe the toy action figure/cartoon is well known in America a lack of awareness in the UK probably accounted for how relatively badly it did when released in the summer. It was the worst performer at the box office out of all the blockbusters. But if it did slip under the radar a bit it’s still an underrated film.

The action takes place in the future with an evil arms dealer James McCullen (Christopher Ecclestone) plotting to bring the world to its knees. The good guys are an elite military group codename G.I. Joe.

What brings the film above your average visually impressive CGI, is a plot which has all the elements, end of the world, race against time plus nice subplots involving some of the characters and a touch of humour in the dialogue.

Visually it’s a great movie to watch with lots of unbelievable authentic looking action scenes. Its pure escapism but good fun.

The extras are for the most part your standard commentary and ‘the making of’ bits and pieces. The first making off extras starts off quite well with some interesting background about the original toy G.I action figure, a kind of American version of an action man, and how it evolved to comics and cartoons. But before long it reverts to the making off and behind the scenes stuff. Also there’s some annoying background music at times. If you like the techie and behind the scenes stuff of making movies or think you might, then there’s enough to keep you interested.