History YMMV / GIJoeTheRiseofCobra

* RetroactiveRecognition: What the HELL happened to [[{{Film/Inception}} Arthur]]?!

* {{HSQ}}: Snake-Eyes is so awesome that Storm Shadow has developed an innate "Snake-Eyes just did something awesome" sense.

* CompleteMonster (both for this film and [[Film/GIJoeRetaliation the sequel]]):
** [[MadScientist The Doctor]]/[[BigBad Cobra Commander]] is the DiabolicalMastermind behind [[TerroristsWithoutACause Cobra]], and the ultimate villain of the films. Once a soldier named Rex Lewis who was left to die by his military allies, the Commander embraced his abandonment, as it gave him time to weaponize the nanomite technology and ally with [[ArmsDealer James "Destro" McCullen]] of MARS Industries as "the Doctor". Using the nanomite technology to mind control a variety of soldiers--even his own sister Ana, the future Baroness--"the Doctor" planned to assist [=McCullen=] in using the nanomites to wipe out major cities, before using Zartan to replace the President of the United States for ultimate power. After the nanomite plan fails, "the Doctor" betrays [=McCullen=], uses Ana as a hostage, tries to blow up his entire lair and everyone inside and christens himself Cobra Commander. Later escaping prison, the Commander uses [[KillSat Zeus]] to destroy London, promising to continue wiping out entire cities until the world cows to Cobra.
** [[TheDragon Zartan]] is the Commander's right-hand psychopath, a MasterOfDisguise whose [[PsychopathicManchild sadism and cheerful personality]] make him far worse than any other servant of Cobra. His [[EstablishingCharacterMoment introductory scene]] showing him stabbing Cover Girl through the back and mocking her as she dies, Zartan assists in killing a variety of Joes before killing a man for his clothes to evade capture. After capturing and replacing the President of the United States, who he regularly tortures for information, Zartan orders the execution of the G.I. Joes and kickstarts a war in a foreign country to enable Cobra Commander's escape. At the demonstration of Zeus, Zartan giddily pulls the trigger that blows up the city of London, England, and is revealed to have been the one who killed Storm Shadow's master as a child and corrupted him into evil, cementing himself as the worst Cobra has to offer alongside its Commander.

* FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler: Rex]] done this and many other related tropes in a one man ClicheStorm, confusingly enough he never seemed to be indicated to be anything other than real nice guy, but the second he stepped [[spoiler: into Dr. Mindbenders bunker]] he seemed to instantly turn bad, marvelling and for some reason admiring at the video clips of [[spoiler: Nanomites eating a dudes face off.]]

** [[MadScientist The Doctor]]/[[BigBad Cobra Commander]] is the DiabolicalMastermind behind [[TerroristsWithoutACause Cobra]], and the ultimate villain of the films. Once a soldier named Rex Lewis who was left to die by his military allies, the Commander embraced his abandonment, as it gave him time to weaponize the nanomite technology and ally with [[ArmsDealer James "Destro" McCullen]] of MARS Industries as "the Doctor". Using the nanomite technology to mind control a variety of soldiers--even his own sister Ana, the future Baroness--"the Doctor" planned to assist [=McCullen=] in using the nanomites to wipe out major cities, before using Zartan to replace the President of the United States for ultimate power. After the nanomite plan fails, "the Doctor" betrays [=McCullen=], uses Ana as a hostage, tries to blow up his entire lair and everyone inside and christens himself Cobra Commander. Later escaping prison, the Commander uses [[KillSat Zeus]] to destroy London, promising to continue wiping out entire c*ities until the world cows to Cobra.

** Arguable since the Doctor is such complete sleeze that he lacks the flair of a typical Magnificent Bastard. Destro is much closer to the traditional view of the trope, pulling off his schemes with all the flourish of a Bond villain.

* MagnificentBastard: The Doctor [[spoiler:AKA Rex, AKA Cobra Commander.]]

* [[TheDragon Zartan]] is the Commander's right-hand psychopath, a MasterOfDisguise whose [[PsychopathicManchild sadism and cheerful personality]] make him far worse than any other servant of Cobra. His [[EstablishingCharacterMoment introductory scene]] showing him stabbing Cover Girl through the back and mocking her as she dies, Zartan assists in killing a variety of Joes before killing a man for his clothes to evade capture. After capturing and replacing the President of the United States, who he regularly tortures for information, Zartan orders the execution of the G.I. Joes and kickstarts a war in a foreign country to enable Cobra Commander's escape. At the demonstration of Zeus, Zartan giddily pulls the trigger that blows up the city of London, England, and is revealed to have been the one who killed Storm Shadow's master as a child and corrupted him into evil, cementing himself as the worst Cobra has to offer alongside its Commander.

* [[TheDragon Zartan]] is the Commander's right-hand psychopath, a MasterOfDisguise whose [[PsychopathicManchild sadism and cheerful personality]] make him far worse than any other servant of Cobra. His [[EstablishingCharacterMoment introductory scene]] showing him stabbing Cover Girl through the back and mocking her as she dies, Zartan assists in killing a variety of Joes before killing a man for his clothes to evade capture. After capturing and replacing the President of the United States, who he regularly tortures for information, Zartan orders the execution of the G.I. Joes and kickstarts a war in a foreign country to enable Cobra Commander's escape. At the demonstration of Zeus, Zartan giddily pulls the trigger that blows up the city of London, England, and is revealed to have been the one who [[YouKilledMyFather killed Storm Shadow's master as a child and corrupted him into evil, cementing himself as the worst Cobra has to offer alongside its Commander.

** [[FromNobodyToNightmare Once a U.S. soldier]], Rex Lewis was apparently killed in a failed mission, but survived, secretly joining [[CorruptCorporateExecutive James McCullen's]] MARS Industries to research advanced nanotechnology, adopting the alias "[[MadScientist The Doctor]]". Testing the mind-control application of this technology on his sister, Ana, the Doctor brainwashed her into aiding in his and [=McCullen's=] crimes for the next four years. Under [=McCullen=], the Doctor developed the Neo-Vipers, brainwashed super-soldiers meant to do his bidding, and whom he [[BodyHorror horrifyingly]] killed if they were captured. After aiding [=McCullen's=] plan to wipe out four heavily populated cities, the Doctor used Ana as a hostage to cover his escape from the G.I. Joes, attempting to kill the Joes and his own allies alike as he fled. [[TheStarscream Betraying McCullen]] and taking control of MARS (which he refashioned as Cobra), the Doctor forced him into servitude, dubbing [=McCullen=] "Destro" and taking the identity of [[BigBad Cobra Commander]] for himself and seeking to TakeOverTheWorld. Escaping from prison in ''Retaliation'', and [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness abandoning Destro]] in the process, Commander orders Zartan, disguised as the President of United States, to wipe out the G.I. Joes, resulting in nearly all of their deaths. At a summit of world leaders, Cobra Commander reveals Project Zeus, a KillSat that he intends to use to hold the world hostage. As a demonstration of Project Zeus's power, Commander orders Zartan to activate it, destroying London in the process. When the surviving Joes interfere with this plan, Cobra Commander sets Project Zeus to destroy each continent's most highly populated cities to cover his own escape, [[DirtyCoward abandoning his allies in the process]].
** The aforementioned [[MasterOfDisguise Zartan]], Cobra Commander's [[TheDragon right-hand man]], is a sadistic PsychoForHire who gleefully takes part in Cobra's schemes. Helping to steal nanite warheads for MARS Industries, Zartan takes great pleasure in murdering any G.I. Joes who get in his way, notably stabbing Cover Girl through the back and taunting [[NobleDemon Storm Shadow]] for his [[WouldntHitAGirl refusal to kill women]]. Escaping from the Joes' headquarters, Zartan murders an innocent traveler for a disguise. At the end of the film, Zartan captures and impersonates the President of the United States. In ''Retaliation'' it is revealed that, when Storm Shadow was a child, Zartan murdered his uncle, framed Storm Shadow for it, and [[TheCorrupter corrupted him into a life of crime]], all for no discernible reason. While impersonating the President, whom he regularly tortures for information, Zartan orders Storm Shadow to assassinate the President of Pakistan, sparking a civil war and framing the Joes for it, as part of a plan to free Cobra Commander from prison. On Cobra Commander's orders, Zartan orders an attack on the Joes, killing all but a few of them, and cheerfully tests [[KillSat Project Zeus]] on London, annihilating the city. In the end, after Storm Shadow [[TheDogBitesBack turns on Zartan]] and calls him out for the murder of his uncle, Zartan simply taunts him before trying to kill him.

** [[FromNobodyToNightmare Once a U.S. soldier]], Rex Lewis was apparently killed in a failed mission, but survived, secretly joining [[CorruptCorporateExecutive James McCullen's]] MARS Industries to research advanced nanotechnology, adopting the alias "[[MadScientist The Doctor]]". Testing the mind-control application of this technology on his sister, Ana, the Doctor brainwashed her into aiding in his and [=McCullen's=] crimes for the next four years. Under [=McCullen=], the Doctor developed the Neo-Vipers, brainwashed super-soldiers meant to do his bidding, and whom he [[BodyHorror horrifyingly]] killed if they were captured. After aiding [=McCullen's=] plan to wipe out four heavily populated cities, the Doctor used Ana as a hostage to cover his escape from the G.I. Joes, attempting to kill the Joes and his own allies alike as he fled. [[TheStarscream Betraying McCullen]] and taking control of MARS (which he refashioned as Cobra), the Doctor forced him into servitude, dubbing [=McCullen=] "Destro" and taking the identity of [[BigBad Cobra Commander]] for himself and seeking to TakeOverTheWorld. Escaping from prison in ''Retaliation'', and [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness abandoning Destro]] in the process, Commander orders [[TheDragon Zartan]], disguised as the President of United States, to wipe out the G.I. Joes, resulting in nearly all of their deaths. At a summit of world leaders, Cobra Commander reveals Project Zeus, a KillSat that he intends to use to hold the world hostage. As a demonstration of Project Zeus's power, Commander orders Zartan to activate it, destroying London in the process. When the surviving Joes interfere with this plan, Cobra Commander sets Project Zeus to destroy each continent's most highly populated cities to cover his own escape, [[DirtyCoward abandoning his allies in the process]].
** [[MasterOfDisguise Zartan]], Cobra Commander's [[TheDragon right-hand man]], is a sadistic PsychoForHire who gleefully takes part in Cobra's schemes. Helping to steal [[WeaponOfMassDestruction nanite warheads]] for MARS Industries, Zartan takes great pleasure in murdering any G.I. Joes who get in his way, notably [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice stabbing Cover Girl through the back]] and taunting [[NobleDemon Storm Shadow]] for his [[WouldntHitAGirl refusal to kill women]]. Escaping from the Joes' headquarters, Zartan murders an innocent traveller for a disguise. At the end of the film, Zartan captures and [[PresidentEvil impersonates the President of the United States]]. In ''Retaliation'' it is revealed that, when Storm Shadow was a child, Zartan murdered his uncle, [[FrameUp framed Storm Shadow for it]], and [[TheCorrupter corrupted him into a life of crime]], [[ForTheEvulz all for no discernible reason]]. While [[PresidentEvil Impersonating the President]], whom he regularly tortures for information, Zartan orders Storm Shadow to assassinate the President of Pakistan, sparking a civil war and [[FrameUp framing the Joes for it]], as part of a plan to free Cobra Commander from prison. On Cobra Commander's orders, Zartan orders an attack on the Joes, killing all but a few of them, and cheerfully tests [[KillSat Project Zeus]] on London, annihilating the city. In the end, after Storm Shadow [[TheDogBitesBack turns on Zartan]] and calls him out for the murder of his uncle, Zartan simply taunts him before trying to kill him.

* [[FromNobodyToNightmare Once a U.S. soldier]], Rex Lewis was apparently killed in a failed mission, but survived, secretly joining [[CorruptCorporateExecutive James McCullen's]] MARS Industries to research advanced nanotechnology, adopting the alias "[[MadScientist The Doctor]]". Testing the mind-control application of this technology on his sister, Ana, the Doctor brainwashed her into aiding in his and [=McCullen's=] crimes for the next four years. Under [=McCullen=], the Doctor developed the Neo-Vipers, brainwashed super-soldiers meant to do his bidding, and whom he [[BodyHorror horrifyingly]] killed if they were captured. After aiding [=McCullen's=] plan to wipe out four heavily populated cities, the Doctor used Ana as a hostage to cover his escape from the G.I. Joes, attempting to kill the Joes and his own allies alike as he fled. [[TheStarscream Betraying McCullen]] and taking control of MARS (which he refashioned as Cobra), the Doctor forced him into servitude, dubbing [=McCullen=] "Destro" and taking the identity of [[BigBad Cobra Commander]] for himself and seeking to TakeOverTheWorld. Escaping from prison in ''Retaliation'', and [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness abandoning Destro]] in the process, Commander orders [[TheDragon Zartan]], disguised as the President of United States, to wipe out the G.I. Joes, resulting in nearly all of their deaths. At a summit of world leaders, Cobra Commander reveals Project Zeus, a KillSat that he intends to use to hold the world hostage. As a demonstration of Project Zeus's power, Commander orders Zartan to activate it, destroying London in the process. When the surviving Joes interfere with this plan, Cobra Commander sets Project Zeus to destroy each continent's most highly populated cities to cover his own escape, [[DirtyCoward abandoning his allies in the process]].
* [[MasterOfDisguise Zartan]], Cobra Commander's [[TheDragon right-hand man]], is a sadistic PsychoForHire who gleefully takes part in Cobra's schemes. Helping to steal [[WeaponOfMassDestruction nanite warheads]] for MARS Industries, Zartan takes great pleasure in murdering any G.I. Joes who get in his way, notably [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice stabbing Cover Girl through the back]] and taunting [[NobleDemon Storm Shadow]] for his [[WouldntHitAGirl refusal to kill women]]. Escaping from the Joes' headquarters, Zartan murders an innocent traveller for a disguise. At the end of the film, Zartan captures and [[PresidentEvil impersonates the President of the United States]]. In ''Retaliation'' it is revealed that, when Storm Shadow was a child, Zartan murdered his uncle, [[FrameUp framed Storm Shadow for it]], and [[TheCorrupter corrupted him into a life of crime]], [[ForTheEvulz all for no discernible reason]]. While [[PresidentEvil Impersonating the President]], whom he regularly tortures for information, Zartan orders Storm Shadow to assassinate the President of Pakistan, sparking a civil war and [[FrameUp framing the Joes for it]], as part of a plan to free Cobra Commander from prison. On Cobra Commander's orders, Zartan orders an attack on the Joes, killing all but a few of them, and cheerfully tests [[KillSat Project Zeus]] on London, annihilating the city. In the end, after Storm Shadow [[TheDogBitesBack turns on Zartan]] and calls him out for the murder of his uncle, Zartan simply taunts him before trying to kill him.

* CompleteMonster:
** [[FromNobodyToNightmare Once a U.S. soldier]], Rex Lewis was apparently killed in a failed mission, but had survived, secretly joining [[CorruptCorporateExecutive James McCullen's]] MARS Industries to research advanced nanotechnology, adopting the alias "[[MadScientist The Doctor]]". Testing the mind-control application of this technology on his sister, Ana, the Doctor brainwashed her into aiding in his and [=McCullen's=] crimes for the next four years. Under [=McCullen=], the Doctor developed the Neo-Vipers, brainwashed super-soldiers meant to do his bidding, and whom he [[BodyHorror horrifyingly]] killed if they were captured. After aiding [=McCullen's=] plan to wipe out four heavily populated cities, the Doctor used Ana as a hostage to cover his escape from the G.I. Joes, attempting to kill the Joes and his own allies alike as he fled. [[TheStarscream Betraying McCullen]] and taking control of MARS (which he refashioned as Cobra), the Doctor forced him into servitude, dubbing [=McCullen=] "Destro" and taking the identity of [[BigBad Cobra Commander]] for himself.
** Helping to steal [[WeaponOfMassDestruction nanite warheads]] for MARS Industries, [[MasterOfDisguise Zartan]] takes great pleasure in murdering any G.I. Joes who get in his way, notably [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice stabbing Cover Girl through the back]] and taunting [[NobleDemon Storm Shadow]] for his [[WouldntHitAGirl refusal to kill women]]. Escaping from the Joes' headquarters, Zartan murders an innocent traveller for a disguise. At the end of the film, Zartan captures and [[PresidentEvil impersonates]] the President of the United States.

** Most, if not all of the dialogue from the Doctor ([[IThoughtItMeant no, not]] [[Creator/ChristopherEccleston that one]]) is incredibly hammy, but Creator/JosephGordonLevitt makes every single bit of it work. The crowning moment has to be when he [[spoiler:declares himself Cobra Commander]]. Could have been ''very'' ridiculous (especially with [[FashionVictimVillain that look]]), but it manages to be a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome.

** When Zartan destroys the mind control chip during his surgery, [=McCullen=] looks concerned for a moment, while the Doctor doesn't even blink. Was this just Zartan being GenreSavvy and the Doctor not caring, or a sign that [[spoiler:Zartan is already loyal to the future Cobra Commander]]? Either way, [[spoiler:guess who's Cobra Commander's [[TheDragon Dragon]] in the sequel.]]

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: [[InNameOnly Cover Girl]] in this movie is basically just General Hawk's assistant before Zartan kills her. Cover Girl in the source material is a former professional model who took up driving tanks for a living. Not even the G.I. Joe fans realized that the character was supposed to be Cover Girl. You know you've wasted a character when not people with knowledge of the source material knew who the character was supposed to be.

** Rex's "Cobra Commander" helmet. Whoever was in charge of costuming either had no idea what the Commander looked like besides "shiny helmet", or tried to somehow combine Rex's look before he revealed his true colors with the look commonly associated with CC. [[http://thesecondtake.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Cobra-Commander-Rise-of-Cobra.jpg The result]] was...interesting.

* OlderThanTheyThink: The movie pulls ideas from several different toy lines, comic books, and animated series. Many of the details that fans complain about the movie "changing" are taken right from the source material ... just not an iteration of the source material the complainer is familiar with (e.g., you don't have to like the powered suits, but if you know the ''VideoGame/GIJoeSigma6'' line, you know the movie didn't make them up).

* OlderThanTheyThink: The movie pulls ideas from several different toy lines, comic books, and animated series. Many of the details that fans complain about the movie "changing" are taken right from the source material ... just not an iteration of the source material the complainer is familiar with (e.g., you don't have to like the powered suits, but if you know the ''GIJoeSigmaSix'' line, you know the movie didn't make them up).

** [[Film/TheMummyTrilogy Kevin J. O'Connor]] as Dr. Mindbender in [[spoiler:Rex]][=/=]The Doctor's FlashBack.

* AcceptableTargets: Averted; France's brutal treatment of Destro's ancestor is what pisses his entire family off. Played somewhat straight after the Paris sequence; [[spoiler:the French move in on the Joes with RAID. And smack Ripcord in the face. And wreck their gear. Then say that the team is banished from the country. The French would rather lose a city.]]
** Well, the Joes DID cause a crapload of collateral damage AND failed at stopping the villains. It could be a {{Deconstruction}} of HeroInsurance, even.

** Actually the entire cast, to various degrees, it's GI ''FRIGGIN'' Joe.
*** Though two are mentioned under DullSurprise.

** Except [[spoiler: he won.]] Sure, the Joes [[spoiler: stopped the missiles]] but [[spoiler: Zartan is now President and working for Cobra Commander, who the Joes think is safely locked up]].

** The novelization seems to add considerable mutual witty banter and, yes, flirtation.
*** While we're talking about [[{{Novelization}} The Book Of The Film]], it also offers HoYay for Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow, who seem to be matching OfficialCouple (sort-of) Duke and Ana/The Baroness flashback for flashback, meaningful look for meaningful look. (Bizarrely carries over to the ''Ninja Showdown'' kid's book.) Oddly out-of-place due to the gist of their past relationship being "We really, ''really'' don't like each other."

** What, we need an excuse to scream "COOOBRAAA!!!"?

*** Look on the bright side - at least it's not Shia Labeouf as the leader of the Joes.

* HarsherInHindsight: The attacks and destruction in Paris after the real-life terrorist attacks on Paris in 2015.
* HilariousInHindsight: Creator/ChristopherEccleston's character designed the bunker under the White House. Did you know that as [[Series/DoctorWho The Doctor]] he operated the bunker-like office in 10 Downing Street (the Prime Minister's place)?

** Helping to steal [[WeaponOfMassDestruction nanite warheads]] for MARS Industries, [[MasterOfDisguise Zartan]] takes great pleasure in murdering any G.I. Joes who get in his way, notably [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice stabbing Cover Girl through the back]] and taunting [[NobleDemon Storm Shadow]] for his [[WouldntHitAGirl refusal to kill women]]. Escaping from the Joes' headquarters, Zartan murders an innocent traveller for a disguise. At the end of the film, Zartan captures and [[PresidentEvil impersonates]] the President of United States.

* NarmCharm: Most, if not all of the dialogue from the Doctor ([[IThoughtItMeant no, not]] [[Creator/ChristopherEccleston that one]]) is incredibly hammy, but Creator/JosephGordonLevitt makes every single bit of it work. The crowning moment has to be when he [[spoiler:declares himself Cobra Commander]]. Could have been ''very'' ridiculous (especially with [[FashionVictimVillain that look]]), but it manages to be a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome.
--> '''The Doctor''': The time has come for [[spoiler:the Cobra to rise up and reveal itself]]. You will call me... [[spoiler:'''Commander''']]!

* OneSceneWonder: [[Film/TheMummyTrilogy Kevin J. O'Connor]] as Dr. Mindbender in [[spoiler:Rex]][=/=]The Doctor's FlashBack.

* RootingForTheEmpire: Part [[DracoInLeatherPants Baroness in Tight Asshugging Leather Pants]], part dislike of the comparatively flat characters of the Joes.

* SnarkBait: Many of the film's cliches, but when the movie opens with "[[{{MST3K}} In the not too distant future...]]", you get an inkling about what you're in for.