Rating: 
Summary: A classic example of reactive vs. proactive.
Review: As a youth I used to run home after school as well as awaken early Saturday mornings to enjoy this show about a ruthless villain hell-bent on terrorizing the world and the only organization strong enough to foil his plans daily. To me it was the ultimate example of good vs. evil and no other program could top it. It was the 80s, life was good and the G.I. Joes were the epitome of a young American boy's dream.
Older now, I purchased this on a whim to see if I could see if I could recreate the joy that I felt as a child. I wanted to revisit my old nemesis Cobra as well as catch one last glimpse of the elusive Lady Jay. After watching all four discs of this release, I came to a conclusion that would be blind to a child, but very apparent to an adult. The G.I. Joe organization is the classic business example of reactive vs. proactive. If we were to define bot h the Joes and the Cobra teams, the Joes would definatly be reactive, while the Cobra organization would definitely be the proactive. Each episode opens with the Joes relaxing or taking time off instead of doing what they should be, which is trying to destroy the Cobra threat from the world. Sadly, the action does not start until Cobra initiates it by creating some imaginative and creative strategy to take over the world. Then the battle ensues with the Joes always allowing Cobra Commander to leave without recourse. They are never too excited about actually capturing the Commander, but instead that the citizens of the world are safe. Do they not realize that if they were proactive and captured Cobra Commander immediately, the threat would be eliminated?
This question leads me to my next revelation. Is it possible that the reason that the Joes let Cobra go everytime is because without Cobra, Lady Jay, Hawk, Snake Eyes, and Roadblock would all be unemployed? Could you imagine Quick Kick serving you some fries behind the counter of a McDonalds? So, maybe Cobra needs the Joes as much as the Joes need Cobra. They live together in a form of zen unity. Ponder that for a moment.
Also, it became clearer that as the episodes progressed how much of a sci-fi theme this series engulfed. There was more than just regular battles, but lasers, huge machines that could control the weather, psychics, and even this strange little man known as the Gamesmaster (which is my FAVORITE episode in this set). Watch it again and I think you will see the references that I speak about.
When I was younger, G.I. Joe was my favorite cartoon and I couldn't wait to go outside and pretend that I was one of the Joes fighting the notorious Cobra. Now, older and wiser, I cannot wait to play Cobra. From a business sense they are aggressive, competitive, imaginative, and creative. Daily they have new, fresh ideas on how to dominate the world while the Joes just wait around for Cobra to make their move. I would have to side with Cobra in today's market. I think you would as well.
Overall, a very enjoyable series even revisited years later. I am hoping to expand my collection to include the other sets as well, but to re-emerge myself into the series, this was the perfect opener!
Go COBRA!!!!!!!
Grade: ***** out of *****
Rating:
Summary: "..he never gives up he'll stay till the fights won.."
Review: At long last,the g.i.joe series has finally made it to DVD. and rhino has done this dvd justice with a decent 5.1 audio mix and a lil bonus interview with joe scribe cristy marx who wrote the excellent synthoid conspriacy 2-parter. this series was ahead of it's time especially in regards to what's happening now. (terroism)i didn't care for the PSAs, i have enough of them on the gijoe movie disc and i wish rhino could include the animated 30 second marvel comic commercials (which IMHO were better than some of the series' epidsodes.)many praises go to steven gerber was the story editor of season 1. the series/toyline however did not appear without a bit of controversy; i.e. being regarded as a violent 30 minute toy commercial,one of the villians being regarded as a schzophrenic,etc. but to this very day GIJOE is still regarded as one of the biggest pop icons of the 80's along with miami vice,transformers etc. i'm not really looking forward to season 2 (which i'm sure rhino will realease)mainly because it was somewhat dissapointing and buzz dixon could as story editor did not cut it. although i did like arise serpentor arise.
btw the intro/theme still kicks ass.
Rating:
Summary: YoJoe ! He'll fight for freedom where ever there's trouble.
Review: GI Joe is the codename for American's daring, highly trained
special mission force It's purpose, to defend human freedom against Cobraa ruthless, terrorist organization determined to rule the world.Growing up in the 80's, we had it all as kids. The best TV. Great movies(well to some people we did). With besides some sort of vague nuclear threat from the Soviet Union (that's basically Russia for you kids who lived in USA. or are too young to remember).But one sure thing we had something else - the best toys what got turn into cartoons.Kids now days will never know the joy of transforming Bumblebee Nor will they ever see the GI Joe where the evil Dr. Mindbender, under the influence of the mysterious Destro, collected DNA from leaders of the past to create Serpentor and usurp Cobra Commander as the rightful leader of COBRA. Instead, they're watching the Rugrats try to leave their nursery or something else. The GI Joe cartoon was a Marvel/Sunbow cartoon series that became a regular series in 1985.The show is about a military special forces group saving the world from a terrorist group called Cobra. It had excellent animation, a sensational voice cast and the greatest audio and video editing ever.This show is real good gem from 80's for us over the age of 24 who remenber they joys cameing home and watching it. Yo JOE!
Rating:
Summary: Finally on DVD. Here is proof that God does exist!
Review: I am eternally greatful that G.I. Joe is finally on DVD. But the problem is I'm getting impatient! I want the rest of the cartoon! As well as the DiC cartoon. I know, I know.. The Dic cartoon wasn't very good, but it had a few good episodes, and the it's the principle of the thing for a Joe freak like me
Rating:
Summary: My controls are locked, I can't eject!
Review: I can't stop watching this DVD... G.I. Joe is back and just as awesome as I remember. Some of the transfer leaves a bit to be desired, the opening of the regular episodes is from the second season, the extras are paltry at best, and a couple of those seriously old-school PSA's looked like they were dubbed on somebody's half-broken dual-deck VCR; But, shut up, Mr. Yuk, 'cause G.I. Joe is on DVD and they're kicking Cobra's all over my big screen TV in surround sound. It's kinda crappy, it's super-violent in that syndicated eighties way, and the laws of physics are right out the window. But it's more fun than a transforming Thundercat fighting a teenage mutant Care Bear.
DVD highlights include "Twenty Questions," a level headed look at the relationship between the military and the media, the "Pyramid of Darkness" movie, which boasts the most Cobra technological advancements per episode(Giant A. I. water-robots and fire-breathing eugenic monsters in the first episode alone,) and that crazy/wierd two-part Synthoid Conspiracy with the seriously acerbic clone Duke. But not "Cold Slither," the episode where Cobra makes Zartan and the Dreadnoks into a hair band, or "The Wrong Stuff," in which G. I. Joes parachute from space to directly in front of Joe H.Q. They're both in Season 1 Part 2. Buy it at the end of April. Yo Joe.
Rating:
Summary: At long last!
Review: I have been waiting a long time for this, and if you are a fan of GI Joe, or enjoyed the Transformer DVD box sets that Rhino has done, this is a must have. The picture and sound are great, and most of these episodes are even better than I remember them. Hope they hurry and put out the next set. YO JOE!
Rating: 
Summary: Flawed but still worth buying...
Review: I have three major complaints. First, the re-coloring of the show leaves a lot to be desired. Yes, the colors are more vibrant, but in a way it takes away from the grittier, military feel of the show. They also seem to overlap some of the detail, almost like you are watching an animated coloring book with smaller color palette than the original style.
Secondly, the line-up of episodes is all over the place on the timeline. It really makes me wonder who was in charge of that decision. I mean really, wouldn't have made more sense to, I don't know, maybe, KEEP THE EPISODES IN ORDER? It actually does disrupt the quality because some of the characters or story archs seem way out of place and don't align themselves with any kind of time continueum. Basically, you will be watching random episodes.
Thirdly, the opening sequence is from the THIRD season. I can't fathom why they would do this.
Still though, it is G.I JOE on DVD. So I guess it is still worth getting just to see all the episodes, but they really dropped the ball with every aspect on how they packaged it. At least Transformers stayed in order....
Rating: 
Summary: G.I. Joe Season 1, Part 1
Review: I have to admit that Rhino really did the dvd collection on G.I. Joe the same way they did Transformers. I find it hard to believe that both Transformers and G.I. Joe were produced from the same company and they both shared the same voice actors. One episode from G.I. Joe is actually my favorite and that's "Operation Mind Menace". This episode features six Transformer actors which included Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, and Michael Bell. It's makes everyone think that the actors who did Transformers get to do G.I. Joe. Operation Mind Menace also has a Transformer music in it when Airborne and Flash (voiced respectively by Peter Cullen and Frank Welker) were making their escape from Cobra's island base. If you're a Transformer fans, you will love this dvd collection.
Rating:
Summary: Yo Joe!!!
Review: I only expected a walk down memory lane when I ordered the first season of G.I. Joe, but this collection absolutely took me back in time. Each episode...exquisite! The only drawback was the worthless interviews on the fourth DVD. The public service announcements(PSA) were as I had always remembered and unchanged. This DVD set is a must for anyone who watched and played G.I. Joe in the 1980's.
Rating:
Summary: cool finaly thier back
Review: i think its one of the best box sets that rhino released because you see a lot of snake eyes and shipwhreck and storm shadow two, and lets not for get the dreadnoks and cobra commander and their cool vehicles.
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