G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

Arms dealer James McCullen sells NATO warheads loaded with metal-eating nanobots. During transport, soldiers Duke and Ripcord are ambushed by the Baroness, whom Duke recognizes as Ana Lewis, his ex-fiancée. Rescued by G.I. Joe, both join General Hawk's team. Storm Shadow and the Baroness steal the warheads, and a missile brings down the Eiffel Tower. At McCullen's base under the Arctic ice, Snake Eyes defeats Storm Shadow, and Duke learns the masked Doctor is Rex, Ana's brother, whom he thought died on a mission. Rex had been controlling his sister with nanobots. He takes the name Cobra Commander and, along with McCullen, is captured by the Joes. In the final scene, Zartan, wearing a new face, takes the place of the US President.

1. Behind the scenesTatum wanted to be Snake Eyes

   Channing Tatum turned down the role of Duke seven times. He later said he only took it because of a three-picture deal with Paramount, and that the part he really wanted was Snake Eyes.

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2. CameoBrendan Fraser as Sergeant Stone

   Brendan Fraser shows up uncredited as Sergeant Stone. Per the DVD commentary, he asked Stephen Sommers, who had directed him in The Mummy, for a part.

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3. Behind the scenesLarry Hama kept Snake Eyes silent

   Larry Hama, who wrote the Marvel comics, worked as a consultant on the film. He pulled the script closer to the comics and talked the team into cutting a scene where Snake Eyes spoke.

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4. ReferenceThe iron mask of 1641

   The prologue is set in 1641 France: an ancestor of James McCullen is punished with a red-hot iron mask for selling weapons to Louis XIII's enemies. It's the first nod to Destro's mask.

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5. ReferenceBreaker's gum

   During the Paris battle, Breaker chews gum the whole time, a nod to the original Breaker. Also, Cobra Commander's mask was redesigned because the comics version looked too much like a Ku Klux Klan hood.

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