[^Serpentor^]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh Z

Willem Dafoe.

[Kendiesel937]

I think it?s really hard for folks to appreciate? cuz of how cross media other lines got, and how hot/cold the public is on military. But when you really sit down & see how huge the line was? it?s insanity.

[SnowCat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ^Serpentor^

John P. Ryan as Cobra Commander is an interesting choice. It comes across like that the blogger is envisioning a ranting and maniacal CObra Commander for the film. I think William Dafoe might be a good choice if we're going with a similar approach, though perhaps William would have been considered too young for the part back then ...

TBH, Willem Dafoe had his creepy, ranting villain style down pretty early. He was there already in Streets of Fire, and that was 1984. Dafoe would have been great for it, but back then Chris Latta was still alive (he did live action acting in Star Trek TNG and DS9), so I'd have gone with him. He was and is Cobra Commander.

[shishi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kendiesel937

I think it?s really hard for folks to appreciate? cuz of how cross media other lines got, and how hot/cold the public is on military. But when you really sit down & see how huge the line was? it?s insanity.

I think war was still seen as tales of daring do in the early 80s and reflected as such in war movies, and other media. Things started to change as the 80s progressed with Hollywood starting to make movies about the horrors of war. Plus the big bad of the Soviet Union disappeared and the West started reassessing some of their allies from the Cold War.

[AWOL]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shishi

Things started to change as the 80s progressed with Hollywood starting to make movies about the horrors of war.

I watched 'Born on the Fourth of July' at a very young age. It shaped my perception of war. In fact, my brother and I integrated those horrific themes into our Joe playtime.

[Ratel]

I do. Still miss the old Joe cartoon.

[HitandRun]

Found a really great video on Youtube that breaks down the end of the ARAH/Sgt. Savage and the corporate turmoil between Hasbro and Kenner. Worth a watch. It filled in some of the holes for me in terms of that time in Joe history: