Fan Produced GI JOE Extreme Boxed Set Review

[jamarmiller]

GI JOE Extreme Boxed Set Review
By the man known as ronin




Hey folks. Just wanted to tell you about a boxed set of GI Joe Extreme episodes that I recently bought. I think several of you have already seen my review of the DIC boxed episode set which I purchased from a semi-professional dvd author on another board. This Extreme set contains all 26 Extreme episodes along with some extras. An officially licensed boxed dvd set has not been released yet and I realize some may not like the unofficial nature of this set.
The GI Joe Extreme series marked the Kenner\Hasbro decision to reboot GI Joe and put a unique spin on the Joe mythos. The series marked the introduction of new Joes such as Lt. Stone, Harpoon, Freight, Ballistic\Eagle Eye, Mayday, Metalhead, Black Dragon, Quick Strike, Tracker and Sgt. Savage. If Sgt. Savage sounds familiar is because the designers made a decision to include Savage as connection to a previous Joe series and to add a more hardcore military type to the team.
As for the Joe enemy, it is no longer Cobra. It is an organization called SKAR and is headed up by Iron Klaw. He is like having Cobra Commander, Destro and Zartan all rolled into one. Other SKAR bad guys that were introduced were Wreckage, Rampage, Inferno and Steel Raven.
After reviewing the DIC set, I had an idea of what to expect from the overall structure of this one. I was looking forward to watching these episodes because I remember seeing one Extreme episode and immediately turning it off because at the time I was in college and was more into video games. Also, the fact that it wasn't just like "my 80s Joes" turned me off. I was much younger then and had a horse with blinders approach to things.
The box set is similar to the DIC one with a special dvd case which holds all the discs for the set. The case itself was very sturdy and I just love these multi-disc cases.
On the outside, a custom cover sleeve had been printed out which showcased a nice Extreme logo on the front. Along the back, was an episode listing and screen shots from a few of the episodes. As with the DIC series, it really was a nice touch.
Also, upon opening the Extreme case, each DVD disc had really nice detailed cover art along with the episode listing.



I popped in the first disc and started watching. The author created his own warning notice which is aimed at someone who took his set and is now selling them as his own. Also, he created a custom main menu with the same patriotic music he used for the DIC set.
I knew going in that the source quality of the episodes are from VHS cassettes. They are NOT from production masters. The overall quality across all 26 episodes of the vhs source is rather clear and consistent. However, I want to make this very clear. The source quality is NOT as good as the DIC boxed set. Of course, this has nothing to do with dvd author. You can convert the source material, but you can't really improve upon it.
One characteristic about the source material is that it looks like it was taped in Green Bay, Wisconsin since you see the local station reminder flash on screen across on many of the episodes. However, the dvd author should be commended for tracking down all 26 episodes of this obscure series in this decent quality. Doing so, is no easy task at all.
As with the DIC set, the author did a very good job of removing the commercials so all you get are straight eps. You only really see commercials when the credits are running because they are embedded.
Regarding vehicles, you get to see some nice new ones in action. For starters, the Joes use the Detonator, Road Bullet and Sand Striker. Also, you get see the Tiger Hawk which was never released as part of the line but instead produced as the Battle Hawk via India Funskool. There is also the Thunderin' Fury tank which never was released domestically. As for SKAR, they have the Sky Stalker, Bone Splitter tank and Spitfire platform.
So that you know, I thought that the DIC storylines were much better written that the classic RHINO Season 1 & 2 story lines. After watching the Extreme series, I found the Extreme eps to be leaps and bounds above even the DIC series. The writing is excellent. The story arc and character depth is mature and focused. It actually feels that all 26 episodes were intended to be continuous chapters of the entire series instead of being one story\adventure per show and the starting over again.
This series also has the throwback PSAs for children at the end of some of the eps. It was nice to see both a homage to previous Joe series and something that was a public service.
Also, with GI Joe Extreme the writers tackled geo-political issues dealing with the break-up of a former-Cold War superpower. That was the reason why SKAR was able to rise into existence. This power vacuum concept actually makes more sense since it was written based on historical precedent after the Soviet Union fell. This storyline backdrop is much more realistic and plausible than a used car salesman amassing an entire army which threatens the US as with the Joe\Cobra storyline.
The series also concludes in a way that both provides a natural ending to the series but allowed the writers to branch off in different storylines if they so chose.
As for the extras on the disc, I think that this set has even better extras than the DIC set. This Extreme set comes with the one-off pilot episode of Sgt. Savage and the Screaming Eagles - "Old Heroes Never Die". Unfortunately, that toyline tanked but it did produce some nice toys such as the P-40 Warhawk, Grizzly and I.R.O.N. Panther tank. It is a nice episode and even includes appearances by General Hawk and Lady Jaye.
Also, there is an extra disc which has comic scans which I will tell you is worth the price of the set alone.
If you read in the DIC review, I'm a tough grader. I will only consider giving a boxed set an "A", if the source material was from digital masters (which this isn't). The volume levels tend to be low across across the board. Also, the overall quality of the source material is NOT as good as the DIC set but is definitely good enough to watch and enjoy.
Keeping in mind my concerns, I think that this boxed set is a suitable companion to the DIC one and I suggest that you pick up both. I would rate this set as a very strong C+. Thanks for reading.

http://www.pimpmyjoe.com/

[jamarmiller]

I been asked about 10 times in the last 24 hours how one can obtain this set as the site above who did the review is now gone

so the guy who made these is the one who to contact he can be reached by e-mailing BOTH of these e-mail addresses

markatisu@he-man.org, mvasquez_isu@hotmail.com as he doesnt check them both all the time!