G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A devastated military team joins forces with ninja allies to expose a political impersonation and stop Cobra's nuclear domination plan.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Mission Betrayed

Duke leads the Joes through rescue and nuclear-warhead missions. Zartan's presidential impersonation culminates in an airstrike that devastates the team.

Key Events

• DMZ Defector Rescue — Duke leads the G.I. Joe team in rescuing a North Korean defector. Characters: Conrad Hauser / Duke Location: Korean Demilitarized Zone
• Pakistan Warhead Mission — The Joes are assigned to steal nuclear warheads during Pakistan's civil war. Characters: Conrad Hauser / Duke Location: Pakistan
• The Fatal Airstrike — Zartan orders an airstrike that kills Duke and many members of the G.I. Joe team. Characters: Conrad Hauser / Duke, Marvin Hinton / Roadblock, Jaye Burnett / Lady Jaye, Zartan Location: Pakistan
• Survival Beneath the Well — Roadblock and Lady Jaye survive the attack by diving into a well. Characters: Marvin Hinton / Roadblock, Jaye Burnett / Lady Jaye Location: Pakistan village

Survivors Against Cobra

Roadblock and Lady Jaye survive and seek weapons while Cobra expands its influence. Lady Jaye begins uncovering the presidential deception.

Key Events

• Weapons From an Ally — The surviving Joes return home and obtain weapons for their counter-operation. Characters: Marvin Hinton / Roadblock, Jaye Burnett / Lady Jaye Location: United States
• Prison Extraction — Firefly helps extract the imprisoned Cobra commander from a maximum-security facility. Characters: Firefly Location: Underground prison in Germany
• The Ninja Pursuit — The Blind Master sends Snake Eyes and Jinx to capture a suspected murderer. Characters: Blind Master, Snake Eyes, Kim Arashikage / Jinx Location: Arashikage training grounds
• Cobra Replaces the Joes — Zartan announces that Cobra will replace the G.I. Joe team as America's special forces. Characters: Zartan Location: United States
• Speech Pattern Suspicion — Lady Jaye detects changes in the President's speech patterns and suspects an impersonation. Characters: Jaye Burnett / Lady Jaye Location: United States
• DNA Evidence Stolen — Lady Jaye steals a DNA sample and later confirms the President is an impersonator. Characters: Jaye Burnett / Lady Jaye, Zartan, Firefly Location: Presidential fundraiser

The Framed Ninja

Snake Eyes and Jinx capture a suspected killer and test the weapon used in the murder. The evidence exposes Zartan's manipulation.

Key Events

• Fundraiser Escape — Lady Jaye escapes a confrontation with Firefly after securing the evidence. Characters: Jaye Burnett / Lady Jaye, Firefly, Zartan Location: Presidential fundraiser
• Storm Temple Capture — Snake Eyes and Jinx defeat loyal ninjas and capture the injured target. Characters: Snake Eyes, Kim Arashikage / Jinx Location: Temple in the Himalayas
• Broken Murder Weapon — The captured ninja proves innocence when the murder weapon breaks because it is not Arashikage steel. Characters: Snake Eyes, Kim Arashikage / Jinx Location: Tokyo
• The Framing Exposed — The Blind Master deduces that Zartan committed the murder and framed the accused ninja. Characters: Blind Master, Snake Eyes, Kim Arashikage / Jinx, Zartan Location: Tokyo
• Ninjas Join the Joes — Snake Eyes and Jinx join the Joes' effort to stop Cobra and avenge the murdered mentor. Characters: Marvin Hinton / Roadblock, Jaye Burnett / Lady Jaye, Snake Eyes, Kim Arashikage / Jinx Location: United States

Cobra's Nuclear Gambit

Zartan forces the nuclear powers into a global crisis and reveals Project Zeus. The destruction of Central London makes Cobra's threat undeniable.

Key Events

• Ninjas Join the Joes — Snake Eyes and Jinx join the Joes' effort to stop Cobra and avenge the murdered mentor. Characters: Marvin Hinton / Roadblock, Jaye Burnett / Lady Jaye, Snake Eyes, Kim Arashikage / Jinx Location: United States
• Nuclear Arsenal Launch — Zartan launches the U.S. nuclear arsenal and forces other nuclear powers to respond. Characters: Zartan Location: Fort Sumter summit
• Project Zeus Revealed — Zartan unveils Project Zeus, a system of orbital kinetic bombardment weapons. Characters: Zartan Location: Fort Sumter summit
• London Destroyed — Zartan destroys Central London to demonstrate Cobra's power and threatens the remaining world leaders. Characters: Zartan Location: Central London

The Last Counterattack

The Joes and their ninja allies assault the weapons site while Firefly protects the launch device. Roadblock destroys the orbital weapons, and the surviving Joes are honored.

Key Events

• Final Weapons Assault — Snake Eyes and Jinx fight Cobra soldiers while Firefly protects the launch device. Characters: Marvin Hinton / Roadblock, Snake Eyes, Kim Arashikage / Jinx, Firefly Location: Fort Sumter weapons site
• Orbital Weapons Destroyed — Roadblock overpowers Firefly and destroys the orbital weapons. Characters: Marvin Hinton / Roadblock, Firefly Location: Fort Sumter weapons site
• Joes Honored Publicly — The surviving Joes are honored at a White House ceremony for stopping Cobra. Characters: Marvin Hinton / Roadblock, Jaye Burnett / Lady Jaye, Snake Eyes, Kim Arashikage / Jinx Location: White House ceremony
• A Shot for the Fallen — Roadblock fires one shot in honor of fallen comrades and vows to avenge them. Characters: Marvin Hinton / Roadblock Location: White House ceremony

Story Breakdown

• The Initial Missions — Duke leads the Joes through an extraction and a dangerous nuclear-warhead operation.
  • DMZ Rescue — The team rescues a North Korean defector from the Korean Demilitarized Zone.
  • Pakistan Operation — The Joes are assigned to steal nuclear warheads during a civil war.
• The Team Betrayed — Zartan manipulates the U.S. government and destroys most of the G.I. Joe team.
  • Deadly Airstrike — An airstrike kills Duke and many Joes after the mission is labeled treasonous.
  • Well Escape — Roadblock and Lady Jaye survive by hiding beneath the battlefield.
• The Hidden Impostor — Lady Jaye investigates the President's altered behavior and obtains biological proof of the deception.
  • Speech Pattern Clue — Lady Jaye notices that the President's manner of speaking has changed.
  • DNA Confirmation — A stolen DNA sample confirms that the apparent President is an impersonator.
• The Ninja Revelation — Snake Eyes and Jinx uncover the truth behind the murder that divided their clan.
  • Temple Capture — The ninja pair captures the suspected killer after battling loyal followers.
  • Broken Blade — A failed weapon test proves the accused ninja did not commit the murder.
• Cobra's World Threat — Zartan turns a summit into a nuclear crisis and unveils orbital weapons.
  • Nuclear Escalation — The world's nuclear powers are forced into mutual retaliation preparations.
  • Project Zeus — Cobra reveals orbital bombardment weapons and destroys Central London.
• The Final Retaliation — The surviving Joes and ninja allies attack the weapons site and preserve their fallen team's legacy.
  • Firefly Defeated — Roadblock overpowers Firefly while the launch device is being protected.
  • Weapons Destroyed — Roadblock destroys the orbital weapons and ends Cobra's immediate threat.
  • Honor for the Fallen — The surviving Joes are honored, and Roadblock fires a ceremonial shot.

Directed by

Jon M. Chu

Key Cast

• Dwayne Johnson — Marvin Hinton / Roadblock
• Bruce Willis — Joe Colton
• Jonathan Pryce — U.S. President
• Adrianne Palicki — Jaye Burnett / Lady Jaye
• Ray Park — Snake Eyes