Die-hard Channing Tatum fans can breathe a sigh of relief this week because finally Jon M. Chu’s sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation is hitting theaters after a nonsensical delay from last year. In 3D. With more Channing Tatum. Now that Paramount and Hasbro have seen fit to finally release this cinematic masterpiece, you’re likely going to want to revisit 2009’s G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra so you don’t miss any nuances of the plot or subtle subtext from film-to-film. After all, why else would you watch a Stephen Sommers’ movie? To enhance those nuances and subtext further, have a few adult beverages at your side while prepping yourself for the deep, complex plot that is sure to accompany the new film in theaters.

Universal’s classic movie monsters have always been an important part of their history, and a profitable part of their stable of trademarks. Normally they don’t let too many years go by without making a movie featuring a the wolfman, Frankenstein’s monster, or a mummy. So, it should probably come as no surprise that they’re currently looking for ways to further extend their Mummy franchise, the latest incarnation of which started with Stephen Sommers’s 1999 film that starred Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz. Variety reports that they’re looking to do a reboot of the whole franchise, and in order to get things started, they’ve hired writer Jon Spaihts to come up with a script. Spaihts isn’t really a widely known name as of yet, but considering he’s got a co-writing credit on Ridley Scott’s upcoming project that’s set in the Alien universe, Prometheus, that’s probably going to change pretty quickly.

The world is now one step closer to a legitimate Hollywood adaptation of a Dean Koontz novel. Of the fifteen or so that have reached the screen only two, Demon Seed and Phantoms, came from anything resembling a major studio/distributor. The rest have been a mixed bag of TV movies, mini-series, and direct-to-DVD releases. But there are currently two films in pre-production that hold great promise for fans of the author’s many novels screaming to be turned into feature films. Director Ole Bornedal is set to direct The Husband for Focus Features, but there’s been little movement there since the announcement two years ago. And Universal Pictures is planning on releasing Stephen Sommers’ film version of Odd Thomas. Bringing Odd Thomas closer to reality is the recent announcement that Anton Yelchin will be starring in the title role. Yelchin was last seen in 2009′s one-two punch of Star Trek and Terminator Salvation, and while he was out of sight throughout 2010 the next two years look to be even busier for the young actor. In addition to the recent Sundance hit Like Crazy and the remake of Fright Night, he’ll next be seen in Jodie Foster’s The Beaver. Per IMDB he has an additional three films lined up through 2012 as well, so we’ll have to wait and see where Odd Thomas fits into it all.

If, by reading the headline, you were hoping that the incomparable Don Jurwich – who directed the 1987 animated G.I. Joe film – had signed on to take on the sequel to G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, your hopes are about to be dashed. Stephen Sommers will return to the director’s seat for G.I. Joe 2: The Search for More Money. If the track record is any indication, Sommers will tackle this one, and seven years from now, Rob Cohen will take over to direct the long-gestating threequel G.I. Joe: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. That’s how it’s done these days. [The Wrap]

Buried in the box office report from the LA Times comes the almost obvious news that Paramount Pictures is already moving forward with plans for a sequel to last weekend’s bread winner G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

The time has come — and in the case of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, seeing it for yourself is half the battle.

Neil pretty much hit the nail on the head with his review, but we figure ‘G.I. Joe’s’ big enough to warrant an affirmation: Ignore the renewed bad buzz: The movie’s a lot of fun.

Kevin Carr breaks down the week’s releases, looking at G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Julie & Julia, and A Perfect Getaway.

If you don’t know GI Joe before going into this weekend’s release, then you’ve already lost. Because knowing is half the battle and what not. But you already knew that, right?

If you planned on seeing it before, are you less likely to now? If you didn’t plan on seeing it before, could positive critical reaction have changed your mind?

Paramount Pictures has released the full press kit for next week’s release of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. Included in said press kit was 28 high resolution photos from the film and the production.

Paramount Pictures has released yet another featurette from behind the scenes of their upcoming film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra that shows director Stephen Sommers in Paris, talking about one of the pivotal action sequences of his film.

Paramount Pictures has provided us with another series of images from their upcoming actioner G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, which include a badass look at a couple of ninjas in the heat of battle.

Another new trailer for the Paramount Pictures release G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra has hit the ole interwebs today, courtesy of someone who wanted us to see it before it is available in HD from one of the usual sources.

A new extended TV trailer and several new character posters have begun to emerge today for Paramount’s G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. And I stand by my assessment that this film could very well turn out to be fun.

In an astonishing turn of events, the ice cream truck just drove by and they had Tutti Frutti! They NEVER have Tutti Frutti! Oh, and apparently that G. I. Joe story isn’t true. Or is. It’s really tough to tell anymore.

So apparently not only the marketing materials have been getting blasted, but G.I. Joe itself isn’t testing well. Feel free to make a joke about knowing being half the battle.

Just days after we questioned whether or not Stephen Sommers had been replaced by a class of 3rd graders in the director’s chair for G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and mere hours after we saw the first 10-second glimpse of the movie, our friends at Coming Soon come knocking with the full 30-second Superbowl teaser. And all signs are currently pointing toward: “Hey wait, this looks kinda fun.”

Last night Entertainment Tonight aired a 10-second clip from the G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra commercial that will run this weekend during the Superbowl, and of course it has made its way online.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse for the production of Stephen Sommers’ G.I. Joe movie… this happens. For all of you who still think that hope is not lost, prepare to let it slip away…