So, I’ve been thinking about this a bit for the past 24 hours. I have no idea what the source of the JoeCon rescheduling is, in all honesty. I don’t know if there was a real issue with the venue, something with Paramount and a potential Retaliation screening, or some sort of Hasbro dictation that determined this rescheduling, but the end result is a pretty strange confluence of circumstances, resulting in some serious scheduling conflicts for pretty much every Joe fan.
It’s the summer of 2012, and G.I. Joe fans everywhere are going to be all fired up to go see G.I. Joe: Retaliation.
When does G.I. Joe: Retaliation hit theaters?
June 29th.
When is the first night of Convention registration?
June 28th.
Sooo… here’s the question. G.I. Joe fans (like myself) who are extremely fired up for G.I. Joe: Retaliation are going to have our hands full in New Orleans on the first weekend of G.I. Joe: Retaliation’s release. And Joe fans will be excitedly running out to the theaters while they could be absorbing the great news and info from Joe Con. Of course, this new timing I would think almost guarantees a special Convention screening of the film, and even if it’s not done officially, the fans can certainly invade theaters themselves, though with the rush of regular movie goers during the official release that might prove challenging.
I think having the Con the week before the film was a great idea. The chance for a “sneak preview” for Con attendees (if that was even an option), plus it gets the blood pumping in the fandom who are only too eager to run to theaters and drop cash on movie tickets for the Retaliation film the next week. Considering the movie was actually filmed in New Orleans and has a strong connection to that area also makes a Convention event likely and potentially enjoyable, and who knows, perhaps that’s an opportunity for some of the production team to be in attendance. One would almost think the theatrical release might draw them to larger venues, though.
Granted, the end result will be a weekend chock full of G.I. Joe related excitement, but I can’t help but think some of the Convention excitement and atmosphere will end up lost in the shuffle of Retaliation conversation. I know I was really looking forward to being online and participating in some heavy duty G.I. Joe: Retaliation post-premiere enthusiasm, and instead I’ll be in New Orleans practically disconnected from the web covering news from the Convention floor. A bit disappointing, but perhaps that’s just me.
The end result is a weekend of over-the-top G.I. Joe insanity, but part of me wishes it could have been drawn out over two weeks and given fans everywhere a chance to experience both. Ultimately I would think the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club would have wanted the same thing. Perhaps it was their decision, perhaps it wasn’t, but I think the end result provides some curious challenges for the Club and for the fans as well. We’ll have to see how it all turns out.
With convention registration on the 28th, I have two thoughts about the Retaliation premiere. The con always has some sort of tour or special add-on event in the day or two before registration. This could be an opportunity to have a sneak preview screening on one or both of those days. The second thought is this: midnight screening. If you can get in and out of registration fast enough, there’s bound to be a midnight screening of Retaliation in one of the New Orleans multiplexes. It would be an incredible start to the convention itself.
I can agree with this, to be sure. If it is an early screening a day or two early, that would actually be a bit disappointing to me. I can’t really afford the extra day off or the extra night hotel stay just for an early screening, but we shall see…
A midnight showing would be cool, too, but I’m really looking forward to seeing the film in a theater full of my fellow G.I. Joe nerds. I think that would be an experience that would not soon be forgotten.
Yeah seeing the movie with a bunch of Joe fans would be cool. I like that kind of camaraderie. Perhaps the phrase “nerdaraderie” would be appropriate?
Their may be a scheduling conflict with Larry Hama. He is supposed to be at another con that weekend.
Justin, this conflict had not even occurred to me. Now that you’ve brought it to my attention, I don’t think its importance can be overstated.
My wife, bless her, has been doing all she can to make my attendance at the Con viable, despite difficulties it presents with scheduling and finances, and I keep saying that it won’t be the end of the world if I don’t get to go, but that this is the year I’d really want to go… because I figured there’d be an early screening with my fellow nerds.
You’re spot-on to say that Con attendees can still make a point of going to the theater together, but it’s sure not the same.
I had never even considered joining the Club or attending a Con before this year, but I was ready to do both this year, and to sign up for the sub, as well, despite the fact that it could consume about one-third of my toy funds for the year. I am neither a hater nor an apologist, but whether it’s the Club’s fault or not, I am now nearly resolved to not attending the Con, and they keep giving me more and more time to reconsider the Sub, too.
Not a good couple of months for the Club. If it’s all due to circumstances beyond their control, then I surely hope for a better February and March for them, ’cause December and January have not been kind.
Well, I’m pretty sure there will be SOME kind of screening at the Con… just how early is the question. It may be Friday night, but one has to wonder if a theater would dedicate some serious space to the Joe Con when they could probably sell out to the general public anyway… we’ll find out once registration goes live in February, but don’t sign it off just yet.
The Club did a group outing to see Rise of Cobra in 2009 in KC even though the film had been out for a couple weeks. I can see them doing something similar on Friday night for those interested.
Unfortunately life has conspired against me attending my first con this year. I finally decided to go because I’ve never been and the movie was coming out. It just seemed like the right time.
here’s the real kick in the balls. theres only two theaters (both AMCs) within 20-25 minutes of the Hilton that i know of.
(at least theaters that sit in safe areas)
I don’t see how this is an issue… As long as we see the movie together, what difference does it make? This will probably SAVE you $10-$20 as instead of seeing it at JoeCon and then the following Friday, you’ll be seeing it opening weekend. Now you’ll probably go see it several more times afterwards if it doesn’t suck (and I really don’t think it CAN suck).
My preference is to have the Convention the initial weekend but if it has to be moved it has to be moved. The only issue I see regarding the movie release Spider-Man on July 6… Dark Knight Rises on July 20 and Bourne Legacy/Total Recall on August 3… THAT is the real issue… The same people going to see G.I.Joe will be seeing these movies and will be sapping Joe ticket sales.
You have 5 months to perfect your cloning process Justin. Hop to it!
Why would someone go see a movie that is going to be utter trash when they could be at the convention meeting voice actors or seeing panels that have stuff that is actually Joe related? The only things the movies have to do with GI Joe is the name.
I almost wonder if part of this is so the Con doesn’t have to arrange a special screening one week early but can merely take advantage of the already scheduled release date. They can book a screening at a multi-plex and not have to worry about the legal rigamarole of having to secure that print earlier.
I am going to do my best to attend this year and the switch really doesn’t affect this at all, I doubt we will ever know the real reason behind it.