L. ANGELES – This is the largest movie of the summer that practically no one has seen.
"G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" opens Friday, but dominant Pictures isn't screening the blockbuster for critics earlier. Just a few writers from bogs and movie Web sites have seen it for review — such as Harry Knowles, the self-professed "Head Geek" from Ain't It Cool News — and their opinions have been mostly positive.
As an alternative, mansion says it's deliberately aspireing the movie at the heartland, at cities and audiences outside the entertainment vortexes of New York and Los Angeles. Paramount held a screening Friday for 1,000 military service members and their families at Andrews Air Force Base; it's also focusing marketing efforts in places like Kansas City, Charlotte, N.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
Although interesting to a wisdom of loyalty national, the plan also is inspired by the disparity that existed between the critical trashing "Transformers: Rise of the Fallen" received and the massive crowds it drew at the box office.
