Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, also known simply as Snake Eyes, is a 2021 superhero action film directed by Robert Schwentke from a screenplay by Evan Spiliotopoulos, Joe Shrapnel, and Anna Waterhouse. Based on Hasbro's G.I. Joe toy, comic, and media franchise, the film is a reboot, and the third installment in the G.I. Joe film series and serves as an origin story for the title character Snake Eyes. Henry Golding stars as the title role, replacing Ray Park who portrayed him in the previous films.
Snake Eyes is a tenacious loner who is welcomed into an ancient Japanese clan called the Arashikage after saving the life of their heir apparent. Upon arrival in Japan, the Arashikage teach Snake Eyes the ways of the ninja warrior while also providing something he’s been longing for: a home. But, when secrets from his past are revealed, Snake Eyes’ honor and allegiance will be tested – even if that means losing the trust of those closest to him. The cast also includes Andrew Koji as Storm Shadow, Úrsula Corberó as The Baroness, Samara Weaving as Scarlett, Haruka Abe as Akiko, Tahehiro Hira as Kenta, and Iko Uwais as Hard Master.
Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins released in theaters on July 23rd, courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
THE GOOD
I should probably preface this review by pointing out the fact that I have zero knowledge of the comics, or what is considered to be the “true origin story” of Snake Eyes. Comics just aren’t my thing, I mean sure someone loaned me a Deadpool comic once and I thought it was hilarious, but I just can’t sit around and read comics I will just get sidetracked every time. Okay so now that we got that out of the way, what did I think about the latest film to come from the G.I. Joe Universe, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins?
Well to just jump right into it, I really enjoyed this movie. The story was interesting, the fight scenes were an absolute joy to experience, and it was just a good old fashioned action flick meant to be seen on the big screen. I went in with little to no knowledge of the actual origin story which probably helped my case. The fight scenes were up there with some of the better martial arts films of recent memory, proving they put a premium on the stunt work for the film. One scene in particular includes an epic fight on a moving vehicle, and that had the adrenaline pumping for sure. I enjoyed the characters and felt like the film had the perfect balance of characters to root for and characters to root against. The story had plenty of depth but was still fairly straight forward, sort of the classic revenge above all else story.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say the acting was one of the primary strengths of the film, but I was very pleased with the performance of Henry Golding. I thought he epitomized the Snake Eyes character, and definitely won audiences over. I also have to give credit to Úrsula Corberó and Samara Weaving, in their respective roles as The Baroness and Scarlett. I mean, sure they are both absolutely gorgeous, but these two know their way around an automatic weapon that’s for sure. These two proved to be quite a dynamic duo. I also really enjoyed Haruka Abe in her role as Akiko. Iko Uwais was an absolute badass in his role as Hard Master, and easily one of my favorite characters. I look forward to seeing more of him in future films.
As expected, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins was very sound on the technical side of things. The smooth and creative camera work helped to make sure the action scenes felt as exciting as possible. As I touched on already, the choreography and stunt work for the fight scenes were top notch. The soundtrack was upbeat and exciting throughout which is always important. Bottom line, you can sit back and enjoy watching a crowd of overconfident bad guys getting manhandled by 2 or 3 people over and over again. It never gets old.
THE BAD
Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins is not free from it’s fair share of issues. At times I felt like key points of the story were rushed, or just lacking the necessary weight you’d want for some of the more pivotal moments. This impacted believability for certain elements of the story arc, at least for me anyway. I think this was partly caused by some weak acting from the supporting cast periodically. Some of the writing probably could have been better as well.
I also have to point out the fact that pretty much every motorcycle or car was electric in the movie, and I don’t think I’m alone in saying that crotch rockets, if you can even call them that, are far less cool when they sound like a Dyson vacuum. Some of the fight scenes, although fun, certainly felt extremely far fetched as well. But hey, it’s the movies right?
THE VERDICT
An action-packed origin story showcasing star Henry Golding’s acting abilities, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins is a fun movie well worth a trip to the theater. When a well-known franchise is trying to reinvent itself, it is usually best to forget what you know and appreciate the new direction they decide to take things. Similar to the Marvel films, it is impossible to stay true to the comics and creative freedom is a good thing if you ask me. It’s far from perfect sure, but it gets plenty right. I enjoyed Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins and I hope the franchise has a chance to continue building on what seems to be a solid foundation.
TED TAKES RATING - 7/10
Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins is now playing only in theaters. Check out the trailer below.