Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins attempts to reboot the G.I. Joe franchise by focusing on the mysterious ninja commando's backstory, with Henry Golding taking over the role from Ray Park. The film succeeds in grounding the character with a compelling personal motivation—Snake Eyes seeks revenge for his father's murder—which gives the early scenes genuine emotional weight, and Golding brings charisma and physicality to a role that demands both brooding intensity and martial arts prowess. While the production design of the Japanese mountain fortress and Tokyo underground creates an atmospheric backdrop that sets the film apart from generic military actioners, the action sequences—especially those involving the Arashikage clan's training rituals and the climactic sword fights—are choreographed with clarity and energy that honors classic samurai cinema. The film cleverly keeps the G.I. Joe connections to a minimum until the very end, enabling this story to function as a stand-alone ninja epic. Andrew Koji gives a remarkable performance as Tommy/Storm Shadow, creating a complex rivalry with Snake Eyes that suggests the rich history these characters share.

A bloated length that spreads a straightforward vengeance story across two hours and a third act that breaks under the weight of numerous villain revelations and franchise-setup responsibilities are just two of the film's major structural issues. The film's opening set piece and the introduction of Cobra and the Baroness feel hurried and underdeveloped, more focused on sequel hooks than on cogent storytelling. The action is skillfully staged but suffers from excessive quick-cutting and dim lighting that obscures the choreography. The film's attempts at emotional resonance in the last act appear unjustified given the clumsy building of important connections, and the female characters, such as Akiko (Haruka Abe) and the Baroness (Úrsula Corberó), are given little characterization beyond their utility to Snake Eyes' quest. Additionally, Snake Eyes' signature vow of silence and iconic visor appear only in the film's closing moments, leaving viewers who expected to see the fully realized character throughout feeling cheated. While Snake Eyes offers enough sword-clanging entertainment to satisfy action fans, its identity crisis between grounded ninja drama and toyetic franchise launcher results in a film that satisfies neither audience completely.

Staff:

Directed by: Robert Schwentke

Written by: Evan Spiliotopoulos, Joe Shrapnel, and Anna Waterhouse

Story by: Evan Spiliotopoulos

Based on: G.I. Joe by Hasbro

Produced by: Brian Goldner, Erik Howsam, and Lorenzo di Bonaventura

Starring: Henry Golding, Andrew Koji, Úrsula Corberó, Samara Weaving, and Iko Uwais.

Cinematography: Bojan Bazelli

Edited by: Stuart Levy

Music by: Martin Todsharow

Production companies: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Skydance Media, Entertainment One, and Di Bonaventura Pictures

Distributed by: Paramount Pictures

Release date: July 23, 2021

Running time: 121 minutes