The silent ninja with the snake eyes is back. He is fast, he is lethal and he is the protagonist of the new G.I. Joe movie, which is totally focused on his past before joining the elite team of the United States Military. Finally I found the time to write about it! Let’s start.
The ninja without past
The code name Snake Eyes is whispering for some years in the cinematic industry. Well in the famous toyline/comic books/animated series G.I. Joe he is not a guest appearance, on the contrary… Known for his unknown past and identity, about Snake Eyes remain only his actions as one of the former team member of the G.I. Joe commando and his martial arts studies in the Arashikage ninja clan. Characters like Scarlett, romantically involved with Snake Eyes, and Storm Shadow, his ninja blood brother, define and humanize this mysterious warrior that choose to follow and honor the way of the shadow.
The G.I. Joe ninja
Before Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, the silent ninja was already shown in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and G.I. Joe: Retaliation. In these two movies the character is played by the Scottish star Ray Park, who managed to deliver the mysterious and lethal ninja of the comics. However, part of the credit goes to his nemesis Storm Shadow, played by the talented Lee Byung-hun, who increases and darken the complicated relationship between the two ninjas.
Snake Eyes in the shadows
Snake Eyes: G. I Joe Origins was theatrically released on July 23 this year, despite its initial filming in October 2019. The protagonist is played by Henry Golding, who although his preparation for the role, do not gives the character personality that the fans were looking for. The action scenes are really confused because of unnecessary shaking cameras and the plot is not following the original story, which would have given more depth to the duo’s bond. Even the skills of Andrew Koji, who is playing Storm Shadow, do not shines. On the contrary, it keeping him far away from what we viewed in Warrior the series. Unfortunately the star Iko Uwais is but one more guest character hidden in the shadows of this movie direction.
Not really a silent ninja
The suggestive backgrounds of Tokyo simply do not save this movie that was not able to capture the essence of the G.I. Joe’s ninjas. The movies G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and G.I. Joe: Retaliation managed to deliver a much more convincing interpretation of the two characters, considering that in those two movies, Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow were not protagonists. How they managed to satisfy the audience? Simply letting the actor’s bodies and their emotions talk, without unnecessary dialogues. A Snake Eyes sequel seems to be in development, I really hope to see all the cast and the directors return to their roles and properly build together the past of this very unique ninjas.
The silent ninja with the snake eyes is back, in which film do you like Snake Eyes the most? Which G.I. Joe character do you like the most?