Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins Movie Review

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins” is based on the HCU (Hasbro Cinematic Universe – if there is such a thing) and is vaguely connected to the other G.I. Joe movies. But this movie is all about the ‘origins’ of the one named “Snake Eyes”. He is an expert in martial arts and now you get to learn his background. They say “Never bring a knife to a gun fight”. This movie goes further — “Never bring an Uzi to a Katana showdown”.

Twenty years ago, an unnamed man brings his unnamed son into the woods to a cabin that is far off the grid. But he is still found by relentless assassins. Rolling dice for his fate they come up ‘snake eyes’ – a single pip shown on each die. That means the man must die. But his young son gets away, and from that point on, when he has grown up — he is called “Snake Eyes (played by Henry Golding).

Snake Eyes is street fighter and a drifter who runs into Tommy Arashikage (played by Andrew Koji). They both cross paths with a ruthless leader of the Yakuza gang named Kenta (played by Takehiro Hira). Snake Eyes saves Tommy from the gangs  katana-wielding army of henchmen. Tommy rewards his new friend by taking him to Japan and back to the Arashikage Clan fortress. Snake Eyes still has revenge on his mind, and is out to kill the man who murdered his father.

At the fortress, Snake Eyes learns of the ninja warrior training that the Arashikage Clan is known for. Tommy offers to let Snake Eyes try the three tasks to gain entry as a warrior. The  Clan security chief Akiko (Haruka Abe) does not trust this newcomer. The Hard Master (played by Iko Uwais) does not think much of this new trainee. Nor does the Blind Master (played by Peter Mensah). But Snake Eyes has skills that surprise everybody. He does very well in his training and is about to get to the final task.

But Snake Eyes has a connection still to Kenta, the Yakuza boss. Kenta has recently made an alliance with the Baroness (played by Úrsula Corberó). She is high up in the Cobra organization, a super-secret terrorist group. Cobra has an arch-enemy in the G.I. Joes, a global group of freedom-loving soldiers who fight for justice and peace. One of the Joes is an ally of the Arashikage Clan. Her name is Scarlett (played by Samara Weaving).

After some devious double-crossing and some fancy sword-fighting, there is a mysterious weapon that is stolen. If it falls into the hands of Cobra, it could be a disaster for the world. For now, it is a disaster for the Arashikage Clan. The Yakuza gang attack the fortress and it will be blade-on-blade until the last man is left standing. Snake Eyes joins forces with Tommy and the Clan, along with Scarlett and both of the Masters. Kenta and Baroness take the gang out to rip up the place. But there are some strange alliances and temporary truces in this battle.

The man called Snake Eyes finally gets the chance to become the ninja expert fighter that Tommy had promised him. But due to the Clan battle with the Yakuza, Tommy has become an outcast known only as Storm Shadow. Scarlett gives Snake Eyes the green light to become a valued member of the ‘G.I. Joes’. The franchise for more movies is now in full swing.

“Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins” is a light-weight dive into the comic book and toy universe of the G.I. Joe world. Snake Eyes is a known favorite in that world, yet the silent and hooded figure of the toys and comics would not look good on screen. So they came up with decent (if convoluted) back story that would explain how Snake Eyes got his mojo and became a Joe.

Henry Golding does a very good job with the lead role. Andrew Koji is equally fine as Tommy, who turns into the evil Storm Shadow. Haruka Abe is good as Akiko, but both Samara Weaving and Úrsula Corberó are underused in the story.  The action sequences are just all over the place. They seem to have been edited together with the skill of throwing several katana blades into a blender.

“Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins” has a huge advantage over a movie that has a similar title. This movie, unlike “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” – does not suck.