Overall Thoughts: Origin story starts off a little shaky, but gets better and better as it goes.
I very much remember the first two G.I. Joe movies. The first one was the talk of my best friend's family for years. Meanwhile, I personally really enjoyed Retaliation (even though I might be in a small boat). With the impressive trailers, I was really hoping Snake Eyes would continue the franchise in new and exciting ways. And with another Eastern-focused action film opening a little over a month later (cough Shang-Chi cough cough)...no pressure, right?
At first, this action thriller doesn't quite impress. The set-up is fairly predictable, and the overall proceedings start off a little bit on the confusing side. In the first half hour or so, we don't understand why Snake Eyes is a double agent and why he intends to (gasp) betray the nobler people he's working with. A little less sophistication would have helped here. But then again, that is, until we get to the second act.
Thankfully, this movie gets far more interesting once we are shown a moment of self-reflection for the lead character. Tensions rise. More emotional stakes are introduced. A few characters are given more time to be developed and to make us care. And the overall plot becomes more streamlined and focused to help engage the viewer. Of course, it all leads to a couple of very entertaining martial arts sequences, as well as a Mission: Impossible style automobile chase/stunt sequence.
As the lead, Henry Golding is pretty good. He successfully sells himself as an action star, and is given a few solid emotional moments to boot. His budding bromance with Tommy (an equally-good Andrew Koji) is nice to see, who goes through a convincing arc himself. Eri Ishida is also a stand-out as the head of the Arashikan clan.
Of course, the action sequences are intense and entertaining, including a neo-futuristic scene that carries a couple of shades of Blade Runner. There's a refreshing overall lack of green screen and visual effects (with the striking exception of a couple of pretty scary moments involving giant snakes!). And, the stunt-work and choreography are all top notch.
Now, being an origin story, there's potential shown here for sequels and connections to further G.I. Joe properties, including a pretty exciting end credits sequence. But, thankfully, Snake Eyes doesn't fall into the trap of being just a placeholder for the next major movie event. It establishes its own character and gives him a storyline that mostly works pretty well. It's only at the very end that the connections and a further connected arc become more clear.
In the end, Snake Eyes may have started a little lazily. However, it managed to pull itself together pretty nicely and deliver a thrilling and engaging big-screen experience. What more could you expect from a summer movie?
Grade: B+
Is this movie family-friendly? Snake Eyes is rated PG-13 for "sequences of strong violence and brief strong language." I would not recommend this movie for younger children, as its' pretty intense at times. While there's not a whole lot of bloodshed (a "blood brothers" moment notwithstanding), there are some pretty brutal moments. An opening sequence where Snake Eyes is flat-out pummeled by various methods of torture will frighten many. Meanwhile, a couple of scenes in a literal snake pit underscore the overall scare level of the pic for many youngsters. Several moments of hand-to-hand combat and threatening elements. And a sought-out stone is shown to have the power to disintegrate people in thin air. Other than that, the film has one unfortunate f-bomb (said in a random moment by a villainess in the climactic action scene). Beyond that, however, language is surprisingly sparse, with just one use of "a**" and "b**ch". No sexual situations or innuendo, though one female does wear a couple of tight outfits. Ultimately, I would advise parental caution for kids ages 12 and under, as this one is perhaps a bit more intense and visceral than some superhero flicks are.
Is this movie family-friendly? Snake Eyes is rated PG-13 for "sequences of strong violence and brief strong language." I would not recommend this movie for younger children, as its' pretty intense at times. While there's not a whole lot of bloodshed (a "blood brothers" moment notwithstanding), there are some pretty brutal moments. An opening sequence where Snake Eyes is flat-out pummeled by various methods of torture will frighten many. Meanwhile, a couple of scenes in a literal snake pit underscore the overall scare level of the pic for many youngsters. Several moments of hand-to-hand combat and threatening elements. And a sought-out stone is shown to have the power to disintegrate people in thin air. Other than that, the film has one unfortunate f-bomb (said in a random moment by a villainess in the climactic action scene). Beyond that, however, language is surprisingly sparse, with just one use of "a**" and "b**ch". No sexual situations or innuendo, though one female does wear a couple of tight outfits. Ultimately, I would advise parental caution for kids ages 12 and under, as this one is perhaps a bit more intense and visceral than some superhero flicks are.
