"Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins stars Henry Golding as Snake Eyes, 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 trailer has dropped for "SNAKE EYES: G.I. Joe Origins", in anticipation of a July 23rd premiere ion U.S. theaters. Check out the "5 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About Snake Eyes" featurette embedded below, and get reacquainted with a character I've "always" known to not reveal his face, nor speak ...
Based on the iconic G.I. Joe character, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins also stars 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.
AUGUST 16/2020: I do not update this blog as often as I'd like to these days (yes, this is an "understatement"), but nevertheless continue daily on these blogs:
1000toys will be unleashing their 1/6 TOA Heavy Industries SNAKE EYES - the BAIT x 1000toys collaboration item featuring G.I.JOE - for early release at San Diego Comic Con 2016 (July 20-24). And while this is not a movie-related design, tis always awesome to keep ol' Snake Eyes alive and kicking'ass!
The sales period is between July 20th to 24th at the BAIT Booth #4845, and also at the BAIT STORE San Diego (where 1000toys will be having a "private exhibition" of their products). The price is US$230 apiece.
Folks not attending the annual geekfest can breathe a sigh of relief, as you'd be able to pre-order online after the summer events are over. PO price is US$250 (shipping included), with an expected delivery period at January, 2017. Stay tuned to their IG @1000toys and Facebook for updates!
FYI: There will be a 1000toys party @ BAIT STORE in San Diego with a special performance by the @kinjaz to celebrate the release of the GI Joe Snake Eyes release. RSVP details to follow (IG @nsurgo).
FUNKO PRESS: "The king of Saturday morning cartoons, G.I. Joe, is coming to Pop! Even though Snake Eyes, the team commando, has a mysterious past, you can count on him to help save the day! G.I. Joe’s heavy machine gunner, Roadblock, joins the rest of the crew! Cobra Commander, G.I. Joe’s ultimate nemesis, joins the series and his ninja bodyguard, Storm Shadow, is sure to cause some trouble! Available in November 2015!"
From the get-go, G.I.Joe Retaliation had a tough hill to conquer, what with the dismal "Rise of Cobra" shadow hanging over it, and the delay of the premiere (regardless due to 3-D conversion, the public sees it being buffed up with more Channing Tatum), and not to mention the expectations and comparisons to decades of cartoons and comicbooks that fans grew up with. I don't envy them one bit, in converting skepticism into bums-in-cinema-seats … but I for one, thoroughly enjoyed the movie!
Maybe my tolerance of films has slid down thru the years, maybe I am being utterly lenient to a concept I had held close since my childhood, either way, G.I.Joe Retaliation was a swell ride, and I applaud the filmmakers for going thru with this!
I love it when folks coin this a "big dumb movie" (affectionately or not), because comparatively, what is a "smart movie"? Nolan's "Inception" - in it's myriad mindfcuks and plot loopholes that talk down to you? But then again, you really cannot refute that it can be pigeonholed as a "Big Dumb Movie" - because simply it does not take itself too seriously (and yes it does, not like "Rise of the Cobra") and is so much darn fun! And you know what folks say about "fun"?
Watching Retaliation felt like reading a comicbook of the same title. The twists and plot-turns weave thru it like a head-on freight-train collision, and the loopholes are like a donut's, put right over your eye as a comicbook in the 90s would (heh) and that's okay! It is guilt-free exposition and explosions for the uninitiated, and for the fanboys, nods abound, but not a whole lot of "hi-fives", because we all know how this film is going, and who pays the bills, so let's not delude ourselves how much this film is FOR the fandom, yeh?
If I were to pick a fault, it would be the extreme closeups of the fight-scenes, veering into Michael Bay/Transformers' territory in more scenes than one - fights between roadblock and Firefly were victims to this - in BOTH scenes! But I have to admit, the fight between Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow in the cliffside temple had me holding my breath!
On the upside, this was a splendid popcorn-flick to be had, and the stand-out was Storm Shadow without a shadow of a doubt (yes, oun intended, HAH), while others cruised thru - and generally had fun, which is a good thing, except for Bruce Willis who wasn't even phoning it in!
But what's up with Jinx's accent? Dafuq was RZA in this? Lady Jaye is HAWTness. Flint was blink-n-missable. I actually missed a wheezy Cobra Commander. Sorry Snake-Eyes, "dialog" does make a difference (although the scene where you passed your *** to Storm Shadow bathed in silhouette, was AWESOME). Duke was okay, but "team leader"? Roadblock was … awesome. But The Rock always is, especially when he starts shooting and punching shit anyways LOL
Funnily, the scenes and camaraderie between Duke and Roadblock, is the only "RomCom" aspect of this film lol
One irony of this film experience, was me stepping out of the cinema in Tampines Mall on the 4th floor, and heading straight to Toys'R'Us a floor below, and not being able to find a single merchandize from the movie. And while I understand toys from Hasbro were released last year, it is such a "waste" not to find them when the film is actually released. TOY FAIL.
I would've been perfectly happy with a Storm Shadow figure, or even a Roadblock, actually :)
So is this movie a "Hit"? Or Miss"? I'd rather like to say it is a pistol aimed at a caricature of a Cobra Commander from the cartoons, and that I am hoping the bullet doesn't hit the mark, because that would mean the end of the franchise, and "fun"!
The "fun" is not in having a perfect G.I.Joe movie, but in the road it choose to tread, IMHO.
Go watch it if you're a fan (but try top leave your fandom at the main door), and watch it if you like bullets and explosions
