By Chris Snellgrove | Published
As a middle-aged man surrounded by too many toy plastic soldiers, I was waiting decades for Hollywood to give us a real GI Joe movie. Sure, we’ve had a couple of movies starring big names like Channing Tatum and Dwayne Johnson, but from the weird Rocket Boots to the Baroness’ bizarre origin, those movies never really felt like they had perfectly understood this strange science fiction/military universe. Fortunately, Snake Eyes: Origin of GI Joe ultimately delivered most (but not all) of what I expected from such a film, and you can now stream this ninja adventure on Netflix.
Snake Eyes is for fans new and old
While Snake-eyes is streaming on Netflix, this movie focuses on a main character who was winning over nerds in the ’80s, decades before the advent of streaming (heck, even VHS seemed futuristic back then). Snake Eyes is a young man recruited to learn the ways of an ancient ninja clan. However, dramas from within and without threaten his new family, as does the arrival of forces from two very familiar organizations: GI Joe and Cobra.
Anyone listening Snake-eyes on Netflix can expect a solid cast, even if there aren’t many big names. Our main character is played by Henry Golding, someone best known for his knockout performance in Crazy Rich Asians. Andrew Koji (best known for the Cinemax show Warrior) plays his ninja brother, and Samara Weaving (best known for Ready or Not And Guns on the hips) plays Baroness, everyone’s favorite Cobra bad girl.
Snake-eyes found new fans on Netflix, but when first released, it was a box office bomb, grossing just $40.1 million on a budget of $88 million to $110 million. Critics didn’t like it either, and the film currently has a 35 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This brings us to a question so obvious that even the blind master of the Arashikagi clan could imagine it coming: why the hell am I recommending you stream a box office failure that was absolutely wildly successful? savage by the critics?
The time of redemption
On the one hand, the release of Snake-eyes on Netflix helped more people discover what I discovered: that this is a very solid action film with occasional moments of greatness. It quickly became popular on the streaming service, becoming the fourth most-streamed film on Netflix shortly after its addition. And while Rotten Tomatoes shows how much critics hated this ninja misadventure, the Popcornmeter viewership is 74%, demonstrating that the vast majority of those who watched this film liked what they saw.
Furthermore, those who watch Snake-eyes on Netflix will be able to enjoy a deep dive into the franchise’s most popular character. Part of the reason the first GI Joe films were such a disaster is that they had to successfully introduce the characters of two rival armies. And deliver a compelling story, and they arguably failed on both fronts. Snake-eyes has solid characterization built around just a handful of characters, and everyone gets to shine all the more when they’re not crammed into an already crowded ensemble.
Plus, even if you’re not a huge GI Joe fan, you can enjoy this film for what it is: a fun, slightly light-hearted action film. Your mileage may vary, but I spent far too much time over the years watching bad kung fu movies in the wee hours of the fight…er, night. Snake-eyes isn’t the best, but it’s better than most, and it’s a great way to scratch that late-night itch for some cheesy martial arts action.
Now if you are another GI Joe fan deciding whether to stream or not Snake-eyes on Netflix, here’s a warning: the film plays fast and loose with the canon of our main character and the comic universe from which he comes. The biggest change is that Snake Eyes is now Japanese. In the original comics written by Larry Hama, the character was a White Army soldier who grew close to a comrade named Tommy. This soldier was Japanese and later invited Snake Eyes to come to Japan and learn the ways of the ninjas.
If you’re not too attached to the canon of the franchise, it’s quite easy to enjoy it Snake-eyes on Netflix. Are you going to enjoy all the martial arts madness as much as I do or is this a movie you’d rather see disintegrated by the MASS device? You won’t know it until you stream it, but we’re confident you’ll be shouting “Yo Joe!” as the credits roll.
