The G.I. Joe franchise has always been about the same thing: selling toys. From the cartoon in the ’80s to the recent live-action films starring big names like Channing Tatum and The Rock, the onscreen G.I. Joe appearances are concerned above all with the cool action figures they can sell.
So that’s why the newest trailer for “Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins” is such a big deal. Because the suit for Snake Eyes in the live-action films has been such a source of contention (I’m looking at you lip-mask), we can only hope that the newest film gets it right.
Fortunately, there doesn’t seem to be an issue here. At the end of the action-packed trailer, we can see the helmet of the ninja’s latest suit. No helmet lips here! I personally am not a big fan of the lined forehead. However, the titular eyes are a perfect transition from cartoon to live-action. I’m a big fan of the padded armor look as well; it updates the character without forcing him into too much realism.
Now if only they fixed the characterization problem! In most media, Snake Eyes is depicted as the silent warrior, who communicates in only gestures. But that’s easily fixable. The film seems to center around the character’s journey to train into the ninja of G.I. Joe legend. In fact, most of the trailer is devoted to showcasing a training montage in some kind of ninja facility. Perhaps Henry Golding’s (Crazy Rich Asians) version of the character will have become the Snake Eyes we know by the end of the movie.
“Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins” is coming out October 23rd, just before Halloween.
