Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Orphaned dude with a dice-based name joins a ninja clan to avenge his dad, but mostly just betrays everyone until some magic snakes tell him to chill, and then he joins G.I. Joe, while his ex-BFF joins Cobra because feelings were hurt.

🍿 Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Father’s Murder and a Thirst for Vengeance

The film opens with a young boy witnessing his father’s murder. Years later, haunted by the event, the boy, now known as Snake Eyes (Henry Golding), becomes a skilled martial artist, driven by a single-minded desire to find his father’s killer. He earns his name when the murderer forces him to roll weighted dice, killing his father after Snake Eyes rolls double ones.

Yakuza Ties and a Debt Repaid

Snake Eyes is recruited by Kenta Takamura (Takehiro Hira), a Yakuza boss who promises to help him find his father’s killer. Working for Kenta, Snake Eyes is ordered to assassinate Tommy Arashikage (Andrew Koji), accused of betraying Kenta. However, Snake Eyes refuses and instead helps Tommy escape, earning Tommy’s gratitude and setting the stage for his entry into a world of ancient ninja clans.

Entering the Arashikage Clan

Tommy, heir to the Arashikage clan, brings Snake Eyes to their dojo in Japan. The Arashikage are an ancient ninja society dedicated to preserving order. Snake Eyes undergoes a series of trials to prove his worthiness to join the clan, overseen by Sen (Eri Ishida), the clan leader, Hard Master (Iko Uwais), and Blind Master (Peter Mensah).

Betrayal and Divided Loyalties

Unbeknownst to the Arashikage, Snake Eyes is secretly working for Kenta to steal the Jewel of the Sun, a powerful artifact protected by the clan. As Snake Eyes progresses through the trials and bonds with Tommy, he becomes torn between his loyalty to the Arashikage and his desire for revenge, fueled by the promise of finding his father’s killer.

The Trials of Purity

The trials that Snake Eyes goes through are designed to test his inner purity and worthiness to the Arashikage. They include challenges of skill, like snatching a bowl of water without spilling your own, and trials of the spirit, confronting him with the memory of his father’s death and the guilt he carries. These moments reveal Snake Eyes’ inner conflict as he grapples with his past and his impending betrayal.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Snake Eyes (Henry Golding): A tenacious and skilled martial artist driven by revenge, who finds himself torn between loyalty and his past while training with the Arashikage clan.
• Tommy (Andrew Koji): The heir apparent to the Arashikage clan who initially trusts Snake Eyes, but ultimately becomes his rival after being stripped of his birthright.
• Kenta (Takehiro Hira): A Yakuza boss and exiled member of the Arashikage clan who seeks to overthrow the clan and seize the Jewel of the Sun.
• Baroness (Úrsula Corberó): A Cobra operative who aligns with Kenta to acquire the Jewel of the Sun and later recruits Tommy into Cobra.
• Scarlett (Samara Weaving): A member of G.I. Joe who works with the Arashikage and ultimately recruits Snake Eyes into the organization.
• Akiko (Haruka Abe): The head of security for the Arashikage clan who initially distrusts Snake Eyes but eventually comes to respect him.
• Sen (Eri Ishida): The leader of the Arashikage clan and Tommy’s grandmother, who makes the difficult decision to strip Tommy of his birthright.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Baroness: “Oh, fuck this!” – The Baroness says this deciding to run away from the battle.
• Tommy: “We are blood brothers now.” – After saving his life Snake Eyes and Tommy become blood brothers.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $88,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $28,264,325
• Worldwide Gross: $40,064,325

💥 Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went in expecting a fun action flick and got… something else. The fight scenes were cool, but the shaky cam made me dizzy! I liked the whole ninja training montage, but the magic snakes? Seriously? I was kinda rooting for Storm Shadow by the end, he got a raw deal. It felt like they were trying too hard to set up sequels, but didn’t focus enough on making *this* movie great. I’m hoping they do better if they make a sequel.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of action movies”
  • “Viewers interested in martial arts films”
  • “People who enjoy origin stories”
  • “Those who are fans of the G.I. Joe franchise”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Intense action violence and sword fights”
  • “Some scenes with implied torture”
  • “Occasional strong language”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb: “This reboot tries to infuse Eastern culture, but the shaky cam during action scenes makes it hard to follow. The plot borrows heavily from ninja tropes, but lacks depth. Golding is charismatic, but can’t save the convoluted story.
• Rotten Tomatoes: “Snake Eyes offers a slick visual style and some energetic action, but ultimately falls short due to a predictable plot and underdeveloped characters. The world-building is weak and the tie-ins to the larger G.I. Joe universe feel forced.
• Metacritic: “While the fight choreography is impressive, the film suffers from poor editing and inconsistent pacing. The story is a standard revenge tale with little originality, though Andrew Koji as Storm Shadow provides a compelling performance.

Audience Reactions

The neon-lit fight scenes were visually stunning and a highlight for many viewers.: Most viewers appreciated the effort to bring more martial arts and ninja elements to the G.I. Joe franchise.

Many felt Andrew Koji’s portrayal of Storm Shadow was the standout performance.: The consensus is that the story and character development needed more work to be truly engaging.

Overall Consensus: Visually appealing with decent action, but lacks a strong story and memorable characters, leaving some viewers disappointed.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The electric motorcycles the characters are riding throughout the movie are heavily modified Energica Eva Ribelle.”
• “Henry Golding’s American accent occasionally slips throughout the movie due to his English and Malaysian heritage.”
• “The closing credit crawl is superimposed over insignia for G.I. Joe, Cobra, and the Arashikage clan.”

🖥️ How to Watch Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins?

Currently, ‘Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins’ is available for rent or purchase on various digital platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your preferred platform for current pricing and availability. Physical copies (Blu-ray, DVD) can be purchased from major retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, you might like these similar films:

• G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009): As another installment in the G.I. Joe film franchise, offering a similar blend of action, military themes, and characters from the G.I. Joe universe.
• Ninja Assassin (2009): Features intense martial arts action, ninja clans, and a story centered on revenge and honor.
• Enter the Ninja (1981): An older ninja film focused on martial arts combat and a Westerner’s journey into the world of ninjas.
• Warrior (2011-2023): Features Andrew Koji who portrays Tommy, a martial arts based TV series, offering a gritty and action-packed experience.
• Rurouni Kenshin (2012): Focuses on sword-based action, honor, redemption, and set in Japan, with well-choreographed fight scenes and a compelling story.

🛒 Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins Related Products

• G.I. Joe Classified Series Snake Eyes Action Figure: Highly articulated 6-inch scale figure with premium deco and details inspired by the movie. Includes multiple accessories and a display stand.
• G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes Movie Poster: High-quality print of the official movie poster, perfect for decorating your home theater or fan cave. Available in various sizes and finishes.
• G.I. Joe: The Complete Animated Series: Relive the classic adventures with this digital download of the entire G.I. Joe animated series. Includes all episodes, remastered for optimal viewing.
• G.I. Joe Operation Blackout – Nintendo Switch: Join G.I. Joe or Cobra in this action-packed third-person shooter. Play as your favorite characters and battle your way through iconic locations.

🎧 Soundtrack

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Tokyo Mayhem” – performed by Martin Todsharow

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Snake Eyes – Movie Review

Thinking about watching Snake Eyes but unsure if it’s worth your time? Jeremy Jahns gives a pretty thorough review. He’s honest, as always, so you’ll get a good sense of what to expect. I always find his stuff helpful.

Storm Shadow Origin – G.I Joe’s Most Razor-Sharp Assassin Who Has Killed Thousands Has A Sad Origin

Want to understand Storm Shadow’s story before diving into the Snake Eyes movie? This video gives you the whole backstory. Honestly, I never knew his origins were so complex. It adds a lot of depth!

Snake Eyes GI Joe Origins Classified Series Action Figure Review

For the collectors out there, this video reviews the new Snake Eyes action figures. If you’re into the movie AND collecting, you’ve gotta check this out! The figures look pretty awesome.

✨ Rate