SNAKE EYES Early Reactions Declare The Film An "Unmitigated Disaster" And "Devoid Of Energy"
Paramount Pictures waited until the last minute before allowing critics to share their thoughts on Snake Eyes, and if these first reactions are any indication, there's actually a good reason for the delay!
With Snake Eyes just days away from arriving in theaters, the review embargo has lifted and the response has been a mostly negative one thus far.
It seems some critics were surprised that it wasn't as bad as they expected, but that's hardly a glowing verdict, and one longtime fan and reporter goes so far as to say this "unmitigated disaster" ended up "[breaking] my heart." Only a handful of reviews have surfaced, though most are either middle-of-the-road or negative based on what we've seen from those outlets.
Initial social media reactions are almost always universally positive, so the sheer number of criticisms here is a surprise. There are definitely those who liked the film, but if it fails to slice down the competition at the box office this weekend, then the G.I. Joe franchise will likely be shelved all over again.
The last film in the series was 2013's G.I. Joe: Retaliation, so it's taken this long for Paramount to bring the series back to the big screen. Unfortunately, Snake Eyes wasn't welcomed by fans when it was announced as it was clear from day one that major liberties were being taken with the title character.
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#Snakeyes IS AN UNMITIGATED DISASTER! A total & utter disregard for the character's history, legacy & canon. As a true fan & collector of the IP for 40 years, this movie broke my heart. What made Snake Eyes cool & mysterious is NOT in this film! Another Paramount dumpster fire.
— Umberto Gonzalez (@elmayimbe) July 22, 2021
#SnakeEyes was in some ways better than I anticipated but failed to live up to its promise. Henry Golding is solid & Andrew Koji steals it, but overuse of shaky cam & muddled editing sadly ruins fight sequences that should absolutely pop. Still, it's a very entertaining time.
— Alisha Grauso (@AlishaGrauso) July 22, 2021
#SnakeEyes - better than expected. Looks gorgeous, w/ some plot/visual surprises. Tries to be stand-alone ninja melodrama w/ #GIJoe elements. But Golding is a bit bland (Koji steals the show) and the action, while gloriously staged, is edited to death. RISE > SNAKE >RETALIATION pic.twitter.com/E1WmCwKqPE
— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) July 22, 2021
Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins is not very good. It's repetitive and devoid of energy, the character arcs are all over the place, and the G.I. Joe stuff feels completely superfluous. I liked the actors in the roles but they're way better than the movie itself. Full review tomorrow pic.twitter.com/MMPq2fZnji
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) July 22, 2021
I had a good time with #SnakeEyes. It's not going to be anyone's movie of the year, but it was a fun time at the movies (and makes me want to see more GI Joe stuff in this universe).
— Chris E. Hayner (@ChrisHayner) July 22, 2021
I had a good time with #SnakeEyes I enjoyed the complexed characters, & its storyline kept me intrigued throughout. My only criticism is some shaky camera shots that slightly disservice the action sequences. Other than that, count me in on a sequel #FilmTwitter 🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/DJHR7QoRap
— Rosa #LatinxLens (@rosasreviews) July 22, 2021
I’ll have a full review up tomorrow but the gist is we’ve just completely forgotten how to shoot action. *Incomprehensible* and that’s with a cast that includes Iko Uwais and Andrew Koji
— Vinnie Mancuso (@VinnieMancuso1) July 22, 2021
SNAKE EYES: G.I. JOE ORIGINS has non-stop action consisting of sword fights, motorcycle chases & giant snakes but all of it’s dull & unmemorable. With hasty storytelling & an unlikable protagonist, this latest attempt to revitalize the G.I. Joe series rolls the dice & fails again pic.twitter.com/xOwxorIZCV
— Matt Neglia (@NextBestPicture) July 22, 2021