Wondering if Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins is ok for kids? Rated PG-13, Snakes Eyes (2021) is extremely violent, but does not contain much language. If you’re hoping this origin story is reminiscent of the comics or the TV show, don’t get your hopes up. Here’s what parents need to know in this Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins Parents Guide.
Snake Eyes Parents Guide
Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins stars Henry Golding as Snake Eyes, a loner who has spent his life waiting to kill the man who murdered his father. After saving the life of the heir to the clan called the Arashikage, they welcome him to Japan and invite him to be a part of their family, but only after having completed three tests.
The Arashikage teach Snake Eyes the ways of the ninja warrior, but when secrets from his past are revealed, Snake Eyes’ honor and allegiance will be tested. And he’s not sure if he’ll pass.
Why is Snake Eyes rated PG-13? Purely for violence and one random swear word.
Language
There is no profanity in Snake Eyes except for one random f-word. There are no words of Deity, no hells, nothing else, except a fu*k.
Mature Content
Snake Eyes has a lot of violence including stabbings, sword fights, close up action shots of hand-to-hand combat, punching, kicking, and bloody faces. There are also gun fights, arson, people being thrown off moving vehicles, buildings, etc., and a child who has to watch his father get killed. This is a revenge-filled story and may be too gruesome for some kids. It’s more action than a typical Marvel movie, but not as gory as Mortal Kombat.
There is a scene with giant CGI snakes (think Harry Potter) that can be scary for young ones.
There is no sexual content or nudity.
Is Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins Appropriate for Kids Under 13?
PG-13 is an appropriate age and rating for Snakes Eyes (2021). There were a lot of questions I wanted answered in this origin story, but they didn’t get answered. Instead there were cheesy references to the TV show and an ill-placed “Yo, Joe.” The story itself was lackluster and didn’t have a lot of substance.
I’m a Henry Golding fan, but Snake Eyes didn’t have much personality, and since the Snake Eyes we know doesn’t usually speak, I was hoping to get more. There is plenty of action and some of the martial arts scenes are well-choreographed and beautiful. However, there is some shaky camera work, and sometimes it got old.
It seems like Snake Eyes is the beginning of a new G.I. Joe Franchise which, at times, felt like it wanted to be Marvel. But it lacked the humor and connection to be Marvel. Take a note from Black Widow, although it, too, had issue. Who knows? Maybe they can work G.I. Joe into the MCU.
I did appreciate the lack of profanity (besides the one word, again why?), and proves you can have an action film without it. There are strong females in Snake Eyes that can hold their own and offer a lot of toughness and grit to the film.
Yes, I was a bit disappointed, but if you’re looking for a fun action film where people want revenge and beat other people up with swords, then this is it.
