MovieChat Forums > Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (2021) Discussion > Race-swapping means this is no longer Sn...

Race-swapping means this is no longer Snake Eyes...

posted 4 years ago by cyguration (3951)
22 replies | jump to latest

The typical Lefty, Liberal, Rainbow Reich member will chirp on about how "Snake Eyes is fictional so his race doesn't matter", but in this case his race is literally the reason he is Snake Eyes.

For people who don't know, Snake Eyes is a blonde haired, blue-eyed soldier. In the comics he's a Vietnam veteran suffering PTSD that eventually goes to train in Japan after learning that his family died after getting back from the war. In the newer animated series they oftentimes follow the story where he was an orphan who was taken in by a master of a ninja clan.

In either case, Snake Eyes ALWAYS joins a ninja clan. Part of his story includes suffering discrimination from his Asian peers for being white. One of the defining aspects of the character's story arc in the cartoons was that Storm Shadow hated Snake Eyes because the master took a liking to him, and because he worked so much harder than the other students because they bullied him for being an outsider and for being white. This is what made Snake Eyes strive to be the absolute very best, and Storm Shadow hated him for it.

Story wise, this leads to Storm Shadow killing their master and Snake Eyes going into exile from his clan, eventually joining up with the G.I. Joe unit.

This origin story makes literally no sense now because the defining traits of Snake Eyes' character has been changed. He's no longer white so the whole white-discrimination element from his Asian peers no longer applies, and there's literally no reason for Storm Shadow to develop the resentment, hatred, and racism against him like he originally did.

Snake Eyes could have been a compelling character to base a movie around, but essentially turning him into a quipping Asian guy martial artist not only feeds back into standard stereotypes, but also erases the entire point of Snake Eyes' character, which was a pretty HUGE and blatant tale trying to convince kids to NOT discriminate based on skin color or nationality.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Not that I give a fuck either way, but Henry Golding’s father is a white English man.

So I guess that means you’ve only got half a reason for your tantrum.

[–] majaplaya (922) 2 years ago

Good points! Sometimes they can change the race of the character without any problem but this isnt one of them.

[–] ehewitt (45) 2 months ago

@cyguration
The problem with that backstory is that wouldn't be allowed to pass nowadays, because it would be deemed politically incorrect.
Including discrimination based on the colour of a character's skin would be deemed by the audience that the movie is ADVOCATING discrimination. Even if it denounces it and is used as a method of character development, just the mere existence of discrimination is deemed problematic.
This sort of theme would only be accepted in something like an R rated movie for adults.
But a movie based on a toyline and a cartoon? Funded by the creators of the toyline? For children and a general audience? It would be deemed out of place, and inappropriate for the target audience. Especially with a movie connected to a property like GI Joe, and the perceptions people have of that property.
I.e. treated no differently to any other action blockbuster franchise.

You mentioning it as a way to teach children not to discriminate?
The parents wouldn't see it that way. They'd see it in the way I've described above. And the majority of the general audience, and people in general nowadays, would have the same view.

Unfortunately, if the movie did have the story you mentioned, it wouldn't be made. And if it was, it wouldn't be liked. Because it would be deemed distasteful and outdated to about 90 to 95% of the audience.