The author of this article is a contributor @ Bullfrog
Learn to reconcile with yourself from the movies
Some series of blockbusters, when you think there will be no more sequels, it suddenly gives people some hope.
Based on The Hasbro IP, paramount's sci-fi action film "Special Forces" series is representative.
Seven years after the release of "Special Forces 2: Total Strike Back", the series of prequels focusing on the "Snake's Eye" character, "Special Forces: Snake's Eye Origins", is late (released in North America on July 23), and fans can be described as happy and worried.
The "hi" is that there are still many fans who like this series and look forward to seeing more stories of "Snake's Eye";
Snake's Eye VS White Ghost
The "worry" is that the global box office of the first two episodes is always unsatisfactory - the first part is only 137 million US dollars, the second part is 338 million US dollars, compared with the investment, the cost performance is obviously not high enough.
In terms of word of mouth, the domestic evaluation of the first two parts is fine, but the overseas reputation is too weak, and the undesirable north American base camp makes the "Special Forces" IP shelved after only two episodes were developed.
Indeed, two consecutive box office reputation is not good, and it is very risky to start shooting a third part, so this stop is seven years.
In addition, Paramount, which has popular IPs such as "Transformers", "Mission Impossible", "Terminator", and "Star Trek", also needs a big production to open up the market after experiencing the impact of the epidemic.
Therefore, it is necessary to regain "Special Forces", and the new work "Special Forces: Snake's Eye Origin" is an important node in the restart of this IP.
The Chinese translation of "Special Forces: Snake's Eye Origins" bears the word "Special Forces", but it is not a sequel to "Special Forces: Rise of the Cobra" and "Special Forces: Total Strike Back", but a different story.
"Snake's Eye Origin" is a reboot of a parallel universe, and the actors have all been renovated, which is not directly related to the previous game.
The new Snake Eye
Since it is a reboot, it is not as simple as a remake, and the overall planning and layout of the series have been greatly adjusted.
The first two are films that are biased towards the "reunion" type, with many main characters and many villains, and the final presentation effect is poor, the popularity of passers-by is not good, and the story is told in pieces.
The rebooted version of "Special Forces" will start from the beginning of a single hero. Just like the early Marvel Universe, a movie was only about one hero, Snake's Eye, and it was ranked first.
Who is Snake Eye? Why Snake's Eye? This is the first question thrown up by many "Special Forces" passers-by fans.
Indeed, in the previous game, Snake Eye is a tool-man-like being, a character with no lines and no face.
During the team battle, in addition to his beautiful hands, full body of tight leather and violent motorcycle helmets, he had no more room to play.
However, this relatively instrumental character in the film is one of the most popular characters in the Special Forces comics and animation, and if you compare it, you can benchmark Wolverine in the X-Men universe.
High popularity is one of the reasons for the development of Snake's Eye independent films, and his life is a mystery, which is the second reason.
The background of snake's eye is mostly a "secret" existence, and the character's previous history is left blank, making him very malleable. Therefore, even if he already has a relatively complete story line in the previous work, the rebooted snake eye story can still find another way.
Eastern Wind Elements
When the first two films explain the background of the characters, it has been pointed out that the origin of "Snake's Eye" is a childhood tragedy, and in the independent chapter, it will be an adult encounter.
Snake Eye saves an heir to a ninja family before becoming Snake Eye, and in return Snake Eye is invited to train with them and learn how to become a ninja killer.
From the released trailer and stills, it can be seen that Snake's Eye, which has always been known for not showing its face, will have a large number of face-revealing scenes in this game. At the same time, he will no longer be a silent tool man, he will have a lot of dialogue and psychological presentation.
Henry Golding, the actor who plays snake's eye, is trained in professional broadcasting classes, and has also worked as a host on BBC television, and also has good looks and physical conditions, and has gained attention by starring in the male protagonist Yang Nick in the popular Asian movie "Picking Gold" in previous years.
The choice of male stars in literary and art films to play this role is to increase the dimension of the role and dig deeper into the previous history, but the snake's eye will eventually become a silent person, which is his fixed personality. How the snake's eye becomes a cold silent killing god is worth looking forward to.
In the previous work, the snake's eye became silent because of the death of the master, which was a psychological choice. The new work may adopt the practice of an animated version, so that the snake's eye near the mouth of the gun can not speak, a physiological passive choice.
Whichever option is adopted, we have reason to believe that the rebooted Snake's Eye must be very different from the story of the previous game.
After all, even the racial setting has changed from white to Asian, and other parties must have adjusted with it.
Paramount ceded the Snakeeye character to Asians, perhaps a good decision to reboot the character. In this way, it can take into account both the Asian market and the perfect grafting of Asian personality onto the snake's eye.
Moreover, Paramount's casting is very bold, not only snake eyes to use Asians, the villain White Ghost will continue to use Asian identity.
Snake's Eye VS White Ghost, the two were once comrades-in-arms
"Snake's Eye" Henry Golding, following the all-Asian lineup of "Picking Gold", successfully promoted to hollywood A-level blockbuster male protagonist, at the same time, he is also the first Asian in recent years to play the male number one in Hollywood A-level blockbusters - one step earlier than "Shangqi" to meet the audience.
White Ghost is a popular villain in "Special Forces" and a brother who loves and kills Snake-Eye. In the first two films, Li Bingxian's version has already attracted a lot of fans, and this reboot has invited the star of the popular American drama "Warrior" in recent years - Japanese-British actor Andrew Koji.
Snake's Eye and White Ghost are black and white flowers, they were once best friends, but eventually became the deadliest enemies.
On the other hand, the director and screenwriter will certainly not give up the opportunity to give us a CP, and the portrayal of the complex relationship between the two protagonists in "Snake's Eye Origin" is expected.
Special Forces 1's "Life and Death Showdown"
In terms of overall layout, the subtraction of "Snake's Eye Origin" is more focused than the previous work; in terms of casting, the film side also has boldness, if the plot is not crossed, the action scenes can also be played beautifully, and this summer popcorn blockbuster should not be too bad.
"Ranger Sword Heart" action director Kenji Tanigaki (second from left)
The film will be released in North America on July 23, and patiently awaits the finalization of the mainland.
Note: Some of the pictures in this article come from Douban and the Internet, if there is infringement, please take the initiative to contact us.