WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, in theaters now.
One of the biggest takeaways from Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins is the way the Arashikage Clan is depicted. It has its own view on world order, to the point where its members come off as extremists, but the fact it's partnering with the Joes shows it would like to see control used as a measure of peace. And in that sense, it's similar to the League of Shadows from Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, only the ninja sect in Snake Eyes is actually far more formidable.
Now, this isn't a knock on Nolan's version of the League, which tried to become a more heroic version of Ra's al Ghul's League of Assassins from the comics. Except, as Ra's continued to try to raze empires, maintaining that apocalyptic legacy in Gotham, it became more and more clear they were terrorists, something Bane would illustrate later on.
However, in retrospect, Ra's League felt tame, and while it fit the arcane vibe Nolan was going for, a lot of the mysticism from the source material was lost. Sure, Batman Begins was designed to be as grounded as possible, but the League's depiction still detracted from the overall mystique of Ra's and his followers. But that mystique is where the Arashikage kicks it into high gear. Its members include the Blind Master and Hard Master, who are still aggressive but don't feel like mindless zealots. And it's also a true tech-based league, which makes it feels like a powerhouse that can really shift the balance of power in the world.
The Arashikage's ninjas also come off like more destructive soldiers and provide a better sense of what an army meant to fight Cobra would look like. Granted, Snake Eyes features a more expansive universe rotted in fantasy and sci-fi, but it still feels like what many wanted to see from Ra's big screen army. From the Sun Jewel that can incinerate nations to the three giant anacondas that test Snake Eyes, the Arashikage had things Bruce Wayne should've dealt with during his training.
Ultimately, fans know both Batman and Snake Eyes would never be corrupted by these organizations fully, but a bit of flair, style and cinematic spectacle really resonates, and those are things Nolan's League was lacking. The Arashikage Clan blends the art of war and the tech culture better than anything in The Dark Knight Trilogy, helping create a force that can act as both a threat and a savior.
To see just how formidable the Arashikage clan is, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins is in theaters now.
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