Check out the first images released from the upcoming "G.I. Joe" movie. That's Ray Park (Darth Maul from the "Star Wars" prequel and Toad from "X-Men") as the silent soldier Snake Eyes. As a big fan of the old Joe toys, cartoon and Marvel comic book series, all I can say is -- so far, so good.

Check out another image after the jump.

Snake Eyes looks like, well, like Snake Eyes. If director Stephen Sommers can overcome his usual habit of camp-ifying an interesting concept (see his past works "The Mummy" and "Van Helsing"), then this could live up to the high expectations created by last year's toy-based blockbuster "Transformers." That one worked because the material was taken seriously (albeit with a fun attitude). With Sommers, I can't help but worry he'll have Snake Eyes talk, or that he'll give us the buffoonish Cobra Commander from the cartoon, instead of the always-one-step-ahead Mad Genius from the comic book series.

And while I have questions about the director, the casting dept. appears to be hitting bullseyes across the board. Dennis Quaid as Hawk, Channing Tatum as Duke, Sienna Miller as the Baroness and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Cobra Commander?!? OK, Marlon Wayans as Ripcord I have serious problems with (as I've posted about before) but overall, I'm encouraged by the roll call. Check out this USA Today article for more about the Joe film.

"G.I. Joe: The Movie" arrives in theaters Summer 2009.