Snakes on a Plane (2006)

Snakes on a Plane

2006

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Julianna Margulies, Kenan Thompson, Rachel Blanchard, Elsa Pataky

Directed By: David Ellis

You know, had I directed this movie personally, I would have done one thing differently: I would have done a little bit better at setting up the deaths. Some of the deaths in this film just seemed put in there for "filler" time and just to show more snakes. Not that death in a movie called Snakes on a Plane is a bad thing, but I like justified deaths or deaths with reason. Some people got it while they slept and it just felt forced on the audience. With that said, on to the review.....

You may say: "But did you like the movie?" Hell yes I did. I loved it, but that's not to say it didn't have it's flaws. The best thing about this movie is that it doesn't take itself serious even when it's trying to be serious; thus issuing it a stamp of Roger Corman approval and giving it that B-Movie Drive In flair it deserves. With the title alone, this movie suggests the filmmakers had balls the size of watermelons. I mean, the title Snakes on a Plane is to the point and is just what it is.... Snakes on a Plane. The good thing is, it delivers the goods. A lot can be said in a movie's title, so imagine if you will some other movies that could have used the same imagination of the Snakes on a Plane titling:

Innerspace- "Dennis Quaid in Martin Short's ass"

Big Top Pee Wee- "Pee Wee pitches a tent" (I couldn't resist that one)

Brokeback Mountain- "Gay Cowboys on a ranch"

Napoleon Dynamite- "Retard with tater tots"

Star Wars- "Stormtroopers on a Starcruiser"

.... and the list goes on and on.

With that said, I'm trying to make a point here. I've read so much negative hype on this movie that I can't understand it. The movie is called Snakes on a Plane and people are expecting fucking Jaws or The Exorcist. The thing is, Snakes on a Plane does it's job and that's put motherfucking snakes on a motherfucking plane and then they give you a cool ride for an hour and a half. They don't expect you to see the movie and expect a year later to see Sam Jackson accept an Oscar for best actor. They expect you to go see the movie, eat your fucking popcorn, and have a good time. It's that simple. Sorry, but critics really piss me off, and what REALLY pisses me off are people who enjoy movies like Napoleon Dynamite and Brokebutt Mountain but then won't even give Snakes a chance and blast it without seeing it. See it and then decide. Only then do you have a right to blast it.

Now, on to the actual movie. Besides the obvious, Snakes on a Plane is about a guy in Hawaii that witnesses an Asian crime lord bash some guys head in with a baseball bat. This guy, Eddie Kim, is above the law and Samuel L. Jackson is just the man to take him down. After securing the witness and convincing him to fly to Los Angeles to testify, they board the plane. In order to get himself clear and make sure there are no witnesses, Eddie Kim hires a guy to fill the plane with over 500 poisonous snakes to ensure there is no way in Hell that anyone survives. The only thing he didn't count on was that Sam Jackson was on the flight. I guess Eddie Kim didn't get to see Pulp Fiction, because Jackson gets medievil on some snake ass.

The script (which I read about a year or more ago) is very simple but somewhat character driven. Most of the cast is disposable, but then again, the movie centers around Sam Jackson's character, Neville Flynn. The script does have it's cheesey lines of dialogue and cliche' elements, but that's what makes the movie fun. You know Sam Jackson is going to whip ass from moment one and so you don't invest too much in anything else.

The direction is decent, but not bad. David Ellis' previous films leave much to be desired (Homeward Bound 2), but he does a good job here and I'd personally like to see him really sink his teeth into a good horror script. I'd say that his average direction on an over-the-top script meshes well, but overall could have been done a little better. Had I directed, I would have focused more on the characters and when someone died, it would have had more an emotional impact on the audience.

The acting is ok, but nothing to write home to mom about. Like I said above, the movie centers around Sam Jackson's character, so he's the focus (other than the snakes). Other than that, the rest of the cast is average at best. There's a really cool moment at the end in the cockpit between Kenan Thompson and Sam Jackson, but other than that, the acting could have been a lot better from everyone else.

Now, on to the snakes, which are the showpiece in the movie. The mixture of real snakes with CGI blends fairly well, and there was really only one little shot where I could tell it was computer animated. The snakes all move and react realistically, which makes for some intense moments on screen. The special fx and makeup are really done well for the budget and like I said, other than one little shot, it all came off nicely.

All in all, don't take the movie serious and you'll have a blast. If you expect the next big horror flick, you're in for a disappointment. If you go in with an open mind and expect a fun time, you'll really enjoy yourself and have a blast. Also, one final note, don't listen to critics... if you think you want to see something, go see it. If not, then don't. It's that simple. Just don't believe all the negative hype because you might just miss out on something good.

Overall, I recommend this movie and think that most people will enjoy it if they just don't take it too seriously. It's good fun and meant to be enjoyed as it stands. It's not Oscar worthy, but it's also better than any trendy horror film out today, so I'll leave everyone with that.

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