"Snakes" review
"Simply put, Snakes on a Plane (New Line, 8.18) wouldn't work without Samuel L. Jackson. Even as the [film] escalates beyond any semblance of reality, Jackson anchors this film with an unwavering performance. Not once does he act like this flick is beneath him or is he playing camp, even when he takes an infamous request from the online community and delivers a line of exasperated dialogue that he'll inevitably be associated with for the rest of his life...Jackson is fully committed here." And once the action cranks up, "the director, screenwriters and snakes show no mercy. The attacks are unremitting and even child passengers get a taste of venom. This is the ultimate movie to see with an audience. There will be pandemonium in the theater, especially during the finale." -- Derek Flint on Ain't It Cool.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 14, 2006 at 12:35 PM
comment #1
mike says ...
And in the end, that's all any of us "pointless bloggers overhyping a piece of shyte film" had ever wanted from a film entitled Snakes On A Plane.
Posted by mike at July 14, 2006 12:47 PM
comment #2
Rich S. says ...
The trailers and one-sheets had started to worry me. This review gives me hope that this really is going to be something to see.
Posted by Rich S. at July 14, 2006 12:54 PM
comment #3
Edward says ...
I love a good horror/monster movie, but this never interested me.
Posted by Edward at July 14, 2006 12:55 PM
comment #4
Fabio Augusto says ...
I haven't seen it in some 15 years, but I remember a B-movie from the 80s called Tremors, starring Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward, that was extremely cheesy and low budget but had a few suspenseful moments, did not take itself seriously and was a lot of fun... if Snakes turns out to be in the same vein then it'll be worth catching it in a packed theater.
Posted by Fabio Augusto at July 14, 2006 1:57 PM
comment #5
Rich S. says ...
Fabio,
Tremors rocks. If you like that, check out Deep Rising with Treat Williams. Same kind of thing with an alien/squid on a cruise ship. Goofy as hell, but incredibly entertaining.
Posted by Rich S. at July 14, 2006 2:01 PM
comment #6
Larry says ...
Tremors was--and still is--a great film. I doubt Snakes On A Plane will be that good.
I remember seeing Tremors with Road House at a local theatre for 99 cents. Now that's a double feature.
Posted by Larry at July 14, 2006 2:02 PM
comment #7
Anonymous says ...
Plantastic!
Posted by Anonymous at July 14, 2006 2:17 PM
comment #8
Anonymous says ...
I have never read a more obvious plant in my life.
Posted by Anonymous at July 14, 2006 2:19 PM
comment #9
christian says ...
Tremors remains one of the best genre films from the 80's. Nothing cheesy about it except for the 50's throwback vibe. It's a smaet script with fun characters and one of the most audience pleasing scenes I've ever witnessed: you know, the one with the Graboids finding out that breaking into Michael Gross and Reba Mcintyre's armory was not the best idea.
Snakes On A Plane looks just dumb.
Posted by christian at July 14, 2006 2:32 PM
comment #10
christian says ...
make that "smart script." heh.
Posted by christian at July 14, 2006 2:33 PM
comment #11
mike says ...
It's easy to call out plant with no obvious reasoning at all. Now this truly IS becoming an AICN talkback.
Oh, except that "Derek Flint" has been writing into AICN for years, as stated in teh beginning of the article. Say what you will, but the regular reviewers at the site are pretty damn honest in their opinions. If a movie is shyte, they will call it out. I trust this review.
Posted by mike at July 14, 2006 3:06 PM
comment #12
ArchiveGuy says ...
I'm sure the review is legit. The problem is that AICN tends to embrace so many films that aren't worth the trouble.
Posted by ArchiveGuy at July 14, 2006 3:57 PM
comment #13
mike says ...
Agreed that AICN hypes and supports a lot of flicks that weren't really all that great (*cough CABIN FEVER cough*)
But this is a film that movie geeks (myself included) are anxiously awaiting for the sheer ridiculousness of it all. to know that the film actually delivers is almost like a sigh of relief. SoaP could have gone either way, and to hear that it is silly and all in good fun, not a wink wink nudge nudge type of movie is good to know.
Posted by mike at July 14, 2006 7:03 PM
comment #14
Bill says ...
*cough you're an idiot cough*
Posted by Bill at July 14, 2006 7:52 PM
comment #15
Josh Ehrnwald says ...
I was in my local Borders today, and what did I behold?
A "Snakes on a Plane" novelization.
A "Snakes on a Plane"
**NOVELIZATION.**
Posted by Josh Ehrnwald at July 15, 2006 12:18 AM
comment #16
Daniel Zelter says ...
Fabio: I'm so hoping Snakes is like Tremors and not like Arachnophobia, or *ugh* Eight Legged Freaks...
Also, Tremors came out in 1990, which is why it doesn't reek of 80's cheese. Of course, I wish I could say the same about The Fifth Element...
Josh: Yeah, I can't imagine the Snakes script being more than 10 pages.
Posted by Daniel Zelter at July 15, 2006 1:07 AM
comment #17
Mark says ...
The reviews are reminding me of "Arachnophia," another film that had some laughs and scares.
Posted by Mark at July 15, 2006 5:24 AM
comment #18
Tim says ...
I work at a Waldenbooks, and we just got in a box of "Snakes" novelizations and, I kid you not, it clocks in at 400 pages long. That's longer than "Lolita" and half the length of "Ulysses" for all those keeping score at home.
Posted by Tim at July 15, 2006 7:24 AM
comment #19
Chris H. says ...
Is everyone forgetting how brilliant Slither was? Remember, the horror flick with Nathan Filion that was released earlier this year? It tapped into the same taut, smart, un-serious, humorous energy that Tremors had.
If Snakes is half as good as Slither than I will be satisfied, good popcorn cheese like that doesn't come along very often.
Posted by Chris H. at July 17, 2006 9:03 AM