Snakes on a Plane (2006)

Usually, I like to go into movies knowing as little as possible about them. I would've loved to have gone into Hostel not even knowing it was a horror movie, for example -- that would've been a mindfuck and a half. And My Super Ex-Girlfriend might've actually made me laugh had I not seen all the jokes in the trailer.

With Snakes on a Plane though, it's kind of hard to avoid spoilers. There'll be snakes, and they'll be on a plane, and Samuel L. Jackson's involved somewhere. (Along with a good chunk of Final Destination 3 cast and crew, and Lin Shaye, who is one of my favourites.) To its eternal credit, Snakes on a Plane didn't mess around: there were a few brief scenes setting up what was going on, but within about half an hour, it was on a plane, and there were snakes.

There's been a lot of noise about the fact that much of the explicit gore and gratuitous nudity was added in thanks to online fan demand -- and it's all the better for it. Had Snakes on a Plane been a 12A, it couldn't have possibly been as brilliant as it is. The cinema was sadly only half full last night, but everyone did at least gamely roar with laughter at all the right moments. I didn't think the film could surpass the "hey big boy" moment (you know what I'm talking about) and looking back, maybe it didn't, but there were a lot of moments that came close. Like the fate of Mary Kate, or the Englishman. Or the final scene in Bali.

If you're one of those people thinking Snakes on a Plane couldn't possibly live up to the internet hype, or even, for whatever insane reason, completely failing to buy into the excitement -- just go and see it. You'll have more fun than you've had at the cinema in a long, long time.

If Snakes on a Plane kickstarts a trend for madcap romps where the action overshadows sense, well, at least maybe the studios will be distracted and fail to make yet another rubbish Japanese horror remake.

(My one and only gripe was how badly edited the "get these motherfucking snakes off this motherfucking plane" line was. C'mon guys, you can do better than just standing old Sammy J. against a random wall, can't you?)

IMDB link

No comments: