The SoaP drops

August 18, 2006 7:14 AM

New Line drops the SOAP today.After months of gags, comments, and speculation, the most-talked-about movie of the year, and one of the largest epidemics of viral marketing in film history, opens in theatres. So is the movie actually good? AICN says so. Rotten Tomatoes says so. And Samuel L. Jackson... let's let him speak for himself. And if you don't like it, go make your own.
posted by XQUZYPHYR (98 comments total)

So what began as a ridiculous joke of a film is now being lauded AS THE MOST RIDICULOUS JOKE EVER - A MUST-SEE!!!

Corporate viral marketing always wins in the end.
posted by Pastabagel at 7:19 AM on August 18, 2006

No doubt that New Line leveraged the SOAP meme but I think its birth wasn't via a viral marketing campaign, seems to me it took off without studio help.

And based on the SOABlog site, everyone seemed to have a great time.
posted by sexymofo at 7:25 AM on August 18, 2006

I went to a sneak preview last night, and I had a good time, but truth be told...the fun was more to be found in the atmosphere (people bringing toy snakes into the theatre, dressing up like Samuel L., flinging said snakes into the air when the "I want these m-f'ing snakes off this m-f'ing plane" line came up), rather than the film itself, which was a little anticlimactic.
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:25 AM on August 18, 2006

Overheard in the restroom after seeing it last night - "Damn, that's the most snakes I have ever seen on a plane."

I didn't stop giggling for hours. Hell, I'm still giggling. And that sums it up, really.
posted by redbeard at 7:25 AM on August 18, 2006 [1 favorite]

Pastabagel : "Corporate viral marketing always wins in the end."

Except when it loses (Pepsi Blue, Nokia N'Gage, et al).

In other news, the Republicans are always right in the end (except when they're wrong), the Democrats are always right in the end (except when they're wrong), the stock market always rises (except when it doesn't), you should always go with your gut instinct (except when you shouldn't), and the person who sits in the third seat of the third row of a movie theater always has gonnorhea (except when they don't).
posted by Bugbread at 7:29 AM on August 18, 2006

The Alamo is doing a SoaP endurance contest. That is hardcore.
posted by birdherder at 7:29 AM on August 18, 2006

I have to feel I kind of already know what the movie will be about sort of.
posted by sonofsamiam at 7:33 AM on August 18, 2006

No doubt that New Line leveraged the SOAP meme but I think its birth wasn't via a viral marketing campaign, seems to me it took off without studio help.

I MeFi'd it almost a year ago to the day. Only got 9 comments in the thread but can anyone cite an earlier mention anyplace things go viral?
posted by dobbs at 7:33 AM on August 18, 2006

bugbread - I would highlight the fact that you remember all of those brands as evidence of their success. Granted the product didn't sell, but the corporate brand (Pepsi, Nokia) are fresh in your mind.
posted by Pastabagel at 7:34 AM on August 18, 2006

How is this movie viral marketing? It is "viral" in that it is self-repeating, but I don't think the marketers had anything to do with it. They even wanted to change the name to Flight 93 or something. This is more of an example of the absence of marketing.
posted by destro at 7:37 AM on August 18, 2006

The whole "studio wants to change the name and SLJ is outraged" was the beginning of the real viral marketing push. The story was put out there to get people talking about the name, which is really all the movie has going for it. Now that the studio has forced it to become an internet meme and it will make a jillion dollars, we can expect even more of this type of "underground" marketing.

Honestly, I was tired of this movie sometime last year.
posted by acetonic at 7:44 AM on August 18, 2006

Factotum opens today, too. It doesn't have the same pitch-as-title ring to it, but seening Matt Dillon as Chinaski/Bukowski won't make you feel duped afterwards. I recommend smuggling a few beers into the theater.
posted by muckster at 7:47 AM on August 18, 2006

For the real Bukowski experience you should show up drunk and screw the person in the next seat as the movie plays, I think.
posted by clevershark at 7:49 AM on August 18, 2006

but seening Matt Dillon as Chinaski/Bukowski

so Dillon's played a junkie, now he's playing a drunk. What's his next role, compulsive masturbator?
posted by jonmc at 7:51 AM on August 18, 2006

It was a lot better more amusing than I anticipated it to be. The ludicrous exposition at the beginning, the crowd full of hissing audience members, and - well - the snakes made for a ridiculously fun night.

On another note - I'm suprised I hadn't heard anything about this movie making the p2p rounds prior to its opening.
posted by icosahedral at 7:51 AM on August 18, 2006

I'm pretty sure I would feel duped seeing Matt Dillon play Bukowski.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 7:53 AM on August 18, 2006

Are that many people actually interested in seeing that movie, as opposed to making increasingly-derivative jokes about it?

I guess we'll find out once the gross figures are in.
posted by clevershark at 7:53 AM on August 18, 2006

Pastabagel : "bugbread - I would highlight the fact that you remember all of those brands as evidence of their success. Granted the product didn't sell, but the corporate brand (Pepsi, Nokia) are fresh in your mind."

I would highlight the fact that those products didn't sell as evidence of their failure.

Of course, I could come up with a list of failed virals which not only failed to sell (their goal), but failed to propagate their name (the method by which they hoped to achieve that goal). I chose not to, because it would be very hard for me to remember something whose prime characteristic is that I don't remember it, and even if I somehow managed, no-one else would know/remember them either, because that is the nature of "failing to obtain recognition".

So, to rephrase and refocus my initial comment, "Corporate viral marketing always wins at having you remember the viral marketing efforts that you remember."
posted by Bugbread at 7:55 AM on August 18, 2006 [1 favorite]

Remeber when Blairwitch was cited as the deathknell to traditional marketing for movies...
posted by Mick at 7:55 AM on August 18, 2006

Something about the whole SoaP ordeal makes me happy--I guess because it's neat to see a bunch of adults taking pleasure in something silly. There's not enough silliness in American life these days, at least from where I sit. So yeah, a movie company will make a gazillion dollars, but they'll do it the right way. Not by suing downloaders, or cashing in on yet another sequel or remake. I encourage this behavior!
posted by JeremyT at 7:57 AM on August 18, 2006

posted by brownpau at 7:57 AM on August 18, 2006

I thought the movie was pretty good, but the music video during the credits kind of reminded me that I had succumbed to viral marketing perpetrated by the same old corporate marketing guys that make every other irritating advert... It was kinda like having my dad talk jive to me.
posted by shanevsevil at 7:57 AM on August 18, 2006

For the real Bukowski experience you should show up drunk and screw the person in the next seat

Or at least bring a glass full of warm raw hamburger.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 8:00 AM on August 18, 2006

This movie is totally fun. People were applauding, cheering, giving Samuel L. standing ovations, throwing fake snakes in the air: a level of enjoyment and excitement that I haven't seen at the movies in a long, long time.

If you like having a good time, ignore the grumblings of the grumps and the sourpusses and get yourself to the theater.

Now that the studio has forced it to become an internet meme

A studio cannot force a meme. If they could, they all would. The brilliance of New Line in this case is they embraced the grassroots 'memeification' of Snakes On A Plane. Because of this great decision, they're going to make mad cash.

Any guesses as to what they're going to call the sequel?
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 8:01 AM on August 18, 2006

It was kinda like having my dad talk jive to me.

Did he follow that up by punching you in the balls and taking $20 out of your wallet?
posted by prostyle at 8:02 AM on August 18, 2006

I must say: it's pretty awesome. People made snake Hsssssing noises through the whole screening and I couldnt stop laughing. Everything cheesy you've ever seen in an action film, it's all there. It's the Rococo masterpiece of Summer Movies: grotesque, flamboyant, and self righteously extravagent. Is it self-aware? Totally. It's like a great James Bond flick. It's a communal cinematic experience and you'll want to be participating in the half of the movie that isn't on screen.

Hssssssssss
posted by yeti at 8:03 AM on August 18, 2006

What's his next role, compulsive masturbator?
posted by jonmc

That role hasn't been filled yet, jonmc, if you're interested. Have you agent call my agent.
posted by NationalKato at 8:05 AM on August 18, 2006

Good review from The Toronto Star

"In short, Snakes on a Plane delivers exactly what it promised and then some. And how often can you say that about a movie these days?"
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 8:08 AM on August 18, 2006

Eh, saw Talledega Nights yesterday, then snuck into the first NY showing of Snakes On A Plane. I can sum it up thusly:

Talledega Nights rocked.
Snakes On A Plane sucked balls.

Seriously, I was expecting it to be a lot more fun than it was, and it might have been if I hadn't just watched Talledega Nights, but it just couldn't hold a candle.
posted by davejay at 8:09 AM on August 18, 2006

My brother saw the sneak preview last night and spoke of the atmosphere more than anything else making the movie an enjoyable experience. I think his exact words were: "I'm never seeing Rocky Horror again!"
posted by thanotopsis at 8:09 AM on August 18, 2006

Apples & Oranges, davejay.

Hssssssssssssss
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 8:12 AM on August 18, 2006

Due to over-saturation resulting in psychic pollution I have issued a personal ban on any discussions of, or any media/products for:

Paris Hilton

"Jazz" Softdrink

"Reality" TV

Japanese Animation (except Star Bazers)

Local TV News

and from this moment on- SOAP



Let us never speak of this again.
posted by tkchrist at 8:15 AM on August 18, 2006

You mean Star Brazers, right?
posted by bendybendy at 8:30 AM on August 18, 2006

You realize, of course, that with the current TSA regulations banning liquids and gels, well, Shakes on a Plane, motherfucker!
posted by eriko at 8:32 AM on August 18, 2006

This whole thing is yet another case of a ton of people desperate to prove they "get it." I can imagine the throngs of hipsters standing in line, rubber snakes in hand, mentally rehearsing their witty comebacks to the hilarious dialogue. So fun.
posted by davebush at 8:33 AM on August 18, 2006

dobbs: your post was the first I'd read of it.
posted by empath at 8:36 AM on August 18, 2006

Oh, shanevsevil...I speak jive! - heh
posted by davidmsc at 8:36 AM on August 18, 2006

I went last night...there were about 25 or 30 people in the audience, which for this town ain't too bad on a Thursday night at 10:00 pm. This movie was EXACTLY what I expected - albeit with a little more humor. Sam Jackson was perfect as always, playing the role that he does so well - almost as if he picked up where he left off in "Deep Blue Sea," leading people to safety in a chaotic, deadly situation. And when Jackson spoke/yelled the now-famous line, I'm very happy to report that I was not alone in clapping loudly. His delivery of certain words is almost poetic, ain't it?
The roster of air travelers, as they enter the plane, evokes two thoughts: first, you can't help but chuckle at some of the stereotypes. The socialite (complete with tiny dog), the lady with a baby, the harried businessman, the tourist, the kids traveling alone, the celebrity, etc. Second, you immediately begin assessing each passenger's risk of death, based on their appeal, their cuteness, their rudeness, and such. The flight crew re-introduces us to Julianna Margulies, last seen on "ER" about 10 years ago; the older, brassy stewardess who has seen it all; the very effeminate male flight attendant, who gets a big laugh (and some cheers) at the very end of the movie; and of course the pilot and co-pilot, doing their best imitations of Captain Oveur and Roger Murdock - almost literally - heh.
Which brings us to the snakes. Simply put, they are brutal. These are "snakes on crack," so to speak, and vicious doesn't begin to describe them. They attack everything - sometimes in a manner that makes you gag, other times in ways that make you laugh (seriously). The manner in which various passengers are "introduced" to the snakes is just horribly amazing. And I will likely never be able to pee again without thinking of that one poor passenger...
Bottom line: this is very well-made "B" movie that wastes very little time with anything other than the key premise. It is critic-proof, and I hope that it does well at the box-office. My only regret: I wish that I had found this audience participation guide BEFORE I went to the movie tonight!
Oh, and one other thing: if you are afraid of snakes, DO NOT see this movie. Seriously.
posted by davidmsc at 8:39 AM on August 18, 2006

Memetic cancer for the slackjawed. The Daily Show interview was pretty awesome, though.
posted by boo_radley at 8:39 AM on August 18, 2006

davebush doesn't "get it."
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 8:39 AM on August 18, 2006

The Alamo is doing a SoaP endurance contest. That is hardcore.

Starting at midnight, August 18th, Shannon McCormick, artistic director of Gnap! Theater Projects and local actor and comedy improviser, will attempt to induce in himself the state of being trapped on an airplane full of venomous snakes by watching the most anticipated movie of the 21st century around the clock for the first day of its release.

Also, live, venomous snakes will be released into the theater. Have fun!

What's interesting about the SoaP phenomenon is that it's coming from a different place than viral marketing. I just watched "The Corporation" and on one of the 2nd disc extras, Naomi Klein (swoon!) talks about how marketing people are the most aware of marketing hatred, and try to sell marketing hatred back ("Obey your thirst!"). But even that's starting to fail. So here, we've got something that was instead totally grassrooted, at least initially, based on the tentative title of the film. So, in a sense, the idea to not go viral with an already successful meme (or to limit it, at least) was the best thing they could do. I have no idea what, if anything, this heralds for future projects. I'm sure we'll see plenty of outrageously titled projects trying to drum up similar support for awhile. But Sam Jackson's acute awareness of fan support (ironic or not) may indicate a new era of fanservice (for lack of a better term), of a different kind than "show some panty in the trailer" "promise blood and guts". SoaP by its very title promised the sort of ironic B-movie fun that it seems people had; a readymade Rocky Horror derivative evening of interactive enjoyment. Interactive with other theatergoers (you know, the people you usually try to pretend aren't there?) rather than in any cusp-of-the-millennium technological internet-mediated or choose-your-own adventure interactivity.

And if that's what people seem to want at least once, you can be sure Hollywood will try to replicate it as many times as possible, long after we're sick of it. The movie 'industy' is biased towards safe properties; that's to say a steady diet of the same staple, rather than the diversity that makes a healthy diet of entertainment. I always like when people ask me what my favorite movie is, because that depends on my mood and what I've had recently, just like food. lol amirite
posted by Eideteker at 8:46 AM on August 18, 2006

This whole thing is yet another case of a ton of people desperate to prove they "get it."

Or maybe people just think the SoaP phenomenon is fun and they are enjoying it while it lasts.
posted by brain_drain at 8:48 AM on August 18, 2006

Snakes on a Plane had snakes on a plane, but Football in the Groin had a football in the groin.
posted by you just lost the game at 8:48 AM on August 18, 2006

"Any guesses as to what they're going to call the sequel?"

• Snakes On A Boat
• Snakes In Space
• Slimy Movie Two
• SOAP TWO: Wings Of Despair
• SOAP TWO: Revenge of the Snakes
• SOAP TWO: The Plane Strikes Back
• More Snakes On Another Plane
• Snakes On Crack On Planes On Fire
• Natural Born Killers On Planes Trains And Automobiles
• Honey I Accidently Transmorgrified the Kids Into Limbless Reptiles While Flying to Grandma's For Christmas
• Samuel Motherfucking Jackson Shouting At The Motherfucking Camera For Two Motherfucking Hours And Looking Motherfucking Cool Cuz We Motherfucking Know That's Really What You Motherfucking Pay Motherfucking Money To Motherfucking See

posted by ZachsMind at 8:49 AM on August 18, 2006 [1 favorite]

all your planes are belong to snakes. someday this will remind us of how quaint the series of tubes used to be before we had to welcome our network-enabled corporate big brother overlords. i'm going to go listen to some mc hawking now and i will find my frog. i kiss you!
posted by snofoam at 8:53 AM on August 18, 2006

"Seriously, I was expecting it to be a lot more fun than it was, and it might have been if I hadn't just watched Talledega Nights, but it just couldn't hold a candle."

How much are the Talladega Nights people paying you per mention of their film?

And on not-preview, I see that thanatopsis has already mentioned the RHPS in relation to SoaP, which, if you read our comments out of order, makes me look really insightful!

"Jazz" Softdrink

I have never heard of it. Please note, this is not incitement to tell me about the product, whether due to your indoctrination or the need to exorcise the marketing blitz you've subjected yourself to. I just want to say that I haven't heard of it, making you marvel at my hermetic lifestyle (without actually mentioning whether or not I own a TV), and allowing me to feel smug about myself. Why can't you let me just have that?

davidmsc, I'm two lines into the participation guide and already loving it.

__When:__ Whenever you see the guy that played Fat Albert. (In orange shirt)
__What:__ Shout (in Fat Albert Voice) "HEY! HEY! HEY! It's Snakes on a Plane!"

__When:__ the great Sam Jackson kills his first snake
__What:__ cheer uncontrollably / yell "yes they deserve to die, and I hope they burn in hell"

posted by Eideteker at 9:02 AM on August 18, 2006

This whole thing is yet another case of a ton of people desperate to prove they "get it."

And another case of a ton of anti-hipsters desperate to prove that they "don't care about it."
posted by NationalKato at 9:05 AM on August 18, 2006 [1 favorite]

Mick writes "Remeber when Blairwitch was cited as the deathknell to traditional marketing for movies..."

Unfortunately that movie failed once the first batch of moviegoers realized how much it sucked and told everyone they knew...
posted by clevershark at 9:07 AM on August 18, 2006

I wish that I had found this audience participation guide BEFORE I went to the movie tonight!

The guide is certainly a model of clear instruction:

__When:__ Whenever a snake bites someone.
__What:__ COUNT out loud, increasing the number with every snake bite.

Oh, that kind of counting.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 9:10 AM on August 18, 2006 [1 favorite]

Snakes In Space

There's your winner.
posted by empath at 9:18 AM on August 18, 2006

brain_drain wrote...
Or maybe people just think the SoaP phenomenon is fun and they are enjoying it while it lasts.

"I must not have fun
Fun is the timekiller
Fun is for children, customers, and the help
I will forget fun.
I will take a pass on it.
And while it is going, I will turn a blind eye toward it.
Where fun is gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
I, and my will to win.
Damn, I'm good.
Damn, I'm God."
posted by tkolar at 9:20 AM on August 18, 2006 [1 favorite]

MetaFilter Participation Guide:

_When:_ Anyone betrays enthusiasm for any form of entertainment, be it music, film, sports, or television.
_What:_ Be an ass.
posted by _sirmissalot_ at 9:21 AM on August 18, 2006

This movie... it bites?

Sorry.
posted by shortfuse at 9:24 AM on August 18, 2006

Interview with Jules Sylvester, the snake wrangler for Snakes on a Plane.

JS: That’s correct, yes. I had about 450 snakes I took up to [the set in] Canada.

SFBG: [Interrupting] Did you take them on a plane?
...
SFBG: If you actually encountered a snake on a plane in real life, what should you do?

Also, a fun interview on YouTube.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:46 AM on August 18, 2006

So, to rephrase and refocus my initial comment, "Corporate viral marketing always wins at having you remember the viral marketing efforts that you remember."
posted by bugbread at 10:55 AM EST on August 18 [+] [!]

Interesting point. Why don't we discuss it further over some delicious pastabagels?

Pastabagels. Not highly dense, just high density.
posted by Pastabagel at 10:09 AM on August 18, 2006

The flight crew re-introduces us to Julianna Margulies, last seen on "ER" about 10 years ago;

Dude, you missed the extremely hot Julianna Margulies in the last season of The Sopranos.

Sorry, I meant to say: "extremely HAWT"
posted by thanotopsis at 10:14 AM on August 18, 2006

Boy, I can't wait for the second post using the motherfuckin' tag.
posted by dflemingdotorg at 10:17 AM on August 18, 2006

I went with my kids to see this last night. It was dorky and gross. and I loved it.

The theatre was about 1/2 full. Everyone cheering and shouting out random things that were even funnier.

I think part of the fun was going to the movie not knowing what to expect. Was it going to be lame because the movie-makers latched onto the whole blog phenom? A little ways into it, I would guess by the time Samual Jackson appears (which got a massive cheer), you realize they are sorta poking fun at themselves.
posted by gminks at 10:19 AM on August 18, 2006

Memetic cancer for the slackjawed.

Yikes. Nuff said, methinks.
posted by undule at 10:26 AM on August 18, 2006

Unfortunately that movie [Blair Witch Project] failed once the first batch of moviegoers realized how much it sucked and told everyone they knew...
posted by clevershark

Yeah, what a disaster. It cost $22K to make and made $240 million.
posted by Skot at 10:35 AM on August 18, 2006

Well, Britney Spears has managed to turn tone-deafness into a multi-million dollar singing career too. That doesn't prevent her (or BWP) from sucking.

I was quite amused to see kids on the bus coming back from seeing that film, each one apparently more pissed off than the other about having spent $9 (at the time) to see it...
posted by clevershark at 11:00 AM on August 18, 2006

Unfortunately that movie failed once the first batch of moviegoers realized how much it sucked and told everyone they knew...

You're crazy. It's one of the most successful films of all time (budget:profit) and I'd guess that in a decade or two will be considered the classic it deserves to be remembered as. Terrific filmmaking.
posted by dobbs at 11:21 AM on August 18, 2006

I'm sorry, but tkolar wins the thread. I was going to break out some Mencken, but now there's no point.
posted by aramaic at 11:29 AM on August 18, 2006

Blair Witch Project didn't suck! you suck! No I don't yes you do no I don't yes you do this isn't an argument this is contradiction!

Blair Witch Project rocked! I saw it seven times in the theater, and I rarely see movies at all in the theater! If I do see a movie in the theater it's only once. I even tried sitting in the front row a couple times cuz people kept saying it'd make you throw up. I never threw up. Not sure what some people's problem is. It's a great film!

I bought the soundtrack and the comic book and the novelization, I have it on DVD and saw it again just the other night. In fact right now I'm working on a fan-based DVD commentary for it. Not sure where I'll be able to post it though. I doubt these guys will be interested in a non-Whedonesque commentary.

Now, BWP2: Book of Shadows? That sucked.
posted by ZachsMind at 11:58 AM on August 18, 2006

To the people who've expressed distaste for the movie, or the way it was memeified and spread across the Intertron: Please keep in mind the following Pauline Kael quote:

"The movies are so rarely great art that if we cannot appreciate great trash there is little reason for us to go."

There is a place (or should be) in one's taste for movies that are not great art, but are successful as entertainment. Frequently these not-art-but-entertainment films are a bit trashy. Sometimes they are very trashy.

Snakes On A Plane is some seriously grade-A trash. It doesn't make pacing mistakes that many B-movies make. The diverse snake deaths are frequently inventive. The humor is actually humorous, sometimes in spite of itself. Most of the film is layered in thick, greasy cheese.

Like various greasy snack foods, it's not necessarily good for you, but it's enjoyable anyway. It's an entertaining film.

If one needs to poo-poo something, wait for the inevitable imitations because Hollywood is too money-driven to see the fact that this movie's success is a freak accident, and will make ham-fisted attempts to recreate SoaP's lightning in a bottle.
posted by sparkletone at 12:03 PM on August 18, 2006

mmm...greasy various snack foods
posted by hellphish at 12:10 PM on August 18, 2006

Saw SoaP last night and it was everything I hoped it would be - a campy, cheesy, silly b-movie, and a whole lot of fun.

Sam Jackson more-or-less reprises his role from Pulp Fiction, which was just fine by me.

Sure, there were plot holes, bad acting, and cheesy dialogue in parts, but those were all part of the fun. The movie seemed aware of how cheesy it was, and played it up. Really, the whole thing kinda reminded me of going to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which provided me with many nights of amusement back in the day.

Oh yeah, and to all the people out there who say "It can't possibly be cool because of [insert hipster complaint here]," I say, "thpppppppt!" Quit taking life so dang seriously. Some things are just meant to be fun. (although I'm perfectly willing to accept that you don't know how to have fun.)
posted by Afroblanco at 12:14 PM on August 18, 2006

Hmm. Normally, to avoid crowds and get a cheap seat, I try to see movies late on Sunday mornings starting two weeks into the film's run, but after reading this thread, I realize I need to see it maybe one week in and make sure I go on a Saturday afternoon. I lurves me some audience participatin'.
posted by pax digita at 12:35 PM on August 18, 2006

Crap, why did this have to open on the same weekend as Canadian multilingual thriller "Bon Cop, Bad Cop", I might have to cram them both in on the same day.
posted by bobo123 at 12:49 PM on August 18, 2006

Well, lots of people enjoy things I don't. I'm sure I enjoy things other people would say suck (Jess Franco films, for example). Personally when I stumbled on Blair Witch Project while channel-surfing early one Sunday morning I thought I'd come across a student film project.
posted by clevershark at 12:50 PM on August 18, 2006

Snakes on a Plane - good stupid fun, that doesn't try to pretend it's any more than that. It's like a modern Hammer Film. I love it.


What I really want to know is, what's this horseshit Ivan Reitman flick with Robin Williams as Jon Stewart, only old, not particularly funny or dangerous, and getting elected president?


Looks like a crapfest for certain...
posted by stenseng at 1:03 PM on August 18, 2006

Oh, the other hugely cool thing when seeing SoaP:

A trailer for a Tenacious D movie?! No one even told me they were making a Tenacious D movie.

I can't wait.
posted by sparkletone at 1:14 PM on August 18, 2006

People do understand that the 'snakes on a plane!' meme started spreading from Josh Friedman's blog...right? Friedman was brought in to work on a draft, ended up not doing so. If memory serves, that is ground zero for this irritating-but-amusing meme. The film was retooled to respond to real grassroots enthusiasm, with a week of reshoots to give it more geek appeal.

Looks like utter irredeemable shit, actually. But Sam Jackson's enthusiasm on the Daily Show seemed genuine.
posted by waxbanks at 1:25 PM on August 18, 2006

So is this the inflection point in SJ's career where he becomes a self-aware self-parody?
posted by sonofsamiam at 1:27 PM on August 18, 2006

Oh, and davidmsc:

The flight crew re-introduces us to Julianna Margulies, last seen on "ER" about 10 years ago; the older, brassy stewardess who has seen it all

No!! She was on The Sopranos this year as Tony and Christopher's junkie love interest, and was very good. I've no idea what else she's been doing with herself, but blah blah blah. Nothing to say really.
posted by waxbanks at 1:30 PM on August 18, 2006

All fun aside.
Dear world, please stop selling me all this crap.
posted by BrodieShadeTree at 1:41 PM on August 18, 2006

The British audience I just saw it with applauded the "motherfucking snakes" line. British. We don't do that, ever. The whooping and the hollering are really not our thing. Sure, the applause was a bit on the polite side, but I have truly never ever heard an audience here do that kind of audience participation thing before.

The film was just great fun - inventive snake gags, good gore, a strange fascination with impaling people on stuff, some outrageous product placement. Snakes. On a plane. The ending was maybe a little anticlimactic (I wanted Jackson to have to go mano e snako with the reeeaaally big snake) and you could tell they'd added stuff in during pickups, because the tone was a little jumpy, but... yeah. It was a noble piece of snakesploitation, and that'll do me just fine.
posted by flashboy at 2:14 PM on August 18, 2006

Okay...

(Preparing myself to relenquish any lingering MeFite cred)

I've been greeting everyone I know today with a hearty, "Happy Snakes On a Plane Day," which they have all excitedly returned. Last night I had a dream which involved me working on the production, which was kick-ass, to say the least. To put it mildly, I'm excited.

waxbanks is correct to say that it all started with I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing but the other thing to know is that it took New Line quite a while to realize what they had, and even then they were just smart enough to know not to push along the meme themselves for fear of killing it. The SLJ voicemail thing was funny and perfect, but didn't really step on the toes of the meme. Instead they did what every half-assed filmmaker will try to replicate in the future but won't manage: objectively viewing the meme to see what fans wanted. But they didn't push it themselves, which is why people are still so excited today.

I'm leaving very shortly to pick up my rubber snakes (although these are for tossing into the seats of squeamish teenagers during whatever tense moments might actually exist) and catch the 8:00 showing at the Union Square 14. I've seen the opening night showing of Fight Club there, where people were shouting throughout the first act, calmed down during the middle, and then during the "big twist," and elderly man (think John Witherspoon with another 20 years on him) stood up on his seat and shouted "What the fuck is this shit?!!" sending the crowd into hysterics again.

I've seen the opening night showing of Magnolia there, which was far more subdued, but still an event that will never happen again. This theatre, at the real crux of NYC, is big on overselling opening night shows, so we were piled on top of eachother in the aisles, and it was better than any Bryant Park picnic show.

On the opening night for Charlie's Angels, it was like a bizarre church service with only twelve-year-olds in attendance. We tossed beach-balls around, ran through the aisle, and when we left, my friend Ian remarked that he thought the whole experience had made him dumber. My friend Vin shot back, "Whatchu, Ignant?" and Ian and I both literally collapsed in hysterics in Union Square. You had to be there, to be sure.

I work in film, but I don't see many movies theatrically anymore. The last film I saw was X-Men 3, which was dissapointing in the greatest possible way, in that it went against everything that the audience wanted without replacing it with anything better. But when the trailers were on, one of them was just a black screen with white text:

This summer you will see mutants.
You will see Pirates.
You will see Superheroes.
Etc.

But there's one thing that none of these movies will have...

We heard a snake rattle, and the whole stadium-seated room went apeshit.

Point: fuck the haters, I'm gonna have a great time tonight.

Oh, and happy Snakes On a Plane day.
posted by Navelgazer at 2:38 PM on August 18, 2006

stenseng wrote...
What I really want to know is, what's this horseshit Ivan Reitman flick with Robin Williams as Jon Stewart, only old, not particularly funny or dangerous, and getting elected president?

Now, now, let's not go rushing to judgement when we can't even get our facts straight. It's a Barry Levinson flick, not an Ivan Reitman flick.


Looks like a crapfest for certain...

Well okay, that part you got right.
posted by tkolar at 3:01 PM on August 18, 2006

Snakes In Space

There's your winner.

In space, no one can hear you slither.

SoaP will be much like sex with a dwarf. Sure it SEEMS like a good idea. All your friends are doing it. The advertisments all make it seem so cool. Yeah. It's fun while you do it.

But. Mark my words. Later. After the sheets have dried. When the bragging is over and the reflection has begun. Then, my friends, on sets the sorrowful malaise and stomach ache.

Eventually you wake up in the middle of night and you find, stuck between the matress and the headboard, the little panties she left you as a memento. You will cry: "Oh my god. How could I have done that?"

And you will run to the shower and scrub yourself. But it won't come off. It WON'T COME OFF...

Er... Um. That's what I have heard anyway.

SoaP will be like that. Don't come crying to me in couple of years when you feel all used and dirty.
posted by tkchrist at 3:29 PM on August 18, 2006 [1 favorite]

Unless your under 5' 3".

[rim shot]
posted by tkchrist at 3:41 PM on August 18, 2006

Snakes on a Senate.
posted by CunningLinguist at 4:23 PM on August 18, 2006

I started loathing this movie with great vigour months ago. Deeply annoying. Yes, I'm a hater, and proud of it.

Factotum opens today, too.

I watched it months ago. No idea why it's only showing up in theatres there now -- save your money. It's fucking horrible. And I actually liked Barfly.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:44 PM on August 18, 2006

Snakes on a Paper Airplane
posted by muckster at 5:38 PM on August 18, 2006

i hope this flick plays like a combination of anaconda and one of the all-time best, over-the-top, made for tv-movies, evar - miracle landing.
navelgazer, i wish i could see this movie with you! you are gonna have FUN. i've got a feeling the rubber snake market is gonna go through the roof this weekend. no pun intended.
posted by lapolla at 12:16 AM on August 19, 2006

I think the sequel will tell the true story of what happened on that plane with Lynyrd Skynyrd. Soundtrack by the Drive-by Truckers. Oh, and there will be flashbacks to what happened on that Beechcraft Bonanza back in 1959.

Expect to see Samuel L. Jackson jump from one plane to another in an attempt to save them.
posted by Eideteker at 12:27 AM on August 19, 2006

Before reading any comments in this thread, I wanted to say that I was at the special premier here in sunny Tempe, Arizona on Thursday night.
Expecting a long line, I arrived at the theater about an hour and a half early. Apparently, all the people that know about this movie from the internets don't reside in my area, because there was nobody there. By the time the movie was starting, only half the seats were taken. I took solace in the fact that the people who were there clearly knew as much as I about the film and were pumped for some sweet action.
I suck at writing reviews, so I won't say much more besides this; the movie, for me, lived up to the hype. It's true that the plot is a little thin to start, what with the mob informant that needs a bad ass FBI man to protect him on the way to the trial, but once they're on that plane, it's pure movie magic. Sam shines, the special effects are awesome (SNAKE VISION!), and, not to spoil the film for anyone or anything, the boob shot was fantastic. *sigh* I love boobs.
posted by Bageena at 8:15 AM on August 19, 2006

"Any guesses on what they're going to call the sequel?"

Oh come on. That's obvious.

Snakes On A Plane Again
posted by Jon Mitchell at 10:16 AM on August 19, 2006

Or Weasels Ripped my Flesh on an Airplane.
posted by kozad at 10:30 AM on August 19, 2006

Saw the movie last night, and I had fun. It walked the line between campy wink-wink humor and straight-faced thriller pretty well, I thought. It was sort of a similar experience to Slither earlier this year, except, you know, there were other people there in the theater.
posted by EarBucket at 10:40 AM on August 19, 2006

Speaking of snakes on a plane...my son goes to USAFA and yesterday-yes, yesterday-there was a snake going down his hallway. His squadron (dorm area) hallway.

He stepped on it. RIP.

I told him he should have left it alone as they have already killed five mice in the squadron this week. Heh.

Anyway he didn't think the snake was a plant as apparently his floor is snake accessible from the outside.
posted by konolia at 12:39 PM on August 19, 2006

so Dillon's played a junkie, now he's playing a drunk. What's his next role, compulsive masturbator?

Golly, Moses, no; naturally, he'll be a punk.
posted by baylink at 2:59 PM on August 19, 2006

And another case of a ton of anti-hipsters desperate to prove that they "don't care about it."
posted by NationalKato at 9:05 AM PST

What about the people who don't want to give money to the MPAA via consumption of movies? If the MPAA has no money, how can they lobby congress to pass laws like the DMCA?
posted by rough ashlar at 4:36 AM on August 20, 2006

Fuck all this shit about Snakes On A Plane.
Me, I'm lookin' forward to The Brand Upon the Brain!
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 5:53 AM on August 20, 2006

What about the people who don't want to give money to the MPAA via consumption of movies? If the MPAA has no money, how can they lobby congress to pass laws like the DMCA?

If you hate movies so much, why do you care about the DMCA?

(Just seen the film. It was fantastic less the stupid motherfucking line and stamping on the rudder pedals)
posted by cillit bang at 11:22 AM on August 20, 2006

Well, the weekend box office estimates are in.

Snakes On A Plane Fails To Charm.

It didn't make the mad loot I had predicted.

Those who predicted Snakes On A Plane would lead to the downfall of the movie business at the hands of viral marketers and grassroots focus groups should rest a little easier.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 12:56 PM on August 20, 2006

Woah. That was some crazy ass shit. Reminds me of David Lynch, but, mildly more coherent.

"If you hate movies so much, why do you care about the DMCA?"

don't think he hates movies. Just the MPAA, which supports the DMCA, which is some messed up shit.

And no. Haven't seen SoaP yet. Probably will wait until it hits DVD.
posted by ZachsMind at 1:14 PM on August 20, 2006

You can watch a movie without giving any money to the MPAA. It's illegal, but I've heard there's a special way to use computers to do it.
posted by Bugbread at 2:35 PM on August 20, 2006