Friday, August 18, 2006

Snakes on a Plane is Out. Now, at Long Last, the New Line Hype Machine Will Wind Down and Let us Think of Other Things

I didn't post up a blog yesterday, so here's one to send us on through the weekend.

I just got back from a 5:15 showing of Snakes on a Plane and it's an odd thing: I feel a little let down, but not because SoaP was terrible, but because it was better than I thought it was going to be. I mean, Sam Jackson assured the doubters who thought the filmmakers were going to be trying for campiness that it wasn't one of those "so bad it's good"-type movies, but I wasn't quite buying that. But it turns out he was being serious. It's not a bad movie. It's also not a great one by any stretch, but it's a half-decent way to spend a couple hours. I'd compare it with the movie Red Eye, which came out around the same time last year. They're both mid-budget, cheap thrills kind of movies with a-list stars (that little "a"'s on purpose), that aren't good enough to drop into the all-important summer lineup. Though it's much better than the completely forgettable Red Eye, I'd say that if there hadn't been all of this internet fanbase support for it, it still would have come out in August and gotten so-so reviews as Pacific Air Flight 107, or whatever it was called. You know what would have been the perfect time and place to watch this movie? Graumann's Chinese. Midnight screening yesterday. I'd say that unless you can guarantee yourself a screening filled with at least a couple boisterous internet nerds, just watch this one sometime on video. Or, if you want, support the theater industry and see it in the theater, and do some whoopin' and hollerin' yourself when Sam says the magic and expletive-laden line.

Also, briefly: I watched Scary Movie 4 last night. This was just as goofy as hell. Much less funny to me than Scary Movie 3 (I don't know why that is, though). And though I laughed a few times, it didn't even seem like Zucker and crew were trying for big laughs. Just little stupid ones. Yup. There's really nothing more to say about that.

Have a good weekend, folks.

3 comments:

blankfist said...

BOC is going to be very disappointed with you. He saw it at Graumann's yesterday and said it was everything he was hoping for and much, much more. I saw Tallidega Nights last night and... [shrug]. It was funnier at the beginning than anything that came out of the 2nd and 3rd Act. Kind of a let down, but still good. The cougar scene was funny, but I guess I don't see cats as being quite as hillarious as I know you do. Oh well.

But, the two children (Walker and Texas Ranger) were great, and the whole praying to baby jesus scene was awesome stuff.

blankfist said...

I saw SoaP Saturday night. Awesome movie. I wasn't sure what to expect from it outside of hearing that it was supposed to deliver the camp - but the second the first death scene happened, and the topless girl got bit you know where, I was all about some Snakes on a Mutha-effin' Plane! I had so much fun. What an awesome, awesome flick.

BOC and some guy named Smokey who were talking about the flick at my house Saturday morning brought up an interesting point: all the black people survive. Is this a cinema first?

Anonymous said...

Heath,

This man liked Popeye.

I rest my case.

BOC