Exclusive Preview: Snakes On A
Plane
By
Sean Lynch
Click
Here For Exclusive Interview with star Samuel L. Jackson
Click
Here For Exclusive Interview with actor Nathan Phillips
Yes. That is the title. And Yes. That is the
plot.
That's right, it's one of the most talked
about and most highly anticipated films since The
Blair Witch Project. But what's all the fuss about?
Snakes
on a Plane stars Samuel L. Jackson as an FBI agent who is
escorting an
eye witness on a flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles when a crime lord
sets in motion the release of hundreds of deadly snakes on the
commercial airplane in order to eliminate the witness before he can
testify against him.
The
FBI agent must protect his witness while
banding together with the pilot, frightened crew and passengers in a
desperate attempt to survive the flight that puts new meaning into the
phrase "snake in first class". Or was it snake in the grass...?
Along for the $35 million budgeted
ride is Australian Nathan Phillips (Wolf
Creek, Australian
Rules), Keenan
Thompson (SNL) and Anchorman's
David Koechner.
The David R. Ellis-helmed film (his biggest
credits include being the stunt co-ordinator on The
Jungle Book and the kids flick Harriet The
Spy)
was written by David Dalessandro, John Heffernan and Sheldon Turner.
Yep, it took three people to come with such an innovatively laughable
premise.
Although it is now in post-production, and
the film wrapped up
principal photography in August of 2005, five days of additional
re-shooting have been done to bring the movie from a PG-13 rating to an
R rating.
Sounds normal, doesn't it. What's all the
fuss about? Here's the deal:
Snakes On A Plane Myth #1
There are many factors which have thrust Snakes On A
Plane
into the Internet cult status lime-light. The first major incident
involved the original title being changed. The story goes that Samuel
L. Jackson only signed on for the film solely because of the title. It
was later changed to Pacific Air Flight 121,
but Jackson
demanded they reverse the change. "We're totally changing that back.
That's the only reason I took the job: I read the title." The man knows
his stuff, clearly.
In another
interview in early 2006, Jackson claimed that once he learned about the
movie title being changed he said: "What are you doing here? It's not
Gone with the Wind. It's not On the Waterfront.
It's Snakes on a Plane!". The film was quickly
reverted to the working title of Snakes on a Plane
on March 2, 2006 because, let's face it, who would want to see
a film called Pacific Air Flight 121, it's
just ridiculous!
Snakes On A Plane Myth #2
In
recognition of the unprecedented Internet buzz for what had been a
minor movie (which was on it's way to becoming a straight to DVD
release) in their 2006 line-up, New Line Cinema ordered five days of
additional shooting in early March 2006 (principal photography had
wrapped in September 2005). While re-shoots normally imply problems
with a film, the producers opted to add new scenes to the film to take
the movie from PG-13 into R-rated territory.
Among
these additions is
the Samuel L. Jackson's character's line (and it's a corker) "I want
these motherf*cking snakes off
this motherf*cking plane." Wow. Powerful stuff. Intriguingly, this is a
line that originated in an anticipatory Internet parody of the movie
and presumably garnered great support from the movie's star, Sam
Jackson.
Snakes On A Plane Myth #3
Online ecosystem Tagworld
and New Line Cinemas joined forces for one of the most bizarre
competitions in film history. The contest allowed all manner of
independent artists to submit songs, for a chance for their tune to
be included in the film and on the soundtrack of Snakes On A
Plane.
Jason Linn, Executive Vice President of New Line Records recently said
"We’re thrilled to hear their submissions and are confident
that there's a song out there that will be a perfect fit for an
exciting movie like Snakes
on a Plane." It sure is Jason, it sure is (and a hell of a
lot cheaper than hiring Danny Elfman to do the score).
A film with such little substance or
innovative ideas has never been so excitedly awaited (except perhaps M:i:2)
with the unofficial SoaP tee-shirts, unofficial SoaP
trailers and SoaP
dedicated websites creating huge buzz right around the globe. Some have
even
said that the idea from the film may have even stemmed from a sketch
seen on Saturday Night Live in February of 1998,
where a similar plot
was undertaken in a skit called "The Cobra" during an episode hosted by
John Goodman. Will Goodman make an appearance? Who knows...
We can
be sure to count on three things though. There will be
snakes, there
will be a plane, and there will be Sammy L. Jackson swearing loudly.
And for my liking, that's all a movie needs - now get
these motherf*cking snakes off this motherf*cking plane!
Snakes on a Plane flies
into cinemas August 18th, 2006.
Snakes On A Plane Official
Site
Snakes
On A Plane Sneak Peak Footage
Unofficial Fan Trailer
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Keenan
Thompson, snakes, and that plane...
Arguably the best premise for a movie
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Samuel
L. Jackson (and Aussie
Nathan Phillips behind) get ready
to stomp snakes and use the 'F' word
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