WTF is snakes on a plane?

[kloudsurfer]

Despite the risk of sounding horribly uncool, I just had to ask.

Why do people keep using the term 'snakes on a plane' and what does it mean?

[i_mmmchocolate]

Hello? Snakes on a plane! What's not to love?

http://www.blackfilm.com/i3/movies/s/snakesonaplane/005.jpg

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

You always could have used google or wikipedia you know.


It's a movie coming out soon.

Ten points if you can guess what it's about.

[BlairH]

It's a movie starring Samuel L Jackson.

It's about snakes...on a plane.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

It's a movie starring Samuel L Jackson.

It's about snakes...on a plane.

Now he doesn't get ten points.

Boo to you.

[i_mmmchocolate]

It's about snakes...on a plane.

You don't say!

[Gaz]

Now he doesn't get ten points.

Boo to you.
No, she doesn't. And neither do you.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

No, she doesn't. And neither do you.

I'm not out to get points Gaz.

I'm out to 'get' you.

[Winslow]

Indy: There's a big snake in the plane, Jock!
Jock: Aw, that's just my pet snake Reggie.
Indy: I hate snakes, Jock! I hate 'em!
Jock: Come on, show a little backbone, will ya?

[Mike Smith]

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/3433/sjackson8lf.gif

"Why all these snakes on my mfin' plane?"

[thehod]

The plot outline on wikipedia begs a question

Neville Flynn (Samuel L. Jackson) and Sean Jones (Nathan Phillips), FBI agents, escort John Saunders (Mark Houghton), a former Mafia member, to testify in a highly publicized case. In the course of a flight between Hawaii and California, an assassin pays airport security to sneak a time-release crate of 400 snakes of various sizes on board in the hope of killing the witness.

Why not just shoot him?

[LtMarvel]

According to NPR story I listened to a month back or so, "Snakes on a Plane" means "Stuff happends."

[Solaris]

The plot outline on wikipedia begs a question

Neville Flynn (Samuel L. Jackson) and Sean Jones (Nathan Phillips), FBI agents, escort John Saunders (Mark Houghton), a former Mafia member, to testify in a highly publicized case. In the course of a flight between Hawaii and California, an assassin pays airport security to sneak a time-release crate of 400 snakes of various sizes on board in the hope of killing the witness.

Why not just shoot him?


Because it would not allow Hollywood to stretch the impossible into the "stupidly silly"? :D

When I first read it, I thought it was about those brown snakes that keep getting up into the landing gear on planes and migrating themselves from Indonesia Eastward. They're not poisonous---but they have a truly nasty temper and will try to eat anything. I remember a show about their migration using air transport... there was a woman on there showing the scars on her baby: the snake had gotten into the nursery at night, bit the baby *repeatedly*, and when they ran into the room at the baby's wails, found the snake attempting to get it's mouth over the baby's head to swallow it... even though the baby was much too large for that. However, IIRC it *did* cause some compression damage to the infant's headbones (which still have soft spots at that age).

Talk about a formula for nightmares.

[Mike Smith]

The plot outline on wikipedia begs a question

Neville Flynn (Samuel L. Jackson) and Sean Jones (Nathan Phillips), FBI agents, escort John Saunders (Mark Houghton), a former Mafia member, to testify in a highly publicized case. In the course of a flight between Hawaii and California, an assassin pays airport security to sneak a time-release crate of 400 snakes of various sizes on board in the hope of killing the witness.

Why not just shoot him?

Yep, it makes good plot, like Solaris said. Or at least cheesy plot that could turn into a good cult movie.

I read an article about it in a magazine and the cast basically agreed and enthusiatically supported the idea that Hollywood needed a movie like this.

[thehod]

Yep, it makes good plot, like Solaris said. Or at least cheesy plot that could turn into a good cult movie.

I read an article about it in a magazine and the cast basically agreed and enthusiatically supported the idea that Hollywood needed a movie like this.

Hollywood needs a film where the assasins method of choice is to time release 400 snakes onto a plane?

I bet Ra's Al Ghul's crapping himself over this guy.

[Gaz]

Psst, hod-ster, the movie is very tongue-in-cheek, if you take it seriously then the whole point is being missed.

[Spackling Compound]

It's sort of funny. A title like "Snakes on A Plane" comes off as a translated title from a foreign film that would only be appreciated by a few hipsters and college kids.
But since it's a major motion picture, it's introducing a basic title and a strange premise as a poke in the eye of conventional action-explosion movies and also a wink in the direction of hipsters and college kids.
So by trying to be hip and unhip at the same time, it is hip because it is unrepentingly trying to be hip and unhip.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

Psst, hod-ster, the movie is very tongue-in-cheek, if you take it seriously then the whole point is being missed.

Do you like tounges in your cheeks Gaz?

[Solaris]

Hollywood needs a film where the assasins method of choice is to time release 400 snakes onto a plane?

I bet Ra's Al Ghul's crapping himself over this guy.


THANK you. I really needed that laugh this morning. :D

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

It's sort of funny. A title like "Snakes on A Plane" comes off as a translated title from a foreign film that would only be appreciated by a few hipsters and college kids.


Actually it sounds a lot like an old B-grade pic, which is vibe I think they were going for.

[tricksterpup]

Because it would not allow Hollywood to stretch the impossible into the "stupidly silly"? :D

When I first read it, I thought it was about those brown snakes that keep getting up into the landing gear on planes and migrating themselves from Indonesia Eastward. They're not poisonous---but they have a truly nasty temper and will try to eat anything. I remember a show about their migration using air transport... there was a woman on there showing the scars on her baby: the snake had gotten into the nursery at night, bit the baby *repeatedly*, and when they ran into the room at the baby's wails, found the snake attempting to get it's mouth over the baby's head to swallow it... even though the baby was much too large for that. However, IIRC it *did* cause some compression damage to the infant's headbones (which still have soft spots at that age).

Talk about a formula for nightmares.
You know, if this kid was Hercules, the snake would have been crushed.

[thehod]

Psst, hod-ster, the movie is very tongue-in-cheek, if you take it seriously then the whole point is being missed.

Psst, Gaz.

I'm taking the piss. ;)

[Gaz]

Do you like tounges in your cheeks Gaz?
What did I say about the cigarettes?

[tricksterpup]

I think it would be amusing if it was Garter snakes. People would just laugh at them. Come on.. Who is afraid of Garter Snakes?
http://www.springrivers.com/images/Width275/garter%20snake.jpg

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

What did I say about the cigarettes?

Save them for afterwards?

[Gaz]

Save them for afterwards?
No, cancer sticks stink up the sheets.

[tricksterpup]

You know, this will probably be a Crap movie that will deserve to be on the SCI-Fi channel on Saturday nights. But because of all the hype, it will probably be the biggest movie of the summer. Probably has a low budget and will have a huge profit margin. We will see Snakes on a Plane 2, in a year or 2.

[Drew Van T.]

If you're going to time release animals onto a plane and try to kill people that way, at least use killer bees for crying out loud.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

No, cancer sticks stink up the sheets.

I'll let you put them out on my arms!

[Gaz]

You know, this will probably be a Crap movie that will deserve to be on the SCI-Fi channel on Saturday nights. But because of all the hype, it will probably be the biggest movie of the summer. Probably has a low budget and will have a huge profit margin. We will see Snakes on a Plane 2, in a year or 2.
It would, if it was done straight.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

But because of all the hype, it will probably be the biggest movie of the summer. Probably has a low budget and will have a huge profit margin.

Possibly - they've done a damn good marketing job, best net campagin I've seen since Blair Witch.

What's wrong with that?

We will see Snakes on a Plane 2, in a year or 2.

That's got nothing to do with the original.

[Harlock]

You know, this will probably be a Crap movie that will deserve to be on the SCI-Fi channel on Saturday nights. But because of all the hype, it will probably be the biggest movie of the summer. Probably has a low budget and will have a huge profit margin. We will see Snakes on a Plane 2, in a year or 2.
Sorry T-Pup, but it will be called "MORE Snakes on a Plane". That way, when the sequel fizzles (because hey, getting this movie to be a hit once is hard enough) they can go with the Made for Sci-Fi/DVD release of "EVEN MORE Snakes on a Plane". The title just begs that kind of treatment.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

Sorry T-Pup, but it will be called "MORE Snakes on a Plane". That way, when the sequel fizzles (because hey, getting this movie to be a hit once is hard enough) they can go with the Made for Sci-Fi/DVD release of "EVEN MORE Snakes on a Plane". The title just begs that kind of treatment.

Or 'Snakes on a plane AGAIN!'

or even better... '2 Many Snakes On A Plane'.

[Harlock]

Or 'Snakes on a plane AGAIN!'

or even better... '2 Many Snakes On A Plane'.
Not the first one. The second one is pretty good though. See, with "Snakes on a Plane" you have to imply bigger and better for the sequel. So, ...Again is just saying, "hey, here's the same crappy movie." But, by adding MORE you imply that this movie is even more than its prequel. The finale of the made for DVD cult hit will of course be, "EVEN MORE BIGGER DEADLIER Snakes on a Plane".

Of course, cult movie purists will insist that the franchise jumped the shark with "EVEN MORE DEADLIER Snakes on a Plane" and simply choose to ignore the last movie, until a box set comes out showing that with the deleted scenes, the last film would have been the next Lord of the Rings. Oh, and make sure you get the box set with the alternate diamondback styrofoam bookends and never open it, because you'll be able to sell it on eBay 30 years from now for $24.95 to one of the two fans of the Snakes on a Plane franchise.

[tricksterpup]

Maybe we could see a cross between a couple of movies.
How about
ANACONDAS on a PLANE. Staring Jon Voight.
http://www.stomptokyo.com/img-m4/anaconda-b.jpg

[Spackling Compound]

Not the first one. The second one is pretty good though. See, with "Snakes on a Plane" you have to imply bigger and better for the sequel. So, ...Again is just saying, "hey, here's the same crappy movie." But, by adding MORE you imply that this movie is even more than its prequel. The finale of the made for DVD cult hit will of course be, "EVEN MORE BIGGER DEADLIER Snakes on a Plane".

Of course, cult movie purists will insist that the franchise jumped the shark with "EVEN MORE DEADLIER Snakes on a Plane" and simply choose to ignore the last movie, until a box set comes out showing that with the deleted scenes, the last film would have been the next Lord of the Rings. Oh, and make sure you get the box set with the alternate diamondback styrofoam bookends and never open it, because you'll be able to sell it on eBay 30 years from now for $24.95 to one of the two fans of the Snakes on a Plane franchise.
And then the porn industry will come up with "Trouser Snakes on a Plane".

[tricksterpup]

And then the porn industry will come up with "Trouser Snakes on a Plane".
heheh.. my title could work as a porn title as well.
Anacondas on a plane. ;)

[JDogindy]

Why not just shoot him?

To be honest, I think the creator of the film thought it'd be funnier if the weapon was... snakes on a plane (ba da pum!).

It's pretty much a homage to bad films of the past.

[Adam Crocker]

I read an article about it in a magazine and the cast basically agreed and enthusiatically supported the idea that Hollywood needed a movie like this.

Really? From what I heard Sam Jackson signed onto solely because of the title alone, and when they changed the working title to the more normal and generic sounding Pacific Air Flight 121 and Jackson basically protested loudly that he would have it changed back. And he did.

[tricksterpup]

Really? From what I heard Sam Jackson signed onto solely because of the title alone, and when they changed the working title to the more normal and generic sounding Pacific Air Flight 121 and Jackson basically protested loudly that he would have it changed back. And he did.
Would you think there would be this much Buzz on Pacific Air Flight 121 instead of Snakes on a Plane? he was right to protest it.

[Mike Smith]

Really? From what I heard Sam Jackson signed onto solely because of the title alone, and when they changed the working title to the more normal and generic sounding Pacific Air Flight 121 and Jackson basically protested loudly that he would have it changed back. And he did.

Do you recall what magazine that was out from, as it sounds like the same description I read.

He liked the title of it because he thought it was exactly a film Hollywood needed. The part about the title change was hilarious, also, wasn't there something about them wanting to cut back on his cursing in the film but Sam won't be censored?

[Buried Alien]

I think it would be amusing if it was Garter snakes. People would just laugh at them. Come on.. Who is afraid of Garter Snakes?
http://www.springrivers.com/images/Width275/garter%20snake.jpg

I am. Snakes of *any* variety or size terrify me, even if they are harmless.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Gary_B]

Do you recall what magazine that was out from, as it sounds like the same description I read.

He liked the title of it because he thought it was exactly a film Hollywood needed. The part about the title change was hilarious, also, wasn't there something about them wanting to cut back on his cursing in the film but Sam won't be censored?

I heard a piece on CBC radio a few weeks ago and they said that fans and internet discussion have really driven this project. After filming finished and editing began they actually had to re-shoot and add the one scene that has Samuel Jackson swearing.

[BlairH]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/40/Snakesonaplane1js.jpg

[JDogindy]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/78/Movieposter_5262.jpg

You think that there'd be snakes THAT big in the film. I'd see it!

[Mike Smith]

I heard a piece on CBC radio a few weeks ago and they said that fans and internet discussion have really driven this project. After filming finished and editing began they actually had to re-shoot and add the one scene that has Samuel Jackson swearing.

That's right and probably the most important part. It is largely fan driven. Good catch.

[SteelTownr]

I think it would be amusing if it was Garter snakes. People would just laugh at them. Come on.. Who is afraid of Garter Snakes?
http://www.springrivers.com/images/Width275/garter%20snake.jpg

Apparently the guy with the thick gloves on is concerned.

Mark B.

[Charles RB]

Or at least cheesy plot that could turn into a good cult movie.

Alternatively, it could turn into a shite cult movie and spawn a litter of little shite movies.

Five years from now, when we got direct-to-DVD Snakes On A Plane 4: In Space, you'll realise I was right.

Maybe we could see a cross between a couple of movies.
How about
ANACONDAS on a PLANE.

And Dark Horse will bring out Aliens VS Snakes On A Plane, to be followed by Predator VS Snakes On A Place, Aliens VS Predators VS Snakes On A Plane and Aliens VS Predator VS Terminator VS Batman VS Buffy VS Tellytubbies VS Snakes On A Plane In Da Hood.

[JolietJake]

I don't know what everyone's complaining about......


At least with this movie you can't say you don't know what you're getting.

SNAKES ON A PLANE

Truth in advertising, man!

[Forefinger]

It's a movie starring Samuel L Jackson.

It's about snakes...on a plane.
If Samuel L. Jackson doesn't say "What are these motherfucking snakes doing on this plane?", "We got snakes on a plane, motherfucker" or anything else on that theme, I'm going to burn the theater down.

[Gilda Dent]

Because it would not allow Hollywood to stretch the impossible into the "stupidly silly"? :D

When I first read it, I thought it was about those brown snakes that keep getting up into the landing gear on planes and migrating themselves from Indonesia Eastward. They're not poisonous---but they have a truly nasty temper and will try to eat anything. I remember a show about their migration using air transport... there was a woman on there showing the scars on her baby: the snake had gotten into the nursery at night, bit the baby *repeatedly*, and when they ran into the room at the baby's wails, found the snake attempting to get it's mouth over the baby's head to swallow it... even though the baby was much too large for that. However, IIRC it *did* cause some compression damage to the infant's headbones (which still have soft spots at that age).

Talk about a formula for nightmares.

If you're talking about brown tree snakes, they're actually from Australia, but the rest sounds pretty accurate. They were introduced to Guam in the 40's and have since taken over the forests there, wiping out 3/4 of all bird species on the island, half a dozen lizard species, attack and eat small mammals of all kinds including domesticated puppies and kittens and have been known to injure infants. There's no defense against them and they have no natural predators, so the only way to really deal with them is to prevent their introduction. The Pacific island countries and Hawaii have so far escaped infestation, but it's hard, especially in the case of Hawaii with it's robust transportation and tourism, to monitor all cargo and planes arriving.

Gilda

[StoneGold]

I seem to recall that the movie was actually kind of serious, till someone at AICN got a hold of the script and savaged the hell out of it. Then they just decided to go all silly-straight faced with it.

[Gilda Dent]

I am. Snakes of *any* variety or size terrify me, even if they are harmless.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

Ditto. Also any creature with more than six legs, and a good many of those.

Gilda

[Mike Smith]

Alternatively, it could turn into a shite cult movie and spawn a litter of little shite movies.

Five years from now, when we got direct-to-DVD Snakes On A Plane 4: In Space, you'll realise I was right.

If it comes to that, I owe you either a pack of coke or the Special Collectors Edition of Snakes.

[Harlock]

Apparently the guy with the thick gloves on is concerned.

Mark B.
The thick gloves could be because garter snakes are annoyling little pricks that like to "musk" on perceived predators. Basically, they empty their bowels at the first sign of distress and it's a shitty/skunky/urine smell all in one.

[Shady Jack]

If Samuel L. Jackson doesn't say "What are these motherfucking snakes doing on this plane?", "We got snakes on a plane, motherfucker" or anything else on that theme, I'm going to burn the theater down.

Somebody put a FAQ together over at IMDB and in that FAQ they have a link where you can dl an audio clip of "the line." (http://www.sendspace.com/file/wx69xl) :cool:

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

If Samuel L. Jackson doesn't say "What are these motherfucking snakes doing on this plane?", "We got snakes on a plane, motherfucker" or anything else on that theme, I'm going to burn the theater down.
I read an article in Rolling Stone saying that the line on the net was originally done by a Sam Jackson impersonator.

However, when it got the insane amount of downloads it did, they went back and re-shot a scene where he says it.

[kloudsurfer]

You always could have used google or wikipedia you know.


It's a movie coming out soon.

Ten points if you can guess what it's about.

Well I didnt think it was a movie. I kept hearing people use the term around and making a big fuss about it on the internet on comic boards so I just assumed it was some weird comic nerd slang thing which is why I asked you guys.

Sounds like a really bad movie.


According to NPR story I listened to a month back or so, "Snakes on a Plane" means "Stuff happens."

Ahhhh that makes sense now...kinda

[Buzz Dixon]

Screenwriter Josh Friedman has this to say on his blog (http://hucksblog.blogspot.com/2005/08/snakes-on-motherfucking-plane.html):

Some months ago my agent called me (we'll call him...Agent). Agent says: "New Line's got a project they want you to look at. They're making the movie. They love it. It needs a little work."

Now when a studio tells you something needs "a little work" what that really means is "maybe it needs a little work, maybe it needs a lotta work, maybe you should tell us how much work it needs...but we want to make this movie so let's all just agree that no matter how much work it is, we'll call it 'a little work'".

I ask Agent the name of the project, what it's about, etc. He says: Snakes on a Plane. Holy shit, I'm thinking. It's a title. It's a concept. It's a poster and a logline and whatever else you need it to be. It's perfect. Perfect. It's the Everlasting Gobstopper of movie titles.

I say to Agent: "Tell me nothing else. Get me the script and put me on the phone with those lucky bastards at New Line Cinema!"

So he does and he does.

Now out of both loyalty to the sacred bond between studio and screenwriter and also a serious desire to keep getting hired in this town, I will not give away any of the plot details of SNAKES ON A PLANE. But know this. As the great Sam Jackson would say: There are motherfucking snakes on the motherfucking plane.

What else do you need to know? How the snakes get on the plane, what the snakes do once they're on the plane, who puts the snakes on the plane, who is trying to get the snakes off the plane...This is not for you to ponder. There are snakes on the plane. End of fucking story.
While the film was in production, the company actually incorporated dialog and "business" (i.e., little bits of action) suggestions from fans excited about the movie.

[Forefinger]

I read an article in Rolling Stone saying that the line on the net was originally done by a Sam Jackson impersonator.

However, when it got the insane amount of downloads it did, they went back and re-shot a scene where he says it.
I had no idea that that was actually something that would be in the movie; I just thought it would be criminal if they didn't have him say something like that. He is the king of saying "motherfucker".

[Thanos_6383]

Maybe we could see a cross between a couple of movies.
How about
ANACONDAS on a PLANE. Staring Jon Voight.
http://www.stomptokyo.com/img-m4/anaconda-b.jpg


That sounds like a even better movie..hehehehe.