Movie Review: Snakes on a Plane (2006)
Synopsis: FBI agent Neville Flynn is escorting Sean Jones from Hawaii to Los Angeles so Jones, who witnessed a federal prosecutor's murder, can testify against crime lord Eddie Kim. Flynn takes every precaution, including commandeering the entire first-class section of the Boing 747 they are flying to Los Angeles in. However, Kim is one step ahead of them and has arranged for a crate of venomous snakes, made more aggressive by a pheromone, to be released on the plane mid-flight.
Who's in it? The movie stars Samuel L. Jackson, Rachel Blanchard, Nathan Phillips, Julianna Margulies and Kenan Thompson.
Review: My wife and I have discussed watching Snakes on a Plane dozens of times since it was released 19 years ago but for multiple reasons, we just never seemed to find the time to do it (even after seeing a movie that spoofed this movie). We finally were able to do that last night, and I can honestly say this film did not disappoint.
I will start out by saying the premise is farfetched to the point this shouldn't have worked. Of all the ways to kill a potential witness, releasing snakes onboard an airplane seems like it would have the least chance of success. Plus, if we are to believe the airport security post 9/11 was lax enough for someone to smuggle a crate of illegal venomous snakes onboard, then why not just have a bomb? However, as ridiculous as that plan sounds when you take the time to think about it, the film does work.
I think the thing that makes this movie fun to watch is the enclosed environment of the plane does allow the film to build the suspense. It didn't matter if they were in the cockpit or coach, there was always the possibility of a snake falling out of a compartment or slithering under their seat. And the creepy, crawly feel of the snakes only added to that (though maybe venomous spiders would have been a bit more anxiety producing).
I also liked how the movie gave the supporting casts some depth and even some growth through the film as well. This made it easier to care if they lived or died, unlike so many other films from this genre that barely tell you a person's name and give them one defining characteristic (jock, nerd, jerk, etc.). I'll even admit it, there were some genuinely sad moments in this film as well, something that wasn't expected.
My only real complaint about the film is the hero, Flynn (Jackson) was arguably responsible for some of the deaths by being stubborn about keeping the first-class section off limits even though it was easier to seal off from the snakes. While I understood his reason, it still didn't prevent me from thinking less of him as a result.
Final Opinion: It took me nearly two decades to see this film, but I enjoyed it once I finally did. If you haven't seen it yet either or it's been a while, it's worth taking the time to watch/re-watch.
My Grade: A
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Here are some reviews of other Samuel L. Jackson movies:
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