Average Jane Sees SoaP

Last night, my husband and I did our duty as active Internet participants and saw "Snakes on a Plane."

It was awesome.

The title perfectly set our expectations so that we could just sit back and enjoy the ride.  Yes, it was cheesy, but that was part of the fun. 

Pajiba compared it to seeing "Evil Dead" for the first time, which I think is an apt comparison even though I'm pretty sure SoaP had a much higher budget (which isn't saying much).

I found "Snakes on a Plane" much more entertaining than most of the lengthy so-called blockbusters I've seen in the past few years. During one scene, I actually jumped in surprise so violently that I hit myself in the nose with my hand.

There's been a lot of debate about whether the movie's $15 million opening weekend makes it a "hit" or not. Some people seem to think that the future of Internet-based promotion rides on it. 

Here's how I see it: without the name, the hype and the enthusiasm of the star, the movie would have probably gone straight to the video store without ever making back its budget.  As things stand, it's certainly never going to rival the "Pirates of the Caribbeans" of the world, but on the other hand, it didn't cost hundreds of millions of dollars to produce.  By the standard of paying for its production and turning some profit, I think it's probably going to be a great success.

"Snakes on a Plane" (and, I'd argue, "Serenity" before it) shows that the Long Tail of movies may start at the theater these days instead of at the DVD rental outlet.

Comments

[Rita Arens]

Is it worth babysitting money?

[Jane]

Rita - Maybe if you take in a matinee.

[Joolie]

I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. I was afraid it was going to be all hype (and just that one line), but they did it perfectly.

[Karl]

I have got to get to the theater to see this movie. Samuel L. called me personally.