Just Add Snakes to a Plane…
Snakes On A Plane is an intriguing illumination of contemporary response to spectacle based films.
Unusually, the film makes no attempt to hide its shallow plot (profoundly encapsulated in its title) and one dimensional characters, instead promoting the superficiality of its narrative and emphasis on pure spectacle. Take one of its taglines for example: “At 30,000 feet, snakes aren't the deadliest thing on this plane.” (IMDB, 2006)
While most reviewers are likely to take the conventional anti ‘cinema of attractions’ approach and trash the film, a huge response has already been generated online not only hailing but contributing to Snakes overtly superficial nature prior to release. For instance, the line "I've had it with these motherfuckn' snakes on this motherfuckn' plane" uttered by the protagonist, played by Samuel L. Jackson, was created by fans using blogs and YouTube style parodies.
Fortunately, this may indicate we are moving away from the elitist perspective encouraged by reviewers towards the accepting the idea that sophisticated meaning is not limited to traditional characteristics of cinema, such as multi-layered narrative and characters, but can also be found in spectacle. Indicatively Josh Friedman, whose blog sparked the internet phenomenon surrounding the film (Lambert, 2006), writes Snakes “captured the idea of being forced to face situations we dread. No one trapped mid-flight with a bunch of slithering killers can walk away.”
As special effects advance, increasingly we flock to the cinema largely to experience the visceral pleasure derived from the spectacle. Thus because narrative will more frequently begin to serve special effects, such films warrant serious academic attention. In particular, questions of interest might ask how/what meanings are created and how this relates to the appeal of spectacle based films.
Thoughts on Snakes On A Plane? Is such a film capable of generating meaning worth studying? Or should we just forget about bringing any considered scrutiny and enjoy the escapism?
Shan
Unusually, the film makes no attempt to hide its shallow plot (profoundly encapsulated in its title) and one dimensional characters, instead promoting the superficiality of its narrative and emphasis on pure spectacle. Take one of its taglines for example: “At 30,000 feet, snakes aren't the deadliest thing on this plane.” (IMDB, 2006)
While most reviewers are likely to take the conventional anti ‘cinema of attractions’ approach and trash the film, a huge response has already been generated online not only hailing but contributing to Snakes overtly superficial nature prior to release. For instance, the line "I've had it with these motherfuckn' snakes on this motherfuckn' plane" uttered by the protagonist, played by Samuel L. Jackson, was created by fans using blogs and YouTube style parodies.
Fortunately, this may indicate we are moving away from the elitist perspective encouraged by reviewers towards the accepting the idea that sophisticated meaning is not limited to traditional characteristics of cinema, such as multi-layered narrative and characters, but can also be found in spectacle. Indicatively Josh Friedman, whose blog sparked the internet phenomenon surrounding the film (Lambert, 2006), writes Snakes “captured the idea of being forced to face situations we dread. No one trapped mid-flight with a bunch of slithering killers can walk away.”
As special effects advance, increasingly we flock to the cinema largely to experience the visceral pleasure derived from the spectacle. Thus because narrative will more frequently begin to serve special effects, such films warrant serious academic attention. In particular, questions of interest might ask how/what meanings are created and how this relates to the appeal of spectacle based films.
Thoughts on Snakes On A Plane? Is such a film capable of generating meaning worth studying? Or should we just forget about bringing any considered scrutiny and enjoy the escapism?
Shan
posted by Anonymous at 9:11 pm
1 Comments:
I love the campaign for this film, it basically just knocks the hell out of itself and leaves critics nothing to chew on. Go here to get yourself (or send to a friend) a personalised voice message from Samuel L Jackson explaining why you should see the movie.
Lots have said this could be the death of Jackson's career, but I say its just the beginning. Bring on Snakes 2... Snakes In Space?
Post a Comment
<< Home