# Countdown: Just 9 days to "Snakes on a Plane" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 10, 2006, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092 "2006-08-10T01:33:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/1 "2006-08-10T01:33:07Z")
We’re just a week and a half from the release of what will surely be remembered as one of the great masterworks of cinema, Ellis’s “Snakes on a Plane.” Of course, I am sure all discriminating filmgoers will want to see this as soon as possible, if you didn’t catch the advance screenings at Sundance, Cannes, or Toronto. Questions: - Will you be going dressed as one of the characters? - How many Oscars do you think it’ll win? I’m guessing at least four. - How many times will you see it? I’m planning on at least four or five viewings so I can gather in all the subtext. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/2 "2006-08-10T02:21:25Z")
Which will be the first university to offer a course on “Theology and Mythology in Modern Culture: Snakes on a Plane”? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/3 "2006-08-10T02:29:24Z")
[QUOTE=kunilou] Which will be the first university to offer a course on “Theology and Mythology in Modern Culture: Snakes on a Plane”? [/QUOTE] A very silly one. But I bet it’ll be a standard case study in marketing classes for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/4 "2006-08-10T02:30:16Z")
I have it on good authority that Snakes on a Plane just might be the best motion picture ever made. It’s that good. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/5 "2006-08-10T02:36:25Z")
I’m waiting for the unrated DVD edition: _Snakes on a Motha’ Fuckin’ Plane_. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/6 "2006-08-10T02:57:46Z")
I heard that Bill Cosby saves the day by spreading jello all over the floor. Oops, should I have put that in a spoiler box? ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/7 "2006-08-10T03:13:40Z")
“Snakes on a Plane”? What’s it about? ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/8 "2006-08-10T04:40:57Z")
I am actually a little sad that I have to go back to college on the 18th, because I won’t be working at the concession stand to see all the people dressed up (or carrying snakes). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/9 "2006-08-10T04:53:47Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] - Will you be going dressed as one of the characters? [/QUOTE] I intend to go as the Snakes. To that end, I recently picked up a plush one from an arcade, and I’m sure I have my share of rubber snakes in the basement. I’ll also try to secure some of those practical joke spring-loaded snakes you find in fake cans of Mixed Nuts. I’ll probably try to hide all that under a trenchcoat. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/10 "2006-08-10T06:41:27Z")
The joke is going to be on everyone when they find out that it is just a coming of age story about young politicians travelling to a convention. ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/11 "2006-08-10T07:20:21Z")
I’m definitely buying a few rubber joke-shop snakes to cover myself in when I go. I’m actually travelling from Portland to San Francisco to see it with some old friends. It’ll be a hoot! Or a hiss, rather. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/12 "2006-08-10T10:22:18Z")
What do you reckon the inevitable sequel will be called? My vote is Pterodactyls on a Ferry. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/13 "2006-08-10T10:31:16Z")
[QUOTE=mr. jp] What do you reckon the inevitable sequel will be called? My vote is Pterodactyls on a Ferry. [/QUOTE] ["Planes on a Snake](http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianschuler/174217241/) ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/14 "2006-08-10T10:35:33Z")
Come to think of it, I’m certain that is what prevented hitchcocks movie to truly be a classic. No means of transportation involved. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/15 "2006-08-10T11:59:23Z")
[QUOTE=mr. jp] What do you reckon the inevitable sequel will be called? My vote is Pterodactyls on a Ferry. [/QUOTE] Samuel L Jackson Harrison Ford Hundreds of Mother-Fucking Snakes Snakes on Air Force 1 “Get off my mother-fucking plane!” ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/16 "2006-08-10T14:05:39Z")
You mean it’s not even in theaters yet? Man, I’ve been seeing SOAP stuff for it seems like months now, I figured it had been out since early spring or so. I really need to get out more. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/17 "2006-08-10T16:04:06Z")
I have a large poster displayed prominently in my office here at work ([this one](http://www.moviegoods.com/movie_product.asp?sku=367660&dept%5Fid=35055&master%5Fmovie%5Fid=35055)). While it’s remarkable to me the number of people who stop, snicker, and wink, being obviously in the know, more remarkable are the people who stop, stare, and ask about it, having no idea what it means and never having heard of the film. I mean, I thought this thing had reached maximum penetration by now. I guess not. [QUOTE=RickJay] Will you be going dressed as one of the characters? [/QUOTE] Snake Plissken. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/18 "2006-08-10T16:13:07Z")
There are “bills” up in some of the neighborhoods in Baltimore that look like Cervaise’s poster. Like the ones you see guys putting up in old cartoons. They’ve probably put them up for movies before, but I don’t recall seeing them. However, they’re often up for the latest hip-hop albums. (I need to get out into town with my camera pretty soon. There’s been a lot of shit cracking me up. . .like the new condos “starting in the high 300’s” across the street, literally, from boarded up homes.) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/19 "2006-08-10T16:16:00Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] I have a large poster displayed prominently in my office here at work ([this one](http://www.moviegoods.com/movie_product.asp?sku=367660&dept%5Fid=35055&master%5Fmovie%5Fid=35055)). While it’s remarkable to me the number of people who stop, snicker, and wink, being obviously in the know, more remarkable are the people who stop, stare, and ask about it, having no idea what it means and never having heard of the film. I mean, I thought this thing had reached maximum penetration by now. I guess not.Snake Plissken. [/QUOTE] OK. So what is the deal with Snakes on a Plane? I’ve missed all the hoopla, and only know about it through various references I see on these boards and the commercial I’ve finally seen this past week. I didn’t realize that it was, quite literally, about snakes on a plane. So, what’s the inside joke? Is it supposed to be good? Is it supposed to be so-bad-it’s-good, are people being ironic in their excitement about this movie, is it genuine? Please, clue me in, as I have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092/20 "2006-08-10T16:31:58Z")
I believe it got started when some Hollywood writer blogged about how he was asked to do a re-write for a movie called “Snakes on a Plane”. In his mind this was both ridiculous and genius. He didn’t even read the script, he just knew, It’s Snakes on a Plane. What more do you need to know? Well the movie’s title and the fact that the movie is about, well, snakes on a plane just struck a kind of primal cord inpeople and it became an internet meme. There really is nothing special per se about the movie, except it’s title…just so perfectly direct. Genius. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-just-9-days-to-snakes-on-a-plane/368092.md?page=2)