Like many people, I’m delighted by the purity and directness of the title of the upcoming movie Snakes on a Plane. You know what you’re going to get when you see Snakes on a Plane. You’re going to get a bunch of snakes on a plane. When you add, “Starring Samuel L. Jackson”, you know that in addition to snakes, this plane carries one bad motherfucker who will show those snakes what time it is.
The other day, though, I told several of my co-workers about the movie and they still had a question: “Why are there snakes on a plane?”
Look, man. The movie will deal with that in the proper way at the proper time. If you needed to know “why” beforehand, the title would be something like, A Traveling Zoologist Ships a Large Number of Snakes on a Plane and They Escape.
Because once you start in on why, then you have to explain that the situation has gotten out of control. The phrase “snakes on a plane” by itself suggests that something has gone horribly wrong. Further details create complexities that require additional explanation.
I am hoping for one slight change to the title before it’s released this August. I believe you could improve on Snakes on a Plane by folding it into the long-dormant Airport franchise.
Airport 2006: Snakes on a Plane
Where have you gone, George Kennedy? A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
Tags: Snakes On A Plane
Wade Rockett 
Absolutely! In total agreement! Even a cameo by George Kennedy or a mention of ‘Quick, call Mr Patroni, he’s the expert’ would be most welcome!
One person at E! agrees with you (see the box at this web page). I’m going to start calling it Airport ’06 anyway.
Ha! My favorite is Those Magnificent Snakes in Their Flying Machines.