Boa vs. Python is the kind of movie the term B-movie was invented for. Its title is absurdly evocative, low brow and basic. It's also obviously exploitative, cashing in on a trend for big snake movies and franchise crossovers. Made around the time of Freddy vs. Jason (2003) and Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004).
Bearing little connection to its predecessors, Boa (2001), Python (2000) and Python 2 (2002), Boa vs. Python is appropriately tongue-in-cheek and well made within its limitations. It's ambitious too, the casting, cinematography, editing and music imitate Michael Bay's blockbusters, but this is strictly in the tradition of the cheapest and simplest of monster movies.
Despite the presence of a nerdy good guy scientist and a macho playboy, the instigator of the carnage, this is classically sexist filmmaking. The duo of scaly stars may be the selling point but two female stars are just as important to the movie. Displaying their charms to keep things interesting until it's time for the chaos to begin.
Playboy playmate Jaime Bergman leads the cast in the role of intelligent but non-threatening blonde heroine, a marine biologist introduced wearing a bikini. While her opposite is a tattooed bad girl (Angel Boris). Both characters are lifted straight out of the James Bond formula and invite a good deal of attention from male onlookers both on screen and off.
Of particular note is an extended nude scene, in which the villain's girlfriend takes a bath, then performs a full-frontal dialogue scene (carefully shot to avoid being overtly sleazy). Perhaps it's appropriate that a film about phallic figures objectify women so blatantly.
Unfortunately the novelty of the sexy casting, flashy camera moves and militaristic score wears a little thin after a while. When the snake vs. snake set-pieces take centre stage things start to deflate just when they should be getting good. The computer generated "stars" are far too poorly rendered and too briefly seen, it becomes a touch tiresome and their all too brief final showdown leaves us disappointed. Although certain moments stand out, such as a risqué scene in which a young woman is orally pleasured by a giant snake.
With its cast of beautiful people, bikini-clad extras, an emphasis on style over substance and a rock soundtrack - this is modern American genre filmmaking at its most formulaic. But when judged against films such as it's own predecessors, Boa vs. Python is to a certain extent a triumph. Exceeding expectations if even for a short while. It's certainly better than either Snakes on a Plane (2006) or Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus (2009).
Bearing little connection to its predecessors, Boa (2001), Python (2000) and Python 2 (2002), Boa vs. Python is appropriately tongue-in-cheek and well made within its limitations. It's ambitious too, the casting, cinematography, editing and music imitate Michael Bay's blockbusters, but this is strictly in the tradition of the cheapest and simplest of monster movies.
Despite the presence of a nerdy good guy scientist and a macho playboy, the instigator of the carnage, this is classically sexist filmmaking. The duo of scaly stars may be the selling point but two female stars are just as important to the movie. Displaying their charms to keep things interesting until it's time for the chaos to begin.
Playboy playmate Jaime Bergman leads the cast in the role of intelligent but non-threatening blonde heroine, a marine biologist introduced wearing a bikini. While her opposite is a tattooed bad girl (Angel Boris). Both characters are lifted straight out of the James Bond formula and invite a good deal of attention from male onlookers both on screen and off.
Of particular note is an extended nude scene, in which the villain's girlfriend takes a bath, then performs a full-frontal dialogue scene (carefully shot to avoid being overtly sleazy). Perhaps it's appropriate that a film about phallic figures objectify women so blatantly.
Unfortunately the novelty of the sexy casting, flashy camera moves and militaristic score wears a little thin after a while. When the snake vs. snake set-pieces take centre stage things start to deflate just when they should be getting good. The computer generated "stars" are far too poorly rendered and too briefly seen, it becomes a touch tiresome and their all too brief final showdown leaves us disappointed. Although certain moments stand out, such as a risqué scene in which a young woman is orally pleasured by a giant snake.
With its cast of beautiful people, bikini-clad extras, an emphasis on style over substance and a rock soundtrack - this is modern American genre filmmaking at its most formulaic. But when judged against films such as it's own predecessors, Boa vs. Python is to a certain extent a triumph. Exceeding expectations if even for a short while. It's certainly better than either Snakes on a Plane (2006) or Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus (2009).