Between the e-mails I’ve been getting, the feedback in the THorum and the LiveJournal feed, I’ve been taking a lot of hits regarding my criticisms of Snakes On A Plane so I figured now was the time to clarify some of my points.

1. When I declare the movie is over-hyped, I am not referencing the quality of the movie itself nor am I attacking you personally for enjoying it. I am talking about the marketing of the film and how I felt it is over done.

2. Citing the opening weekend box office of S.O.A.P. was evidence I used to support my point. When analysts such as Box Office Guru, Coming Soon and Entertainment Weekly estimated an opening weekend in the  $30 million dollar range ($28 million, $30.8 million and $31 million respectively), there was obviously a wide gap between expectations and results. To me, it was a clear indication that there were others who felt the same way I did – they were once excited about the movie, but now wanted nothing to do with it due to the overbearing promotion.

3. If it helps, consider the analogy of a song on the radio. You hear a song on the radio and you’re into it for the first few months. Then they start playing it to much and you get sick of it. Doesn’t mean that it isn’t a good song. You’re just tired of hearing it. That’s how I felt about S.O.A.P. and that’s what I decided to write about.

4. I am allowed to have an opinon about a movie without seeing it. I’ve been getting a lot of e-mails in this regard. "How can you hate it without seeing it?"

First of all, I never said I hated the movie. It’s very possible that I’ll see it someday on DVD and enjoy it. But if two-thirds of the internet is allowed to geek out and say they LOVE S.O.A.P. based on the title alone, why am I not allowed the same lack of objectivity?

I write the comic from a personal viewpoint. I am not beholden to any kind of journalistic ethics or standards. I am a human being and I am allowed to have my own tastes and opinions. I don’t need to filter that or shield my bias if we happen not to feel the same way about things.

You guys have to give me that breathing room – that freedom to exaggerate – in order for me to keep producing this comic. To insist that I see EVERY movie that comes out before I make fun of it is unrealistic and would put me in a creative straight-jacket.

In addition to investing the time to do three strips a week (for free, mind you), I have a 9 to 5 job and commitments to my wife and family. It’s simply not possible for me to see everything and still have a life for myself.

5. If anyone was offended by the last three comics, I’m sorry. But at the same time, things wouldn’t be very interesting if we agreed on everything all the time, now would it?

I’m not saying that I’m going to stir things up for the sake of it. Frankly, this "fight" has taken a lot out of me. So you can expect a little less politicizing for a while. But, man… we all got to stop taking these things so personally. Let’s just say that yesterday’s Yirmumah strip really hit a nerve with me.

If anyone has questions or concerns, feel free to send me an e-mail. But I feel like I’ve said pretty much everything that needs to be said here.