Really fantastic. It goes off the rails a bit towards the end, and you definitely have to be on the same insane wavelength as Bong Joon-ho to appreciate his dark humour and the film's more eccentric elements, but this is easily forgiven when the premise is this enthralling, the action this visceral, and the plot this unpredictable.
The post-apocalyptic worldbuilding, even though it's confined to the interior of a train, is phenomenal, to the point where, as the party was driving relentlessly forward through the train, all I wanted was for them to slow down a bit so I could admire the scenery. Every carriage is designed like an intricate work of art, and this level of detail is matched by the increasingly deranged people that inhabit them and the bizarre rules that they have created for their own perpetually moving, self-sustaining society. It's just such an intoxicating and irresistibly cool concept, and whilst the film definitely owes a debt to the likes of Metropolis, A Boy And His Dog, and perhaps even the Fallout games, Bong Joon-ho's typically stylish, insane, and unorthodox approach to the genre is unquestionably unique and innovative.
There are some problems however. I don't think Snowpiercer is as philosophically engaging as it perhaps could have been given the premise, and it takes a few pretty serious missteps towards the end, with the protagonist's character-revealing expository monologue about the baby a definite low point. There's also a worry that the wacky elements of the film may well frustrate those who are not consumers of Korean cinema, especially as you could be forgiven for thinking, given the advertising and the majority of the cast, that this would be a fairly typical lower budget, single location Hollywood thriller. The fact that Snowpiercer can't be pigeon-holed like this is a strength and not a weakness however, and, weirdness and all, I can safely say that this is the most enjoyable 2014 release I've seen thus far.
Song Kang Ho steals the show. While you're led to believe Captain America is going to lead the lower class to victory over the evil one percenter overlord, the real hero is the character who never speaks a word of English, and knows the real solution to the endless cycle of class struggle and revolution.
One of the most unique films I've ever seen. Amazing action sequences and really "cool" effects. Had no clue until the end of the film that one of the main characters was portrayed by Tilda Swinton. A very bizarre, scene-stealing, and over-the-top performance from her.
Brilliant movie with a pretty good cast with a commentary on oppression and class systems. Definitely worth a watch. I believe everyone should support the director and see the movie when it comes to the US in June.
I was recommended this movie by a friend just so I could see how "terrible" it was when in actual fact it was freakin' fantastic. Chris Evan's performance as the leader of a group of rebels in this post-apocalyptic world was phenomenal, and that twist at the end was great. Man I love unsuspected plot-twists!
Strange, violent, original, dark, and very compelling with weird twists and turns that, like the titular snow drifts, the audience never really sees coming.
Plot holes galore, but a really fun piece of pop dystopian violence. Like a kung fu movie on a train, to some extent.
At this point in time we have had three prominent and visionary South Korean directors make their English language debuts. Chan Wook Park made “Stoker” that didn’t impress me too much besides some good acting from the cast. Kim Je-Woon made “The Last Stand” last year and while I haven’t seen the film yet, it’s safe to say that it was not what was to be expected from the director of “I Saw the Devil”. Finally, after numerous battles with Uncle Harvey, Bong Joon-Ho was finally able to release his apocalyptic sci fi thriller set aboard a train with an infinite engine of sorts. His film ended up being the best out of all three films by far.
The plot of the story is simple. Take the last surviving humans following a chemical freezing of the Earth, stick them on a train, and see what happens. What ended up transpiring was a class system where in everyone in the back of the train lived in conditions too horrible to be eve described by the word “poverty”, and everyone in the front lived in luxury. It has been seventeen years since the train first departed and there are many inhabitants on the train that were born there or were too young to remember the way the Earth used to be. The train is their Earth now. It’s all they know. All they know is confined to a few cars trailing behind the mystery that is the rest of the train. I few uprisings have occurred in the past and they have remained on the same talking plane as urban legends. That’s not going to last long though as we’re immediately put in the beginnings of another planned uprising, this time led by the brave and intelligent Curtis. Curtis may not have been born on the train, but he hates remembering what life was like in the beginning before his mentor changed things. That mentor is Gilliam, played by John Hurt and the evidence of his wisdom and experience is visible when you see that he has only one leg and one arm. Curtis is joined by fellow tail citizens Tanya and Edgar, played by Octavia Spencer and Jaime Bell.
The front is a mystery. We only know of its existence due to the fact that there is a small army handing out the only food available to the rear, protein blocks. The tail is also often visited by Mason, played by the woman who stole the entire movie in terms of performance, Tilda Swinton. Swinton was just incredible during the entire film. Her character of Mason, buck teeth and wide glasses, is a total reincarnation of something Terry Gilliam would think up. She is calculated and incredibly cruel. Her statement to the tail section to “be a shoe” is one of the funnier segments in the film and Swinton nails it. Between her work in this film and “Only Lovers Left Alive”, Swinton is probably my actress of the year so far.
I mentioned how funny Swinton is in this film but there is actually a lot of humor in this film. Bong Joon-Ho has always been great at blending genres in his film. Kang-ho Song has usually been the harbinger of the humor shown with his characters in “Memories of Murder” and “The Host”. The elements of humor mixed in with effects driven action and unhollywood plot twists make the films of Bong Joon-Ho a pleasure to watch and dissect and Snowpiercer is no different. As we travel through car after car, the worlds that are being built are just outstanding. Like the inhabitants of the rear, we are shocked to see what has been existing on the same train for nearly seventeen years. There seems to be no middle class as once we progress past the dangerous threats we are given view of some serious luxury. It’s not really that subtle, but you can see the symbolism that Bong Joon-Ho really doesn’t like the way the world works. By the end, the film gets a little too tongue and cheek for my liking. It got way too talky towards the end and seemed to deliver the message of society rules with a gigantic shovel. Don’t get me wrong, the ending is still one of the more unique ending twists you’ll see, but the message being shoved in my face was a little too loud for my taste. I felt it went against the smart and subtle first two thirds.
I use the word “subtle” loosely though because the action in this film is far from it. There are two set pieces in this film that were an absolute blast to watch. Let’s just say they involve a school and a fight in the dark. The school scene particularly was incredible. Allison Pill plays a schoolteacher who is constantly reminding her students of the history of the train and it’s uprisings. The way she engages her children through song and pledges had me belly laughing before it all turned into a baddass set piece. There is also a scene in which everything stops as they cross a bridge marking the new year. It’s just a riot scene after scene.
Bong Joon-Ho successfully converted his unique blend of humor and thrilling action to create the first truly great English language film from a South Korean director. The country has been pumping out fantastic films for years now and it’s awesome to see this level of critical success. I think Wook Park and Je-Woon will get opportunities to try again in the States, but they have a lot of catching up to do to reach the level that Bong Joon-Ho has reached.
seriously good. you could feel a giant twist towards the end coming a mile away but still felt pretty shocking as to just how deep the twists went. pretty original and quite well shot with some great moments. most of the performances were good in this varied cast.
8.5/10
highly recommended post apocalyptic philosophical piece. better than elysium at any rate
Interesting (although so far-fetched as to be silly) take on an old idea, with an over-tired and completely predictable plot-twist.
(The Matrix, anyone?) And a stupid stupid ending. Oh wow, the snow is melting and animals walk the planet again. Great. All the humans are now dead, because you fucked up the only place of refuge and shelter they had. The girl and the kid. Dead. I give them 3 days tops -- 1 month if they return to the train and keep a fire burning.
Good acting by everyone other than Chris Evans.
Beautifully and artfully constructed scenery, which makes you wish you could walk through The Train. Easily the best part of the film.
I thought the concept was original, not the end of the world part but the part when all remain life on Earth is in a train.
Evans is a good lead actor, he with the pass of the time he is becoming that lead actor that he can be. Good to see Jamie Bell.
4/5
One of the worst movies I’ve ever saw. Good premise. Boring, predictable story, terrible writing, horrible world building. Bad action scenes. Even the CG isn’t really good. Nothing makes sense, we never understand why the characters do what they do. I predicted the ending after half an hour.
Don’t waste your time watching this.
The trailer summed it up well for me and I was worried that would be what would transpire. The class element was well done but I felt the sum didn't equal the parts in this one. It didn't fully gel for me. I was going to give it a 5, considered a 6 (a good film (but compared to what I've seen think I'll stick with a five). Looking forward to Parasite. The acting was good, the characters fair, but only the lead had much of a backstory, the background to the whole film/it's story and how it was slowly revealed was a bit like Citizen Kane. I had seen a later film Train to Busan a few months earlier. The Raid carries the moving scenery idea better (happened to be at a premiere Q&A with the director) and whilst it doesn't reference race, I felt I've experienced other films that have handled it better. (Kudos that the race point wasn't overstated). Their reaction to the protein bars revelation was ott. Not certain if I was convinced by Chris Evans in this, I felt I needed to see more stature, midshot expressions. Tilda was incredible. Lastly, the deaths, too many 'recovered'.
Add your comment
Comments 1 - 15 of 39
lachyas
Really fantastic. It goes off the rails a bit towards the end, and you definitely have to be on the same insane wavelength as Bong Joon-ho to appreciate his dark humour and the film's more eccentric elements, but this is easily forgiven when the premise is this enthralling, the action this visceral, and the plot this unpredictable.The post-apocalyptic worldbuilding, even though it's confined to the interior of a train, is phenomenal, to the point where, as the party was driving relentlessly forward through the train, all I wanted was for them to slow down a bit so I could admire the scenery. Every carriage is designed like an intricate work of art, and this level of detail is matched by the increasingly deranged people that inhabit them and the bizarre rules that they have created for their own perpetually moving, self-sustaining society. It's just such an intoxicating and irresistibly cool concept, and whilst the film definitely owes a debt to the likes of Metropolis, A Boy And His Dog, and perhaps even the Fallout games, Bong Joon-ho's typically stylish, insane, and unorthodox approach to the genre is unquestionably unique and innovative.
There are some problems however. I don't think Snowpiercer is as philosophically engaging as it perhaps could have been given the premise, and it takes a few pretty serious missteps towards the end, with the protagonist's character-revealing expository monologue about the baby a definite low point. There's also a worry that the wacky elements of the film may well frustrate those who are not consumers of Korean cinema, especially as you could be forgiven for thinking, given the advertising and the majority of the cast, that this would be a fairly typical lower budget, single location Hollywood thriller. The fact that Snowpiercer can't be pigeon-holed like this is a strength and not a weakness however, and, weirdness and all, I can safely say that this is the most enjoyable 2014 release I've seen thus far.
Pratsy
Song Kang Ho steals the show. While you're led to believe Captain America is going to lead the lower class to victory over the evil one percenter overlord, the real hero is the character who never speaks a word of English, and knows the real solution to the endless cycle of class struggle and revolution.Watch this movie.
BigAwesomeBLT
I liked this movie a lot, although I still want to see more of the train. Where do all the rich people sleep?!jhhayes
One of the most unique films I've ever seen. Amazing action sequences and really "cool" effects. Had no clue until the end of the film that one of the main characters was portrayed by Tilda Swinton. A very bizarre, scene-stealing, and over-the-top performance from her.BadFluffy
Tries very hard to be deep but it comes a few inches short.bitchypixels
Brilliant movie with a pretty good cast with a commentary on oppression and class systems. Definitely worth a watch. I believe everyone should support the director and see the movie when it comes to the US in June.Jashezilla
I was recommended this movie by a friend just so I could see how "terrible" it was when in actual fact it was freakin' fantastic. Chris Evan's performance as the leader of a group of rebels in this post-apocalyptic world was phenomenal, and that twist at the end was great. Man I love unsuspected plot-twists!frankqb
Strange, violent, original, dark, and very compelling with weird twists and turns that, like the titular snow drifts, the audience never really sees coming.Plot holes galore, but a really fun piece of pop dystopian violence. Like a kung fu movie on a train, to some extent.
3 stars out of 4
The_Comatorium
At this point in time we have had three prominent and visionary South Korean directors make their English language debuts. Chan Wook Park made “Stoker” that didn’t impress me too much besides some good acting from the cast. Kim Je-Woon made “The Last Stand” last year and while I haven’t seen the film yet, it’s safe to say that it was not what was to be expected from the director of “I Saw the Devil”. Finally, after numerous battles with Uncle Harvey, Bong Joon-Ho was finally able to release his apocalyptic sci fi thriller set aboard a train with an infinite engine of sorts. His film ended up being the best out of all three films by far.The plot of the story is simple. Take the last surviving humans following a chemical freezing of the Earth, stick them on a train, and see what happens. What ended up transpiring was a class system where in everyone in the back of the train lived in conditions too horrible to be eve described by the word “poverty”, and everyone in the front lived in luxury. It has been seventeen years since the train first departed and there are many inhabitants on the train that were born there or were too young to remember the way the Earth used to be. The train is their Earth now. It’s all they know. All they know is confined to a few cars trailing behind the mystery that is the rest of the train. I few uprisings have occurred in the past and they have remained on the same talking plane as urban legends. That’s not going to last long though as we’re immediately put in the beginnings of another planned uprising, this time led by the brave and intelligent Curtis. Curtis may not have been born on the train, but he hates remembering what life was like in the beginning before his mentor changed things. That mentor is Gilliam, played by John Hurt and the evidence of his wisdom and experience is visible when you see that he has only one leg and one arm. Curtis is joined by fellow tail citizens Tanya and Edgar, played by Octavia Spencer and Jaime Bell.
The front is a mystery. We only know of its existence due to the fact that there is a small army handing out the only food available to the rear, protein blocks. The tail is also often visited by Mason, played by the woman who stole the entire movie in terms of performance, Tilda Swinton. Swinton was just incredible during the entire film. Her character of Mason, buck teeth and wide glasses, is a total reincarnation of something Terry Gilliam would think up. She is calculated and incredibly cruel. Her statement to the tail section to “be a shoe” is one of the funnier segments in the film and Swinton nails it. Between her work in this film and “Only Lovers Left Alive”, Swinton is probably my actress of the year so far.
I mentioned how funny Swinton is in this film but there is actually a lot of humor in this film. Bong Joon-Ho has always been great at blending genres in his film. Kang-ho Song has usually been the harbinger of the humor shown with his characters in “Memories of Murder” and “The Host”. The elements of humor mixed in with effects driven action and unhollywood plot twists make the films of Bong Joon-Ho a pleasure to watch and dissect and Snowpiercer is no different. As we travel through car after car, the worlds that are being built are just outstanding. Like the inhabitants of the rear, we are shocked to see what has been existing on the same train for nearly seventeen years. There seems to be no middle class as once we progress past the dangerous threats we are given view of some serious luxury. It’s not really that subtle, but you can see the symbolism that Bong Joon-Ho really doesn’t like the way the world works. By the end, the film gets a little too tongue and cheek for my liking. It got way too talky towards the end and seemed to deliver the message of society rules with a gigantic shovel. Don’t get me wrong, the ending is still one of the more unique ending twists you’ll see, but the message being shoved in my face was a little too loud for my taste. I felt it went against the smart and subtle first two thirds.
I use the word “subtle” loosely though because the action in this film is far from it. There are two set pieces in this film that were an absolute blast to watch. Let’s just say they involve a school and a fight in the dark. The school scene particularly was incredible. Allison Pill plays a schoolteacher who is constantly reminding her students of the history of the train and it’s uprisings. The way she engages her children through song and pledges had me belly laughing before it all turned into a baddass set piece. There is also a scene in which everything stops as they cross a bridge marking the new year. It’s just a riot scene after scene.
Bong Joon-Ho successfully converted his unique blend of humor and thrilling action to create the first truly great English language film from a South Korean director. The country has been pumping out fantastic films for years now and it’s awesome to see this level of critical success. I think Wook Park and Je-Woon will get opportunities to try again in the States, but they have a lot of catching up to do to reach the level that Bong Joon-Ho has reached.
4/5
www.thoughtsfromthebooth.com
@booththoughts
aniforprez
seriously good. you could feel a giant twist towards the end coming a mile away but still felt pretty shocking as to just how deep the twists went. pretty original and quite well shot with some great moments. most of the performances were good in this varied cast.8.5/10
highly recommended post apocalyptic philosophical piece. better than elysium at any rate
crash369
Interesting (although so far-fetched as to be silly) take on an old idea, with an over-tired and completely predictable plot-twist.Good acting by everyone other than Chris Evans.
Beautifully and artfully constructed scenery, which makes you wish you could walk through The Train. Easily the best part of the film.
bf2jay88
@DisneyStitch this movie IS actually based on a book. (a graphic novel that is).Joker of Gotham
I thought the concept was original, not the end of the world part but the part when all remain life on Earth is in a train.Evans is a good lead actor, he with the pass of the time he is becoming that lead actor that he can be. Good to see Jamie Bell.
4/5
Syn23
One of the worst movies I’ve ever saw. Good premise. Boring, predictable story, terrible writing, horrible world building. Bad action scenes. Even the CG isn’t really good. Nothing makes sense, we never understand why the characters do what they do. I predicted the ending after half an hour.Don’t waste your time watching this.
boulderman
The trailer summed it up well for me and I was worried that would be what would transpire. The class element was well done but I felt the sum didn't equal the parts in this one. It didn't fully gel for me. I was going to give it a 5, considered a 6 (a good film (but compared to what I've seen think I'll stick with a five). Looking forward to Parasite. The acting was good, the characters fair, but only the lead had much of a backstory, the background to the whole film/it's story and how it was slowly revealed was a bit like Citizen Kane. I had seen a later film Train to Busan a few months earlier. The Raid carries the moving scenery idea better (happened to be at a premiere Q&A with the director) and whilst it doesn't reference race, I felt I've experienced other films that have handled it better. (Kudos that the race point wasn't overstated). Their reaction to the protein bars revelation was ott. Not certain if I was convinced by Chris Evans in this, I felt I needed to see more stature, midshot expressions. Tilda was incredible. Lastly, the deaths, too many 'recovered'.Showing items 1 – 15 of 39