Bong
Joo-ho's Snowpiercer - based on a
French graphic novel - has some not-so-subtle things to say about class
warfare, but that's an article to be written by someone much smarter than
me. An attempt to reverse the effects of
global warming have backfired, leaving the sole survivors of Earth to circle
the frozen globe in a self-sustaining train, powered by a Sacred Engine. There's a cautionary tale in that, but I'm
not the man to unravel it.
Instead,
I'll just talk about how much fun this movie was. Curtis (Chris Evans) is leading a rebellion
against the powers-that-be. To do this,
he must lead his ragtag group from the filthy rear car to the posh front
car. It was almost like a video game,
with each car presenting its own challenges.
Some of them contain puzzles to be solved, with new truths being
presented that may disrupt their quest.
Others may be a car full of hatchet wielding maniacs who cut open fish
to intimidate their attackers. Others
may contain exposition dumps.
It's
a dark action movie, all taking place inside a train barreling through
snow-covered landscapes. It's a
post-apocalyptic movie unlike any I've seen.
And, while it's bleak, there is a small glimmer of hope. It's also a lot of fun to watch.
The
acting is terrific. Chris Evans, Tilda
Swinton, John Hurt and Allison Pill are the highlights, but everyone here is
great.
I've
seen nothing but praise for this, and, while I loved it, I'll preach a little
bit of caution. I don't think it's quite
as amazing as the rest of the world seems to think it is. It’s a bit long and can drag at times,
drawing out small scenes to be longer than they have any reason to be. When I saw this, the hype level was still
pretty low. If I had seen it with
sky-high expectations, I would have walked out disappointed. As it was, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, even
if I had some minor issues with it.
It’s
not perfect, but it’s still really good.
Keep your expectations reasonable, and you’ll love it.
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