REVIEW: SNOWPIERCER (2013)

Starring: Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Kang-ho Song

Curtis (Evans) and his gang of rebels pose for a picture  (cinema-scope.com)  

Snowpiercer does exactly what a sci-fi movie should do, but rarely ever does: surprise you. 

I didn't expect much from this underdog of a film. Now, I can't stop thinking about it. 

Based on the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige, Snowpiercer is set in a future where a last-ditch effort to stop global warming works a little too well, bringing about a new ice age and killing almost all life on Earth.

Thankfully, the last of humanity has managed to survive aboard the Snowpiercer: a massive train running on a track that spans the globe.

Did I mention it's powered by a perpetual-motion engine? 

Yes, the premise is bizarre, and its theme of class conflict – with the poor occupying the tail and the wealthy occupying the front – is heavy-handed.

But Snowpiercer might be the most entertaining and memorable comic book movie I've seen all year. 

A panel from the graphic novel by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette  (thisisinfamous.com)  

That sounds like it’s not saying much, but, remember, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier (another CBM starring Evans) also came out this year to excellent reviews. 

Snowpiercer is a whole different animal. It's a peculiar mix of sci-fi and fantasy, with intense violence and unsettling twists. 

In one of his strongest performances yet, Evans plays Curtis: one of the downtrodden passengers in the tail section, living in cramped quarters, and subsisting on black rubbery protein bars dished out by armed guards.

The film follows Curtis as he leads a rebellion through the upper class sections to take control of the engine from Wilford: the wealthy industrialist who built the Snowpiercer.

The protein bars DO have a secret ingredient  (thegeektwins.com)

The story takes a turn every time the rebels enter a new section of the train, and Korean director Joon-ho Bong keeps Snowpiercer moving at a fast pace – no pun intended.

In one gripping sequence, Curtis and his rebels go up against a gang of hooded, axe wielding, cronies wearing night-vision goggles, while the train passes through a dark tunnel.

*Spoiler Alert* Curtis gets the upper hand  (deadshirt.net)  

DID YOU KNOW Snowpiercer was almost cut to pieces when Harvey Weinstein demanded that 20 minutes be cut and opening and closing monologues be added?

This led to a feud between Bong and Weinstein, and Snowpiercer was punished with a limited run until positive reviews brought about a wide release.

Negotiations with the studio got a little heated  (btchflcks.com)  

That’s why, despite being released in 2013, a lot of you have probably only heard of the film in the last few months. 

When you see it, you’ll be thankful it survived unscathed. 

Snowpiercer is a rare treat for genre fans – it shifts effortlessly from intense action, to zany stylized visuals, to heartfelt drama without losing momentum.

There are moments in Snowpiercer that will both shock and move you. And when was the last time a sci-fi/action movie did that?

(8/10)

Disagree? Have you read the graphic novel? Let me know what you think in the comments section below.