Z-View: “Snowpiercer”

Snowpiecer  [2013]
Director:  Bong Joon-ho
Screenplay: Bong Joon-ho and Kelly Masterson
Starring: Chris Evans, Kang-ho Song, Ed Harris, John Hurt and Tilda Swinton.

The Pitch: ”Hey, let’s let Bong Joon-ho make a movie of the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige – he’s hot off of directing The Host and movies based on comic books are killing at the box office!”

The Tagline:  “Fight Your Way to the Front.”

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Snowpiecer is set in an apocalyptic future when the only surviving humans live on a huge train that continually speeds along a track that takes a year to circumnavigate.  All plant and animal life outside the train has died due to a climate change that has left the world a frozen wasteland [Winter World, anyone?]

Those in the front cars are living the life — plenty of food, nice furnishing and clothes – the party rages on.  For those in the rear, life is a struggle – they survive on a gelatinous protein rationed to them, their living quarters are cramped, and they are at the mercy of Minister Mason [Tilda Swinton] and her armed guards who sometimes come to collect an adult or some children that are never seen again. [I know, I was thinking Soylent Green, myself.]

Chris Evans leads a group who are determined to fight their way to the front of the train and change the social order.  There are surprises [and not just who will live or die] as the group fights their way to the front.  The action scenes are well done and the movie moves at good pace.

If you buy the premise, you’ll probably enjoy the movie.  I had a hard time taking things at face value because the movie took itself so seriously.  The ending was supposed to be upbeat but left me hanging.  I think that polar bear is in for some train treats.

Rating: