IanTheCool
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Post by IanTheCool on Oct 26, 2014 11:20:44 GMT -5
 Really cool. Literally. Its very cold outside that train. This is another of those near-future apocalyptic sci-fi stories, the premise for this one being that the only remaining humans live on a constantly moving train in the middle of an ice age. Its a neat idea and used to its fullest as we see a revolution from one end of the train to the other. As they move along the train there's a real good progression which matches the scenery with the story. Its pretty awesome. There's lots of interesting action pieces in which they do interesting things, like a battle as the train goes through a long tunnel. The theme is similar to the theme of many of these types of movies that come out lately: the wealth gap. But its done quite well here and they really establish that desire for comeuppance. However, it can get really dark at points, too dark. There are certain moments which seem extreme for the sake of being extreme, especially the main characters story near the end. All in all, its a cool action movie with an awesome progression down the train. The world building is really quite excellent and keeps everything interesting. Awesome. 8/10 |
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Jibbs
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Post by Jibbs on Oct 26, 2014 11:43:28 GMT -5
Here's my original review for it. Minor spoilers. Snowpiercer (2013)Coming out of this movie with my dad (who loved it) we had a brief discussion about this movie being more metaphorical than most science fiction allows and that I should take that into account when criticizing it for its flaws -- because there's a lot of them. First of all, I enjoyed myself, for the most part. It's a fun premise, there's a lot of tension, and it's very exciting to anticipate what's behind the next door. I loved Tilda Swinton's performance and I loved Allison Pill as the teacher and basically every second of the movie that took place in that car of the train. But it's difficult to remember this movie for these highlights considering my problems with it. The dialogue in this movie is average at best and very exposition-y. The motives at times are very questionable such as checking to see if a gun has bullets in it by pointing it at one's own head and pulling the trigger. Or blowing up a door to go outside. Or having a steerage class (I realize there's an explanation; I don't like it.). Or having the train move at all which would require a lot of power which is never addressed. A better idea would be to NOT move the train, and build a heated city. These are all concerns that I shouldn't be concerned with because it's more about how cool these things are and how they speak of social commentary in a more metaphorical manner. Well, let's talk about that. I'm getting a little sick of "class warfare" as a science fiction theme. I realize the themes in sci-fi mirror the times and the classes are more split than ever, but it's still getting tiring. This has been a source of fiction for thousands of years. More recently, we've seen it in Elysium, District 9, and a couple Hunger Games movies. I'm all for a film that can take a cliché subject and put a new twist on it, but the ending of this film had little to offer me. OK, time for more problems. I didn't like, and I never like, the inclusion of any kind of psychic powers in science fiction. Especially when the movie is not about mental powers to begin with (which is why I sort of give it a pass for Looper). I have no qualms about keeping this out of spoiler tags because it doesn't come into the movie. It's just...there. Regardless, mental powers do NOT exist, nor will they ever evolve naturally. So when there's a movie that has the very scientific basis of climate control gone wrong and magic appears in it, I get cranky. This is why I have problems with ignoring facts for metaphors. Science fiction is all about the facts, at least for me. Facts like "All life is extinct" as a header during the first few seconds of the film. You can't lie with narration! That's cheating! Or facts like the guards don't carry bullets. Again, a lot of this could be forgiven for a more satisfying ending, but instead we got the "wise old man explains everything" cliché. And I wasn't happy with what he had to say. **.5/**** |
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Knerys
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Post by Knerys on Oct 28, 2014 15:19:33 GMT -5
Just got this the other day. Original review below.  Well. If you're looking for some spectacle but want an alternative to the bombastic monotony of Michael Bay look no further than Snowpiercer; a sharply written, beautifully shot, and deftly acted sci-fi film by The Host director Bong Joon-ho (base on the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige by Jacaques Lob, Benjamin Legrand and Jean-Marc Rochette). This summer continues delivered some fantastic movies that no one is watching and I plead AGAIN. Go. See. This.Humanity, in an effort to stop drastic climate change, has in turn made the whole planet a giant block of ice. The only survivors are limited number of people aboard a very long train circling the globe. The most affluent live toward the front of the train and the most destitute live in the rear. It's a surprisingly fresh take on the kind of classicism we seen before. The rich do mostly as they please, pilfering from the ranks of the poor for their own needs and desires, until a handful of revolutionists,lead by Curtis (played by Chris Evans), decide to storm the front. And then it never lets off the gas. To start, the cinematography is gorgeous. Each new section of the train seems to have its own cinematic style but cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo blends them all together seamlessly. While the CGI isn't the best I've seen, the landscapes look like ghostly murals racing by. The cold and desolation are palpable with every shot. The art direction is fantastic. From the grime of tail section to the bubble gum pop of the classrooms to the glitzy sheen of the upper cars, each set is created with care and detail. It's a little disappointing you don't get excessive time to appreciate it all but that's because Bong knows how to keep a story moving. The pacing of this film is nearly perfect. Bong rides the tension just enough to keep you on edge without wearing you out. Twists and turns greet you in ways you wouldn't predict. The overall story is aptly and boldly presented, the action is brutal in it's efficiency and exposition is handled skillfully by both writers and actors, never bogging down the works. Speaking of actors, everyone rises to the occasion. People call Chris Evans wooden. I've never thought that. Stoic maybe but not completely without talent. Here he has some of the best moments I've seen him deliver by far. If anything he is certainly growing as an actor and is poised to have a long career once he hangs up his Marvel mantle. Tilda Swinton is always a pleasure to watch and she is no different here. I'll leave you to discover that gem on your own. South Korean actors Song Kang-ho and Ko Ah-seonh deserve credit as well, especially Ko with her wide eyed pixie personae that could have easily devolved into a stoner stereotype. Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, John Hurt, Ewen Bremner, Allison Pill and Ed Harris help around out an excellent cast. Also some quick recognition to Marco Beltrami's score. It's thematic and beautiful. I will definitely be picking this one up. This is the kind of movie I wish Hollywood had the gall to make more often, especially when it comes to science fiction. The quality of story telling, the quality of characters, the earnestness and elegant touch of a talented director and cinematographer all make this film immensely satisfying. And another that deserves so much more attention than it is currently receiving. 9/10 |
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