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+--- Thread: Snowpiercer (2013) by Joon-ho Bong (/showthread.php?tid=3130)
Snowpiercer (2013) by Joon-ho Bong - cranefly - 07-05-2014
This is a bad movie, a good movie, and a great movie, all rolled into one. I'm still trying to come to terms with it.
What prompted me to see it was the star power of Kang-ho Song, my favorite South Korean actor, who I call Mr. Big Cheeks. Also, the director has done some nice stuff, including The Host, which also starred Mr. Big Cheeks.
But as the movie started, I was disappointed to discover that this is an English-speaking movie (though fortunately Mr. Big Cheeks doesn't make the attempt), and that the real star is some clean-cut Fernando Lamas lookalike. While most everyone else is filthy and scruffy, he manages to have this well-trimmed beard and perfect short-cropped hair. This had all the markings of one of those terrible post-holocaust Road Warrior copycat movies. And indeed, the premise is absurd. In science fiction, world-building is key. Things should make sense. Nothing in this really does. The viewer is constantly saying, "Wait a sec, where do they get their food? What about fuel? Don't they ever need repairs?" And the first third of the movie gives the impression that this whole movie will drag out in the dark claustrophobic confines of a few slummish passenger cars. Talk about low budget!
But then things start to get strange, even surreal, and in a good way (as opposed to the many dumb and lazy takes on surrealism). I won't spell out what this consists of. There's just too many nice little quirky surprises to be had. As for the dumbness, it turns out not to be as dumb as it seemed.
Then there comes a point when the movie takes on a disturbing symbolism, and yes, I tend to despise symbolism, because too often it feels like being hit in the face with a soccer ball; but this symbolism somehow worked for me, and is causing me a lot of reflection afterwards.
All in all, while this movie starts out slow, it grew on me the further I got into into it. It's really a unique vehicle, the more I think about it. I can't really say who will like it and who won't, because there's ample reason to perceive it in a number of ways. But right now my meter is flickering somewhere between good and great.
cool - i was pondering this one - Drunk Monk - 07-06-2014
now i just may have to watch it. need my K-flick fix.
"unique vehicle" indeed. Was that a symbol or a pun CF? - Drunk Monk - 09-04-2014
iTuned this last night and I completely concur with CF's review above. It's a really odd flick, but very engaging, and I'm still chewing on it. It's a prime example of K-film trying to go international, but missing the mark just because that's harder than it might seem. The premise is totally preposterous - never mind where they get food or fuel, where the heck to they poop? But once you get past that, as the film progresses, there are plenty of stylish moments and little absurd twists to keep one amused. That's saying a lot as it's long - 2 hours plus. You have to get well past the first half hour before things get rolling (train pun, sorry). Tilda is freaking great as the toady dystopic middle-manager, similar to what she does in The Zero Theorem, only better. The lead dude sucked - way to stiff - and was totally out-shined by Kang-ho Song, who is great as the drugged-out gate opener (a role DM totally relates to). Also Ah-Sung Ko, who has a face like an anime gal (huge eyes, tiny chin) was a delightful new discovery and Octavia Spencer delivers a very solid performance (John Hurt is like always, somewhat sagacious but not selling wands or having aliens pop out of this chest). As for the symbolism, such is the nature of trains I suppose. In that way, it reminded me of another great overlooked train film, Runaway Train ('85), with Jon Voight, Eric Roberts and Rebecca DeMornay. That one got by most but it was sort of a lost Kurosawa film as he was involved with the screenplay. This would make a great double feature with that. No sword fights but a real horrorshow of an axe fight and some lovely ultravi scattered throughout the flick. Definitely a 'must see' for anyone keeping tabs on Asian cinema nowadays.
Re: Snowpiercer (2013) by Joon-ho Bong - cranefly - 09-10-2014
Quote:DM wrote:
"unique vehicle" indeed. Was that a symbol or a pun CF?
An inadvertent pun, or inadvertent symbol.
Lady Cranefly and I were both blown away when, in the closing credits, we discovered that the "dystopic middle-manager" was Tilda Swinton. We totally missed it. That was such a peculiar character.
Hit in the face with a soccer ball! - Greg_phpbb3_import1 - 12-06-2014
How come none of you pointed out that it was Captain America with the scruffy beard? Now, how does that change what you think about this film?
Very dull. Very messagy. I did like Tilda, but that's what she does. I did like the axe fight, but not fully.
I kind of expected it to end like it ended. It's seemed a very common trope.
I'm also with the Weinstein's that this film could use a heavy dose of editing.
Re: Hit in the face with a soccer ball - cranefly - 12-06-2014
[youtube]8F9jXYOH2c0[/youtube]
RE: Snowpiercer (2013) by Joon-ho Bong - Drunk Monk - 07-25-2018
Quote:JULY 24, 2018 7:02PM PT
Netflix Boards TNT’s ‘Snowpiercer’ Series
By SONIA KIL
[img=635x0]https://pmcvariety.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/snowpiercer.jpg?w=1000&h=563&crop=1[/img]
CREDIT: REX/SHUTTERSTOCK
Netflix has boarded “Snowpiercer,” a TV series adaptation of South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho’s hit 2013 feature film. The series will premiere on TNT in the U.S. in 2019, while Netflix will carry the show outside America and China.
The futuristic action thriller series revolves around the remnants of humanity trapped inside a gigantic train after the world has become a frozen wasteland. It raises questions about class warfare, social injustice, and the politics of survival.
Co-produced by Tomorrow Studios, Turner’s Studio T, and Korea’s CJ Entertainment, the series is executive produced by Tomorrow Studios’ Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements, as well as Scott Derrickson and Matthew O’Connor. The producing staff behind the original film — Bong, Park Chan-wook, Lee Tae-hun and Choi Doo-ho — have also joined the television adaptation as co-executive producers. James Hawes, director of the series, and showrunner Graeme Manson also share the role.
As previously disclosed, Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Connelly and Tony Award winner Daveed Diggs star in the series, along with Alison Wright, Mickey Sumner, Katie McGuinness, Susan Park, Lena Hall, Annalise Basso, Sam Otto, Sheila Vand, Roberto Urbina and Sasha Frolova.
Hawes joined the show earlier this month, less than two weeks after Derrickson, the pilot’s original director, announced he would not return for reshoots. Derrickson claimed that the decision was due to the series’ new showrunner, Graeme Manson’s “radically different vision” from that of original showrunner and series creator Josh Friedman, who left the show in January.
RE: Snowpiercer (2013) by Joon-ho Bong - Greg - 07-25-2018
Hard pass.