09-04-2014, 11:32 AM
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.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse