Customer Ratings & Reviews

After climate change freezes the planet an extreme survival train with a small population struggles to stay on track. We learn what's going on as some of the characters do. The elite take care of themselves at everyone else' expense so the masses eventually want justice. This common theme is presented with very good cinematography and CGI and acting even bearing with occasionally unreal dialogue. Some of the characters seem real and likeable so we learn to hope for them on the wild ride through an endless blizzard.

What Snowpiercer has to its advantage more than most standard action or post-apocalyptic films these days are its interesting ideas. From the opening moments where the audience is exposed to a flurry of exposition placing us in a world where man has attempted to control nature and in return has cursed our earth to a frozen eternity I was hooked. The only survivors being locked within a speeding train, built and engineered to last forever, traveling the same course over and over again, completing the circle around the globe once a year. We learn of the passengers at the back of the train, those who are treated on a sub-human level and the few within the beaten and battered group that are planning a resistance, a revolution. This may instinctively conjure up comparisons to Elysium wherein the rich and poor are so distinctively separated that it seems convenient for the film to be interpreted as some type of propaganda, but the director never allows his film to slip into this kind of piece. Instead the throughline of Snowpiercer remains an unrelenting and unforgiving journey from one end of this locomotive to the other wherein our protagonist Curtis (Chris Evans) not only discovers the layers and the societal structures of those who live ahead of him, but how easily they have forgotten what is taking place not three cars away. Where many a post-apocalyptic film will maintain the focus on how society has come to work in the wake of failing and in turn sacrificing character development both this and The Rover prove that it is the actions and mentalities of the characters you create that define the rules of the world and not the mounds of exposition you have them spurting so that we understand those rules. Snowpiercer wastes little time explaining things, it trusts its audience and it gives only a brief amount of set-up before diving into the narrative that Curtis, his second in command Edgar (Jamie Bell) and their wise old leader, Gilliam (John Hurt), are setting in motion to push forward. What follows is a layered and engrossing series of obstacles that avoids feeling like a video game by creating these characters and dynamics between them to where we can't help but become invested.

First of all, you have to buy into the premise. It's the near future and global warming is for real, so the scientists come up with a solution which, in fact, fixes the problem. They also kill everything on the planet with a catastrophic cold wave. The cockroaches survive as usual as you will find out later in the film. There are survivors who manage to board a train that circles the globe non-stop...forever. The train is the foresight of a man known as Wilford. I usual give actor credits here, but it is suggested I not, as it is a big surprise. It wasn't to me, but if you want to look it up go to IMDb or something. Like much of the world, the train is split up into the "have-nots" led by Curtis (Evans) and his mentor, Gilliam (John Hurt). They live in the back of the train, far removed from the "haves" way up front. The 1 percenters are led by Wilford and his second in command, Mason (Swinton). And before I go much farther, she's a hoot. Especially when the contingent reach the kiddie's classroom. In addition, there are a collection of thugs whose mission is to keep the riff raff in the back where they belong. They live in squalor and get a protein bar for their daily ration. I won't go into the content but it will put your gag reflex in overdrive. As fair warning there are a couple more events that will unsettle most. But the film does do a good job of setting the stage for the conditions these people have been in for 17 years and why they want to escape. Armed with little more than their determination, the rebellion is afoot. One by one the rebels move up car-by-car until they reach the domain of the guy in charge of the locks between the cars. Namgoon Minsoo (Kang-ho Song) is the guy and is aroused from his cryogenic sleep along with his daughter, Yona (Ah-sung Ko). He agrees to help (always in Korean) but only if he's supplied with a regular supply of homemade drug that he's addicted to. Essentially the film is as simple as that. Get to the engine where Wilford lives. The combat portions of the film are excellent. The film is purposely dark and gloomy. It isn't a feel good movie. People you become fond of are killed. Kids are in the mix and are exploited, but darn if this isn't a refreshing change from the stuff we are often exposed to in mainstream movies. The film ends on a bleak, if hopeful note. But this isn't mainstream. Which is probably why the woman walking out of the theater behind me said to her husband. "That's the worst movie I've ever seen"! She obviously hasn't see the latest "Transformers."

used to love this movie until the TV series came out still a good Movie if you like end of world kinda movies

Snowpiercer introduce us to a world that has been desolate by humanity and the only place humanity can now survive is on a train that wraps around the world. But beyond that the acting is truly the biggest standout of this movie with all actors turning in an amazing performance.

Such a weird movie but weird in a good and interesting way.

On the surface, it looks like another class warfare/revolution-type film that's set on a train; such stories are pretty commonplace among YA-type movies. But what sets it apart from others like it, and what makes it progressively fantastic, is its tightly-focus narrative and the way it unfolds the plot subverts the whole foundations of class revolution: from the idea of a hero, the conceptions behind rich and poor, and the very core behind the result of having a revolution. The third act does halt the film to deliver the heavy weight of the plot, but it's nevertheless a impressively-twisted story. A story that's paired with masterful cinematography and impressive hand-to-hand combat; only its sub-par visual effects would detract certain viewers expecting Hollywood-quality CGI, but there aren't many of its visual cues. It comes packed with a second disc worth of bonus features, the meatiest of which is a discussion behind the French graphic novel which is the source of this film. Could've had a substantial interview with the Korean director (and yes this is quite the international production) and the critics commentary isn't up to snuff, but otherwise, you're gettin' plenty at a relatively cheap price. If you love a well-made, thrilling dystopian sci-fi movie that push the boundaries of storytelling, and don't mind the brutal violence and disturbing themes (believe me, when I said "subverting the idea of a hero" isn't to be taken lightly), you should give this movie a shot.

A great movie with a great story and plot. Keeps you on your toes all the way through..

time since I saw this and thought I needed to pick this up for myself.

Good delivery time. Works beautifully. Couldn't be more pleased.

This movie flew in under the radar of the American movie going public. It is now gaining somewhat of a cult status among scifi fans. It is at once a social commentary on a dystopian future, a dark comedy, and an action movie complete with the First Avenger in the lead role. I half expected Bucky dressed up as the Winter Soldier to make a cameo, given the wintry setting of the train. There is never a dull moment in this film, with the pacing taking the viewer from the dregs of the last cab through the school and the elite front, and finally the engine. Strange discoveries await the protagonists on their journey. Without giving away spoilers, let's just say some of the plot twists are unsavory. Overalll, this is a very engaging scifi actioner, with a perversely bleak yet optimistic at the end, view of mankind. Highly recommended watch!

This originated as a French graphic novel in the early ’80s, which was pirated in Korea about 2004, seen by a Korean director who loved it, and away we go (he bought the rights). All that’s left of mankind is on a train of about 100 cars that makes a circuit annually around most of Asia. Earth is frozen; all that is left alive is on the train. The bigwigs have the front, the center is devoted to creating food and water (and keeping prisoners), and the back is filled with low-lifes who want to be up front. All are just finishing their 18th year of this trip. The revolt in the back is the story.

Post apocalyptic ride on a train continuously encircling a frozen Earth. Loosely adapted from a French bande dessinée and directed by Korean filmmaker Joon-ho Bon g with mostly American and British actors, this one of kind film is a rumination on the class divisions humankind imposes on itself, the precarious balance of power held between the haves and have nots. While that may sound dry, dull, and unappealing, the thrust of the story is darkly comic and satiric, a hallmark of Bong’s films. Science fiction for people who enjoy having their perceptions challenged and brain cells tickled.

I will admit I was not sure what to expect from this movie. I knew Chris Evans from Captain America (and unfortunately from Fantastic Four before that) but have not seen him in a movie like this before. The action was great and the premise of the story pretty interesting. Nothing that's going to be mind-blowing by any means but little hints of stuff here and there make you pay attention and look back at things a bit differently (i.e.- the phones from the front to the back cars). Good flick. Enjoy

I had no expectations for this film and it had minimal attention in the theaters. But it was well done, well acted, and an allegorical plot that can keep you thinking about it even days afterwards. One should not take this too literally, as certainly a speeding train crashing through ice walls on a thin rail, yet never findings passage problems is not credible. But as an allegory for the world it somehow works. The ending may seem a bit rushed and unfinished, but somehow that also mostly works.

This was an interesting twist on the typical post apocalyptic action movie. The survivors of a winter covered earth are set on a neverending journey aboard a train where the different societal classes are separated by train cars. The lowest classes in the rear of the train has had enough and must fight for their lives to break the classes and make it to the front of the train. There was plenty of action in this movie to go around. Definitely an entertaining movie.

I had seen this on the shelf several times during my visits to Best Buy. I had initially passed on it but finally gave it a try. I had not read the comic from which this was based so I went in with no preconceived thoughts. I liked the movie very much. It is watch worthy with some twists I didn't see coming. I'm not sure if I would watch it over and over again but it is definitely a good SciFi utopian story with ideas an imagery unlike many other movies in the genre.

Taking place in a world where efforts to combat global warming have left the world in a second ice age, Snowpiercer takes place on a large train housing the last of humanity. People towards the back of the train live in squalor while those towards the front live in comfort and privilege and regularly and forcefully take the children from the back for unknown purposes. Snowpiercer is bleak, visceral and beautifully made.

Snowpiercer is SOLID. Love this concept of a world that's been frozen over but prior to their D-day a select few boarded a train that runs across the world of tracks to perpetually keep its inhabitants alive. But there's varying social classes which clash where the lower class citizens (back of train residents) are tired of being unfairly treated and revolt. Its great fun and visually amazing watching their journey from the back of the train to the front fighting their way to answers and respect. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

A well written and executed glimpse at the future of mankind, or at least what could be, under such dire circumstance as this movie presents; a frozen earth with few survivors, struggling for order, balance, and (of course) class oppression. All of this while racing along, out of control, on someone's high minded railway experiment, at high speed....We all know how this ends...its a trainwreck! Very enjoyable!