Movie Review
Snowpiercer
I saw an edited clip of this movie on one of those Facebook videos, where it shows a very dramatic part and then doesn't tell you the name of the movie. Luckily, the comments helped me out, and I found the film. Within an hour, I was sat down watching it. Two hours later, and here I am.
Let me show you the cover, and let you know what it's about, and then we can get to chatting!
After a failed global-warming experiment, a post-apocalyptic Ice Age has killed off nearly all life on the planet. All that remains of humanity are the lucky few survivors that boarded the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe, powered by a sacred perpetual-motion engine. A class system has evolved aboard the train, fiercely dividing its population—but a revolution is brewing. The lower-class passengers in the tail section stage an uprising, moving car-by-car up toward the front of the train, where the train’s creator and absolute authority resides in splendor. But unexpected circumstances lie in wait for humanity’s tenacious survivors...
It's also available for free on Prime Video!
My Review
There is quite a bit to unload about this film. It covers some incredibly topical subjects, as well as including some themes that are incredibly prevalent in society.
A solution was found to global warming, a way to reverse the effects that humans have had on the planet, and to reverse the climate to it's natural state – a way to cool down the planet to the optimal temperature. Of course, such a perfect fix would be too easy, and instead, the solution caused a massive problem. The creation of a new Ice Age, the kind of thing that could wipe humans off the planet and rid the Earth of them once and for all.
Fortunately, humans are pesky things, and simply refuse to be wiped out. Although a low number, some survive aboard the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the world, never stopping, keeping it's inhabitants safe from the freezing conditions outside. It all seems idillic – but, again, not so.
There is a very clear class divide, with the lower classes at the tail end of the train, and the rich at the front. While the rich feast, party, and enjoy life, the poor starve in poor conditions, with little room, their lives controlled entirely by those with power.
And yet, there are those who simply cannot stand for it. This movie is about a revolt, the revolt to end all revolts. It's about taking back power, and Curtis is one of those who can't sit by and watch as children are torn away from their parents, as people are beaten and punished, as his friends slowly starve around him.
The rebellion leads Curtis and a group through the train, moving along the carriages. The carriages are almost like stages, complete one and then you can move on. But Curtis loses people along the way, and what ensues as the rebels clash with the guards trying to quell the rebellion is pure carnage.
Curtis is a clearly troubled man. He has spent seventeen years of his life trapped inside the dingy, ignored part of the train, surrounded by desperate people. The horrors that he has seen and experienced is enough to give someone the determination to want to seek justice and revenge, but at times Curtis can be incredibly cold towards those who are supposedly on his side. There is on scene in particular (if you've seen the movie, you know) where I was almost screaming at the screen. I actually said out loud 'don't you dare'. He dared. I was very upset.
There are many other characters in this movie that I liked. I loved Namgoong Minsu and Yona, and they played an incredibly interesting part in the plot. They are not from the tail end of the train, but the prison. But, if Curtis wants to open any of the carriage doors, he needs them. Yona was one of my absolute favourite characters, especially since you can usually see her doing something in the background, and it's usually rather amusing.
Another character I adored was Edgar, who just wants to help Curtis, and to be his friend, and yet, Curtis doesn't seem to care about the determination Edgar has to help. Edgar made me chuckle a couple of times, as he is young compared to most of the people he is around, at only seventeen, and all he really wants is to be able to eat a steak like those at the front of the train.
I have had a look at some other reviews for this movie, those on Amazon, and there seems to be a mixed opinion about it, with some people loving it and some people absolutely hating it. While I wouldn't say it was the best movie I have ever watched, it certainly wasn't bad, and I enjoyed watching it. I won't spoil the ending, but whew. I don't think the characters planned that!
And I'm done!
I haven't sat down to watch a new movie in ages, and I'm glad this popped up in one of those strange Facebook videos, because otherwise I wouldn't have looked in the comments for the title, then wouldn't have looked the movie up, and certainly wouldn't have found it by accident to watch.
If you've seen it, I'd love to know what you thought of it!
Okay, that's all.
Bye!
No comments:
Post a Comment