Snowpiercer Movie Review

The Sinking of Noah's Ark

Rotten Tomatoes Plot: In this sci-fi epic from director Bong Joon-ho (The Host, Mother), a failed global-warming experiment kills off most life on the planet. The final survivors board the SNOWPIERCER, a train that travels around the globe via a perpetual-motion engine. When cryptic messages incite the passengers to revolt, the train thrusts full-throttle towards disaster.

Starring: Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Go Ah-sung, Jamie Bell, Ewen Bremner, John Hurt, Tilda Swinton, Octavia Spencer, and Ed Harris. Director: Bong Joon-ho. 126 minutes. Rated R for violence, language and drug content.

Admittedly innovative (in parts,) this train bound for nowhere can't escape a rash of bad acting, worse writing ("I know what people taste like: I know babies taste best") and enough holes in its story to drive a train through. Evans shines, sans shield; but Bell remains as irritating as ever (remember Billy Elliot?) and Spencer delivers a Razzie-worthy dud for the ages. Evans & co. overcome impossible odds, jumping cars like video game levels; but along the way, we encounter a few wonderful characters/moments... just not enough to overcome Snowpiercer's numerous missteps (especially its ending.) Take a bus instead.

Grade: D+