‘Snowpiercer’ Review
This masterful action spectacular by South Korean horror-specialist director Bong Joon Ho (“The Host,” “Mother”) takes place entirely on a train and follows a revolt pitting passenger against passenger as the cars hurtle around the world. After a failed global-warming experiment kills off most life on the planet, a group of wealthy elites builds a train powered by a perpetual-motion engine; while they live in luxury in the front cars, the unwashed lower-class workers — subjugated to death and brutality — are relegated to the back. After more than a decade of subservience, the workers are rallied by one man to revolt, and they work their way — car by car — to the front. Brutal, violent and extremely exciting, it’s an interesting visual diatribe on rich vs. poor, science vs. humanity and the nature of revolution. Outstanding performances by Chris Evans, Namgoong Minsoo, John Hurt and especially Tilda Swinton. Based on a graphic novel. Extras: Critics’ commentary hosted by Scott Weinberg, “The Birth of Snowpiercer,” “The Characters,” “Animated Prologue,” “Concept Art Galleries,” “Chris Evans & Tilda Swinton on Snowpiercer,” “The Train Brought to Life: Behind the Scenes of a Special Screening,” “TRANSPERCENEIGE: From the Blank Page to the Black Screen.” Vitals: Director: Bong Joon-Ho. Stars: Chris Evans, Namgoong Minsoo, Alison Pill, John Hurt, Tilda Swinton, Octavia Spencer, Ed Harris, Ewen Bremner, Jamie Bell, Steve Park, Ah-sung Ko. 2014, CC, MPAA rating: R, 126 min., Sci Fi Action, Box office gross: $4.403 million, Radius-TWC/Anchor Bay. 
