Written by Douglas Helm | Published
Chris Evans may be best known as Captain America in the MCU, but during his time in the MCU, he starred in a dark, post-apocalyptic thriller in 2013. The snowpiercerwhich also happens to be South Korean director Bong Joon-Ho's English-language debut. The director and MCU star make a great combination in this film, which is now available to stream on Tubi.
The snowpiercer adapted for a graphic novel This Transperceneige by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand, and Jean-Marc Rochette with a screenplay co-written by Bong Joon-Ho and Kelly Masterson. The film takes place on the train of the title, where the last of humanity lives after a climate disaster leaves the world completely frozen. The train is divided into classes, the lower classes sit at the back of the train and the nobles sit near the front.
A Strong Entry Point to Bong Joon-Ho's Career
The snowpiercer follows Chris Evans' character, Curtis Everett, who leads a rebel group fighting for a way forward on the train. Along with Evans, the film stars Song Kang-ho, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, Go Ah-sung, John Hurt, and Ed Harris. Interestingly, the film holds the claim for the single most expensive South Korean production, with a budget of $40 million.
Director Bong Joon-Ho will explore diversity in a groundbreaking way in his Oscar-winning thriller. A parasite in 2019 though The snowpiercer it's an excellent introduction to the filmmaker's catalog that allows him to make good on a high budget and explore the thrill of an action-oriented style.
As you would expect, the film was critically acclaimed and did well at the box office, grossing approximately $86.7 million worldwide. While Chris Evans is still in action mode in this film, he is able to flex his muscles more than usual with a much drunker character than he usually plays.
The snowpiercer it does a lot of things well and makes for a very enjoyable watch. While people may be tired of a post-apocalyptic world, the setting of this film manages to stand out because of its unique world-building. In the capable hands of Bong Joon-Ho, it is certainly different from other sci-fi films of its ilk, and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout.
Bong Joon-Ho Vs. Harvey Weinstein
While most studios would be content to let Bong Joon-Ho do whatever he wants, the director actually had to meet with Harvey Weinstein several times after The Weinstein Company acquired the US distribution rights. The snowpiercer. The film's wide release was initially delayed by Weinstein himself after he tried to fit 25 minutes of cut scenes into the film, asking for more action and less dialogue.
A memorable scene involving the burning of a fish was one that Weinstein wanted to cut, but Bong Joon-Ho happily lied that his father was a fisherman and the scene was in his honor to get Weinstein to keep it.
Weinstein's cut of The snowpiercer it was eventually screened by test audiences, who hated it, prompting Weinstein to request additional cuts. However, Bong Joon-Ho's original cut was later screened to mostly positive reviews, prompting a grassroots campaign to have his version released for US audiences.
The campaign, created by cinema activist Denise Heard-Bashur and supported by Tilda Swinton and John Hurt, was a success, and an uncut version would eventually be released widely.
Le Transperceneige vs. The snowpiercer
Although the graphic novel that The snowpiercer based on its own worth reading, its fans should not expect a faithful adaptation of the novel. The setting is the same, but Bong Joon-Ho made the call to rewrite the story rather than trying to weave the long narrative of the graphic novel into a movie.
Of course, not everything has to be a 1:1 adaptation of the source material, and in the case of this film, it seems like it was a smart move to make it its own thing rather than adapting something that wouldn't work as a film.
So, if you're in the mood for a sci-fi thriller from one of the most interesting directors working today, then this is it The snowpiercer it must be the perfect movie for you. Be sure to check it out on Tubi.
