Snowpiercer - B

Rated R, 126 minutes

Oddly, strangely entertaining is Joon-ho's exciting sci-fi thriller "Snowpiercer"

"Snowpiercer" is one of the most bizarre, ambitious, over-the-top yet exciting science-fiction thrillers seen this year, and it comes from acclaimed South Korean director Bong Joon-ho ("The Host") and features a well-known, international cast. How it will play in the U.S. is anyone's guess, given the stark, unconventional tone of the movie. The dark, apocalyptic film features 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 (led by Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, John Hurt and Octavia Spencer, among others), the train thrusts full-throttle towards disaster. Joon-ho's "Snowpiercer" is a thrilling, albeit strange ride that will have you both engaged and scratching your head at the same time. The heavily stylized film is tremendous fun and vastly entertaining in the right frame of mind, maybe in a midnight show after some drinks and a heavy meal. Settle in for some of the oddest things to be seen, including the always-weird and fun Tilda Swinton, who in coke-bottle glasses, bright red wig and large teeth, steals the movie, not to mention some bloody, hand-to-hand fight scenes and Ed Harris as the lead villain. The slower, odder first act settles down a bit, though there's one humorous scene midway through involving a classroom full of children and a song sung by Alison Pill that will make you laugh out-loud. "Captain America's" Evans is an interesting casting choice here but he grounds the film well when scenes aren't stolen by Swinton, Hurt or Spencer, all of whom meet their demise in vastly different ways. Speaking of which, the film is exciting especially in the climax though it can be a downer for some. "Snowpiercer" is definitely exciting and thrilling, just know it's not your conventional action adventure film, and that will work fine for the many who'll see it.

Wes's Grade: B