I thought this movie was surprisingly good the first time I saw it. I had no expectations and had no idea who this Joon-ho Bong guy was. The constant battle to get to the next car was a really fun mystery to enjoy having never seen it. That mystery was lost at the second viewing and was less enjoyable the second time around. I loved the world building for the train. Train building? I liked the creepy classroom and the propaganda used to help the children understand the importance of staying on the train. I liked the social divide of each train section and the slow progression into the high class of the train. I think the costumes and sets were perfect and really enjoyed the diversity of each one.
Spoilers below:
I didn't really like the premise. Why a train? I don't understand why the train needed to keep moving. Wouldn't it be safer and use less energy if the train sat still and just produced heat? Also, why was there a social divide as great as it was? There didn't seam to be a real good reason to not utilize these "free-loaders" at the back as working class instead of bums. Also, with all these different types of cars and machinery, you would think there would be a few cars that would make up a workshop to machine new parts and make repairs. Another thing that I didn't like was the young woman with the psychic abilities. I don't think the story really needed that ability to progress the story. It's almost like it was written in because the writer didn't know how to reveal the child at the end. If Ed Harris' character was trying to get the protagonist to take over then he would have needed to explain that detail regardless. Lastly, why did the surviving girl and boy leave the train at the end? No matter where they go to they will need all the things the train still has on board, including warmth. Also, am I supposed to believe they are the only two survivors? Probably not, but they should have shown others crawling out.
I thought the movie was enjoyable for an action film. I thought the message was depressing and the ending was dumb. I have to give it credit for being unique and holding my attention at every moment without me ever getting bored even though I had seen it before.
I thought this movie was surprisingly good the first time I saw it. I had no expectations and had no idea who this Joon-ho Bong guy was. The constant battle to get to the next car was a really fun mystery to enjoy having never seen it. That mystery was lost at the second viewing and was less enjoyable the second time around. I loved the world building for the train. Train building? I liked the creepy classroom and the propaganda used to help the children understand the importance of staying on the train. I liked the social divide of each train section and the slow progression into the high class of the train. I think the costumes and sets were perfect and really enjoyed the diversity of each one.
ReplyDeleteSpoilers below:
I didn't really like the premise. Why a train? I don't understand why the train needed to keep moving. Wouldn't it be safer and use less energy if the train sat still and just produced heat? Also, why was there a social divide as great as it was? There didn't seam to be a real good reason to not utilize these "free-loaders" at the back as working class instead of bums. Also, with all these different types of cars and machinery, you would think there would be a few cars that would make up a workshop to machine new parts and make repairs.
Another thing that I didn't like was the young woman with the psychic abilities. I don't think the story really needed that ability to progress the story. It's almost like it was written in because the writer didn't know how to reveal the child at the end. If Ed Harris' character was trying to get the protagonist to take over then he would have needed to explain that detail regardless.
Lastly, why did the surviving girl and boy leave the train at the end? No matter where they go to they will need all the things the train still has on board, including warmth. Also, am I supposed to believe they are the only two survivors? Probably not, but they should have shown others crawling out.
I thought the movie was enjoyable for an action film. I thought the message was depressing and the ending was dumb. I have to give it credit for being unique and holding my attention at every moment without me ever getting bored even though I had seen it before.
7/10 Might watch it again.