1) Snowpiercer
American stars. A South Korean director. A story based on a French graphic novel. Snowpiercer could have been a tangled mess of a movie, but each of these disparate elements came together to create one of the most original and cohesive blockbuster movies in years… except nobody actually saw it.
The plot is set years after humanity inadvertently creates a new ice age, where the few remaining survivors travel on an endless circle around the globe, trapped on a train that is segregated according to class. While those in the front enjoy the height of luxury, the people left in the back endure a life not worth living.
As the leader of the revolution, Chris Evans reminds us that he’s far more than just a star-spangled Avenger and Tilda Swinton turns in one of her most mesmerizing performances yet, not an easy task considering her illustrious career so far.
Many critics included Snowpiercer on their top ten films of 2014, praising Bong Joon-ho’s ambitious direction and dark visual style, yet audiences were slow to respond, relegating this action spectacle to various underrated movie lists, including this one. Those who criticize Hollywood’s current obsession with sequels and remakes should sit up and take notice when new properties like Snowpiercer hit cinemas. How else will we be able to avoid anymore turkeys like Terminator Genisys?
