The summer box office can be a fickle beast, especially for the little guys.

While the latest "Transformers" raked in the millions from all you dunderheads (sorry, but I warned you), a spectacular science-fiction actioner called "Snowpiercer" opened to little fanfare.

It isn't really your fault. The movie opened on only a few screens and received minimal promotion from its distributor, The Weinstein Company.

In their defense, "Snowpiercer" has a dopey title and a goofier premise: Following a catastrophic attempt to reverse the effects of global warming, the entire planet is transformed into a frozen wasteland, and the only human survivors live on a giant train that travels continuously around the globe.

A class system is in place on the train, with the poor huddled eating insect-infused protein bars in the back and the rich living in the extravagant front cars. The rich occasionally steal children from the back, and the guards have no problem killing and torturing to keep the poor from uprising.

Get around the sci-fi premise and "Snowpiercer" is engrossing social drama infused with a series of kinetic action sequences. When the poor's leader Curtis ("Captain America" himself, Chris Evans) leads a revolt against the rich, it leads to a bloody push toward the front of the train, where he encounters a scene-stealing Tilda Swinton as a duplicitous diplomat and eventually, the train's inventor, played by Ed Harris.

The film is the English-language debut of South Korean director Joon-ho Bong, who made the terrific monster movie "The Host" back in 2006. "Snowpiercer" is intense, well-acted and visually stunning, especially as Curtis explores the extravagant front-cars that include a night club and a walkthrough aquarium.

The movie was a hit overseas, and the American reviews are stellar. So why haven't you heard of it? For anyone familiar with the perpetual tinkering of the Weinstein's, the answer should come as no surprise.

After purchasing the American distribution rights, the company wanted to add voice-over narration and trim 20 minutes of the film. The director, thankfully, refused to make changes, so The Weinstein Company agreed to the uncut film receiving a limited release against the opening of "Transformers."

Then you all gave your money to Michael Bay. Again, I tried to warn you.

You can still right the wrong. "Snowpiercer" had a decent limited release performance, so the movie is playing in a few more theaters, including AMC and the Magic Lantern in Spokane. It's an intelligent and thrilling movie, and way better than anything Bay has produced in a decade (if at all).

Home video alternative: "The Raid 2"

Another terrific action movie opened this past spring, and American audiences ignored it too. "The Raid 2," the Gareth Edwards directed sequel to the bloody cult hit, "The Raid: Redemption," even opened wide (including Coeur d'Alene) before disappearing from theaters after a week.

In your defense, the Indonesian original didn't exactly ignite the box office, and the violence in both films is some of the most graphic ever depicted onscreen. "The Raid 2" is also a sprawling two-and-a-half-hour crime saga with numerous characters, which is a big departure from the original's straightforward, storm-the-castle premise.

Regardless, "The Raid 2" has martial arts sequences that are unlike anything else ever filmed, and the brutality is just relentless. Jet Li and Jackie Chan would be foolish to face series star Iko Uwais.

The movie is an endurance test, especially for the squeamish, but action fans will wonder why they still bother with the American knockoffs and cash-grabs.

Tyler Wilson can be reached at twilson@cdapress.com.

All the action your summer needs

The summer box office can be a fickle beast, especially for the little guys.

While the latest "Transformers" raked in the millions from all you dunderheads (sorry, but I warned you), a spectacular science-fiction actioner called "Snowpiercer" opened to little fanfare.

It isn't really your fault. The movie opened on only a few screens and received minimal promotion from its distributor, The Weinstein Company.

In its defense, "Snowpiercer" has a dopey title and a goofier premise: Following a catastrophic attempt to reverse the effects of global warming, the entire planet is transformed into a frozen wasteland, and the only human survivors live on a giant train that travels continuously around the globe.

A class system is in place on the train, with the poor huddled eating insect-infused protein bars in the back and the rich living in the extravagant front cars. The rich occasionally steal children from the back, and the guards have no problem killing and torturing to keep the poor from uprising.

Get around the sci-fi premise and "Snowpiercer" is engrossing social drama infused with a series of kinetic action sequences. When the poor's leader Curtis ("Captain America" himself, Chris Evans) leads a revolt against the rich, it leads to a bloody push toward the front of the train, where he encounters a scene-stealing Tilda Swinton as a duplicitous diplomat and eventually, the train's inventor, played by Ed Harris.

The film is the English-language debut of South Korean director Joon-ho Bong, who made the terrific monster movie "The Host" back in 2006. "Snowpiercer" is intense, well-acted and visually

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stunning, especially as Curtis explores the extravagant front-cars that include a night club and a walkthrough aquarium.

The movie was a hit overseas, and the American reviews are stellar. So why haven't you heard of it? For anyone familiar with the perpetual tinkering of the Weinsteins, the answer should come as no surprise.

After purchasing the American distribution rights, the company wanted to add voice-over narration and trim 20 minutes of the film. The director, thankfully, refused to make changes, so The Weinstein Company agreed to the uncut film receiving a limited release against the opening of "Transformers."

Then you all gave your money to Michael Bay. Again, I tried to warn you.

You can still right the wrong. "Snowpiercer" had a decent limited release performance, so the movie is playing in a few more theaters, including AMC and the Magic Lantern in Spokane. It's an intelligent and thrilling movie, and way better than anything Bay has produced in a decade (if at all).

Home video alternative: "The Raid 2"

Another terrific action movie opened this past spring, and American audiences ignored it too. "The Raid 2," the Gareth Edwards directed sequel to the bloody cult hit, "The Raid: Redemption," even opened wide (including Coeur d'Alene) before disappearing from theaters after a week.

In your defense, the Indonesian original didn't exactly ignite the box office, and the violence in both films is some of the most graphic ever depicted onscreen. "The Raid 2" is also a sprawling two-and-a-half-hour crime saga with numerous characters, which is a big departure from the original's straightforward, storm-the-castle premise.

Regardless, "The Raid 2" has martial arts sequences that are unlike anything else ever filmed, and the brutality is just relentless. Jet Li and Jackie Chan would be foolish to face series star Iko Uwais.

The movie is an endurance test, especially for the squeamish, but action fans will wonder why they still bother with the American knockoffs and cash-grabs.

Tyler Wilson can be reached at twilson@cdapress.com.