Bullet Train

Typically, the summer movie season is fraught with big-budget films, and even more to the point, action-packed films. Films such as "Speed", "The Lost City", "Sahara", "Raiders of the Lost Ark" were all released in the summer to an amazing profit. So, when "Bullet Train" was to be released this August, I felt like this was going to be quite the roller coaster ride and it was.

In this story, Brad Pitt stars as Ladybug, an unlucky assassin determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs gone off the rails. Fate, however, through his handler, Maria (Sandra Bullock) may have other plans. She conjoles Ladybug into his latest mission that puts him on a collision course with lethal adversaries  including Tangerine (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), Lemon (Brian Tyree Henry), Prince (Joey King) and Wolf (Benito A. Martinez Ocasio), from around the globe, all with connected, yet conflicting, objectives--on the world's fastest train. The end of the line is only the beginning in a wild, non-stop thrill ride through modern-day Japan. 

Others to round out the cast are Andrew Koji as Kimura, the Father, Hiroyuki Sanada as the Elder, Michael Shannon as White Death, Logan Lerman as the Son, Zazie Beetz as the Hornet and Masi Oka as Conductor.

This was rivetingly directed by David Leitch ("Atomic Blonde" '17, "Deadpool 2" '18, "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" '19) plus shorts and a music video short. By his very resume, this filmmaker knows his way around an action-packed film and with that, he knows how to put one together and make it exciting for any audience. This film was riveting, adrenaline ridden and has the ability to put his actors into perilous situations in order to convey to his audience that certain realism. If you like his brand of directing, his "The Fall Guy" is in pre-production. It was executed by writer Zak Olkewicz ("Fear Street: Part Two--1978" '21). Even though this writer doesn't have an extensive resume, he certainly was able to hold my attention throughout this film. I know he was using the flashback technique in order to convey his storyline, but there were unfortunately a number of disjointed areas in script to create a certain amount of confusion, especially during the first half of the film. As the film continued to unfold, it did pick up speed, and then moved right along and became the film this writer was looking for. You'll see a small cameo role from Channing Tatum in this which is interesting considering he, Pitt and Bullock were all in this spring's "The Lost City". Given more writing under his belt, this writer will excel--in fact, his "Last Voyage of the Demeter" is in post-production for a 2023 release.

If you like action-packed, adventurous films with an underlining humorous basis, you'll love this. It's your typical quintessential summer escapism film fraught with action, adventure, humor all while without the hint of a message or something really to think about. And in this day and age of how bad things have gotten in this country, this is a refreshing alternative to all that's transpiring.

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                                Rated: R                                            126mins.