Unstoppable

The title doesn't lie. Tony Scott made an uncompromising action flick that combines the atmosphere of old-school John Frankenheimer or Don Siegel blockbusters with contemporary, digitally supercharged visuals, and it gets going early on... and then it's just goes, goes, goes. True, there's not much that's unexpected or revelatory in Unstoppable, but it's such an entertaining and fun film that I found myself staring. As I hold the DVD cover in my hands, I wonder why the hell it didn't come to the movie theatres? (2011-03-29)

Scott has tamed the visual orgy down to a minimum, instead letting James T. Kirk and Senor Creasy put the brakes on the Runaway Train, which is pumping at maximum warp drive. All this in the year's most suspenseful film, where I involuntarily let out a few "Wow!" moments. Without a drop of shame, I admit that I was hoping for a happy ending, just like the emotional American families of heroes on TV screens, or when clichés and adrenaline work in the best possible ratio. [Coincidentally watched on a train.] (2010-12-23)

A straightforward action treat, dripping with adrenalin, especially toward the end. I even sort of subliminally guessed how it would all end, and sometimes a shocked “Jeezus" or “Wow" dropped out of my (and not just my) wide open mouth. Scott does incredible work with the entire dynamics and has a talent for action that few can equal, and also I’m really pleased that the trains and the surroundings were all real. No greenscreen sequences. No shortage of clichés here, but Denzel and Chris Pine endured this with flying colors and the movie could be taken to be a harmless return to grassroots. Otherwise, this was one of the most thrilling movies recently. (2011-01-23)

It’s nice that the realistic story and believable actions of the characters prevent this Tony Scott movie from being full of lapses in logic. In comparison with Speed, for example, it’s more of a dramatic thriller than an action flick, even though Scott’s traditionally spectacular and energetic visuals suggest otherwise. Moreover, the director shows some brilliant work in escalating the tension, which is the best feature of the movie. Even so, without terrorists, ticking bombs or at least a more sophisticated (explosive?) ending that would play with the toxic cargo on the train, the film remains somehow incomplete. (2011-03-30)

It has a clear beginning and ending. The plot is simple, but it was used perfectly. The scenes feel real and I'm glad for the lack of unnecessarily unwieldy actions. Chris Pine and Denzel Washington are a great duo. And for a movie that takes place only on a train, I really enjoyed it. Most of the credit for that goes to Tony Scott, of course. 4 stars. (2012-02-06)