Bullet Train Gives Audiences An Insanely Fun Train Ride Worth Taking

      What makes a solid action movie is the stylistic directing and unique form of storytelling that's brought to the film, along with a plot that's engaging. Add to that a terrific ensemble cast such as the one that Sony Pictures Bullet Train possesses. Featuring the acting talents of Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyiki Sanada, Michael Shannon, and Sandra Bullock, Bullet Train takes high-octane action to the next level with delivering an action-packed experience that serves as an appetizer while awaiting for the next installment of the John Wick franchise. 

      Bullet Train's plot has unlucky assassin Ladybug (Brad Pitt), encountering several other assassins from around the globe on a high speed train with their separate objectives all connecting together. Whereas the films storyline isn't one that's particularly deep or thought-provoking, it serves as being an effective vessel in delivering brainless high-speed action with cleverly witty humor. Although it won't blow anyones minds, the film carries enough thrills to provide audiences with a fairly decent action comedy thats boasted by its colorful cast.

      Much of Bullet Train's power comes from the charismatic performances of its ensemble cast, particularly Brad Pitt who largely carries the film with his performance as seasoned but unlucky American mercenary, Ladybug. Pitt puts his charismatic talent on full display here with him crafting a character whose extremely fun to watch. Joey King shines as young female mercenary, The Prince, who pretends to be a British schoolgirl. King does an impressive job and steals the show when Pitt isn't on the screen while managing to hold her own against the rest of the cast. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry are terrific as British assassins and adoptive bothers Tangerine and Lemon with the latter sharing a love for Thomas the Tank Engine which becomes an ongoing humorous gag between the two. The duo provide much of the films comedy that makes it well-balanced with its action. Other noteworthy performances include Andrew Koji as Yuichi Kimura, a Japanese member of the White Deaths criminal organization with Hiroyiki Sanada as his father and former Yakuza, The Elder. Michael Shannon as usual, delivers a strong performance as Russian leader, The White Death, and former KGB operative. Benito A Martinez Ocasio excels as Mexican assassin The Wolf, along with Sandra Bullock as Ladybug's contact and handler, Maria Beetle. The cast for Bullet Train shows great enthusiasm in playing their characters with each person not only fitting into their roles, but also having a complete blast in doing so. Their efforts add a tremendous amount of energy and charisma to the film, ultimately making the experience an enjoyable one.

      Directed by stunt coordinator David Leitch, who helmed Atomic Blonde, and Deadpool 2, Leitch delivers an exceedingly violent story to audiences that comes across as feeling comical. Such violence shown includes gun and sword usage, heavy blood sprays, characters faces being blown off and impaled with meat hooks and poisoned characters bleeding from their eye sockets before dying. With the films 120 running time, Leitch keeps things constantly stopping and going with flashbacks incorporated to add backstory to the characters in terms of fleshing out their motivations without it feeling forceful. As far as cinematography goes, Bullet Train's is visually striking with the Japanese cityscape and usage of different colors being shown making the films visual landscape enticing for audiences. The costume design shown cleverly fits the distinctive personalities of each character, even after fight scenes. With its score, composer Dominic Lewis adds to the intensity of the action scenes by delivering musical mayhem along with twisty tunes to make the plot more thrilling. Known for making gleefully violent action fate, Leitch doesn't disappoint here and crafts a serviceable action fare that's exciting to watch and appealing on a visual front regardless of whether one feels that the story is a bit shallow.

      When it comes to writing, Bullet Train keeps things straight-forward and relatively easy to follow while providing twists and turns throughout the speedy train ride. The films concept regarding criminals and murderers attempting to kill each other while staying alive on a high-speed Japanese train is appealing despite not bearing much depth. A key point which the story drives is that keeping things simple is always better as emphasized by Brad Pitt's character. The latter acknowledges that things don't always go the way he expects them to when things switch up or become complicated with him admitting that he prefers things to go smoothly. The area where the script thrives is placing its numerous trained fighters against each other with the films real suspense coming from characters returning from certain defeat like being thrown off a train, jumping back onto it and trying to find their way back inside. The script also delivers clever pop up moments such as the planting of a poisonous snake emerging and catching the audience by surprise. Each character receives just the right amount of development to make them palatable to audiences with cleverly humorous bits included such as Henry's character having a strong fascination with Thomas The tank Engine. While the characters are appealing overall, it's Ladybug who adds heart to the story with his laid-back persona making him less of a fighter and more of someone whose trying to make things easier for himself. As hard as the rest of the film appears to be in terms of being violent, Ladybug's character brings moments of charm in between as well as Henry. 

      Although it can be said that Bullet Train's script isn't the most innovative and relies heavily on its impressively choreographed action scenes and the charismatic appeal of its main cast, there's enough of what works to make it a satisfying action-packed experience despite not reinventing the wheel. If entertainment is the destination then Bullet Train meets it while presenting itself as being an efficient time waster that's absurd, funny, flawed, and ultimately worthwhile. 

Final Verdict: A must watch for action fans. 

Images Courtesy Of Sony Pictures