Shinji Higuchi’s legacy sequel Bullet Train Explosion should not have any downside satisfying previous followers and gaining new ones.
Most individuals listening to the premise of Jun’ya Satô 1975 motion thriller The Bullet Train for the primary time reply with one thing alongside the strains of, “Oh, so it’s like Velocity on a prepare.” Shinji Higuchi’s religious successor Bullet Train Explosion, now on Netflix a full fifty years later, is prone to face an identical response. Although now it’s with out the good thing about having hit theaters years earlier than Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves.
Bullet Train Explosion opens on Kazuya Takaichi (Tsuyoshi Kusanagi), the lead supervisor of Hayabusa 60, a 320-kilometer-per-hour bullet prepare. Out of the blue, mysterious assailants levy a bomb risk in opposition to the prepare and blow up one other locomotive to show the risk’s legitimacy. Now Takaichi should maintain the prepare from going beneath 100-kilometers-per-hour or danger detonation. The prepare’s passengers, together with a politician navigating a intercourse scandal (Machiko Ono), a wealthy influencer (Jun Kaname), a disgraced helicopter pilot (Satoru Matsuo), and a schoolgirl (Hana Toyoshima) whose father performed a vital position in stopping an identical 1975 prepare bombing, begin unraveling underneath the strain. Some are even seeing potential acquire of their impending doom. Police desperately try to trace down the supply of the risk earlier than Hayabusa 60 reaches the top of the road, however the true terror is nearer than anybody expects.
A strong forged balances comedy and drama.
Director Higuchi is primarily identified for his work on the Shin Japan Heroes Universe, having co-directed (with Hideaki Anno) Shin Godzilla and directed Shin Ultraman. Some themes from these movies are current right here, particularly Shin Godzilla‘s commentary on forms. Nevertheless it’s all executed in a way more optimistic gentle. Regardless of the darkish subject material, Bullet Train Explosion is a largely optimistic movie. Human collaboration is widely known and nihilism may be very explicitly rejected. It’s extremely efficient in its method, thanks largely to the script by Kazuhiro Nakagawa and Norichika Ōba. The movie has no scarcity of motion spectacle however locations it strategically, permitting for in-depth character moments that pack extra of a punch than the precise explosions.
The forged is great, particularly Kusanagi and Toyoshima. Even smaller roles shine, which is a testomony to Higuchi’s directing. The eventual reveal of the villain is accompanied by some actually spectacular malice and surroundings chewing. The ensemble does really feel a bit overstuffed at occasions (does any movie really want a number of influencer characters?), however that’s largely resolved by the point the strain hits its peak. And fortunately, the film is aware of tips on how to steadiness its extra severe moments with some extra lighthearted motion silliness.
The underside line.
The plot this movie is essentially accessible to individuals who haven’t seen The Bullet Train however it does require viewers to at the very least know that the primary movie exists. Sadly, Netflix’s advertising and marketing for Bullet Train Explosion has been horrible. There’s been minimal promotion of the movie in Asia and the Philippines and even much less in different territories, which means most individuals don’t know the movie exists and even much less understand it’s half of a bigger legacy.
Which is a disgrace! As a result of Bullet Train Explosion is a delightfully diverting motion movie, and a contemporary alternative to introduce audiences to the even higher movie that preceded it. Moreover, it’s one other feather within the cap of Higuchi, who’s demonstrating an unbelievable expertise for respiration contemporary and thrilling new life into current franchises. I can’t wait to see to see what he does subsequent.
Bullet Train Explosion is now streaming on Netflix. Watch the trailer here.
Photographs courtesy of Netflix. Learn extra articles by Brogan Luke Bouwhuis right here.
REVIEW RATING
-
Bullet Train Explosion – 8/10
