the bullet train

If there's anything the modern blockbuster has proven it's that spectacle translates well into any language. Even early all-star disaster epics like The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno inspired international copycats seeking to make a quick buck using the trendy Hollywood formula. 1975's The Bullet Train was Japan's go-for-broke attempt with a bomb planted aboard the super-sleek mass transit vehicle set to go off if its speed drops below 80-kilometers per hour. Yep, it's Speed on a train...20 years before Speed was even a thing!

At 152 minutes, the film certainly drags some extra weight. But it uses the time wisely to expand upon the motivations of the bombers themselves, led by Tetsuo Okita (Ken Takakura) a former small business owner whose failed business and marriage puts him in a destructive funk. His partners hop aboard out of loyalty, politics and profits, planning to punish the government than put them in such a tough spot; but without shedding any blood.

When the police and railroad officials fail to meet their demands however, the situation quickly gets out of control. Okita and his partners dodge the cops while onboard the train things turn tragic as a pregnant woman goes into labor and the passengers get unruly. Meanwhile, the conductor (played by martial arts superstar Sonny Chiba) sweats out a series of close calls as he follows the increasingly desperate instructions from central command to defuse the bomb...or, worst-case scenario, minimize the collateral damage.

The fun thing about watching another country digest a so-called "American" product is that it invariably looks quite different coming out the other end. And The Bullet Train, despite stealing the general concept of a cast of notable faces put under extreme duress for close to three hours, takes a drastically different approach when it's all said and done. By putting the focus of the story on the villains (although Okita and company are hardly that black and white) director Junya Sato invests his film with some political gravitas and sympathetic motivations. It's a neat trick carried out with decidedly cool flair by star Ken Takakura. Dubbed "the Japanese Clint Eastwood" by IMDB, the actor simply owns every scene and brings an honest dramatic edge that serves as a counterweight to the film's more histrionic tendencies.

As far spectacle goes, it can't quite live up to promises made by the title (translated from Japanese as Bullet Train: Big Explosion!) or the poster. And Sato's script leans towards the ludicrous as police officers bungle each attempt to catch the bombers time after time. But there's a funky sort of momentum to the picture (and the soundtrack) that scratches that mid-'70s itch in a way that can't really be described. The Bullet Train may be a bit slow into the station, but there's a whole lot of interesting scenery along the way!

Twilight Time's 3000-copy limited edition is an unexpected treat from the label and adds some eclectic pizzazz to their already varied collection. The hi-def transfer is quite good, which is never a sure thing when it comes to Japanese titles. Along with an isolated score track and liner notes from Julie Kirgo, there's a 30-minute interview with director Junya Sato who covers everything from the cast and effects to the challenges of completing the film without approval from the National Train Service. Apparently that "Big Explosion" in the title was a deal breaker...go figure.