BULLET TRAIN

Japan, 1975, 152 minutes (original), 115 minutes (US and dubbed and DVD version), Colour.
Sonny Chiba, Ken Takakura.
Directed by Junya Sato.

Bullet Train was a disaster film from Japan in the mid-70s. It was the period of American films like The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3. However, in the 90s there was a revival of interest in this kind of disaster film – especially with a film like Speed.

A bomb is planted on a train. The danger is that it will explode when the train slows down. A ransom is asked for. The action of the film is a race against time. There is a focus on the fifteen hundred passengers on the Bullet Train. In the meantime, there is a focus on the detail of trying to find and defuse the bomb as well as the police trying to handle public reaction to the potential disaster and the political implications. The villain behind the scene is played with a rather calm sinister approach rather than histrionics.

The film is quite exciting in its way – but was cut down by three-quarters of an hour for international release from its original Japanese running time.

1. How enjoyable a disaster film? the emphasis on action?

2. The quality of the Japanese contribution to the genre? Similarities to American disaster films, differences? The emphasis on factual names and dates?

3. The use of wide screen and colour, Japanese locations, great attention to technical detail, the train itself?

4. Audience reaction to the emphasis on the train and the details of trains? The officials, the criminals and the emphasis not on the passengers?

5. How impressive was the bullet train and the technical know-how, directing the rait system? How well dramatised the details of the technical background?

6. Interest in the plan and the details of its working out? personalities of the criminals and their motivation, their relationship with each other? The fact the plan was not perfect, the various faults, their ability to be detected - the deaths and the effects on the remaining criminals? The police discovery and pursuit? How interestingly were these personalities developed?

7. The portrayal of the police, their efficiency and lack of efficiency?

8. The portrayal of the railway men? The officials and their skills? for the changing of lines, photographing the bomb, passing the acetylene equipment? The risks and the calm of nerve needed? the chief, and the drivers coping with the situation? The moral decisions and the motivation?

9. The atmosphere of panic measured with the atmosphere of skill? The calm approach after decisions? the ultimate relief and satisfaction? The audience sharing this?

10. The film finishing with the final focus on the chief criminal? His wife and child, surveillance at the airport, his picking up the money from the truck and the details of his destroying the bike and car, arriving at the airport, attempt at escape, the futility of this and his death? Audience understanding of him? Any sympathy?

11. How conventional an action and disaster film? Or was it better than the conventional film?