Of course it's Hollywood, so there are railroading technical mistakes. But who cares? It's a movie filled with drama, emotion, and excitement. Absolutely fantastic!! I highly recommend this movie to railfans. I will be seeing this one again.
Denzel Washington plays the 28 year veteran engineer, and Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) plays the new Conductor assigned to work with him. What follows is "on the edge of your seat" action. LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT!!!!
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
FWIW, The New York Times is mixed, but my fellow Illini (we were contemporaries) Roger Ebert gives it "three stars". However, I'd probably go to it simply to count the Rules violations just as I did with "Silver Streak II".
I'll just wait until it hits HoBO or Starz.
Finally, here is a report regarding the incident on which the movie is based.
The usually circumspect Wall St. Journal movie reviewer said: "But you've got to see this new one to appreciate how full, fresh, smart, terse, funny, genuinely thrilling and ultimately original it is." He also added: " And how beautiful. One stunning image outdoes another..." Wow.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Incidentially, HoBO On Demand is presently offering a 12 minute "Making of Unstoppable". FWIW, the railroad, I would guess a Short Line, on which it was filmed is not given any production credit - maybe they didn't want it.
There was one line of script between the Engineer and Conductor within the "trailer' suggesting that the producers did not do much research regarding the seniority system for awarding Agreement jobs. Also, it would appear to me the role of Yardmaster was uh, "slightly miscast'. While every movie needs a little 'eye candy' to put the "copper in the hopper', and many a road employs "Yardmistresses" today, couldn't the producers found a "fortysomething' actress (how about Jayne Mansfield's daughter?) and not having her "on the runway' - in short, dress her for the job. In common with any other "Hollywood goes a railroadin' fiasco (worst "Silver Streak II") I have been exposed to over the years, I'm sure this one will no no different.
Oh well, since HoBO is airing this "Making of..' feature, it would appear that they have acquired the production's cable TV rights. From what I saw, I think it can wait the year until it's time for a "your HoBO subscription dollars at work" moment.
Posted by HillsideStation (Member # 6386) on :
Mr. Norman, if the critic of the "Journal" is to beleived; unless you have a high end in home theatre sound system you may not attain the full impact of the film on HBO/Starz. You just might have to reach into your inside coat pocket, unclasp the safety pin, remove and open the purse and spend some of those silver certificates you've been hoarding at your local "cineplex". Best regards, Rodger...who ushered at a classic movie house when they had just one...but a big...screen along with "...glorious technicolor and stereophonic sound".
Posted by Ocala Mike (Member # 4657) on :
Rodger, I must be like Gil. The last movie I saw in a theatre was last month's "Secretariat," and then only because I had four free tickets from my Amtrak Guest Rewards. I got what I paid for, too (movie was just ordinary).
Will await "Unstoppable's" appearance on HBO or Cinemax, probably in a few months.
By the way, where did you usher at? Do you remember the Valencia theatre on Jamaica Ave.?
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
quote:Originally posted by HillsideStation: Rodger...who ushered at a classic movie house when they had just one...but a big...screen along with "...glorious technicolor and stereophonic sound".
Even after Smitty's glowing review, I've got a lot of doubts about this one...will I see it? Yeah probably. After seeing the various trailers, though, I was prepared to enshrine Unstoppable in my own Pantheon of Bad Train Movies. I wonder if the permissions to use the old warbonnet Santa Fe logo units in the movie came from Buffett himself? Not that it makes much difference, but why not have yellow UP engines? Just foolin' with you guys--
I'm absolutely with Gil on some (not all) of the casting choices not offering much realism per modern-day railroading--but like others have said that's just Hollywood. I'll try to look beyond these things and if I see it, I'll give my review honestly here. I already see tons of technical errors in just the trailers. I'd also be interested to know exactly where the realtime, non-digital locations/railroads were and it's interesting that they did not want their name known in the credits, according to Gil. I guess I'm just a hopeless Emperor of the North fan! I sure bought the premise of that one!
Posted by Mike Smith (Member # 447) on :
Want realism? Slap a derail onto the track. End of Movie. That was a quick 7 minute movie...
Posted by Ocala Mike (Member # 4657) on :
Railroad Bob, I believe the non-digitally produced railroad action scenes were filmed in Pennsylvania over some short line road. The actual event on which this film is loosely based took place in Ohio.
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
Here's the rest of the story, from Trains' Newswire. It also adds the director was bitten by the train bug when he filmed 'Taking of Pelham 1-2-3' ************
"Behind the scenes of "Unstoppable"
Principal photography for Unstoppable began in Brewster, Ohio, on the Wheeling & Lake Erie on Aug. 31, 2009. After a week of filming, the production company headed north to Pennsylvania, setting up offices in Bradford, Pa., about five miles south of the Pennsylvania-New York border.
Every day, the production crew traveled to the Western New York & Pennsylvania destined for Port Allegany, Eldred, Turtlepoint, Blanchard, and Emporium as well as north to Olean, N.Y., for photography.
On Oct. 10, the company moved their base to State College, Pa., and shot on the Nittany & Bald Eagle before moving to southeastern Ohio and back onto the W&LE, including Bellaire, Martin’s Ferry, Mingo Junction, and Steubenville. Production wrapped principal photography on Dec. 18.
In Emporium, the company created an actual train derailment, a huge special effects sequence that closed the main intersection of the small hamlet for more than five hours.
The movie used eight locomotives, including four AC4400CWs from Canadian Pacific (both sets numbered 777 and 776, the units on the fictional runaway train) and four SD40-2s (at least two numbered depicted as the 1206 used by Denzel Washington and Chris Pine) from W&LE, as well as about 60 freight cars."
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
We don't go to movies at theaters much nowadays, but "Unstoppable" sounds like one I'd like to see. I'll be looking for it to come out on DVD in a few months...........
Posted by TBlack (Member # 181) on :
I'm sure we've gotten enough about this movie by now, but I just saw it and need to add my $.02 worth.
Gilbert, you'll be missing a lot by not seeing it in the theater. It needs to be seen on the big screen and with the bigger sound. We go to the movies on Tuesdays, senior day at AMC, $6.00. I'm sure Chicago area theaters offer the same.
I can't comment on the technicalities of running a locomotive, but they give them to you here.
Mike Smith, blessed Texan! Your solution is dealt with, Joe Bob says check it out!
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Thanks for the thought Mr. Black.
I guess if somehow I could move beyond the "it's just a movie' mindset and to the level in heart and mind that the Chicago Symphony holds, then I'd be off to a facility I have not seen the inside of since 2004 (Farenheit 9/11).
Otherwise, it's a case of "Comcast gets $158 (CSO about a $K a season) a month outta me; gotta get my money's worth.'
Posted by ehbowen (Member # 4317) on :
Gil...$158 a MONTH? And here I am, putting up rabbit ears to watch my new 42LD520 and thinking myself extravagant for subscribing to Netflix ($8.99/mo) and upgrading to higher speed (3 mbps) DSL ($7/month more) so that I could stream movies.
(I have been watching maybe 30 minutes of TV a week, not counting my DVD collection...so cable really doesn't make much sense for me. But if you can afford it, and if you like it...must be nice!)
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
That $158 includes internet, but no PPV. I'm quite happy to wait a week to see two guys bash each other's heads apart - and that is if I'm even interested.
"Those were the days" thinking back to 1987 when Comcast was Continental Cable (think there have been four different providers since then - and I've never 'switched') - and the subscription was some $18 a month!
We should note my town was just about "last kid on the block' to get cable; there was a Politburo-for-Life member (whoops, Village Trustee elected for a two year term) who was going to fight it tooth and nail, "so our children won't be corrupted with all that filth', until he died.
And that's what happened.
Posted by chrisg (Member # 2488) on :
I saw this movie and really enjoyed it.
Chris
Posted by AHALL (Member # 3515) on :
We enjoyed watching the filming here in Steubenville, OH last year. They filmed a chase scene across the Market Street Bridge over the Ohio River here. Railroad scenes were done in Bellaire and Martins Ferry, OH, scenes were done on the old B & O stone arch bridge in Bellaire.
Posted by Judy McFarland (Member # 4435) on :
I saw it today in the theater, and literally had sweaty palms and some breath-holding from the building tension. Some movies are just made to be seen on the big screen, and I think this is one. Enough action for me for one day! I admit I did wait until a Friday to take advantage of the senior citizen matinee as I also spend way too much money on cable TV and high speed internet.
Posted by CHATTER (Member # 1185) on :
Mr. Norman, my opinions frequently match yours in a variety of issues. Like yourself, I seldom frequent the cinema the last several years, though I do average 3-4 flicks per year. However, the masses are correct in their assessment of the film and the desirability of seeing it on the big screen. The sound was a bit loud at times, but cinemagraphically you would be losing a good deal by viewing it on the small screen.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
"Unstoppable" is presently available Pay-per-View at Comcast's On-Demand cable TV service. Think I can live without until it hits HoBO.
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
Just watched it on my new iPad 2. Sure, I missed the big-screen ambience, but it was exciting enough as is.
I simply shut my mind to all the reality howlers. Movies are visual and visceral and that's enough.
(Oops. Forgot to say I just loved it.)
Posted by RR4me (Member # 6052) on :
Wait, back up the train...William Shatner is not Captain Kirk??? Guess I'm just not paying attention Posted by dmwnc1959 (Member # 2803) on :
Just finished watching 'Unstoppable' on Netflix DVD and from a train novices perspective is was a really great movie. Fast paced, well written, and very likable characters. Chris Pine and Denzil Washington did quite well, but I think Chris was definitely the star of the movie, besides the runaway train sequences of course. Would highly recommend this to anyone!
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Well, "Unstoppable" has now made a stop at HoBO (via Comcast On-Demand), and so as of now "I've seen it".
Let's just leave it at that.
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
GBN, you are a master of understatement!
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
I'll bet you didn't know that a train could get tipped on it's side and go around a curve that fast! (said in jest, of course).
Posted by gibg (Member # 2565) on :
Come on, everybody -- it's a movie. not a history lesson or a "how to" piece. It was created for entertainment, not for technical achievements or mundane accuracy.
On a different note, imdb.com reports that Chris Pine did all his own stunts.
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
Perhaps some of us are just too close to the industry to muster the necessary willing suspension of disbelief to enjoy these movies.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Looks like one of the "stars" got an extra gig from her appearance in this "flick":
All told, how could Tony Scott, an Executive Producer of what I think is one of the finest productions to hit the "small screen" in quite a while, The Good Wife, have ever been associated with this rubbish? Like it or not, when I commit my time (not that it is so precious or valuable; I'm retired) to view a production, I cannot take the attitude immediately expressed by Mr. Gardner; that's just me.
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