Bullet Train

Bullet Train

An action and comedy film. Released in 2022. Directed by David Leitch. It stars Brad Pitt. Hiroyuki Sanada acted in it. It is based on the novel Maria Beetle written by a Japanese novelist named Kotaro Isaka. I watched it for the first time at the IMAX theater of TOHO CINEMAS Nagareyaam Ootakanomori.

It follows an assassin named Ladybug who is ordered to get into the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto so as to steal a briefcase and struggles to carry out the mission.

Many of the lines seemed to be meaningful but they hardly seemed to affect my life, so I mostly let them pass and I just enjoyed the action scenes on the screen without thinking. Accidents happen at perfect timing until the end. It was fun.

Brad Pitt gave a good performance as the mischievous Ladybug. His action as well as the way he talks was cool like in his other films. Ladybug tries to steal a briefcase that belongs to a couple of gangs. One of the duo Lemon is a big fan of Thomas & Friends and thinks based on the stories, which was funny. Not only that, but I envied him, for I cannot concentrate on and am superficial about anything, unlike Lemon. Another character The Elder left a strong impression on me. Hiroyuki Sanada, a Japanese actor, performed the role and looked awesome especially when he is fighting with a sword cane. The action scene must be a homage to the flick Zatoichi. Masi Oka played as the train conductor. He looks like Kenji Yamauchi, half of the popular comedy duo Kamaitachi in Japan. Oka has been one of the famous Japanese in the United States because he regularly appeared in the famous television series Heroes that was broadcasted from 2006. I felt that the image of Japan was still dated in America when I heard that off the top of his head Oka shouted the word "Yatta," though he should have done "bonsai" which was written in the scenario in the television drama. After that, "Yatta!" finally became his signature phrase. It was also said that Hiroyuki Sanada eagerly advised the American staff about Japanese culture during the shooting of Last Samurai starring Tom Cruise and release in 2003. Unnatural depictions about Japan have gradually decreased in Western films, which must be partly due to Japanese actors like them who has acted overseas. Sandra Bullock showed up toward the ending, though her voice-over was sometimes heard. She co-starred with Brad Pitt in The Lost City which I watched in June 2022. She is always pretty.

Fighting with murderous intent, gun shootings and sword fights occur one after another, so it has a lot of bloody scenes. Nevertheless, it hardly seemed to be sad and was simply entertaining because the story developed really fast. It is a good action movie.