Search - Atomic Train on DVD

Might be OK movie if you're not into trains

Train Chaser | Thornton, CO United States | 10/25/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"See other reviews for plot info, I won't repeat it. Apparently the makers of this movie didn't know anything about geography or railroads.

300 Miles west of Denver is the other side of the mountains. The train would have to go uphill 150 miles or so, before it could even begin to coast down.

The setting is supposedly modern, yet the train contained cars that have not been in service since the 80s, including a caboose!? The box car containing the "bomb" was modified with a roof walk and side bars so the actors could climb on it.

One of the major malfunctions of the train was a broken air line so the train couldn't stop. In reality when the line breaks and looses the air, the brakes come on automatically.

The throttle of the locomotive got stuck on. No problem, all the engineer had to do was take his foot off the "dead man" pedal, and the train would stop (In the "Silver Streak" the bad guy used a tool box to hold it down.) After that, even though the engineer had no control of the train, he remained in the engineer's seat instead of trying to help out.

The hero tried to short out the "booster" in order to slow it down, but earlier the engineer had said the dynamics wouldn't stop it. Even if this would have worked, it would have been much easier just to disconnect the wires (called MU cables) that hook the two locomotives together.

And the worst thing of all. Each car has its own manual brake. Can you imagine five trainmen and a man who investigates train wrecks not knowing that. Several shots that show the people trying to stop the train also show the brake wheel in clear view. "Hey stupid, turn the wheel behind you!"

These things and others (like people in panic trying to steal an auto in one scene, yet 10 seconds later the owners leave the vehicle to help someone but no one steals it?) ruin any plot credibility of the rest of the show.

As my spouse said, "If that movie is so bad why are you watching it?" It was a good question and as such I turned it off and don't know or care how it ended."

The movie rocks!

09/27/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have watched the movie about 6 times already, and it never gets boring. The effects were done very well, and accurately portrays the mayhem and chaos cause by this threat as the train hurls toward Denver and finally... Well, you're just gonna have to watch it yourself. It also shows the multi-dimensional view of human bahaviour, and how everyone would try and work together and save themselves from the worse. Some of the computer graphics were satisfactory and could have been better. But the most dramatic of all was when Rob Lowe jumped onto the train and became stranded with the crew members onboard. So heroic. This is one of those movies where it is not based on the effects or what stars are in the movie, but about human emotion, and the possibility of what will happen when the "unexpected" happens. Watch the first part of the movie and you'll see what I mean. Everyone is like been to hell and back, although some of them didn't make it, most survived. Overall, I believe this is a good choice for those moments where you just want to sit down with a bag of popcorn and watch a movie jammed with action. This movie's got it all. I believe NBC showed the movie on national TV earlier in 1999, but can't remember what day. You may have watched it. Anyways, proceed to your nearest video store and rent a copy today. A big thumbs up!"

Holy ... - a-zoida

10/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"WOW! What a movie. I've watched the movie probobly a 100 times it is so good. The plot is super and it is very true to the subject matter. Due to a great crew. SUPER MOVIE!"

Atomic Train was a surprise blast.

M. W. Van Meter | Florissant, MO United States | 03/25/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I took a chance on buying the movie Atomic Train. I have never seen it before or knew anyone that has. I based my decision on the title and the reviews I read on Amazon. Knowing that it was a made for TV flick my expectations was low. I have watched the movie twice now and I am glad I bought it. The basic story is a stowaway nuclear bomb on a runaway train. Will the train crash and set off the bomb? I will not give much away but to say there are a few surprises. Being a TV movie you have your soap opera elements but not as bad as I had expected. The special effects are good and the acting decent. There is a short making of the movie on the DVD. If you like trains and action you probably won't be disappointed."