Movie Review: "Unstoppable"

In mid-November, director Tony Scott’s new film “Unstoppable” arose in almost all of the country’s mainstream movie theaters. Starring Chris Pine, Denzel Washington, and Rosario Dawson, the new movie has a very popular cast. A lot of people probably saw the trailer for this train-based action flick and thought, wait, isn’t that just like “The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3”? The answer is yes; “Unstoppable” and “The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3” are both directed by Tony Scott, both star Denzel Washington, and are both about a high-tension scenario taking place with a train. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see it, however. “Unstoppable” may be a bit far-fetched and clichéd, but its unusual plot and exciting pace make it a thrilling film worth watching.

“Unstoppable” begins when a train conductor named Dewey hops out of his train as it is slowly taking off from the train station. He accidently makes the mistake of setting the train on a full-throttle cruise control, and before he can get back in, it takes off without him. There are also a few other inconveniences; the independent brakes of the train are disconnected from the start and many of the cars are containing toxic, highly explosive material that could decimate an entire town. Let the fun begin. Soon enough, the train hits 70mph through heavily populated towns, and it is up to Chris Pine and Denzel Washington to try to stop it.

The great thing about “Unstoppable” is that the action heats up quickly. Within ten minutes the train is out of control, and from then on the movie is fast-paced and exciting. To complement this, Tony Scott uses quick editing and elaborate angles as the runaway train roars through fields and large towns. Nearly every shot shown has motion in it, making the sequences quicker and more interesting. The fact that the film keeps viewers on the edge of their seats helps them ignore the improbability of some of the events happening and a few clichés.

All three of the main actors in the film play their roles well. Seasoned actors Denzel Washington and Rosario Dawson played their parts with sincerity and realistic emotion. Chris Pine, a name more recently recognized among fans after “Star Trek”, also played his part well. Each of the characters cast in “Unstoppable” seemed very fitting for their parts.

Overall, “Unstoppable” has an exaggerated plot and some clichés, but it is thrilling and exciting enough to overshadow those weaknesses. It is a lot of fun to watch and the audience is glued to the film until the credits start rolling.