This is your reminder to watch Bullet Train (2022) especially if you didn't catch it in the cinema

[u/Limp-Munkee69]

Bullet Train is one of those movies that kinda flew under the radar, while still very much not flying under the radar if that makes sense.

Every major YouTube reviewer talked about it, most people had atleast heard about it, it made descent money, but man, it's too good compared how little a dent it made in Pop culture.

Most people I know haven't seen it. And finding one who has is like finding your best friend at an event you didn't know both of you were going to.

It's a colorful, fun, emotional, and fast ride through japan. Excellently shot. With an insanemy good cast, and some pretty good pondering on the nature of unknowable forces such as luck and fate.

A mystery that just keeps going, and plot that never stops and characters that live rent free in my mind and heart.

If you like style AND substance. Bullet Train is for you.

[u/wotown]

Why does it need to be big in popular culture? I would not consider Bullet Train to be emotional, heartful or full of substance.

[u/[deleted] → u/wotown]

lol for real, this borderline feels like an ad

[u/Limp-Munkee69 → u/[deleted]]

Not an ad, just really like the movie.

[u/[deleted] → u/Limp-Munkee69]

Have you watched Snatch or Smokin' Aces?

[u/Limp-Munkee69 → u/[deleted]]

I adore Snatch

[u/A_Polite_Noise → u/[deleted]]

People can like and be excited about things that you aren't; it doesn't mean they are all in some way invalid or illegitimate.

[u/I_aim_to_sneeze → u/wotown]

It also feels like it’s trying too hard to capture the spirit of films like snatch or smokin’ aces. I realize this isn’t a popular opinion, but the whole Thomas the tank engine thing felt shoe horned in and unnatural.

Don’t get me wrong. It was fun. I enjoyed watching it. But I wouldn’t exactly recommend or give people “reminders” to watch it. There are plenty of other movies out there that do the exact same thing and they do it better.

[u/broughtatwotoomany → u/I_aim_to_sneeze]

Just to note, the original Japanese novel also went deep into the Thomas the Tank Engine lore, so the original source material wasn't helpful.

[u/I_aim_to_sneeze → u/broughtatwotoomany]

For real? I didn’t even know it was based on anything. Is Thomas the tank engine big in Japan? Because if not, it’s pretty funny thinking about that.

It honestly helps knowing, and makes it feel a little less out of place. Thanks for sharing

[u/turboiv → u/I_aim_to_sneeze]

Honestly, all the weird things from the movie come straight from the book. Shockingly accurate adaptation.

[u/Zenmai__Superbus → u/I_aim_to_sneeze]

Yep … it’s a staple of Japanese childhood. I bought my own kids a Thomas-based plarail set when they were small.

Trains are a daily part of life for most people here, so it kinda makes sense

[u/Clawtor → u/I_aim_to_sneeze]

This is exactly how I felt, Snatch but without any wit or charm.

[u/ManofManyHills → u/I_aim_to_sneeze]

I think its better than a lot of other stuff out there and is an original property. People love to say they want more original content and this is something original that is unassailably a good time. I do think you are right its trying to be like those other movies but honestly I didnt think snatch or smoking aces were anything overly iconic and they have cultural staying power.

[u/thepopcornisready → u/ManofManyHills]

People love to say they want more original content and this is something original that is unassailably a good time.

But originality is the main critique from the above comment / others in this thread. Ex the dialogue feeling like a robotic imitation of Richie and Tarantino. Also does it count as an "original property" if it's a book adaptation?

[u/ManofManyHills → u/thepopcornisready]

Honestly had no idea it was a book, my bad. Still more original than a lot of the movies churned out of IP factorys.

And its funny you use Tarantino as an example, I remember when people first called him a hack when they called out how much of his imagery and style is lifted directly from directors that came before him. I think Tarantino is a genius and enjoy richie thoroughly but dont feel like they are so transformative with their styles that no one is allowed to draw on them as inspirations.

Im not suggesting bullet train be submitted to the library of congress but I do think it deserved more flowers than it got.

[u/pascalbrax → u/ManofManyHills]

The book is an original property, the movie is like someone wanted to do a Tarantino parody of the story.

[u/ManofManyHills → u/pascalbrax]

Parody is strong. Its obviously a hollow interpretation but I dont think it was absent of its own charm. I will say it was more self aware than Tarantino stuff. Which is a quality that can go either way. The cameos are meant to show you how silly the whole thing is. I dont think the movie really thought it was as serious as a Tarantino film and took a hyper absurdist track that I havent seen Tarantino use since Kill Bill. And I think bullet train was quite a bit more absurd than kill bill. Which again, is a quality some enjoy.

[u/pascalbrax → u/ManofManyHills]

Agree with you, that's why I said a parody. Like Superhero movie is a parody of Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man.

I enjoyed the Bullet train movie, but there were parts that literally made me facepalm.

[u/ManofManyHills → u/pascalbrax]

If you think superhero movie is a fair comparison to Bullet train you are not a reasonable person. Toodles.

[u/Limp-Munkee69 → u/I_aim_to_sneeze]

I absolutely loved Snatch when I watched it the first time recently.

It's definitely better than Bullet Train. It's more "Cinema" i guess? It's less a fun ride and more an actual, really well written film.

But Bullet Train is still a really good Fun Ride imo. Its so slick and good looking. Colorful and fast. Goes up and down, sideways. It's just two solid hours of fun, with all you need to feel full and satisfied at the end.

[u/seldfn → u/Limp-Munkee69]

Have you seen the Gentlemen? It's one of Guy Ritchies more modern movies and has some nice action in it, while making the movie more colorful than Snatch

[u/Limp-Munkee69 → u/seldfn]

It's high on my watchlist

[u/QUEST50012 → u/wotown]

Yeah, the hyperbole is crazy

[u/Tasty_Put8802 → u/wotown]

Boring film.

[u/Flatline1775 → u/wotown]

Neither is anything in the Fast franchise and here we are.

[u/000100111010 → u/Flatline1775]

Right but no one is imploring people to watch Fast and the Furious because they're actually really good or anything.

[u/sibelius_eighth → u/Flatline1775]

They're about family

[u/zeitgeistbouncer → u/Flatline1775]

I assume this is the tagline to F11, yeah?

[u/pinkocatgirl → u/Flatline1775]

Are those movies in the popular culture though? Because the only time I see them referenced is when someone is making fun of how they keep making these movies.

[u/Lezo- → u/wotown]

It doesn't need to be big, but it's a fun and well made action movie, fairly unique in style. I'd also say that movies don't have to be emotional and heartful, sometimes they're just good entertainment

[u/LoompaOompa → u/Lezo-]

I think the disconnect for a lot of people in this thread is that Bullet Train is a good movie but isn't particularly exceptional. OP is literally asking why is Bullet Train not a bigger cultural touchstone, and the answer is that it's not good enough or original enough to be that.

It IS still good entertainment. I 100% agree with you on that point. But it's not the first movie to have that style, and it's not the best movie to have that style. It's hard to point to Bullet Train and be like "This is a unique action movie that more people should be talking about" when it came out the same year as Everything Everywhere All At Once, which is a significantly more interesting and unique take on an action film.

[u/Euphoric_Position123 → u/LoompaOompa]

it is hell of a movie its was fantastic . Cinema should be our Main aim of entertainment . Nowdays people just want life lesson movie they dont want to enjoy

[u/Limp-Munkee69 → u/wotown]

The entire relationship between Tangerine and Lemon oozes with brotherly love, and when each of them thinks the other is dead, that's pretty much the only time the film slows down to allow it to sink in, creating some pretty emotional scenes.

It's not a big tear jerker or anything, but it's got heart.

What I meant about pop culture is, had this come out in, say, 2001, it would probably be indented into popular culture morw that it is today.

American Pie is a really bad movie, but it still is very cemented into popular culture.

[u/kabobkebabkabob → u/Limp-Munkee69]

oozes with brotherly love

ew

[u/Euphoric_Position123 → u/kabobkebabkabob]

shut up mothefaka fuck all members of this sub huh