Product Description

Two U.N. anti-crime agents try to stop a hijacked train from reaching Iraq. Based on the book Death Train by Alistair MacLean.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #49400 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2003-05-06
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 98 minutes

Customer Reviews

DECENT EXCUSE FOR SOME POPCORN
I saw the movie under the TV name of "Death Train". Pierce Brosnan and Patrick Stewart drew me to it, as did the espionage + action thriller theme, although I'm still unsure if an entity called United Nations Anti Crime Unit is simply a Hollywood contraption.

Some plutonium has been stolen from a German nuclear reactor station and being carried via a hijacked train, which sets off a wild goose chase for who the REAL thief is and what the ulterior motives + destination are. We're told about these perpetrators and their intentions about 75% into the film (let me not spoil it) but the action on/off the train to stop it in its tracks before detonation, is fairly engaging. The negotiation moments are superbly done.

Pierce Brosnan was perhaps fresh off Remington Steele so he has a suitably sharp female colleague to woo and wheedle. If people were scouting for a new James Bond circa 1993, I can totally see why Brosnan came up well reviewed.

A very watchable, well-made popcorn thriller.

Supenseful and well acted
The cast elevates this 3-star movie to 4 stars. Patrick Stewart, always a tour de force in the acting department, takes command of his role as the intelligent operations manager/mediator who nonetheless underestimates his opponent. Pierce Brosnan, who always brings a human vulnerability to his heroism, slips into James Bond mode. Alexandra Paul does a credible job of portraying a sharpshooter whose raw determination is matched by her female intuition. Ted Levine is flawless as the cocky mercenary. And Christopher Lee nails his role as the Russian evildoer. The performance of these actors is not wasted. The film is intelligent and suspenseful. I cannot fault the direction or camerawork. The soundtrack is understated, so that the film is more "real world" than "dramatic." DETONATOR is a good film, and its solid cast of actors makes it worth a repeat viewing.

A great action movie
This is a very well-written, well-directed, and well-acted movie. It is one of the better pre-Bond Pierce Brosnan movies. This first movie is definitely better than its sequel, Detonator II (Nightwatch). The plot involves a train being hi-jacked by an American mercenary terrorist (Ted Levine) with two atomic bombs placed within. The operation is conducted by a Russian general (played by Christopher Lee). The U.N. task force, headed by the Patrick Stewart character, sends his best man (Pierce Brosnan) on the job accompanied by Sabrina Carver (Alexandra Paul), who is a novice yet a great marksperson. The pair persevere through a lot of setbacks in their mission but they finally stop the villains. There is genuine chemistry between Pierce Brosnan and Alexandra Paul, and the villains are well-acted by Ted Levine and Christopher Lee. I liked this movie too because Alexandra Paul's character is a very sharp thinker and sharp-shooter. I like movies where the female character is every bit the equal of the male hero. I found this movie to quite suspenseful and it builds up to a good climax. This first segment is definitely better than its sequel and it is the one to watch.