BULLET TRAIN

In essence, Bullet Train is a live-action cartoon, and judged on those merits it's actually a pretty enjoyable one.

There is a scene in Bullet Train where Aaron Taylor-Johnson runs after a speeding train on the platform, jumps on its back, somehow doesn't fall off despite the vehicle's considerable speed and - to top it all - breaks the presumably severely stress-tested rear window with a few punches of his bare fist. So in essence, Bullet Train is a live-action cartoon, and judged on those merits it's actually a pretty enjoyable one.

The picture strands half a dozen assassins on a Japanese high-speed train and lets them have a go at each other, both physically and with dialogue that often pops more than it has any right to do. The cast is game as well: Brad Pitt clearly has a blast, Aaron Taylor-Johnson chews the scenery with gusto and Brian Tyree Henry is the kind of loveable hitman you can't help but root for.

The action sequences look slick, and the twists and turns keep you guessing as to where this all ends up. Such a shame then that Bullet Train is also edited to death, with numerous unnecessary exposition flashbacks that grind proceedings to a halt and a stylistic attitude that adheres to the 'more is more' mentality.

Still, bored you will not be.

release: 2022

director: David Leitch

starring: Brad Pitt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Hiroyuki Sanada