Movie Review of Bullet Train

Movie Review of Bullet Train directed by David Leitch

This entertaining, though violent movie is all about vengeance. Whether justice is served I’ll leave to the viewer. There are definitely moments of poetic justice. The main character, who goes by the code name Ladybug, played by Brad Pitt, is trying to find balance in his life, so maybe I’ll give a tiny nod to redemption. However, at the end, Ladybug seems to lean toward giving up any idea of shedding violence from his life.

As for category of movie, think Pulp Fiction, though not nearly as good, Kill Bill, maybe even a little John Wick, though not that violent. I immediately thought cheap rip off of Pulp Fiction during the first two scenes, but I admit the movie grew on me and there were some laugh out loud moments. Since I was watching it on an airplane, though, I didn’t laugh out loud.

The movie is mostly set on a bullet train (hence the title) in Japan. Ladybug is given the simple assignment of retrieving a briefcase, then get off the train. However, Ladybug’s life is plagued by an odd and humorous type of bad luck. Thus, the simple assignment turns into a complex kill or be killed life and death all-out war with four other assassins, whose assignments intersect.

As for actors, Brad Pitt, I feel, gives a terrific performance. His handler, whom we only hear a voice of until the very end, is played by Sandra Bullock. There’s also a tiny cameo by Ryan Reynolds (not even a credit for the cameo), but otherwise, I was not overly familiar with the other actors. The acting is over the top but needed to be to match the storyline. One actor of note is the man who plays the assassin known as Wolf. His real name (stage name, I assume) is Bad Bunny.

The movie is non-stop action, comedy, irony, and like I said poetic justice. There are numerous twists as far as who is really who and who hired them. As mentioned above, the move grew on me. The longer I watched, the better it became.

It’s rated R for language with copious profanity, and for violence. Only one barely visible sex scene happening in the distance. As I mentioned early on, if you like movies like Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, and John Wick, you’ll enjoy this movie. Stick with it through the first thirty minutes. I promise, it gets better, and the ending is worth the wait.