Wednesday 9 September 2015

Thursday Movie Picks: Train Movies



There are quite a few trains in films but not that many where everthing or the bulk of the story take places on train. My go to would have been 'The Darjeeling Limited' but it was already picked for a another category. I've added a bonus film as there is great part of the film that takes place on a train. Don't forget to check out what Wandering Through the Shelves picked, the blog that started Thursday Movie Picks.



1. The Train
 Labiche. I remembered the name before I even saw the film the whole way through. It's one of my Dad's favourite films. I saw it a few times when I was younger, it's hazy but I remember the train of the title and that the French Resistance are trying to stop famous works of art from going to Germany. I remember the masacre near the end and I remember Labiche and family laughing when I got Labiche and Ishmael mixed up.

2. Strangers on a Train
This film needs no introduction, its a masterpiece filled with suspense made by the Master of Suspense. One of Hitchcock's best and a film that spawned many a new film idea too, especially a great comedy, Throw Mamma From The Train (which almost made this list). Two strangers meet on a train, tennis start Guy and Bruno, the crazier one. The latter decides that that they had an agreement to each kill someone for the other 'criss cross', so that the other would not be made a suspect for the others murder. It's brillaint with great angles, particularly the death of Guy's horrible wife.

3. Snowpiercer
The underrated film of this year or last year, it's not quite clear. It never got a release date in the UK and the USA only got a DVD release. The film was released in South Korea though. Based on the French graphic novel of the same name (roughly), it explores the idea of global warming gone wrong, class system and the future of human nature. It's an incredible concept and is of sci-fi genre, its a very dark look at how humanity have fared and how they have treated each other. After an environmental catastrophe, the world decends into an ice age, the remaining humans live aboard a trains that circles the Earth without ever stopping, the train has 1001 carriages. But when the end carriage revolts after the harsh and unbearable living conditions, they surge forward to take the train and the engine. Different from the source material as that was in two parts, and was more about disease and politics. I thought the film was deeply misunderstood and thrown aside, its such a shame it didn't get given the chance to find a wider audience.

18 comments:

  1. Snowpiercer is a very good film. Already a popular pick, and for good reason. Haven't seen the other two. I really, REALLY need to see Strangers on a Train, though. Great job!

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  2. I picked Snowpiercer as well, such a good film. I really need to watch Strangers on a Train. Great picks!

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  3. Heard a lot about Snowpiercer despite the fact, as you say, it never got a cinematic release. Last time I checked I couldn't even find it on demand but could buy the DVD.

    Seen Strangers on the Train. I too picked a Hitchcock film but went for The Lady Vanishes.

    - Myerla.

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  4. Great picks! I loved Snowpiercer, it was like nothing I had ever seen before.
    - Allie

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  5. I love Snowpiercer! I also chose it this week. It did get a limited theater release in the U.S, I saw it in theaters. It should've been wider. If I remember right, I think it went on VOD shortly after and broke a bunch of records? So at least it has that. lol I haven't seen your other two.

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  6. Strangers on a Train is such a brilliant film, it's in my top 5 Hitch movies. HItchcock didn't want to use Ruth Roman, finding her bristling, but I really like her in the film and Farley Granger gives a good account of himself but the showcase performances are Marion Lorne, just marvelous as Bruno's cuckoo mother, the director's daughter Patricia as Roman's sister Barbara and best of all of course Robert Walker as the fiendish Bruno. Such a great piece of work it seems incredible now that it was ignored come nomination time, especially since his time was so short after it came out. Hope the proposed redo falls apart, there's no need for it, this one's perfect.


    The Train is a great catch, I liked it but didn't love it finding it ponderous at times. Still overall it's a good film and glad to see you throw a little light on it.


    I haven't seen Snowpiercer but it's on my list.

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  7. Strangers on a Train is one I am putting on my queue right now. Really seems essential. I also have Snowpiercer lined up. Just haven't gotten to it yet. Nice picks!

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  8. OK I have been trying to post here for a while so I hope you see this. I love The Train and discussed this movie before since it came out the year I was born. I also had talked about Strangers on a Train a few months back and it is one of my all time favourite-the scene where the wife meets her maker is pure cinema! I have not seen Snowpiercer yet but I have to rent it.(I don't have netflix)

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  9. I agree - you really do need to see Strangers on a Train, I think it's essential Hitchcock viewing.

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  10. Yes! More love for Snowpiercer. Just wish it had a UK release. Indeed, Strangers on a Train is definitely one of Hitchcock's best.

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  11. It seems to have been quietly released on DVD somewhere but no fanfare. Ah yes I've noticed on other lists The Lady Vanishes was very popular. Great film.

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  12. Thanks! It felt like a few genres rolled into one.

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  13. I see it, no worries there Brigit. The Train is such a great film - during writing this post - I refreshed my memory with it. The scene which you're tallking about from Strangers on a Train is just superb. Didnt knoe Snowpiercer was on Netflix, must be on US only. I had to scout it out through the highways and biways of the internet.

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  14. I had to search quite a while to see Snowpiercer, wish I had seen it in better quality. That's great it broke records - that should have at least influenced a DVD release.

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  15. Thanks! it definitely is essential - one of Hitcock's best I think.

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  16. There's going to be a remake? I heard they were making 'the Birds' again but looks like it fell through. Hoping this does too - you just can't remake Hitchcock. Unless they're calling it another adaptation. There is simply no need for one.


    The ending to The Train is questionable, I agree but its mainly a fondness of the memory too. Plus, my Dad loves it.

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  17. Visually Snowpiercer looks great but I did not like the story as much.

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  18. Visually amazing, I agree. The story is actually different in the graphic novel, you might prefer it.

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