Runaway Train

Starring:Jon Voight, Eric Roberts, Rebecca De Mornay, Kyle T. Heffner, John P. Ryan, T.K. Carter, Kenneth McMillan, Stacey Pickren, Walter Wyatt, Edward Bunker, Reid Cruickshanks, Dan Wray, Michael Lee Gogin, John Bloom (III), Hank Worden, John Otrin, Norman Alexander Gibbs, Dennis Ott, Don Pugsley, John Fountain
Director: Andrei Konchalovsky
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Runaway Train
SHORT TRAIN RUNNIN
What is "freedom"?
Konchalovsky crafts a memorable screen moment that reminded me the dramatic sequence of John Huston in Moby Dick...
Dramatic, suspenseful, excellent script and scenery

Runaway Train
Starring: Jon Voight , Eric Roberts , Rebecca De Mornay , Kyle T. Heffner , and John P. Ryan
Director: Andrei Konchalovsky
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Train
Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Emperor of the North
Von Ryan's Express (Special Edition)
The Pope of Greenwich Village

ASIN: 0792838424
Release Date: 1998-03-31

Description

Tearing up the track at 100 miles-per-hour, Runaway Train features hair-raising footage (Leonard Maltin) and spectacular, OscarÂ(r)-nominated* performances by Jon Voight and Eric Roberts. Packed with action, suspense and a powerful climax that will sweep you away (The New YorkDaily News), Runaway Train is an intense...stunning...astonishing (Roger Ebert) super-thriller! Manny (Voight) is the toughest convict in a remote Alaskan prison who, along with fellow inmate Buck (Roberts), makes a daring breakout. Hopping a freight train, they head full-steam for freedom, but when the engineer dies of a heart attack, they find themselves trapped, alone and speeding toward certain disaster. Until, that is, they discover a third passenger, a beautiful railroad worker (Rebecca DeMornay) who's just as desperateand just as determined to surviveas they are! *1985: Actor (Voight), Supporting Actor (Roberts)

Customer Reviews:

Runaway Train.......2007-05-13

Wonderful movie - It has everything, gripping adventure story, strong characters, and beautiful scenery. Jon Voight and Eric Roberts are terrific as the two escaped cons. Based on great screenplay by Akira Kurosawa. One of my all time favorites.

SHORT TRAIN RUNNIN.......2007-03-27

Set in the northernmost wilderness of Alaska, RUNAWAY TRAIN was a surprise hit back in 1985, garnering Oscar nominations for stars Jon Voight and Eric Roberts.
Voight plays the grizzly safecracker who escapes from a maximum security prison with his adoring fan, rapist Eric Roberts. Their escape leads them to hop on a train, not knowing that the engineer has dropped dead and fallen off the train and that they are hurtling across the wasteland at high speeds with no engineer! Nor do they know that Rebecca DeMornay is also on the train, the engineer's assistant who had taken an untimely nap and has awakened to her dangerous situation.
The cast is good: Voight and Roberts chew up the scenery, DeMornay is effective and supporting John P. Ryan oozes evil as the sadistic warden. It's rather dated but the scenery is haunting and beautiful and has enough action to maintain interest.

What is "freedom"?.......2007-03-09

Like the song says, "freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose". Is freedom a physical or philosophical thing? It depends on where you are at and where you have come from. For "Manny" Mannheim (Jon Voight) freedom is going out on your own terms. If you can take your nemesis with you, all the better.

This film is a classic "under the radar" film. You will not find it on many critic's lists, best of lists or featured in many film retrospectives, but it comes as close to some of the classics of the 30's and 40's as any film of it's era.

Voight's performance is powerful and multi-dimensional. The point where he berates Brock (Eric Roberts) for falling into the too easy macho con trap and not working to improve himself for re-entry into society is a revelation. When Brock asks Manny if he (Manny) could suck it up and work at some dull job to make it on the outside, Manny replies, "I wish I could". The look on Brock's face says it all. "This guy really means it. Here is a hardened con, a tough guy that everyone at the prison idolizes for his spirit and he's telling me that he would trade it all for a chance to wash dishes or clean floors. But he knows it is too late. He cannot go back now." Manny is a man locked into his fate. He cannot knuckle under to the warden, or the system or to his own will to live free or die.

A bothersome aspect of the film for me is Eric Robert's performance. Somehow he garnered a nomination for best supporting actor, but to me his performance is a little too overbearing and annoying. I know that he is supposed to idolize Manny and play the young man who grows during the film, and I can get that as a boxer he may be a bit "punchy" but he often sounds like he is doing a drunken Elvis imitation and comes close to overacting in some scenes. Also the storyline concerning the administrators at the central railroad office tends to veer close to cartoonish comedy, but these are small points that should not distract you from the overall message and story in the movie.

I recommend this movie to anyone who is in the mood for an above average adventure movie with some great scenes of wintry landscapes shot along lonely rail lines and a protagonist a cut above the usual one dimensional character protrayal.

Konchalovsky crafts a memorable screen moment that reminded me the dramatic sequence of John Huston in Moby Dick..........2007-01-12

Based on a screenplay by the Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, "Runaway Train" is bloody, intense and oppressive... It is a movie with arresting images about a notorious life term prisoner who has been welded in a hole for 3 years and a psychotic warden who practically hopes that his dangerous prisoner will make the first move, so that he can have an excuse to 'stop his clock.' The film takes place in the freezing landscapes of the Alaskan wilderness, and in a maximum security prison where the only escape is death...

Soon enough, Manny (Jon Voight) is on the loose along with another fellow prisoner, an unbalanced prizefighter called Buck (Eric Roberts), infected by Manny's madness... Their escape is a serious blow to the obsessive warden (John P. Ryan) who knows that his prison will be out of control if he fails to get them back...

Faced with certain death in the world's most inhospitable climates, Manny and Buck wind up on an unmanned train ignoring that its driver has suffered a heart attack, and the locomotive is rolling into something very fast...

Jon Voight completely embodies the brutal convict... The fierce intensity in his eyes, the ferocity in his voice, the hardness to withstand pain, these are indications of his madness... He has an injured hand, a scar around his eye, and a desire for revenge rooted deeply in his thoughts...

Though the movie is a character study of the dangerous inmate... We see the aftermath of Manny's last encounter with the warden... We don't get the opportunity to examine his mind or figure out what makes him so fiery... Just like Buck, we're looking at a man at war with world and everybody in it...

The film's centerpiece is the showdown between the warden and Manny... At this point it becomes clear that the warden's personal obsession overrides any human consideration... It is a thrilling show... Manny believes in nothing, and is capable of anything...

Andrei Konchalovsky depicts prison life with all the usual clichés: uptight guards, beatings, and murders... He does an admirable job of taking us into strange figures on a killer train... Konchalovsky crafts a memorable screen moment that reminded me the dramatic sequence of John Huston in Moby Dick...

Dramatic, suspenseful, excellent script and scenery.......2007-01-04

Jon Voight, Eric Roberts and Rebecca De Mornay turn in superb gripping performances. They come from 3 different worlds, yet are trapped on this runaway train trying to save their own lives. The two prison escapees (Voight and Roberts) display a wonderful dichotomy of personality - brutal, savage inmates who would kill to get away, while at the same time showing themselves to be decent protective people in their treatment of De Mornay who is a railroad employee who just happened to get stuck on this ride with them.

All the "railroady" scenes are very very good. The mechanical "facts" about the locomotives, the track, and their various attempts to stop or reroute the train, are all done very well and done believably.

The film gains a lot of drama from Alaskan wilderness, the frigid outdoor action scenes, and the big machines rocking and careening through the mountains.

I caught this movie by accident on late-night TV once, and bought this DVD because the movie is so good that I got sick and tired of waiting for it to come around on TV again.

The language is a little coarse, but not unrealistically so. Unlike current worthless Hollywood trash that peppers its scrips with the "F" word purely for shock value, the tough talk in this movie is completely believable and appropriate.

If you like drama, complex personalities, dialog, and a story line where you have to pay attention (instead of just watching cuties and car crashes), buy this movie. Send your drinking buddies and your girlfriend home, turn off the lights, and watch this movie in solitude. You won't be sorry.

If Hollywood kept making movies like this, I'd go to the movies.

I don't hand out 5-star ratings to ANYTHING lightly.

Average customer rating:

Great "facts" video...
Strictly Informational

Runaway Trains
Starring: Velocity
Manufacturer: Simitar
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

Science & Technology | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: 6305487847
Release Date: 1999-07-13

Amazon.com

If you like train wrecks, then Runaway Trains is for you. Produced by the Learning Channel, this "educational" production pretends to instruct us about train safety, but really it's all about re-creating the most horrific train accidents of the 20th century. Of course, none of these accidents were ever caught on camera, so the folks at TLC have digitally re-created them for our morbid viewing pleasure. Nonetheless, it's hard not to look away when they describe the worst train wreck ever: a Scottish express, speeding to make up for lost time, ploughed into a crowded London commuter train sitting at the London station. As if that wasn't bad enough, mere seconds later another train coming from the opposite direction crashed into the cars--filled with wounded passengers--that had been knocked onto the adjoining tracks. If this sounds interesting, then all aboard! --Kristian St. Clair

Customer Reviews:

Great "facts" video..........2001-08-01

Video and narration well done and professional. It's a good addition to your railroad video collection. Gives you alittle more respect for the railroad community.

Strictly Informational.......2000-07-25

Overall, it was actually quite a nice documentary on some of the more serious train accidents that occurred within the 20th century, with a brief background look on the history and function of trains, which have come a long way til now. It went in detail, with real life survivor accounts and computer animation to recount the accidents in detail. However, one thing that I had to comment was how horrible the computer effects were... they provide little imagination to what could have happened in real life, which is of course, much more terrifying that anyone could imagine. There was actually one other similar show that was broadcasted on FOX a while ago entitled Runaway Trains, and it went on with providing more information and detail about each individual accident, most of which was also covered by this collection. All in all, this is one of the most complementary collections that is available on the market today.... certainly worth watching for once or twice.

Average customer rating:

Atomic Train

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
ASIN: B000CC7HFW

Product Description

SUMMARY: A waste disposal company has a Russian nuclear bomb to transport, and an employee decides to save money by concealing it on a freight train. The train, also loaded with hazardous and flammable chemicals, suffers a brake failure and becomes a runaway heading for Denver. A wreck would be bad enough, but much, much worse if the bomb goes off. A heroic NTSB investigator boards the train; he and the railwaymen try various ways to stop the train, but nothing works. Meanwhile Denver residents are struggling to collect their families and then leave town, despite rioters and gridlock. Will the train have to be derailed to stop it? If it does derail, will the bomb explode, and if it does, what then? [IMDB] ++++ DVD FEATURES: This officially licensed release from South Korea is All-Region NTSC Code 0 (playable worldwide) with 4:3 Full Screen color display, Dolby Digital Sound in ENGLISH with optional (removable) English, Spanish or Korean subtitles. SPECIAL FEATURES: Interative Menu, Scene Access.

Average customer rating:

Very Exciting - A Early Jack Nicholson
The Wild Rice
pit stop powerfulness
fROM ROARING HOT RODS TO RACING BIG TIME
Surprisingly watchable budget DVD of swell hot rod/JD pic

Velocity Vol. 2: Runaway Trains
Starring: Jack Nicholson , Georgianna Carter , Robert Bean , Carol Bigby , and John Bologni
Director: Harvey Berman
Manufacturer: Simitar Ent.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

Science & Technology | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( V ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Hot Rod Girl
Born to be Wild - Four High Octane Movies
Great Racing Movies (The Fast And The Furious / The Big Wheel / Hot Rod Girl)
American Hot Rod
Funny Car Summer

ASIN: B00008G45L
Release Date: 1999-07-13

Customer Reviews:

Very Exciting - A Early Jack Nicholson.......2005-05-27

This movie is so exciting as there is plenty of action, pretty girls and a very early Jack Nicholson. Watching this movie is like watching the birth of a great movie star. It seems just like a time capsule. Very nice! Jack is in only his 2nd top-billed movie.

The Wild Rice.......2005-03-25

Juvenile Delinquent sees the error his ways. The wicked are punished in the never ending struggles of good over evil. Like many films from this era, it serves as a study in what was cool in the 1950s, with a moral reminder. Although it's a well put together budget film, the most enlightening part may come from the music and watching these kids dance? Don't go overboard on this one, or expect too much, but it just might be worth a spin.

pit stop powerfulness.......2005-02-26

amazing
the whole cast is amazing
the story is shocking, touching and amazing
a classic this shall stay for the next 90 years
I've watched it 2 times already and shall watch it more
count on it
the movie offers many insights on life, racing and other things. see what you can learn fellow movie goers

fROM ROARING HOT RODS TO RACING BIG TIME.......2003-09-21

Reminiscient of Marlon Brando's "The Wild Ones" and James Dean's "Rebel Without a Cause", fans of Jack Nicholson will want to include this early film in their collection. All of the elements are here...juvenile delinquents in trouble with the law, hot cars, alcohol, the "good girl", etc., and of cause Nicholson, who calls himself "the number one stud" in this film.

Surprisingly watchable budget DVD of swell hot rod/JD pic.......2002-08-26

In only his second top-billed role, Jack Nicholson already shows some of the commanding presence that would eventually make him a star, playing Johnny Varron, smart-mouthed, arrogant punk and "top man" in a gang of would-be hot-rodders (an "anti-hero" ten years before they were popular?). In the first scene, Johnny's questioned by police at a party after 'chicken-running' a motorcycle cop (who later dies) into a tree. Johnny rules his gang with an iron hand, dictating activities, designating girlfriends as 'in' or 'out' ("She doesn't 'fit', man"), and scoring booze from a crooked liquor store owner for their makeout parties at the beach. When 'second lieutenant' Dave appears to be going "shallow" over his girl (because he "chickened" to an oncoming truck and ran his bomb off the road when she screamed) Johnny demands that he drop her ("First thing you know you're gonna be sittin' on a sofa watching TV, and that's the end, you might as well be dead.") Later, in his first legitimate race (featuring some actually quite decent track footage), he wins through dirty tactics and is immediately fired by his furious sponsor (the entire gang goes "on the town" with a twenty in winnings from a bet he had one of his boys place on him). Interestingly, the 'square' chick is the only person who dares to stand up to Johnny, labeling his win at the track "disgusting." Ultimately, his obsession with controlling the gang leads to a high-speed chase and ensuing tragedy. The Wild Ride is short (only 60 minutes) but sweet, featuring lots of groovy hep-talk (count how many times they use the word "man"); a reference to Marlon Brando in The Wild One; some way-cool wheels (gearheads will be drooling); and a nice'n'sleazy, jazzy score heavy on sax, vibes, flute, and bongos. If you're into the late-50s JD/Hot Rod/AIP scene, this should be on your must-see list, daddy-o.
Unfortunately, the source print does have some problems: it's a bit contrasty, and exhibits the usual light speckling and blemishing throughout, plus a few mild jump cuts, some sporadic blotching and lining, and noticeable grain. That said, the picture is bright enough, with generally very good tonal scale and shadow/highlight detail, and acceptably sharp. Basically a pretty solid 16mm TV print, eminently watchable, and benefiting from the superior resolution of DVD. There are a few points where it seems that some footage may be missing, but I noticed no major gaps in continuity. Overall, it blows away the other two Brentwood discs I've purchased: both Hot Rod Girl and T-Bird Gang suffer enormously in comparison, both looking very flat, faded, and dupey. Extras (Casper cartoon with terribly balanced, faded color; movie trivia quiz; DVD Dictionary) are negligible; buy this one for the feature. Besides Brentwood, only Sinister Cinema currently offers this movie on disc (in DVD-R format), and from the few SC DVD-Rs I've purchased I'm not exactly overwhelmed with their overall quality (at several times the cost of this commercial DVD). Since there appear to be no plans for legitimate DVD releases of the bulk of Corman's Filmgroup productions, I highly recommend this disc to JD/hot rod aficionados, especially at the dirt-cheap price.

Average customer rating:

Runaway Train
SHORT TRAIN RUNNIN
What is "freedom"?
Konchalovsky crafts a memorable screen moment that reminded me the dramatic sequence of John Huston in Moby Dick...
Dramatic, suspenseful, excellent script and scenery

Runaway Train [Region 2]
Starring: Jon Voight , Eric Roberts , Rebecca De Mornay , Kyle T. Heffner , and John P. Ryan
Director: Andrei Konchalovsky
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Train
Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Emperor of the North
Von Ryan's Express (Special Edition)
The Pope of Greenwich Village

ASIN: B000063KIN

Customer Reviews:

Runaway Train.......2007-05-13

SHORT TRAIN RUNNIN.......2007-03-27

What is "freedom"?.......2007-03-09

Konchalovsky crafts a memorable screen moment that reminded me the dramatic sequence of John Huston in Moby Dick..........2007-01-12

Dramatic, suspenseful, excellent script and scenery.......2007-01-04

DVD:

DVD List

DVD

DVD

Horror Spine Tingling (3pc)

Dragon Blue

Creature (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: New Jack City

Peak Practice - The Complete Second Series