Unstoppable

I thought the same thing, about why the engineer didn't just step onto the disabled locomotive.  But then there would be no movie, or at least the drama wouldn't be there.  And then why make the movie in the first place.  Hollywood, like so may other businesses, promotes it's own work.  Otherwise, alot of people would be out of a job.....LOL

Many years ago I was working on retrofitting kitchens in a housing project.  Every one was identical.  A simple 54" counter, sink and cabinet assembly.  The city inspector had to sign off on every kitchen.  Every fourth or fifth kitchen he would find an issue.  In reality, there was none.  I asked him why he was finding fault when there was none.  "I have to justify my job", was his reply.   

The fact that they couldn't derail the locomotive was really phony, how long would it have taken a track crew to remove a rail and bend the other one over to derail the locomotive?  10 minutes?  They managed to drive at high speed and put someone in the cab, but as they passed the fuel cutoff, they couldn't just push the button from the truck and save jumping on a speeding locomotive?

Personally, I think they should have just scrambled an F16 and blasted it, now that would have made an exciting finale to the movie!

When have you ever seen a "based on a true story" film that wasn't hopelessly dramatized so that the original story was unrecognizable?

Was this movie any worse than WWII movies wherein the hero climbs into the cockpit of his F6F... takes off down the flight-deck in a TBF... bombs the Japanese carrier in a SBD... and then dogfights in a F4U before landing in his F4F??

Jon

KOOLjock1 posted:

Was this movie any worse than WWII movies wherein the hero climbs into the cockpit of his F6F... takes off down the flight-deck in a TBF... bombs the Japanese carrier in a SBD... and then dogfights in a F4U before landing in his F4F??

Jon

YES!

It's a movie made for entertainment. I see things in TV shows and movies all the time with a little research they could avoid the obligatory errors but most people will not even know or notice. I was watching Chicago Fire the other night before the leaving for the stout auction and the paramedic gal jumps on a tractor trying to use the front end loader to lift a bus and states, it must be stripped when anyone who has ever seen or used an FEL knows they are hydraulic.

As Shawn mentions, movies and TV shows are entertainment and almost always inaccurately depict professions and occupations.

One of my favorites were the frequent Perry Mason end of show admission outbursts by the real killers that exonerate Perry's wrongfully accused clients--as courtroom drama, can't get much further from reality than that.

I realize the movie was really over dramatized to Unbelievable Limits, but, I loved the movie and enjoyed the suspense and the really good chase, and although it’s on the fantasy side of life, I found it fun to watch. In fact, I have watched it 5 times. There’s actually 4 or more stories going on in the movie and that’s why I enjoyed the movie.....Denzel Washington is a great actor and most of the movies he stars in are fantastic.  So, Unstoppable, The Movie,  a cool Runnaway train story, to me was a really good show. Great post, there’s going to be many opinions, all good in there own way. Happy Railroading 

Change the channel.........

Movies that are "Inspired by real life" are supposed to be much better at telling the real story than movies that are "Based on true events".    The next time you watch a movie that is supposed to be telling a story that actually is part of history, look at the beginning credits.  It will say one of the two statements I mentioned.

Well in all fairness, the train didnt have any air brakes. If I remember correctly when the engines went to a joint on the cut of cars in the yard, the air was not cut in. So the air brakes werent a factor anyway, but Hollywood always has to add drama for entertainment 😉

Unstoppable is ok but Snowpiecer is unbearable to watch. One of the worst movies ever. 

Dave

Ugh, sounds dreadful. I do remember another film from some time ago that was equally hard to watch. Runaway Train starring Jon Voight, Rebecca De Mornay & Eric Roberts. Back in 1985, I guess they thought it was pretty realistic, but it still was a did. Most of what was said of Unstoppable can or could apply. Little sub-stories, people trying to figure out how to stop the locomotive, etc., etc. Heck, just get the darn thing to 88 MPH and be done with it. If it doesn't go through time, I guess it wasn't a good idea to make the movie. Turn on Murder on the Orient Express(any version will do as its a great story).

My wife and I enjoyed the Unstoppable.  We especially enjoyed the end when they said that the engineer who started the train rolling was now employed in the fast food industry.  I thought the movie had some great if unrealistic shots of real trains.  NH Joe

And right at the end, you can see the two locomotives which were catching the train about 10 cars down around a curve.

Yeah,  Unstoppable has a lot of problems, but ..... Hey, how often does Hollywood make movies that the train is the center of the movie.

The errors that bug me are .. 

The crossing gates going down as the Locomotive is all ready in the crossing.

When the 2 Locomotives that are in front trying to stop the train, are switched onto the siding, The runaway stays on the mainline.  As close as the locomotives are, no way that switch could have been thrown that quick.

When Frank  (Denzel Washington) gets his train onto the siding (or a rip-track ?) and the runaway blows through the last car it also goes through the switch set for the siding.   (spring switch ?)

Frank then sees the last car has it coupler open, ......  couplers work with only one open

When they filmed "Denver and Rio Grande" in 1952, the train crash scene was actually staged using two 2-8-0 steam locomotives which actually crashed in the filming of the movie.   (yeah,  I copied this from IMDB)    Like to see Norfolk Southern crash two SD70MAC Locomotives so Hollywood can make a movie.

Steve

  I think it's a good chewing gum for the eyeballs kind of movie and I've watched it numerous times.  As for realism - I gave up worrying about realism way back when I was a kid and watched some guy in a western get hit over the head with a large wooden chair and then, after a shake of his head, jump up and pummel the bad guy into a bloody heap.  I mean really - a large wooden chair!!!??? - in real life the good guy would STILL be lying on the floor.

Robert S. Butler posted:

  I think it's a good chewing gum for the eyeballs kind of movie and I've watched it numerous times.  As for realism - I gave up worrying about realism way back when I was a kid and watched some guy in a western get hit over the head with a large wooden chair and then, after a shake of his head, jump up and pummel the bad guy into a bloody heap.  I mean really - a large wooden chair!!!??? - in real life the good guy would STILL be lying on the floor.

How long does it take the prop department to make a prop chair to see it broken in one take ?

Steve24944 - I guess I don't understand your point.  If you get hit over the head with a real, large, wooden chair in real life it is unlikely it will break and, assuming you survive the impact, you will most likely wake up in the hospital intensive care unit.

Robert S. Butler posted:

Steve24944 - I guess I don't understand your point.  If you get hit over the head with a real, large, wooden chair in real life it is unlikely it will break and, assuming you survive the impact, you will most likely wake up in the hospital intensive care unit.

Robert,  I get your point, if it was a real chair,  you would be in the hospital.   I'm just saying,  some guy in the prop dept spends hours making a prop chair out of Balsa Wood, (or however they make prop chairs), to see it smashed in one second.  But, ....  Hey, Job Security.

Steve

I've seen Unstoppable several times. I just take it for what it is: A bit of entertainment with some very cool looking locomotives included. My wife really likes the movie, and that is fine with me. You sure won't catch me sitting there with her (and a bowl of popcorn, of course) making critical comments about everything that wasn't prototypical.

Well, at least its not Under Siege 2.

Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Well, at least its not Under Siege 2.

That whole dark territory nonsense is a bunch of bunk.  (there are CTC searchlight signals when the bad guys stop the train).  

From IMDB ....   During this production Steven Seagal started wearing a girdle to contain his stomach, this was apparently a temporary fix as he intended to lose the excess weight eventually. This has not occurred  

Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Well, at least its not Under Siege 2.

Wait a minute, what was... wrong.. with....... AHHH I almost made it through that sentence without laughing!!!

Funny how in a hobby where in the broad general sense their is a modicum of suspension of disbelief, that so many can't do the same when it comes to movies.

Unstoppable, Under Siege 2, etc are not documentaries. They are pure escapism meant to be fun. As Alan Miller said above, they're just for entertainment with some fun looking things and action.

Next you're going to tell me President Lincoln wasn't a vampire hunter.

DUMB and DUMBER! I would NOT view such idiocy! I am a cinema buff and have more intelligent choices for my entertainment. Also, NOT  fan of mindless "blockbusters"! But that's me!

What's not to like about Unstoppable?

Unstoppable's Chris Pine also piloted the Starship Enterprise. Talk about prototypical...

If I want realism, I turn off the TV and surely don't look for it in the movie theater.

PS, photo is a pic of an actual diesel locomotive.

Realism aside, I thought it was an entertaining movie, much better than I expected. It certainly would have given the public some appreciation of the power of these modern engines. Hopefully at least some of the audience learned from the movie to respect them and avoid dangerous encounters.

When it comes to movies that are unwatchable because of their lack of realism, what about Mary Poppins?!  I mean, she flies in on an umbrella!!

Sarcasm mode off.

breezinup posted:

Realism aside, I thought it was an entertaining movie, much better than I expected. It certainly would have given the public some appreciation of the power of these modern engines. Hopefully at least some of the audience learned from the movie to respect them and avoid dangerous encounters.

My objection is that it probably taught a lot of them to fear RRs/trains.  Added to the nearly deliberate fictions being bandied about by "news reporters," this movie has the potential to create additional, unneeded political opposition.

This movie was stupid dramatic. Saw it once, no more.

RE: Unstoppable: It is NOT a matter of a lack of realism, but rather STUPIDITY. The original Mary Poppins was presented as a brilliant entertaining FANTASY, with NO intention of realism intended. Different strokes for different folks, but I will always take a pass on stupidity.

Byrdie posted:

When it comes to movies that are unwatchable because of their lack of realism, what about Mary Poppins?!  I mean, she flies in on an umbrella!!

Sarcasm mode off.

You mean that wasn’t real????  😧

Curt

Did the movie make money?  Then it was successful for the filmmaker, who is trying to make money, like any business.  I wouldn't watch it, sounds dumb, un-prototipical, whatever, but remember the goal was to make money.

You know its funny how everyone is talking about unprototypical. You know most the trains we play with are too now that's stupid too thanks you ruined the hobby for me.

Shawn_Chronister posted:

You know its funny how everyone is talking about unprototypical. You know most the trains we play with are too now that's stupid too thanks you ruined the hobby for me.

Thus I would suggest that you don't read this drivel!!!!!!

As much as I agree with the posters who have pointed out that this movie is supposed to be entertainment, the real entertainment comes from listening to modelers and railfans after watching it. They never cease to disappoint! Perhaps there are programs out there to help eventually reintegrate them into society, they way they do with captive-raised gorillas before releasing them. 

German posted:

the real entertainment comes from listening to modelers and railfans after watching it. They never cease to disappoint! 

That is why I enjoy these threads.   I sit back and get a good laugh at how angry some people seem to get over something so meaningless as a purely summer blockbuster action movie.