Search

Atomic Train

1999, Movie, PG-13, 168 mins

Atomic Train: Review

starstarstarstar
In this attenuated, made-for-TV action opus, a choo-choo transporting an orphaned Russian missile loses its braking system and crashes, destroying a large chunk of Denver, CO. Similarly devoid of narrative control, this downer of a disaster flick carries on like the Energizer Bunny, unstoppable as it marches past extraneous crises and anti-climaxes. When the U.S. government orders National Transportation Safety Board troubleshooter John Seger (Rob Lowe) to drop from a helicopter onto a runaway train, Seger thinks he's boarding an ordinary out-of-control train filled with bio-hazardous waste. In reality, the train carries a discarded Russian warhead, hidden in a caviar crate by greedy disposal company executive Henry Bradshaw (Henri Lubatti). A Bradshaw company snitch informs Denver dispatchers about the true nature of the train's cargo, and when word reaches President of the United States (Edward Herrmann, of course), he orders Seger to "STOP THAT TRAIN!" Seger slows it down, but he cannot prevent another train from rear-ending the loco-Lionel. CRASH! While Seger's wife (Kristin Davis) and daughter (Mena Suvari) rendezvous in a Denver suburb beset by looters, Seger heads a weapon-extraction team hampered by exploding toxic canisters. BOOM! There goes Denver. Having failed to prevent an atomic holocaust, Seger does manage to locate his dysfunctional family in time for nuclear winter. Surprisingly, all does not turn out peachy-keen in this cautionary tale about our nation's tracks of terror. Unlike the traditional cinematic spawn of Irwin Allen, this grim ode to survival doesn't celebrate teamwork or rely on apple pie homilies. Yet, even as it nukes Denver, this pessimistic adventure yarn drains vitality out of every conflict with relentless padding. By the time it's over, viewers will feel as if they've lived through a dozen disaster flicks -- all of them dull. leave a comment --Robert Pardi
Advertisement

Advertisement

Related Websites

You might be also interested in the following websites:

Most Popular TV Shows

  1. Dancing with the Stars
  2. The Game
  3. NCIS
  4. American Idol
  5. Wife Swap
more popular tv shows

Most Popular Celebrities

  1. Michelle Obama
  2. Adam Lambert
  3. Tiger Woods
  4. Kym Johnson
  5. Donny Osmond
more popular celebrities

Most Popular Movies

  1. The Twilight Saga: New Moon
  2. The Blind Side
  3. 2012
  4. Planet 51
  5. A Christmas Carol
more popular movies

Top Videos

  1. Adam Lambert
  2. #5 Adam Lambert - For Your En...
  3. Family Guy
  4. #20 Adam Lambert American Mus...
  5. Cougar Town
more top videos