GAUGE THE ISSUE: 'Runaway Train' vs 'Unstoppable'
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This is a video critique. All images and footage are referenced under Section 107 "fair use" guidelines.
'Runaway Train' is copyright of MGM.
'Unstoppable' is copyright of 20th Century Fox.
All material is referenced under the US Copyright Act within Section 107's "fair use" guidelines. Most images are licensed under Creative Commons 2.0 and 3.0, OR are in the Public Domain. All Third Party content is referenced under the US Copyright Act within Section 107's "fair use" guidelines.
I think the setting for Runaway Train is very under-rated. The movie being very dark and grey, with the rest almost being entirely snow really drives in the moodiness. Whereas Unstoppable is very colorful and bright, and thus isn't as edgy. But Unstoppable has way more tension than Runaway Train in my eyes. The horse trailer scene, aswell as the railroad safety train scene really put the viewer on edge. Both have pros and cons.
No comparison. Runaway Train is a masterpiece. The cinematography, the acting, the story, dialog, Buck, Ranker, Manny, the train! Genius.
When I was in conductor school for CSX, a fellow student was the son of Jesse Knowlton, the CSX engineer who took his engine and went after the runaway 8888 and slowed it down enough for an official to board the head end and stop the runaway. He told me they were making a movie about the incident, and that Denzel Washington was going to play the part of his dad. I totally didn't believe him! Imagine my surprise when "Unstoppable" showed up in theaters almost 2 years later; he had told the truth! I think Runaway Train is by far the better movie...
All I'll say about Runaway Train is.... managing to make "Et En Terra Pax Hombillus" even more chilling than it already is is quite the accomplishment.
Seeing Runaway train in the spotlight is a lovely touch, great film overall.
Approaching the box office, I asked the attendant for two tickets to “Stoppable “. The attendant said, “the movie is actually called ‘Unstoppable’.” To which I replied, “I think you will find I am right!” 😂 The attendant didn’t get it. True story. Keep up the good work, Chris.
As someone who lives near DeWitt and works in Syracuse, and being a railway/NYC buff, I'm surprised I had never heard of the runaway incident that happened quite literally on my home turf. Definitely something I'm going to have to read into now, great video as always Chris, and I look forward to your STiP stories from the USA. Keep up the great work.
Edit: Turns out the yard the incident started in is the same one across the street from my job, crazy
I can only apologise for pronouncing Syracuse like a numpty. Thanks for tuning in
@@ChristheXelent not as bad as Los Angeles lol
I was really excited to hear about Unstoppable and see it in theaters. My mom later told me that if she had known about the scene where a bunch of photographers lined the bridge to catch the runaway, she would have taken me out there. I absolutely loved the movie and still do. There's a few qualms I have that I attribute to just the lack of knowledge about trains, such as you need a lot more horsepower to haul a lot fewer cars than normal. E.g. having to be in noch 8 to move 39 cars and the SD40-2 having the same horsepower as an SD80MAC and that it's barely enough to move slightly fewer cars than 777. But thankfully those things don't take away from my love of the film, the plot and how it's presented. And I definitely attribute that to 777 and 1206 being the main characters.
I have yet to watch Runaway Train. Maybe it's time to do so.
An actual railroader involved with the crazy eights incident was a technical advisor for the film. Obviously it wasn't the man responsible of course, because at the time he was still in the industry. But regardless having an actual engineer involved with the film really makes you wonder what happened behind the scenes.
Highly recommend Runaway train. To me, a railroad movie masterpiece.
An SD40 has enough horsepower to pull up to 40 to 75 cars wide as an SD80MAC does, even CSX 8888
I enjoyed The Train Now Starring, and I think I've watched all the episodes. I'd love to see it return!
Ditto
I've seen both movies 🎬 and I liked them both.
My husband is a locomotive 🚂 engineer with the Canadian Pacific railroad.
He's worked there for over 25 years.
I only know of Unstoppable from the Technical Difficulties. Really must give it a watch. Fantastic as always Chris
4:25 I appreciate the Old Iron reference!
I find Unstoppable a guilty pleasure.. I enjoyed it a lot and rewatch it regularly. It guess for me it came out when I was living the UK and it reminded me of trains in North America, which I missed. Now I’m back here its still a fun romp
great video liked both movies 🚄🚄😱
Another cool film with steamers doing stunts is “Young Winston” (1972). There’s a battle scene with GWR 1466 (armour plated) in the 2nd Boer War (35 years out of era) and a scene where POW Churchill escapes over the border on a black 9F (55 years out of era). Plus a couple of 0-6-0’s.
The engines were loaned by the Great Western Society for the film production (shot in Wales) so there wasn’t many running steamers available at the time, so they had to just use whatever they could.
The film was on TV a few days ago, otherwise it’s on DailyMotion.
Yeah I’m come out and say that when I saw Unstoppable for the first time, I was thinking of Old Iron about halfway through. An older blue loco chasing down a red (or two in this case) loco that’s under power with no crew aboard, it was an obvious comparison for my 11 year old brain to make I’ll have to check out Runaway Train though, it seems really cool!
I haven't watched either, and when it comes to Unstoppable, I'd like to keep it that way.
I’ve watched both of these movies and both are very well put together in my opinion considering they’re both about trains! Some (if not all) of the real life locomotive “actors” in each movie do still survive today to the best of my knowledge albeit with renumbering or rebuilding.
I'm a fan of both films they're both very interesting I saw runaway train on TV and I saw unstoppable in a movie theater both are equally awesome
Honestly I like both movies, great video
Similarity between the two: Both engineers put the locomotives in run 8 when leaving the yard for no reason
When I saw "Runaway train" I initially thought you were talking about the 1973 movie "Runaway" - all the way up to you mentioning the convicts. In a weird twist it's an oddly similar movie, where it revolves around the people's psyche on board the runaway train. It's not them sharing stories, but rather watching the relative madness of how commoners react in a life-or-death situation - who breaks down crying, who comes in clutch, and who just end up too shocked to do anything. I'd recommend reviewing that movie too, if you haven't done so already
Unstoppable was the first movie I,saw and it’s was amazing!
Voight has the most amazing dialogue in Runaway Train and gives the most incredible performance as Manny. The fact he is so realised in what he is and how wrong is he "I wish I could youngster" (in response to the intense "you're gonna clean that spot" speech) and "no worse, human.... HUMAN!" he kind of slips into the anti-hero of the piece. The "I am free" line combined with the Richard III quote is the perfect way for it to end for him and of course the flip side of that is Eric Roberts' Buck is quite green and his realisation in the fight scene that Manny isn't the man he looked up to is brilliantly moving (to the point his disappointment even seems to move the unmoveable force in Manny himself) and still makes the desperate pleas for Manny to "just shut it down". The whole film is an incredible piece of psychological drama and I adore it. The almost sub-plot of Barstow's attempts to stop the train also has deep psychology in it when you watch him slowly fall apart as he realises his efforts are futile. Having said that Unstoppable is good and like you say is a good "zone out" movie.
I'd have said "The Bullet Train" with Sonny Chiba was a bigger inspiration for Speed, the stories have similar beats, just swap bus with 0 series Shinkansen.
Then there's the film Runaway, a TV movie with a runaway Rio Grande ski train, it has the whole chase it down with other engines plot conceit as well as the hanging off the side to fix hoses and there's a thing we're going too fast to get round or over bit. They are all lots of fun.
I love both of these movies.
Runaway Train definitely has better character development, because the runaway train is a character. The museum-bound F unit is making a metaphorical jailbreak and serves as the sole reason why the train cannot be stopped. Meanwhile it also serves as a metaphorical prison for the people stuck on the train who must escape it in order to stop the train. Runaway Train is layered like an onion.
Unstoppable is a great movie because it does what most movies nowadays don’t do: it skips the nuance and gets to the point to tell the story. 777 is the main character and everyone else is trying to stop it, just like the real life events of 8888. The different perspectives of the railroad workers are only used to highlight where 777 is in it’s journey.
I watched parts of Unstoppable, but NEVER known about Runaway Train until i saw this video for the first time.
I'm just waiting for the day you go to the virginia museum of transportation in Roanoke Virginia :)
Your comparison was good, you know you can make a video about the comparison of the train crash scene in union station from the movie Silver Streak 1976 with the end of the runaway subway in Speed 1994.
Iblove how the stories of real runaway trains can make such epic movies, well yhe train side of them anyway.....silverstreaks runawau and crash was also based on real events and this is the first time im hearikg about the runaway train movie beinf based loosely on a real event....its nice
awesome video
Run Away is still one of my favorites films, excellently shot, the character development is great!
I appreciate The "The Who Vs AC/DC" comparison. And considering they're both huge fans of each other, it's apt. Because you can love both of these movies for different and similar reasons, like you can with the Who and AC/DC.
Never seen either movie, nor to I really want to.
I do remember seeing "Atomic Train", and a TV movie called "Final Run".
I have only seen Unstoppable. Watched it on TV, even got it on DVD as well. The action elements made it enjoyable for me.
Runaway train is a superior movie and you can't change my mind
The first time I saw Runaway Train, I was around 4 or 5 years old. (Definitely not a good age to see that kind of film.) So it is a film held near and dear to my heart. Watching it now as an adult, I can truly appreciate what the film represents.
Unstoppable was epic to me when it came out. A movie about a runaway train, you hey your tender I was first in line at the theater on opening day. To me, it was an action film that felt like it truly understood the power of an out of control train. (Even with the more ridiculous aspects.)
Personally, I would choose Runaway Train as the better written film.
But Unstoppable is always going to be a movie that I could flip on if I'm looking to get my blood pumped for an epic ride.
Same for me mate, I was 6 when I first saw RT, and was mesmerised!
Same...I was 5 when my dad taped a TV showing of the movie onto vhs for me. Even edited for TV, I don't know what he was thinking...
Great video Chris, thanks! I love both films and think they both shine in various ways, although Runaway Train holds that special spot for me as I loved watching it as a kid 🙂
Now this is the debate to end the debates
There’s also a movie from 1973 called “Runaway”, you can watch the whole thing for free right on UA-cam!
I seen Unstoppable, Runaway Train, and even Speed heck I watched Speed as young as 5 to 7 years old
and between all 3 films I enjoy em but my favorites of those 3 are Runaway Train and Speed due to the depth, the characters, the environment, and just love how one film inspired another
I prefer Unstoppable to be honest. Even though it's highly inaccurate to how railroads work and how locomotives work.
All the metaphors about crime and freedom in Runaway Train went over my head.
Did you even research 8888
@@TailsFan369no2 yes. And I do know for a fact that trains can't go up on two wheels without derailing. Especially at 70 miles an hour.
@@FutureRailProductions They can.
2:27 Good news!
I have time on my hands, and how dare you say that about Red Dwarf! (It did social commentary, comedy, sci-fi, parody of sci-fi and a bunch of other stuff). Thanks for the video, made me want to see a film now :)
i watched both but i like Runaway train more cause it at least speaks more of a story
RUNAWAY TRAIN without question is the better film.!! it is so deep on so many levels.
I've seen both of these films and while I think Runaway Train is the best one, Unstoppable is my favorite
Seen both films and Runaway is one I've watched several times while Unstoppable I watched once and thats it. I'll go watch the old Judge Dredd movie again before Unstoppable.
I've yet to see Runaway train but I did enjoy Unstoppable
I watched Both Runaway train and Unstoppable and Even Speed(But speed wasn’t the topic I’m just Saying) And I love both films. Thank you for talking about these two. 👍🏾
When I'm older I want to watch unstoppable.
I thought there were some similarities between Unstoppable and another movie that I think was called Atomic Train. Well, the similarities end where in Atomic Train it derailed and exploded, but up until then it was fairly similar.
Haven't watched either, have watched TTTE episodes "Old Iron" & "The Runaway" though
i just realized the "Hooking Up to the Back but fails" is a reference to Atomic Train.
So, I have some mixed feelings here.
(Note for fans of both movies: I'm pretty sure the roaring you hear from the head locomotive in Unstoppable is a reference to one or two shots in Runaway Train where you hear a sort of lion roar coming from the head locomotive of that consist)
I've seen Unstoppable 2 or 3 times, and I just finished watching Runaway Train for the first time a few minutes ago because I've been meaning to, and this video is as good a reason as any. I would definitely say that Runaway Train is the *better* movie; there's more going on, it's a lot more layered, the social commentary is interesting, and there just seems to be more thought put into it, overall. But, with all of that said, I would say I *like* Unstoppable more. The cinematography is more to my liking, the special effects and the action scenes in general look a lot better to me, the chemistry between Denzel Washington and Chris Pine is pretty good imo, and like Chris said, it doesn't try to hide what it is. It knows damn well that it's a cheesy over-the-top blockbuster-type movie and leans into it pretty hard. It suits some parts of my taste pretty well, tbh.
SPOILERS PAST THIS POINT. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
I know the it might be a bit lame to say happy endings are good, but... Well... I do like the ending in Unstoppable, even if it's very cheesy. It's just a lot more satisfying to me. The ending of Runaway Train was a bit of a let-down imo, and I wish they had showed at least a little more. I mean, we know exactly what's going to happen to Manny, but the entire movie has been building up to it, and they just drop it at the last second. I don't know if there were budget or production issues, but I just don't see why you wouldn't give the viewer the satisfaction of the final big crash. It could've been just as emotional while being much more satisfying. And I do wish we'd gotten an inkling of what happened to Buck. A lot of movies from around this time had endings like this where even the immediate aftermath is never shown, and it drives me up the wall.
In summary, I would watch each of these with very different goals in mind. If I want to watch a mostly character-driven action-drama, then I'll reach for Runaway Train, and if I want to mostly turn my brain off and enjoy an over-the-top action movie starring a(n arguably sentient) train, I'm all-in on Unstoppable. Just for me, personally, I like both movies, but Unstoppable is the one I'm going to revisit much more frequently.
The ending for Unstoppable isn't cheesy.
Have you ever watched RUNAWAY the film starring Ben Johnson that’s a good mix of the lives of the passengers and focus on trying to stop the train.
it;s funny because Unstoppable is based on a real event, the Crazy Eights Incident.
however i would not be surprised if other elements were taken from the other story,
Unstoppable is my favorite but runaway train have a good soundtrack
This made me want to watch “Runaway Train” so I watched it and skipped the prison act. I loved it. John V is always a win. Buck’s character journey was my favorite part. John V and Denzel teaming up to a stop a train would be the ultimate way to end it all eh.
I saw unstoppable and it was a okay movie. I watched it when I was still learning about railway’s so basically the film was my introduction to the crazy eight even though I didn’t know about it at the time.
Can't compare Runway train with other train movies. It's masterpiece. Signam Mainteiner 40. :D
Runaway is my favourite , its alaska , its miles and miles and miles of single track main trough land snowed in, near black trees in contrast and a heavy cloud cover paired with blizzardy conditions, there isnt space for the trains to run to safety , nor space for the train to run out of speed/fuel , aswell as old bridges maybe even being normaly passed at 20mph or less due to their condition, [spoiler]
And they were indeed routed up that old spur due to that, it was the last resort of the Dispatch office not to let them run into anchorage and potentially smash up a yard , of course for 2/4 that turns out alright
Gauge the issue intro is wow.
I reckon that the classic model series of ttte have fantastic runaways
I have watched both and another tribute to Runaway Train in Unstoppable is the RIP track seen is most likely a nod to Runaway Train
Runaway Train is however the best of the 2 by far
Unstoppable is like first normal day then minutes later runaway train
I personally like unstoppable, but hands down my favorite "runaway train" film is "silver streak"
Actualy they were not shooting at the fuel line, they were shooting at the emergency shut off
Great video, but you missed the original film out of the conversation, simply titled "Runaway!" Made in 1973, it predates both of these and yet the plot is eerily similar, so much so that both films appear to borrow certain plot points from this first film.
As a professional Engineman i alway approach train flims with a lot of trepidation. Both flims gave lots a dumb stuff but you just got to look past that, however Unstoppable was the first time iveccseen a flim where i feel the grumpy old Driver was accutualy depicted when talking about "train stuff". I've worked with many old guys when i was a newby and Denzel reminded of them (im one of the old blokes now).
Yeah, pretty much anything in film or TV is deliberately 'bigged-up' for the sake of getting more people in. But it's nice to hear from people within the industry thinking some elements were depicted in a more familiar way. Thanks for sharing Graham
You do know that both films are based on true railroad incidents in 1964 and 2001. right?
Went to watch 'Runaway Train' at the cinema when it first came out. Took my then girlfriend along, who later became my wife. She hated it. Now bare with me here, I like trains, always have, but I thought it was the most boring film I had seen in ages and a complete waste of at least 2hrs or more of my life at that time. With regards to 'Unstoppable' you know right off the bat, it's gonna be a hyped up Hollywood film centred around a train, so you adjust your mindset accordingly. Of the two films, I would say that 'Unstoppable' is the one I would watch again.
Having seen both, I prefer Unstoppable, because of one scene in runaway train involving a nuckle coupler.
I've seen both and like both but unstoppable has to be my favorite though.
Both
These two films and Speed I found laugh out loud hilarious. They were so absurd in their execution. I was a train driver for 34 years although not in the USA, many of the things done by those trains were not from my experience possible. Actually the more I think back on them, they were cringe worthy.
Personally, I like Unstoppable more. But, perhaps I'm biased because they filmed it in my area. I actually knew one of the kids who was in the school field trip group.
liked both one was full on drama the other base on a true in counter sort of thing .
Can’t help feeling it’s more of a generational thing.
I have noticed in older films that the characters look like actual real people. Nowadays they always seem to make characters who look good on screen.
Akira Kurosawa's treatment may have influenced the TV film Runaway! A bit cheesy but I loved it as a kid.
Runaway Train is my number 1 favorite movie of all time! It’s a hidden gem with very well written dialogue, breathtaking cinematography, and a soundtrack which is downright Oscar worthy. Definitely the one that I prefer over the two.
Unstoppable however, while enjoyable, I consider it a high budget B movie with trains. Don’t get me wrong I saw it opening day in the theater, and some of the stunt work is amazing. But with the constant 360 shots, shaky cam shots, and constantly repeating what the train is going to do. It gets downright irritating. It’s still a good movie. Even more tragic when you realize that it was Tony Scott’s last film he made before committing suicide. R.I.P.
At the end of the day I just wish we would get more train films, unfortunately Hollywood doesn’t think that they’ll be profitable. And taking a look at both Runaway Train’s and Unstoppable’s box office take, it seems that they’re right. But dollar signs be damned! Let’s see more trains in the movies!!!
I thought Speed was inspired by the Japanese film "The Bullet Train" of 1975, which is personally one of my favorite films.
But between these two I prefer runaway train simply for the music and that train crash with the caboose
Thanks for mentioning that movie. I didn't know that Speed has a Japanese blueprint.
I also prefer Runaway Train because of the mood and the winter landscape.
I've seen both AND the preceeding film Runaway! from 1973. I suggest you look that one up because it also contains the "catch up to it - stop it" plot. As for a favorite it's Runaway Train hands down.
6:20 and then the original idea with the train with the bomb inspired, atomic train, (not the best movie but i enjoy it none-the-less)
Whilst I’ve never seen Runaway Train I now very much want to watch it. I have seen Unstoppable however, and it is a bit more of a Hollywood action movie centred around a train, so it’s not really deep or meaningful, but a good film if you just want a relaxed action. Grab rather than something that makes you pause and think. Interesting to see the similarities between the two and the original script however.
Good to see you’re doing well Chris, have a pint of Spitfire on us!
THE DACIA SANDERO!
Studios, STUDIOS. Fox was bought by Disney
Um i like unstoppable more than runaway train well kinda i kinda like runaway train but is just like good and the 2 prisoner get on the train not good idea because when you get on a train you don't know where your going and plus crazy 8s i loved that as well i watch every runaway well some runaway i know runaway train 1985 unstoppable 2010 atomic train 1999 crazy 8s yeah i know those
I think you should‘ve compared Unstoppable and Atomic Train as both movies are suspeciously similar
Aww I thought the train now starring came back, still good though.
Massive thumbs up for dropping Otto from Flying High/ Airplane into a rail film commentary.
Have only seen RT, Unstoppable sounds too much like a joke to me. Like all great train disaster movies, they fail to take vigilance control systems, train brakes, signalling systems, etc into account. The 4 locos in RT could have been stopped almost straight away by the points through the yard not being set to the mainline for a shunting unit set. At least the special effects in RT look more realistic. No need for pyrotechnics or fireballs there.
Me on runaway locomotive ya stanton curve I like ac4400cw 777
What about Atomic Train?
Yeah for real though
While both do use the same concept of a runaway train, it's hard to pick as I've only seen each film in full once. The plots of each film are different however and do have different endings. Without spoiling them, Unstoppable does have a satisfying ending while Runaway Train has a bitter sweet one.
CENTRAL CALLING JORDAN
I've seen both films and I do agree they do have simpler but its safe to say there inspections come from different events. This doesn't make them good or bad. There just two different forms of entertainment. It's like a ford Sports car vs a Ferrari 250 GTO. Some like one of there other. Some don't like the later over the former. You can get on in life with just one but they say "variety is the spice of life" Both films are great its just up to you witch you like.
If you not into train themed movie then take a pass on them.
If you like story lines that hve great derail you can discover, Go for Runaway train.
If you like something more modern and updated and has locomotives you see from time to time Go for Unstoppable.
But if your someone who really like great writing, Cordia gaffing, Stunts and some details that leave a great impression on you when you watch it. Then Runaway Train (1985) is the clear winner.
Not saying Unstoppable is bad. Far from it its fantastic. I just seen Runaway train first and seen it more times then I can count and I've seen remakes and short videos base in Runaway train why befor Unstoppable come out.
I've only seen one of the two in full. Unstoppable. I'm a little bias towards it due too being an Ohioan who lives close to where the Crazy 8's incident occurred. I also prefer Unstoppable as nothing beats a simple action film with light character growth
I want to see Runaway Train but I for the life of me can not find a legal copy of the movie in digital. I don't have access to physical movies anymore
I think Runaway Train is better because of many reasons, but the main one is its a bit creepy compared to Unstoppable. Like how horrifying is it to have four all black locomotives racing toward you and the leader is covered in debris.
On "Unstoppable" there are so many crazy parts. Like when the train is running away at full throttle in the yards and being chased by the yard driver, the other employees who could stop it all stand around laughing at him. Is this what they would really do? And Denzel and his mate while being involved in chasing the runaway train to prevent a disaster pass the time with talk about their home life - really?
"Runaway Train" stood out for me by showing the freezing conditions the railroad employees in Alaska have to deal with - look at the icicles on the couplers and M.U. cables.
You should be grateful, they payed close attention details for Unstoppable like the chase scens.
I watched Runaway Train and I didn’t like it much. It took just a bit too long to get going for me, and they did sort of cop out by not showing the train crash or stop. For whatever reason the characters didn’t click with me either. I might watch Unstoppable at some point to see whether I prefer it.
I prefer Unstoppable but my number one is Taking of Pelham 123 both versions.