Trained killer Ladybug (Brad Pitt), who wants to give up the life of an assassin, but is pulled back in by his handler Maria Beetle (Sandra Bullock) to collect a briefcase on a bullet train heading from Tokyo to Kyoto. Once onboard, he and the other competing assassins onboard discover that their objectives are all connected.

Let it be said that stuntman turned director David Leitch is a force of nature when it comes to the action genre. With a list of stellar credits to his name, he’s a filmmaker who knows and understands the beats of the action genre succinctly and better yet is a proponent of what I like to call ‘action as narrative’, with the film’s action rhythms driving the force of the narrative. And that’s exactly what he gives us with Bullet Train. He takes a menagerie of deranged assassins, places them on a speeding bullet train and starts the clock! And it’s one hell of a riot.

Looking to rev things up with a solid mix of action-comedy, Leitch draws on his years of experience as a stuntman and principal at Eighty-Seven 11, the renowned action stunt-house that has revolutionized action cinema, when it comes to realising the experience of Bullet Train. This life as a stuntman gives him a unique eye for performance and the movement of this film, and Leitch’s narrative, doesn’t stand still. He has fun with the premise of packing a host of despicable bad guys into a small confined space, where there’s nowhere to escape and simply lets them have at it. He then turns the speed, volume and velocity up and this result is a crazy cocktail of action fun.

Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt is front and centre in Bullet Train as the film’s central character, the embittered, accident-prone SoCal assassin Ladybug, and Pitt has the time of his life with this very distinct character in this full-on movie. Pitt’s performance as Ladybug has a quality that I can best describe as ‘imagine if The Dude from The Big Lebowski decided he wanted to be an assassin’. Laid-back and looking for good vibes only, Pitt’s Ladybug is a character who is trying to make the most of his new zen-outlook on life. What should be a simple ‘snatch and grab’ turns into a desperate fight for survival as Ladybug tries to stay out of trouble, and well, alive, as he contends with a host of dangerous and deranged villains who are ready to take him out. And the complexity only builds for Pitt as the train moves down the line.

Adding to the fun of Pitt’s involvement is the meta-ness of his and director David Leitch’s partnership as once upon a time Leitch served as Pitt’s stunt double. It’s an intriguing fact that adds to the fun and appeal of Bullet Train and you feel the shorthand between Pitt and Leitch through the making of the film. Along with his zen persona, Pitt also jumps headfirst into the action, and he’s certainly put through the wringer in this one. Pitt also gets to flex his considerable comedic timing with Ladybug, especially concerning the character’s accident-prone, bad-luck nature, and he’s a hoot to watch because of it.

Providing a key level of support to Bullet Time are Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry as Tangerine and Lemon, a pair of fraternal assassins who have a job to take care of, but who in the process get mixed up with Ladybug before it all goes to hell. Taylor-Johnson brings a whipsmart cockney style as Tangerine, who’s snappish and energetic in a Mick Jagger kind of way, while Henry is the more astute of the pair and has a very ‘unique’ frame for reading people that is sure to get a few giggles out of the audience. They make a killer pair on screen and get their share of the action, and it’s a lot of fun watching them bounce off one another.

Bullet Train also sees some great performances courtesy of rising newcomers Joey King and Andrew Koji. As sociopathic schoolgirl The Prince, King has a glee and glare to her character and this calculating psycho is a tremendously dangerous adversary who has all the angles worked out. Then there’s Koji who made a solid impression on audiences thanks to his work in Warrior, and who takes on the role of distraught father Kimura, who is forced into a situation he can’t escape from. And a desperate man will do anything to keep his family safe. King and Koji add considerable edge to Bullet Train’s cast of characters, and their presence and part in the narrative will keep audiences on their toes.

As an action cinema experience, Bullet Train is a product of the Eighty-Seven 11 school. And it shows. From beginning to end, this film is wild in its gunplay, fight scenes and just general, uncontrolled chaos that is brought to the big screen. It’s simply a riotous bit of fun! The focus of Bullet Train is embedded in the action-comedy genre, and Leitch and his team take a lot of inspiration from the great Jackie Chan in their presentation of this movie. The action is cartoonish, with an almost ‘live-action anime’ style, and minute by minute something daring and new flashes before your eyes. There’s also a good level of distorted gore thrown onto the screen, and this heap of blood and guts adds to the comedy, and seriousness of the action.

From the start of the line to its final stop, Bullet Train is a massive rush and audiences looking for a zany cinema experience will be rewarded. This is a straight-up bit of fun, and it’s cool to see Brad Pitt play with new material and try something different. In short, buy a ticket and take this ride, because there’s so much to enjoy with this one.

Image: Sony Pictures

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Watch the all-new trailer for Bullet Train here:

Here’s the official synopsis:

Trained killer Ladybug (Brad Pitt), who wants to give up the life of an assassin, but is pulled back in by his handler Maria Beetle (Sandra Bullock) in order to collect a briefcase on a bullet train heading from Tokyo to Morioka. Once onboard, he and the other competing assassins onboard discover that their objectives are all connected.

Building off of the first teaser trailer which was released back in May, this new trailer for Bullet Train takes audiences into this crazy, twisting story of freelance assassin Ladybug, who has a way of finding himself into plenty of trouble and what happens when a routine job goes sideways and he suddenly has to deal with a host of psychotic killers on the famous bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto.

Director Dabid Leitch who changed the game with his all-out action movies Deadpool 2 and Fast and The Furious: Hobbs & Shaw goes to town here with Bullet Train, and not only delivers on his trademark all-action action set pieces but dials the comedy and hijinks up a level as well. Pitt appears to be having a blast as mysterious assassin Ladybug, and he’s certainly in for a wild ride in Bullet Train.

As one of my most anticipated films of 2022, Bullet Train looks like it ticks all the boxes and this is one cinematic experience that is about to take crazy to a whole new level! Prepare for the action rush when it arrives in cinemas on August 5.

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Watch the all-new trailer for Bullet Train below:

Watch our full trailer reaction for Bullet Train below:

Here’s the official synopsis:

Trained killer Ladybug (Brad Pitt), who wants to give up the life of an assassin, but is pulled back in by his handler Maria Beetle (Sandra Bullock) in order to collect a briefcase on a bullet train heading from Tokyo to Morioka. Once onboard, he and the other competing assassins onboard discover that their objectives are all connected.

As one of my most anticipated films of 2022 I’ve long been awaiting the release of the first trailer for Bullet Train and this trailer does not disappoint! Jammed full of almost live-action anime action, a good dose of uncontrollable carnage, strikingly stylized visuals and some laugh-out-loud comedic moments, Bullet Train is shaping up to be a totally unique piece of action cinema and plays in perfectly with Leitch’s genre-pushing directing style and ‘action as narrative’ storytelling direction. In short, it’s utterly mental and so much fun!

Academy Award-winning actor and Hollywood A-lister Brad Pitt jumps headfirst into the fray as Ladybug, a highly proficient and respected international assassin who while in Japan on a mission discovers his tranquil-zen side and decides to chill out a bit and just go with the flow. And that’s then when things immediately kick off on the bullet train line that he’s just crossed onto and it becomes clear that the mysterious package that he’s guarding has significant implications and a group of independent killers is now on the hunt for him. With nowhere to go and this group of crazed killers converging on him, Ladybug can only do what he does best, and that means it’s time for some utter chaos to be unleashed.

Not only does Pitt handle the film’s in-your-face action elements and we see him go to town with an assortment of guns, knives and his own fists, but he also brings out this hilarious quippy comedic style to Ladybug as this chilled-out dude who kind of just wants to exists in the moment, and not have to deal with mowing throw people. It’s really fun to watch, and Leitch knows how to get the best out of his lead performer and the resulting images in the trailer speak for themselves.

Set to a Japanese rendition of the classic boppy beats of The Bee Gees ‘Staying Alive’, this trailer for Bullet Train is an utterly zany ride and the action and suspense is very fun to watch. Stylistically cool for all the right reasons, Leitch brings an almost live-action, hyper-real anime quality to the film’s visuals and it’s a hell of a lot of fun to look at. Visually striking and dynamic, with great comedic timing and bone-splitting action, Bullet Train is shaping up to be a thunderously cool rollercoaster ride of a movie and Brad Pitt brings out the badass swagger as only he can.

Brace yourself for a wild rush of action when Bullet Train arrives in cinemas on July 21.

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Check out the full list of our five most anticipated films of 2022:

The Batman

A new Dark Knight is ready to take to the skyline of Gotham City and deliver justice at the end of his fists in director Matt Reeves’ murky, noir-laced, superhero thriller The Batman. With rising star Robert Pattinson ready to don the cape and cowl of Bruce Wayne/Batman, The Batman is shaping up to be one of 2022’s most intriguing cinematic experiences and with its dark noir cinematography and sinister narrative is our most anticipated film of 2022. Brooding and intense, this will certainly not be one for the faint of heart, but The Batman is set to deliver a cinematic experience you won’t soon forget.

Thor: Love and Thunder

Director Taika Waititi and star Chris Hemsworth are heading back to the cosmos of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder and let it be said that this is my most anticipated Marvel Studios release of the year! Building off of the rollercoaster ride that was 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, Waititi is promising a film that is going to dive even deeper into the sci-fi crazy that he first established in 2017 and which will jam out with plenty of 1980s hair metal flair. Add in the fact that Hemsworth has taken his muscled frame to even more heroic levels and we see the return of Natalie Portman as Jane Foster and Christian Bale as intergalactic alien villain Gorr the God Butcher and we’re ready for something incredibly unique within the MCU. Bring it!

The Northman

Prepare to chart coarse to the frozen lands of the Norse in a bloody tale of revenge that is The Northman! This is a piece of cinema that is ready to deliver vengeance at the edge of an axe blade and director David Eggers is crafting a genuine historical epic with this Viking saga. Alexander Skarsgard appears to be at his most savage in the role of Prince Amleth, heir to a Viking kingdom, who, cast out by his evil uncle, swears revenge and is determined to gain his retribution by any means necessary. Prepare to experience the blood and power of the Old Gods with The Northman and ready your call to the halls of Valhalla.

Bullet Train

Ever since I first heard that Hollywood megastar Brad Pitt was teaming up with director David Leitch for the full-on, adrenaline-charging rush of Bullet Train I was hooked. And damn does this blockbuster action thrill ride sound gnarly. Pitt stars as Ladybird, one of five assassins aboard a high-speed bullet train that is hurtling towards Tokyo. But while he has his own score to settle he soon realises that every target onboard is connected and that’s when the bullets start to fly. With Leitch’s talent for kinetic-moving action sequences and Pitt’s star appeal and machismo, Bullet Train is shaping up to be a full-on rush and I cannot wait to see how this one turns out.

Top Gun: Maverick

Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise is ready to take the skies once more as Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in the must-watch aerial blockbuster that is Top Gun: Maverick. Top Gun is regarded as one of the 1980s most seminal films and now more than 36 years later we’re ready to catch up with Maverick as he prepares for one last charge into the skies. Top Gun: Maverick is shaping up to be a colossal cinematic event, and Cruise has described the film as a ‘tribute to aviation’ and as an avid aviator himself you can tell that he’s ready to push the envelope even further into the danger zone this time.

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