Atomic Train (1999) (TV)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Directors:

David Jackson
Dick Lowry

Writers (WGA):

D. Brent Mote (teleplay) (first half) and
Phil Penningroth (teleplay) (first half) ...

Release Date:

16 May 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The Final Stop Is Deadly.

Plot:

A train filled with atomic devices threatens to destroy the city of Denver. John Serger (a train buff) has to prevent this from happening

Plot Keywords:

Train | Nuclear Bomb | Panic | Stepmother Stepdaughter Relationship | Railroad Crossing

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Rob Lowe	...	John Seger
Kristin Davis	...	Megan Seger
Esai Morales	...	Noris MacKenzie
John Finn	...	Wally Phister
Mena Suvari	...	Grace Seger
Erik King	...	Beau Randall
Blu Mankuma	...	Reuben Castillo
Don S. Davis	...	General Harlan Ford
Sean Smith	...	Chance MacKenzie
Eric Johnson	...	Danny
Jane Perry	...	Kelly Marx
Chris Ellis	...	Ed Brown
Zack Ward	...	Stan Atkins
Yanna McIntosh	...	Christina Roselli
Edward Herrmann	...	The President

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for disaster-related violence and thematic elements.

Runtime:

122 min | Germany:164 min (2 parts)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Germany:16 | USA:PG-13 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

British Columbia Railway, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Dennis Hammer Productions

Trivia:

The train used in the final wreck scene was actually 1/6 scale.

Goofs:

Plot holes: When the train becomes a runaway it is still 300 miles from Denver, described as downhill all the way so that it cannot stop without brakes. Since mountainous terrain does not allow a continuous steady downgrade, the train would have to descend at least two or three miles to keep it coasting over that distance, making the starting point higher than any point in Utah. In fact, since it would be traveling toward the Continental Divide, it should be going generally uphill for most of the first 250 miles.

Movie Connections:

Features Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995)

so bad it was kind of good

Actually this movie isn't so bad for a Made for TV Action Movie. Of course everything was over the top and the acting was sub par. It was the type of movie that if it can go wrong it will. You keep asking yourself can anything go right for these People????? and then nothing goes right for them. It is just one of those movies you have to watch and let the mind wander and enjoy this movie is best watched if you have a big storm outside and you can't go anywhere so might as well sit back and have fun.

Of course there are plot holes you can drive a Steam Train Through. But what Made for TV movie doesn't. Some Charters are droped before the first half of the movie is over and you never see them again and you go through the rest of the movie wondering if they will ever show up again.

My biggest gripe of the movie is some of the actions of the Charters get them into the Problems they have. If only they follow the Rules or directions this movie wouldn't have had the same Ending it did. Just following the Rules would of caused the Train to have a happy ending.

But don't worry it is a Great time killer full of hammy acting and Cheap FX.