The Bullet Train – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1975
Director: Junya Sato
Writers: Junya Sato, Ryunosuke Ono
Cast: Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba, Ken Takakura, Etsuko Shihomi, Eiji Go

Release Date: April 24th, 2023
Approximate running times: 152 Minutes 9 Seconds (Theatrical Version), 114 Minutes 53 Seconds (Export Version)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Versions)
Rating: PG (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese (Theatrical Version), LPCM Mono English (Export Version)
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £18.99 (UK)

"Ken Takakura stars as a mad bomber who plants a device on a high-speed Japanese train, programmed to detonate if the train’s speed drops below 80 kilometres per hour. The trains conductor (Sonny Chiba) must keep the train moving whilst the police track the madman down." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5 (Theatrical Version), 3.5/5 (Export Version)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "a 2K restoration of the original film elements."

The Bullet Train comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.1 GB

Feature: 30.1 GB (Theatrical Version), 9.9 GB (Export Version)

Though some are sure to prefer the color timing on Twilight Time’s 2016 Blu-ray over this release's color timing, Twilight Time’s Blu-ray comes from a date master, while the transfer for this release comes from a new 2K restoration. That said, besides the color difference, Eureka Video’s transfer is superior in every way. Noticeable areas of improvement include image clarity, black levels, better compression, and an image that looks more organic.

Here's information about the export version's transfer, "This "export cut" of The Bullet Train is based on a version of the film that was edited and dubbed for English language territories.

For the English language opening and closing credits, a lower quality source had to be used. There are also a few frames of effects shots taken from this lower quality source, they seem to be unique to the export versions and could not be found in the Japanese print of the film."

Subtitles have been used to replace instances of on-screen text that are unique to the export cut. As the edit is using the restored version as its base, some scenes have on-screen Japanese text that would not have been present originally. In these instances the subtitles will still be replicating the wording of the text as it is in the export version, and are not necessarily an accurate translation of the kanji."

The detailed explanation of the export version source gives one a clear indication of what to expect. And though there is a noticeable drop between the opening and closing credits and additional brief moments that were not sourced from the Japanese version, The result is a transfer that still looks very good 99% of the time.

Audio: 4.5/5 (LPCM Mono Japanese - Theatrical Version), 3.5/5 (LPCM Mono English - Export Version)

The theatrical version comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese, and removable English subtitles. The audio is in excellent shape. Dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and ambient sounds are well represented. Range-wise, this track does a great job filling out the sound spectrum.

The export version comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in English. The audio is in great shape; there are no issues with distortion or background hiss. Dialog comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced, and range-wise, this track sounds very good. Included are removable English subtitles for Japanese text.

Extras:

Extras for this release include theatrical trailer #1 (3 minutes 6 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), theatrical trailer #2 (1 minute 30 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with director Junya Sato titled Big Movie, Big Panic (24 minutes 41 seconds, DTS-HD stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with film writer Tatsuya Masuto and film critic Masaaki Nomura titled Off the Rails: Junya Sato’s biographers on the making of The Bullet Train (20 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with Tony Rayns (26 minutes 52 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with author/film critic Kim Newman titled Mad Bombers in Cinema (16 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary by Jasper Sharp and Tom Mes for the theatrical version, reversible cover art, a slipcover (limited to 2,000 copies), and a twenty-four page booklet (limited to 2,000 copies) with cast & crew information, an essay titled Riding The Bullet Train written by Barry Forshaw, and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Summary:

Genre filmmaking was at its peak in the 1970s, and this was due in large part to the fact that directors had more control than they had ever had before or since. The big budget disaster films, The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno, were drawing big crowds around the world, so it would only be natural for the Japanese to want to make their own home-grown disaster films. Bullet Train was directed by Junya Sato, who also directed the excellent True Account of Ginza Tortures and the first Golgo 13 film.

Junya Sato’s directing throughout The Bullet Train is nearly flawless as he lets the performances tell the story instead of showing off with fancy camera angles. The only flaw is the special effects, which, for the most part, look acceptable despite a few shots that appear cheap. Junya Sato also co-wrote The Bullet Train screenplay with Ryunosuke Ono.

The intricate narrative is well written as each new obstacle is revealed to its fullest effect. The Bullet Train was cut by nearly forty minutes when released outside of Japan upon its original release, and for this release, we are blessed with the full-length version of the Bullet Train. The bulk of the missing scenes take place during three flashback sequences, which are important to the overall feel of The Bullet Train as they add more character depth and give the viewer more insight into why Okita puts his plan of terror into action.

The cast is filled with colorful characters, most of whom are sympathetic and likable. Ken Takakura's performance as Tetsuo Okita is mesmerizing as his character is on the verge of breaking down and losing everything. Sue Shihomi has a brief cameo as a telephone operator.

Sonny Chiba may not be the lead in The Bullet Train, but he plays one of the most important characters as the bullet train's lead conductor, Aoki. Virtually every moment that involves a scene with Sonny Chiba in The Bullet Train sees him sitting nervously behind the wheel of the train, and even though his character lacks mobility, Sonny Chiba is able to convey so much just in his facial expressions.

The police are by far and away the least sympathetic characters in The Bullet Train, as they go back on their promises time and again. They are often overzealous as they try to capture criminals, and in most instances, they kill the criminals before they can get any information from them. This type of inept police work also helps keep the narrative going, as now they have to find another way to find and disable the bomb.

Surprisingly, Okita and his two sidekicks are the three characters that are the easiest to identify and care about. Ultimately, The Bullet Train is a tense drama that will have you on the edge of your seat right up to its tragic conclusion.

Issues with the color timing aside, Eureka Video has put together a solid release that comes with two versions of the film and a wealth of insightful extras, recommended.

                                                        Export Version Screenshots.

Written by Michael Den Boer