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Runaway Train [Blu-ray]
(Andrei Konchalovsky, 1985)
Review by Gary Tooze
Production: Theatrical: Golan-Globus Productions Video: Arrow Films / Twilight Time / Kino (2021)
Disc: Region: 'B' / Region FREE / Region 'A'Runtime: 1:50:45.305 / 1:50:44.262 / 1:51:02.822 Disc Size: 44,402,175,292 bytes / 32,579,165,751 bytes / 36,908,025,759 bytesFeature Size: 32,365,004,352 bytes / 31,781,093,376 bytes / 34,810,036,224 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.88 Mbps / 29.99 Mbps / 37.93 Mbps Chapters: 12 / 24 / 9Case ( both): Transparent Blu-ray case / Standard CaseRelease date: July 22nd, 2013 / October 2016 / March 2021
Video (all three): Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Audio: LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
DTS-HD Master Audio English 2127 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2127
kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1699 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1699
kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio English 2050 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2050 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1563 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1563
kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Subtitles (all three): English (SDH), none
Extras: • From Thespian to Fugitive Star Jon Voight shares his memories of his Academy Award-nominated role (37:49)• Running on Empty - an interview with director Andrei Konchalovsky (15:57)
• Sweet and Savage -
Eric Roberts on
Runaway Train (16:02) DVD of the feature included and reversible package artwork
•
Commentary with Actor Eric Roberts, and Film Historians David Del Valle and C.
Courtney Joyner
•
Audio
Commentary with Co-Star Eric Roberts, and Film Historians David Del Valle and C.
Courtney Joyner
Bitrates:
Description: Two convicts break out of Stonehaven Prison in
the dead of winter, boarding a freight train with the
intention of getting as far away as possible before their
notoriously sadistic warden finds out. But the brakes fail
and the driver has a heart attack, sending hundreds of tons
of metal hurtling through the snowy Alaskan wastes at
terrifying and unstoppable speed.
The Film: Russian director Andrei Konchalovsky's second American film may well be the only existential adventure flick in Hollywood history. Two prisoners, Manny (Jon Voight) and Buck (Eric Roberts), escape from a desolate Alaskan maximum-security facility. They hop aboard a speeding train, making a clean escape. But the engineer has suffered a heart attack, and the train goes out of control. To prevent a disastrous head-on collision, the railroad heads decide to derail the runaway train, killing its occupants to save the lives of hundreds of others. Once Manny catches on to what's happening, he tries to jump off the train, only to be talked out of such a foolhardy act by railroad employee Sara (Rebecca DeMornay). As doom approaches, Manny apparently goes mad, viciously preventing any attempts to stop the train or rescue its passengers: if he's to die, and if the others are to be saved, it will be on his terms, or no terms. Runaway Train was slated as a project for Akira Kurosawa in 1970, but for various creative and scheduling reasons, it remained on the back burner for 15 years. Excerpt from MRQE located HERESo brutish a prisoner that the Warden (Ryan) had him welded into his cell for three years, Voight goes on the run through the Alaskan winter with only Eric Roberts to keep him warm. They sneak into the back of a four-engine work train, but the engineer has a heart attack, the brakes burn out, the track controller's computers can't cope, and the engineer's sleeping assistant turns out to be - a woman. So sit tight and watch four matt black shunters, looking like beasts from the pit of hell, go charging through the tundra, while Voight and Roberts slug it out over the girl, life, fate, and who's going to have to go outside. Then there is the problem of the Warden being winched down by chopper for one last showdown. The surprise is that Konchalovsky has taken such an obviously pat formula (from an original screenplay by Kurosawa) and made it work remarkably well. Somehow one leaves aside the blatant implausibilities, the coincidences, even Eric Roberts, and takes great pleasure in a breakneck ride to the end of the line. And Voight has finally found his niche, abandoning all those wet-eyed liberal roles and playing to the hilt a hideous, raving beast, with scars. Great ending, too. CPea. Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE
Image : NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. Runaway Train gets an impressive transfer to Blu-ray from Arrow Films. It's solidly into dual-layered territory with a max'ed out bitrate. The film was never meant to be glossy and pristine. This 1080P seems supportive of the film's rougher edge and outdoor wintery cinematography. Even with the thick, rich visuals there is some minor depth in the 1.85:1 frame. It's clean, colors seems true - warm skin tones but no embellishment. We can see some hi-def detail in the infrequent close-ups. This Blu-ray probably looks like exactly the theatrical version of the film Runaway Train. It seems devoid of imperfections of any kind and carries a pleasing texture to the presentation.
I was looking to give this a 'tie' on the video even though the Twilight Time shows a tad more information in the frame, but then I saw a couple of artifacts on the US BD. You can see the discolor-ization in comparing the large captures of Voight's forehead wearing the blue bathrobe (large captures #3). I didn't notice this on the Arrow or when viewing the Twilight Time on my system. It was only visible via the screen captures so, most, probably won't find it an issue - unless you are sensitive to it. But this gives the more technically robust (max'ed out bitrate) Arrow the edge in video.
Kino transfer Andrei Konchalovsky's Runaway Train to their own Blu-ray. It is cited as beingg form a "Brand New 2K Master". It looks different from the other two Blu-rays as colors are darker with richer black levels. There are very warm skin tones. It has a max'ed out bitrate and looks fabulous on my system. Does it look the best? I think it might depending on your taste.
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
More Arrow Blu-ray Captures
Audio :Audio comes in the form of a linear PCM 2.0 channel track at 2304 kbps. It is authentic and supports the intensity and aggressive effects. Depth is present via the lossless and we have a super original score by Trevor Jones (varied compositions include the films In the Name of the Father, Angel Heart and Arachnophobia) . There are optional English (SDH) subtitles and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'B'-locked.
Although DTS-HD Master as opposed to linear PCM - I couldn't really note any differences between the two uncompressed tracks. The Twilight Time may mave slightly better bass response - but that is not something I can state with certainty. The Twilight Time has an optional isolated score (Trevor Jones' synthesizer-heavy) and optional English (SDH) subtitles. It is region FREE playable world-wide.
Kino go only 16-bit with their DTS-HD Master rendering. There are plenty of aggressive effects in the film that don't come through with the same level of bass as in the 24-bit transfers - nor the Trevor Jones' synthy score. It still sounds great - more credit to the soundstage. And Kino add optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.
Extras : Arrow continue to impress with their extensive extras - we get From Thespian to Fugitive a 40-minute piece where Jon Voight shares his memories of his Academy Award-nominated role. Running on Empty - is a 15-minute interview with director Andrei Konchalovsky, Sweet and Savage has 16-minutes with Eric Roberts talking about his experiences on Runaway Train and The Calm Before the Chaos has Kyle T. Heffner recollections of Runaway Train - running 17-minutes. There is also an original trailer (2:37) with optional commentary by Rod Lurie (2:46). The package has both reversible artwork and a, second disc, DVD of the feature.
Twilight Time include a new commentary with actor Eric Roberts, and Film Historians David Del Valle and C. Courtney Joyner - it's fairly interesting (Roberts is quite lucid) and they also have a trailer and the usual liner notes. Does it beat the Arrow 1.5 hours of featurettes? Probably not - it depends on how much you appreciate commentaries.
Okay, Kino include the Eric Roberts, David Del Valle and C. Courtney Joyner commentary as found on the, now out-of-rpint, Twilight Time. They add a TRAILERS FROM HELL piece with Rod Lurie, radio spots and a trailer. Nothing extravagantly 'new' but still valuable to those who didn't nab the Twilight Time. It comes with a slipcase.
Arrow - Region 'B'- Blu-ray
Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
BOTTOM LINE:
Well, for Region 'A'-ers that don't have the Twilight Time - this is strongly recommended! For those very keen on the film - they may appreciate the richer image quality and slipcase. This is still an intense, kinetic ride that doesn't let up... and has Rebecca DeMornay on another train. :) Gary Tooze July 8th, 2013 March 2nd, 2021
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About the Reviewer: Hello, fellow Beavers! I have been interested in film since I viewed a Chaplin festival on PBS when I was around 9 years old. I credit DVD with expanding my horizons to fill an almost ravenous desire to seek out new film experiences. I currently own approximately 9500 DVDs and have reviewed over 5000 myself. I appreciate my discussion Listserv for furthering my film education and inspiring me to continue running DVDBeaver. Plus a healthy thanks to those who donate and use our Amazon links.
Although I never wanted to become one of those guys who
focused 'too much' on image and sound quality - I
find HD is swiftly pushing me in that direction. 60-Inch Class (59.58” Diagonal) 1080p Pioneer KURO Plasma Flat Panel HDTV PDP6020-FD
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