Customer Reviews

Detonator

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I saw the movie under the TV name of "Death Train". Pierce Brosnan and Patrick Stewart drew me to it, as did the espionage + action thriller theme, although I'm still unsure if an entity called United Nations Anti Crime Unit is simply a Hollywood contraption.

Some plutonium has been stolen from a German nuclear reactor station and being carried via a hijacked train, which sets off a wild goose chase for who the REAL thief is and what the ulterior motives + destination are. We're told about these perpetrators and their intentions about 75% into the film (let me not spoil it) but the action on/off the train to stop it in its tracks before detonation, is fairly engaging. The negotiation moments are superbly done.

Pierce Brosnan was perhaps fresh off Remington Steele so he has a suitably sharp female colleague to woo and wheedle. If people were scouting for a new James Bond circa 1993, I can totally see why Brosnan came up well reviewed.

A very watchable, well-made popcorn thriller.

The cast elevates this 3-star movie to 4 stars. Patrick Stewart, always a tour de force in the acting department, takes command of his role as the intelligent operations manager/mediator who nonetheless underestimates his opponent. Pierce Brosnan, who always brings a human vulnerability to his heroism, slips into James Bond mode. Alexandra Paul does a credible job of portraying a sharpshooter whose raw determination is matched by her female intuition. Ted Levine is flawless as the cocky mercenary. And Christopher Lee nails his role as the Russian evildoer. The performance of these actors is not wasted. The film is intelligent and suspenseful. I cannot fault the direction or camerawork. The soundtrack is understated, so that the film is more "real world" than "dramatic." DETONATOR is a good film, and its solid cast of actors makes it worth a repeat viewing.

Anyone who thinks this is the worst movie ever has never seen Pierce brosnan's movie "Taffin."

This is a half-way decent, made-for-cable, pre-James Bond years, trying to make a living film from Brosnan.

I have this one in my video library too.

I loved this one, but it could have been a little longer.

I think this character is alot like Bond, but he doesn't wear the fancy clothes.

He shows a bit of male chauvinism, but not too much for the times.

This role helped him get prepared for playing the world's greatest secret agent.

In the end, Mike and Sabrina do become friends, and you see an attraction between the two of them.

He deserves this great role as 007. God only knows it took him long enough to get it.

This is a very well-written, well-directed, and well-acted movie. It is one of the better pre-Bond Pierce Brosnan movies. This first movie is definitely better than its sequel, Detonator II (Nightwatch). The plot involves a train being hi-jacked by an American mercenary terrorist (Ted Levine) with two atomic bombs placed within. The operation is conducted by a Russian general (played by Christopher Lee). The U.N. task force, headed by the Patrick Stewart character, sends his best man (Pierce Brosnan) on the job accompanied by Sabrina Carver (Alexandra Paul), who is a novice yet a great marksperson. The pair persevere through a lot of setbacks in their mission but they finally stop the villains. There is genuine chemistry between Pierce Brosnan and Alexandra Paul, and the villains are well-acted by Ted Levine and Christopher Lee. I liked this movie too because Alexandra Paul's character is a very sharp thinker and sharp-shooter. I like movies where the female character is every bit the equal of the male hero. I found this movie to quite suspenseful and it builds up to a good climax. This first segment is definitely better than its sequel and it is the one to watch.

Patrick Stewart is in charge of a special unit within the United Nations. He enlists the help of Pierce Brosnan, an old friend who apparently owes him one last favor, to go after a Russian general played by Christopher Lee. Lee has had a German scientist build two nuclear bombs. His purpose is to get them to Iraq and detonate them so the Russian military can come in and easily take over the region, thus restoring Russia to world prominence. His henchmen, led by Ted Levine, take over a train in Germany to transport the bombs. It all sounds slightly better than it plays out.

There are a lot of good actors in this movie cashing a paycheck. They can't do much with the poor dialogue and badly constructed scenes. Being an action movie, there is plenty of shooting and plenty of no one hitting the broad side of a barn. Several attempts at stopping the train fail, leading to hostages being shot. Overall, Detonator is pretty tepid. Not the worst movie you'll ever see, but I don't think its too high on the resume of anyone involved.

Detonator-also called Death Train-is an odd film with a strange, almost silly plot, some decent action scenes and an excellent cast of supporting actors. Be warned. Despite what you see on the cover, Patrick Stewart and Pierce Brosnon are not the leads. That spot comes to Alexandria Paul in the role of a naive but talented rookie agent. The film is also blessed to have Christopher Lee as the main bad guy. Lee plays a Russian general who is still a Communist at heart. It's a superb bit of casting and Lee gives what should have been an empty role a great deal of depth. Detonator may be worth a shot if you buy it in the discount bin but I would not pay a good deal of money for the DVD or go out of my way to watch it. Brosnon is fine as always in the role of a cocky hero. Stewart is barely in the film and has a cast on an arm, which he explains is the result of boxing some African Americans who think the English are wimps up in Harlem in one of the oddest lines of his long career. All in all, a forgettable film for the most part which can be watched due to a wonderful supporting cast all out to get paychecks.

Don't waste your time!

This movie was boring.

I'm not even going to waste time on a review.
Gone already ...

Very good quality of DVD, excellent shipping service.
I very much appreciated and enjoyed the film and have already ordered Detonator 2.
I believe that I will continue to purchase DVDs through Amazone and recommand Amazone to my friends as well.
Many thanks.

The movie is full of action of guns, shooting, and suspense, yet it lacks the feel of a good action movie. Of general feeling, it could have been made better. Why would I write - Det-On Actor becuase it was just that Det-On of Acting of
Patrick Stewart and Bronson. Everthing was predictiable and of course nothing worked to stop the train till the end of the movie. I would rather wait till you can rent it than buy it and spend the money.