Though David Leitch gained initial success in films as a stunt coordinator, he leapt to the director’s chair with 2017’s Atomic Blonde and remained there for 2018’s Deadpool 2 and 2019’s Hobbs and Shaw. After a three-year break – due to the pandemic? – Leitch returned with 2022’s action tale Bullet Train.

Though assassin “Ladybug” (Brad Pitt) attempts to retire from his bloody profession, he gets pulled back for another job. His new assignment seems simple: nab a briefcase off a client on a super-fast train from Tokyo to Kyoto.

However, Ladybug discovers a variety of violent competitors aboard the vessel. This leads toward a rapid-fire series of challenges as Ladybug attempts to complete his task – and stay alive.

Leitch’s directorial debut Atomic Blonde left me largely cold, as I thought it felt like the kind of movie we’d get from a former stunt coordinator. While it offered solid action scenes, it didn’t hold together well as a narrative.

Leitch rebounded with Deadpool 2, a rare sequel I thought surpassed the original. A spinoff of the Fast and the Furious franchise, I also felt Hobbs and Shaw offered a fun experience.

Though I don’t think it quite lives up to expectations, Train continues to show Leitch’s strengths as a director. Like his prior pair of films, it comes with a definite sense of style over substance, but Leitch makes this such a fast-moving and quirky tale that we usually don’t mind.

Honestly, I refer to Train as a minor disappointment mainly because its trailers worked too well. Those ads made the film look so vivid and inventive that the end result almost inevitably woulf fall short.

Nonetheless, this becomes a modest gripe. With his usual flair for action, Leitch turns this into a generally entertaining affair.

Though not dissimilar to his prior efforts, Train finds Leitch in a decided Tarantino mode. Should one believe it to act as coincidence that so much of the plot revolves around a briefcase MacGuffin ala Pulp Fiction?

Nope, and abundant connections to other Tarantino flicks like Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill abound. These can make Train feel awfully derivative at times, but its fast pace largely forgives these “sins”.

I must admit that Train might seem a bit too rapid-fire and frantic at times, however. The plot becomes less a coherent narrative and more an excuse for wild action sequences.

Character development also seems lackluster. Although Train occasionally leaves the primary setting to give us backstories, these remain rudimentary and not especially valuable.

Honestly, the movie probably would work best if it stayed on the train the entire time and didn’t bother with the character explorations. Those feel like they attempt to add depth to the proceedings, but they turn into little more than a distraction.

They also detract from the claustrophobic vibe that could result from a story that stays entirely in one location – albeit a long one, as the titular vehicle offers many cars. A version that never leaves the train would become more focused, I suspect.

These complaints aside, Train keeps us with it, partly due to its relentless pace. Leitch throws so much at us that we barely get a chance to reflect on various weaknesses.

Leitch also continues to understand how to stage a compelling action scene, and those moments delight. The film boasts a slew of thrilling, creative segments that add real zest to the proceedings.

And those feel like enough to make Train a fairly winning adventure. It bites off more than it can chew but it nonetheless becomes an engaging action flick.

Footnote: a tag scene appears early in the end credits.

Bullet Train appears in an aspect ratio of 2.39:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. This became a top-notch presentation.

Sharpness looked good. No issues with softness occurred, so the film felt accurate and concise.

No concerns with jagged edges or shimmering occurred, and edge enhancement remained minor. Source flaws also failed to create problems.

In terms of colors, Train went with “action-standard” orange and teal. That said, the various settings allowed for a mix of other tones as well, and the Blu-ray replicated them in a positive manner.

Blacks were deep and firm, while shadows showed good delineation. Overall, this was a pleasing presentation.

Similar thoughts greeted the good DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack of Train. I felt the soundscape delivered an involving experience in which the action scenes offered a nice sense of impact.

The film packed plenty of these elements, with the zooming train and various violent assaults as the main components. Overall, the mix filled out the room in a satisfying manner.

Audio quality was positive. Speech came across as natural and concise, without edginess or other issues.

Music showed good range, and effects offered a nice sense of impact. These were the kind of loud, impressive elements one would anticipate, as they showed solid clarity. This was a very good soundtrack.

As we head to extras, we open with an audio commentary from director David Leitch, producer Kelly McCormick and screenwriter Zak Olkewicz. All three sit together for this running, screen-specific look at the source and its adaptation, story, characters and changes to the script made during the shoot, cast and performances, music, editing, sets and locations, stunts and action, costumes and related domains.

Like the film, this becomes a brisk and peppy chat. We get a fine overview of a good array of subjects in this informative and engaging track.

Outtakes and Bloopers fill three minutes with the usual goofs and giggles. However, we find some alternate lines as well, and they add some humor.

Featurettes follow, and Mission Accomplished spans six minutes, 11 seconds. It offers notes from Leitch, producer Kelly McCormick, and actors Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brad Pitt, Zazie Beetz, and Brian Tyree Henry.

“Mission” looks at Leitch’s career and move to directing as well as his approach on the set, story/characters and the crew. A few insights emerge, but a lot of the program revolves around happy talk.

All Aboard the Pain Train goes for five minutes, 13 seconds and provides info from Leitch, McCormick, Taylor-Johnson, Pitt, Henry, Beetz, 2nd unit director/stunt coordinator Greg Rementer, and actor Benito A Martínez Ocasio (aka “Bad Bunny”).

This one discusses stunts and action. Like the prior show, some useful notes emerge but too much of the piece praises the film and those involved.

Next comes Trained Professionals, a six-minute, 53-second piece that includes comments from Leitch, Henry, Beetz, Taylor-Johnson, King, Olkewicz, McCormick, Ocasio, and actors Andrew Koji and Hiroyuki Sanada.

“Trained” examines cast, characters and performances. Expect more promotional fluff and next to no depth.

Catch What You Missed lasts four minutes, 14 seconds and reveals Easter eggs featured in the film. Some seems compelling but more than a few give us obvious notes.

After this we find Select Scene Stunt Previs, a three-minute, 57-second compilation. These compare choreography test footage with final movie shots, and they become a fun exploration.

Finally, Bullet Train Goes Off the Rails occupies four minutes, 36 seconds and packages clips that mix chats between “Lemon and Tangerine” with pro basketball players Trae Young, Damian Lillard, and Lonzo Ball.

These promote the movie as well as the NBA Finals. Though just advertisements, they amuse.

The disc opens with ads for The Woman King and The Invitation. No trailer for Train appears here.

No one should expect a tight narrative from Bullet Train, and its pursuit of relentless thrills can make the pace too crazed too much of the time. Nonetheless, it offers so much wild action and cleverness to become an entertaining ride. The Blu-ray boasts strong picture and audio as well as a mix of bonus materials. Shut off your brain and enjoy the violent journey.