UNSTOPPABLE

[maikuu]

[Yi Yun]

1. For the first question, Frank is older than Will.(Frank's daughters are about 20 years old, and Will's daughter is very young)
Frank is an experienced railroad worker, but Will is new.

2. For the second question, the problem starts with a mistake which made by Dewey, 777's driver. He wanted to change the railway track after the train started. So, he got off the train and did that. However, he fell down and missed the train. The train became a coaster.

3. For the third question, this film shows us the life of railroad workers is hard, bored [boring], and full of danger. Maybe many workers have their own family problems, but they can't solve these problems easily because they are really busy; they need to focus on their job.

Teacher's note: Dewey is an interesting "movie name". Often movie names refer (by their sound or spelling) to the character they represent. Dewey sounds like "do" as in a guy who gets things done, but this guy is more of a slacker. So what is it? We may say that a person who is "dewey" is a little slow (mentally) or has a problem concentrating (also referred to as a "space cadet). Dewey can also refer to a DUI as in "driving under the influence (of alcohol), which is a serious offense. Do you think any of this applies to our Dewey? Thank you for a clear and concise post.

--mike http://www.moviesgrowenglish.com

[Fawziah]

First of all, I enjoyed the movie so much. It was exciting movie, full of action, and energy.

First question:
I think because everyone of them thought that he is the one who can do the job better. Also, Frank is fired from his job so I think he is training Will. Maybe that's why they are seem different. Of course the age difference between them is abovise too.

Second question:
The problem started when the 777's driver wanted to changed the railway. He tried to be independent and decided not to wait [for] the other guy to help him. Then he got off the train, in this time there is something happened to the control system and made the train go fast. After that the story started.

Third question :
I think it is not shown the really daily life of railroad workers. What happened was just an accident, I think it's not happen usually, but I think we can realize that how much their life is boring.

Thank you mikuu

Teacher's note: I'm glad you enjoyed "Unstoppable". I selected it because of recent news events which happened very near this fictional (but based on true events) story. Such disasters seem to happen from time to time, and it is a real shame, no matter how much attention is paid to safety. In this story, it is clear that Dewey does not follow protocol, and we can see the result.

One thing I noticed in Unstoppable is how the workers seem to think of themselves as tough guys who can handle anything, maybe to the point of being careless. Or they are very professional but try to hide it. They don't want to be accused of showing off. Thanks for a good post.

--mike http://www.moviesgrowenglish.com

[akerke]

I won't say that I totally liked this film, but, anyway, this is good one. This is a movie about a real men, real men's job and real men's world with all of its difficulties and unexpected twists.
Answering on a third question I'd say that I made an exclusive conclusion for myself. This movie, actually, [is] not about the train at all, which lost the control because of an unaccountable and irresponsible driver of 777's train.

This film about the horrors of life. And being specific, about the disastrous effects of any small incident, which happens every moment of our existence on the world. So, be careful! The whole situation has occurred due to the negligence of railway workers, and to prevent a large-scale catastrophe, no one could find a way out, except two simple workers of the locomotive, who made just impossible to stop the train. It tells us that the real feats are made by simple workers such as our fathers and brothers.


Teacher's note: Great post! Thank you, author, for recognizing the basic metaphor of this story. Hollywood movies are often cautionary tales that could just as feasibly happen under a variety of other circumstances. I think we credit this kind of story telling to the Greeks of old. I like how this author mixes observation (of metaphor) with summary. Thank you for sharing your insight.

--mike http://www.moviesgrowenglish.com

[Aibar]

First of all, I need to say that I scored this movie 3 out of 5. Why??? The movie was interesting for me only because of Denzel Washington. I am not able to say that director of the movie has created something new in the movie world. Conversely, he used the standard Hollywood formula for the successful movie: famous actor+true story. I think that the director of the movie made a bet for the amazing true story and actor talents of Denzel and Chris. So it was a great performance by Denzel and voila! you have a good movie. I guess that there is no human in the world who wouldn't like the way he is acting.

In the movie, I'd like Frank and his patriotic feelings. He sacrificed himself for his nation's security even if he was fired from his current job. I consider that it was a real man's deed. I've remembered one famous Latin proverb: "Feci quod potui, faciant meliora potentes", which means: I have done what I could; let those who can do better. So, Frank did his best and for me he is a hero of this movie! Well done, Denzel, well done!!!

Teacher's note: Only because of D.W.? Standard formula? Actually, I think Chris Pine also did a great job as the younger guy. To me, it was the interaction between the principals that made the film so memorable. As for formula, yeah, gotta admit, there wasn't a fresh story idea, but since when have we learned so much about railroad life? Call me naive, but I never knew there was a device that would specifically derail a train. And I didn't know what a hostler was in the train yard. Overall, I am fascinated by all that "Unstoppable" reveals about the life of a rail worker. This author and I may not agree on everything, but thank you for an honest and insightful thought piece.

--mike http://www.moviesgrowenglish.com

[Molly]

I liked this movie. It wasn't the best movie I've ever seen, but it still cover some issues. This movie made me think about different types of jobs and different kinds of people. Each of us has a major that will determine our future job. We can become engineers or conductors. And I am pretty sure that almost all of engineers or conductors just drive train everyday, follow certain rules and make another routine stuff.

Actually, a lot of people consider their jobs as a routine. It didn't make them a bad enjineer or conductor. But if someday they will face the disaster like in film. They will understand the differance between jobs and missions. Frank didn't just work. He enjoy his work. He knows everything about counterthrust, derailment, and tractive force. He decided to risk his life, because he wasn't an ordinary worker. He was the blessed one who found his mission.

Fortunately, Will was a brave man too, and he helped Frank save Stanton. May be Will hasn't find his mission yet. But he is a man who has found love and did everything for the rescue of his family. It's another kind of mission)

Teacher's note: This author does a fine job of differentiating between occupation and mission by observing both characteristics in Frank and Will. I don't know about the rest of you, but such a thought never occurred to me, so thank you author for enriching my understanding of "Unstoppable."

--mike http://www.moviesgrowenglish.com

[abanumay]

Hi, I really enjoyed the movie . It was one of the pest movies I have ever seen because I relay like real story.


First,Frank is older than Will so for sure they will be different between how thy think . and Frank has very long experienced and he know almost every thing about trains.

Second,the driver of, 777's left the train to change the direction while he was trying he fell down and missed the train then the became a coaster.

for the last question. this film shows us how is the trains worker is hard and bored dangerous. Most of workers have a family problems and how those problem effect them works and sho us ho they need to focus on their work.

[Jihyeonkim]

I think this movie was so exciting!

Actually, I (don't intrested of) was not interested in action movie[s] before but this movie was very attractive. Main characters are gallant and cool.

[Tumi]

The railroad engineers Dewey and Gilleece were ordered to move a freight train using locomotives from one track to another. It all started when Dewey told Gilleece not to connect the air brakes, it was only a short trip. Nonetheless, Dewey slows down the locomotive and step out the cab, leaving the locomotive on idle, to correct the misaligned rail switch. However, accidently the locomotives begins moving full power by itself. Dewey failed to catch the locomotive as he tried to grab onto the handrail.