Posted by The Certain Ones in MOVIE REVIEWS | 0 Comments

UNSTOPPABLE

Movie Review by Janice Jones

Hello Readers!

Every now and then I run across a movie that makes my heart pound, then stop, then pound faster than it did originally. This type of movie is a thriller, a drama and a feel good movie all rolled into one. Now I’ve seen my fair share of movies recently, some of them I have written about here in this magazine. However, it has been quite a while since I have seen one that has given me the feeling I just described. The last movie I saw that gave me this raw mix of emotions was Unstoppable, starring Denzel Washington, Rosario Dawson, Chris Pine and directed by Tony Scott, who committed suicide in 2012. It was rumored that Scott took his life after finding out he had brain cancer, but the rumors were denied by family and unfounded by medical examiners.

Unstoppable debuted November 12, 2010. That’s right, more than three years ago. But this movie left such an impact on my spirit that I wanted to share my feelings and insight about it with you this month. The film is loosely based on the true story of two local heroes who saved several towns from Walbridge to Kenton in the state of Ohio from a runaway train, loaded with explosive and toxic chemicals. The railroad incident was titled CSX 8888 also known as Crazy Eights.

In the movie the conductor Will Colson, a new hire to the railroad, played by Chris Pine and a veteran locomotive engineer, Frank Barnes, played by Denzel Washington, decide to attempt to stop the runaway train at the risk of their own lives, right after just having a very near miss with said train. Their successful attempt to bring the train under control and eventually stop it came after two other failed attempts orchestrated by the then railroad Vice President of Operations. Rosario Dawson, who played the yardmaster, worked diligently with the two heroes via radio communications. In the movie’s version, the town heroes, Barnes and Colson, save a fictional town called Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Unstoppable made me scream, shout, literally run in the theatre, jump and give God a big ole hallelujah hand clapping praise as I watched this exciting movie from beginning to end. Okay, if I’m honest, I will admit there were times I did a bit of drooling of the film’s two leading male characters also. LOL.

Aside from my sinful lusting over the gorgeous heroes (I am not perfect), I found this film to be very spiritual. Each time this runaway train miraculously defied the inevitable odds of undeniable destruction, I found myself leaping from my seat and praising God, realizing that only He could have made the death defying outcomes positively possible. The people in the movie theatre thought I was a bit daffy, but I did not care. Not once do I remember them even mentioning God in the movie, but I was show nuff saying it loud enough for all to hear. This was an actual incident, where folks were injured but thousands and thousands of lives were saved hurt and harm. I do not care who you are.

Not even Denzel, with his wonderful self, can claim credit for such a miraculous outcome. Only God can be given the glory when occurrences such as the controlling and stopping of this runaway missile in the form of a railroad train with more than forty-seven attached cars takes place. And remember, Unstoppable was based on a true event. God was not just a bit player in a fictional movie on this one you all. This. Miracle. Really. Did. Happen.

As I stated earlier, the two attempts to stop the train in human power by attempting to derail the train with a portable derailer and shooting at an emergency fuel cutoff switch did not work. In the movie, I watched this train corner rails at speeds guaranteed to destroy it and cause it to detonate. But God. I watched this train coming barreling at the train the heroes were working on, certain to hit it and kill those on board. But God. This train was headed for the definite destruction of another train filled with school children on a field trip. But God. But God. But God. How many times have you been destined for complete failure, destruction and even death, only to have God step in and turn it all around for your good and His glory? When you think back on it, all you can say, all you should say is BUT GOD! God is Unstoppable.

Isaiah 54:15-17 “If any nation comes to fight you, it is not because I sent them. Whoever attacks you will go down in defeat. “I have created the blacksmith who fans the coals beneath the forge and makes the weapons of destruction. And I have created the armies that destroy. But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!”