Tzu-Hsuan Hung, known for The Scoundrels, solidifies his reputation as one of Asia's most promising action directors with this film. The premise is simple and deadly: a high-speed train is turned into a time bomb by terrorists, and the passengers have exactly 96 minutes to avert catastrophe.
🎥 Tzu-Hsuan Hung's Direction
Hung utilizes the confined space of the train with impressive technical mastery. His direction focuses on:
Close-Space Fight Choreography: The action scenes in the aisles and between the seats are choreographed to appear claustrophobic and brutal.
Real-Time Tension: The film uses time almost literally, increasing the viewer's anxiety as the clock ticks.
Visual Aesthetics: There is a clever use of emergency lights and shadows, giving the train a feeling of a moving "metal prison".
🎭 Plot and Characters
The film stars Lin Po-hung and Wang Po-chieh.
The dynamic between the protagonists is what anchors the film. One of them plays a police officer (or security guard) who must deal not only with the terrorists, but also with the growing panic of the civilian passengers.
Unlike a pure action film, Hung dedicates time to showing the moral dilemmas of those on board: Who should be saved first? How to maintain humanity under extreme pressure?
⚖️ Verdict
"The 96 Minute" is often compared to Train to Busan (for its train setting) and Speed. It's a technically flawless film that showcases the maturation of Taiwanese genre cinema. If you enjoy thrillers where the environment is as dangerous a character as the villain, this film is a must-see.
Note: The film was a landmark for using the largest studio-built train set in Taiwanese film history, guaranteeing a realism that CGI often fails to deliver.
🎥 Tzu-Hsuan Hung's Direction
Hung utilizes the confined space of the train with impressive technical mastery. His direction focuses on:
Close-Space Fight Choreography: The action scenes in the aisles and between the seats are choreographed to appear claustrophobic and brutal.
Real-Time Tension: The film uses time almost literally, increasing the viewer's anxiety as the clock ticks.
Visual Aesthetics: There is a clever use of emergency lights and shadows, giving the train a feeling of a moving "metal prison".
🎭 Plot and Characters
The film stars Lin Po-hung and Wang Po-chieh.
The dynamic between the protagonists is what anchors the film. One of them plays a police officer (or security guard) who must deal not only with the terrorists, but also with the growing panic of the civilian passengers.
Unlike a pure action film, Hung dedicates time to showing the moral dilemmas of those on board: Who should be saved first? How to maintain humanity under extreme pressure?
⚖️ Verdict
"The 96 Minute" is often compared to Train to Busan (for its train setting) and Speed. It's a technically flawless film that showcases the maturation of Taiwanese genre cinema. If you enjoy thrillers where the environment is as dangerous a character as the villain, this film is a must-see.
Note: The film was a landmark for using the largest studio-built train set in Taiwanese film history, guaranteeing a realism that CGI often fails to deliver.
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