I loved reading the UNACO books ( based on the Alistair Maclean storylines),and found Death Train a riveting read, and though this adaptation of the aforementioned thriller doesn't follow the book's plot closely, it is still enjoyable and has some nail biting action sequences. The characters are developed well, especially the ones played by future ( two years more) 007 Pierce Brosnan, Patrick Stewart, Christopher Lee, Ted Levine and Alexander Paul. The train sequences are particularly eye-catching, the European look of the railroads is interesting ( ok, I am a bit of trainspotter). It does have that typical TV movie look, well it is one, and music can be robotic, but it delivers in suspense and action.

Death Train is quite the bore, despite the quality cast.

Wow, they actually made a sequel... It appears to be Brosnan's last film, before the career defining role in "GoldenEye." The acting surrounding him isn't up to scratch, along with the dialogue and characters being entirely forgettable.

One day while working in his office the man in charge of "U.N.A.C.O." (the United Nations Anti-Crime Organization) named "Malcolm Philpott" (Patrick Stewart) is informed that a German train has been hijacked and is headed to Stuttgart. Since this sounds like a matter for the German authorities he pays little attention to it. However, when another news item concerning some stolen plutonium from the exact same place as the hijacking reaches him he immediately assembles a team to check it out. The first person he calls is a former colleague named "Michael Graham" (Pierce Brosnan) who owes him a big favor. Along with that he also appoints one of his workers by the name of "Sabrina Carver" (Alexandra Paul) who not only knows four languages but can shoot as good as she looks. Once the team arrives in Germany the voice of the man in charge of the hijacking "Alex Tierney" (Ted Levine) is recalled by Michael Graham as that of a mercenary who worked with them in the Congo. But the man behind everything is a former Soviet general named "Konstantine Benine" (Christopher Lee) who is seeking to recreate the old Soviet Union by detonating two atomic bombs in two separate places. Anyway, rather than disclosing any more of the plot and risk spoiling the film for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this was a pretty good "made-for-television" action movie. Not only was the action pretty brisk but it also had some good suspense and excellent acting on the part of everyone involved. As a result I rate the film as above average.