Like I said, I'm not an art snob to the point of failing to appreciate the occasional sincere, straightforward fun of a movie.

The Midnight Express is very consistent, and strong, in its tone, as it seeks to plumb the tried and truest elements of the storybook genre.  It works because everyone seems to be having fun-- The actors seem to enjoy pushing it (who wouldn't want to play a mustachioed train conductor?), and even the lighting and camera seem to relish the chance to shoot superwide, dramatically lit, and shakycam shots.

It's altogether just a nice movie experience; Charlie (Charles Foster?  Got that one, Ryan) is triumphant, the music is wistful, the book closes, and you've got a happy audience.

If only real life worked out so neatly.