The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009) Reviews
- Starring:
- Denzel Washington, John Travolta, (more)
- Director(s):
- Tony Scott
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
Member Rating
My RatingAverage Ratings
11 out of 12 people found this review helpful At first I was worried since it started off really slow and dull. As it progressed, I couldn't help but be drawn in deeper. Just about everything in the movie was something that could happen so you ... Read More At first I was worried since it started off really slow and dull. As it progressed, I couldn't help but be drawn in deeper. Just about everything in the movie was something that could happen so you feel a sense of realism. The main actors Denzel Washington & John Travolta play their parts well. Denzel being the Transport Boss demoted under investigation ends up on dispatchers duties and as fate would happen, he ends being the one who takes the call from the kidnappers who take over the train Pelham 123.
Demands are made for money in exchange for hostages and for each minute past the deadline, a passenger ends up being killed.How many will die before the police and the city of New York give in to the demands?Will the bad guys get away with this crime that is being played out all over the news and causes wall street to tumble?I dare not give it away. Worth a watch for sure but a younger crowd might be bored by the movie. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful The 1974 movie had a high-powered acting roster of Walter Matthau, Martin Balsam, and Robert Shaw. Splendidly directed with a story arc of increasing tension that kept you in your seat.
The 2009 ... Read More The 1974 movie had a high-powered acting roster of Walter Matthau, Martin Balsam, and Robert Shaw. Splendidly directed with a story arc of increasing tension that kept you in your seat.
The 2009 version stars John Travolta in the role of the hijacker and Denzel Washington as Walter Garber, a subway dispatcher. The plot structure is still tense and is fueled by Travolta's brilliant acting chops as the crazed mastermind to hijack a subway train and hold passengers for ransom. Travolta has the character nailed. Denzel Washington as the dispatcher thrust into the role of hostage negotiator underplays the part perfectly with an invented sub-plot for this version of the story.
This re-make is dangerously flawed by poor direction. Tony Scott never uses a camera that isn't moving, whether motivated or not. Stop-motion photography is almost head-ache inducing.. Joseph Sargent's direction of the 1974 version creates nail-biting tension and is the one you want to see. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful This was a good movie - Denzel Washington was super - must see the original again now to do a comparison. Thought there was WAAAAAYYYY too many F words in this film - totally uneccesary - one or two ... Read More This was a good movie - Denzel Washington was super - must see the original again now to do a comparison. Thought there was WAAAAAYYYY too many F words in this film - totally uneccesary - one or two would have been okay - but jeez! I still have a hard time with Travolta cast as a bad guy though. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful Too much profanity - the beginning of the movie was predictable with the men standing on the platform. I knew something was going to happen. Could have been directed a little better. The young ... Read More Too much profanity - the beginning of the movie was predictable with the men standing on the platform. I knew something was going to happen. Could have been directed a little better. The young woman who was the train conductor didn't seem to have a lot of acting skills. Just a slow movie. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful I've seen worse movies. It held my interest enough to get through to the fairly predictable ending. Can't understand the fascination with the "F" bomb. I'm no prude, I use foul language myself, ... Read More I've seen worse movies. It held my interest enough to get through to the fairly predictable ending. Can't understand the fascination with the "F" bomb. I'm no prude, I use foul language myself, but the amount of profanity in this film was ridiculous. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
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