Movies are meant to be an entertaining escape right?    Well, unless you are a subway/transportation worker, police officer, or criminal… “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3″ fits the bill, even if its not great… its good… although it is a remake of the 1974 movie “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three”.

This updated and modernized high-tech version, “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3″ is an intense thrill ride.. Denzel Washington and John Travolta are great adversaries.

I hate to keep repeating this, but its still worth saying: this movie is rated “R” for a reason… but I continue to see parents bringing babies and very young kids to these movies.  FYI…. I always include the ratings (and the reason for the rating) below.

Let’s cut to the chase, this movie isn’t going to win any main category Oscars… but for what it is: an action thriller… its good.

Now some will say that Denzel is playing a character we’ve seen him play before… an awkward anti-hero who is forced to save the day “Deja Vu” (2006) and “John Q” (2002)… and John Travolta is playing that slightly over-the-top maniacal villain he’s played before “The Punisher” (2004), ”Swordfish” (2001), “Face/Off” (1997)… but for me, that’s okay, because they are really good at it and it makes it easier o route for and against their characters.

The movie doesn’t take long to get into the main plot, the slick opening title sequence establishes the main characters and its quick camera movements and rough cuts establish the busy chaos of the subway and the work of a control center dispatcher.

The movie successfully establishes the characters, along with the scene, the feel and the very different parallels of the two opposing characters and the little worlds they are in…. then it slowly twists your perspective and adds more layers to the plot, characters, and their situations…. to keep you guessing before bringing the movie to its conclusion.

In this tense thriller, there is also some much-needed comic relief from James Gandolfini (playing the Mayor), and Washington and Travolta deliver some lines that bring a smile to your face.

“The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3″ is gritty and edgy, its realistic and keeps the audience busy with multiple issues going on at the same time with the good guys, the bad guys, and the hostages.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

Director Tony Scott (see below) has a knack for nailing high-tech modern action thrillers, Denzel and Travolta and the supporting cast are very good… I give it 8.0 out of 10 … this is a remake that is well done and worth seeing, but if you don’t see it in theaters, I suggest renting it when it comes out on DVD. 

“The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3”

(2009) (rated: R for violence and pervasive language)
(1 hr, 46 min)

Starring: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, Luis Guzmán, Victor Gojcaj, John Turturro, James Gandolfini, Michael Rispoli, Ramon Rodriguez

Director: Tony Scott – “Deja Vu” (2006), “Man on Fire” (2004), “Enemy of the State” (1998), “The Fan” (1996), “Crimson Tide” (1995), “Top Gun” (1986)

Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller

The Plot: Armed men hijack a New York City subway train, holding the passengers hostage in return for a ransom, and turning an ordinary day’s work for dispatcher Walter Garber into a face-off with the mastermind behind the crime.

So what did you think?  Please post a comment!

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“The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3″ poster courtesy MGM

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