Denzel Washington Movie:

		List Price: $39.95		Label: Sony Pictures Salesrank: 504 Released: November 3, 2009
		Our Price: $13.95
		Used Price: $13.32
		MPAA Rating: R (Restricted) Media: Blu-ray

Editorial Review:
Walter Garber (Denzel Washington) is a New York City subway dispatcher whose ordinary day is thrown into chaos by an audacious crime: the hijacking of a subway train. Ryder (John Travolta), the criminal mastermind behind the hijacking and leader of a highly-armed gang of four, threatens to execute the train's passengers unless a large ransom is paid within one hour. As the tension mounts beneath his feet, Garber employs his vast knowledge of the subway system in a battle to outwit Ryder and save the hostages. But there's one riddle Garber can't solve: even if the thieves get the money, how can they possibly escape?

Description of The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 [Blu-ray]:
John Godey's 1973 novel The Taking of Pelham One Two Three boasts a suspense situation so surefire that even the directorial bad habits of Tony Scott can't ruin this latest movie version. Four armed men seize a New York City subway train, isolate one car, and threaten to start killing passengers if a ransom isn't paid within the hour. The ransom was a million dollars in the book and also in Joseph Sargent's solid 1974 movie, in which Robert Shaw played the mercenary leading the hostage takers and Walter Matthau was the growling transit cop trying to outsmart him. In 2009, the title has gone digital--The Taking of Pelham 123--and inflation has jumped the asking price to $10 million. Where Shaw's menace was steely, John Travolta opts for manic, and shamelessly has a blast in the master villain role. His adversary, cagily underplayed by Denzel Washington, has been upgraded in civil-service rank but also demoted on suspicion of taking a bribe. This colors the dynamics of the dialogue between Washington at his control-center console and Travolta on the motorman's microphone aboard the stalled train.

So far, so reasonably good. But the director's trademark tactics keep getting between, well, everything. From the get-go, the visuals are subjected to pointless and irritating stutter effects, speeding-up/slowing-down, gratuitous camera movement, and the interposition of dirt- or light-smeared panes of glass between the camera and people we'd appreciate a clear look at. The 1974 movie settled for one police car being wrecked as the ransom is rushed uptown; Scott requires multiple collisions, each the occasion for police cruisers taking Lethal Weapon-style flight. The hostages in the earlier film were wittily individuated, a multicultural group portrait of the city at that mid-'70s moment; the ones on Scott's train--and also Travolta's fellow perpetrators, including that wonderful character actor Luis Guzmán--barely register. On the upside, John Turturro and James Gandolfini shine as two guys who (like the actors themselves) are very good at their jobs—respectively playing a hostage negotiator and His Honor, the mayor. The screenplay by Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential, Mystic River) strives intelligently, if formulaically, to add new dimensions to the main characters and to offer its own gloss on the current economic meltdown. --Richard T. Jameson




Stills from The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (Click for larger image)

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 [Blu-ray] Reviews:
The Taking of Pelham 123- Very good remake.
2009-12-25 - The Taking of Pelham 123 was a very good remake with a great cast. I too was a fan of the earlier film but really enjoyed this movie and its updated story. I can't quite understand why it received an average score of only around three stars, so I cast my unconditional five star rating to bring up the average. Travolta and Washington had great chemistry and did a great job.

Always Money To Wreck Another Car
2009-12-24 - Warning: There could be spoilers in this review.
In the "Phineas and Ferb Christmas Special," (Yes, I like "Phineas and Ferb") the bully Buford states that, although he's been naughty all year, doing one huge
nice act on Christmas eve will redeem him. This is apparently the the underlying
philosophy of this movie.
Okay,at least in the film, it might've worked okay until they decided to take a break from the tension created by Denzel Washington and John Travolta and do badly filmed car chases instead. Apparently, the entire city was affected by the plant toxins from "The Happening," and no one can clear the streets, drive a car without
driving it off a bridge, or think to use a helicopter until it can be used in yet
another stupid, pointless drawn-out scene.
I seriously think they paid all the actors by the day, leads maybe three days,
supporting actors; which included great actors like James Gandolfini, wasted in this film;two.
All of this leading to Denzel's final act of redemption, which is shooting Travolta
in the head. (What?) I mean, comon, the Denzel character's bribe was only $35,000.00.
And it was for his kids and all...
I think the maker's of this film are getting coal for Christmas, no matter how nice they are for the rest of today.



Denzel & Travolta; what's not to like
2009-12-20 - Although I found the storyline a little thin, the performances by Denzel Washington and John Travolta made it worthwhile watching this remake.

pelham 123 horrible
2009-12-18 - Every Denzel movie is good...except this one. This movie had no hook...basically Travolta yelled and cursed and gets shot in the end. I would expect a bad movie in 1975 but 2009? We have perfected screenplays and special effects and exactly what people like in a movie. This movie was a bore fest from start to finish. I am glad I only payed 1.00 to rent this from REDBOX because anthing more than 1.00 is robbery for this yawner.

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 Movie Review
2009-12-15 - Really good movie, very suspenseful, great ending, kept me on the edge of my seat. Never a time where I felt bored while I was watching this. Also a great price too!