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This one goes out to all of you who love remakes. Not only is Columbia Pictures’ The Taking of Pelham 123 a remake of a 1974 film starring Walter Matthau and Hector Elizondo, there was also a remake in 1998 for TV starring Edward James Olmos and Vincent D’Onofrio. So you could say that this is remake #3, or at least the third adaptation of John Godey’s novel. This time it stars John Travolta as a psychopath with a gun and part of a plan who hijacks a New York subway train and ransoms off its passengers. Denzel Washington plays a transit operator who is thrust into hostage negotiations and must find a way to get the hostages back alive.

Directed by Tony Scott (Deja Vu, Man on Fire), this film feels eerily similar to just about everything else that he’s done. It also may give some folks a little bit of a Speed vibe. At least, anyone who hasn’t seen the 1974 film. Either way, Taking of Pelham is an exciting enough story and the talent involved — including a super creepy performance from John Travolta — are all top notch. It leads me to believe that while this won’t jump up to the top of my “must see” list, it certainly shouldn’t be written off.

The Taking of Pelham 123 hits theaters June 12, 2009. Have a look at the trailer below or check it out in HD over at Yahoo Movies.