Trailer Watch: The Taking of Pelham 123

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on February 13, 2009

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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.


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  • With Tony Scott, Denzel Washington, and John Travolta, it's hard to write off. While it may feel like every other hostage-based action movie, the talent involved means it may actually be entertaining. Not a great movie, but entertaining.
  • It looks like they used the exact same script from the Matthau version. For every moment in this trailer I remember the exact same in the original. Except it seems like Travolta's character is acting alone, but at least that way we won't have another movie with a criminal named Mr. Blue.
  • You know, this really doesn't look half bad! I mean, for anyone who saw the amazing original (if you haven't seen it, I HIGHLY recommend that you do!), it looks pretty true to the original; From the cop car crashing on its way to deliver the money, and the countdown to deliver it. So if it is anything like the original, it should be solid action packed fun. But I do have to disagree; it looks like Travolta's character is working with a crew like the original. Plus, Tony Scott directed True Romance, one of my favorite films of all time, so I'm always interested to see what he can bring to the table.
  • less hand cranks shots equals another dull Deja Vu ....I hope he goes insane with the crank when he makes the Warriors
  • Very True Macabre. The Original was worth the watch, and I will agree that anyone that goes to see this version see the first to compare the two.

    I am kind of torn on this one. I like and respect Denzil Washington's work, but I have written off Travolta's work after battlefield Earth and the Punisher.
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