TAKING OF PELHAM 123 -REVIEW
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Director:Tony Scott
Cast: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, James Gandolfini, John Tuturro
Rating: 4/5
The Taking of Pelham 123 is a remake of a 1970s movie. This latest re-imagining,directed by Tony Scott and staring John Travolta and Denzel Washington as our lead heavyweights, Pelham takes on a thrilling journey that ultimately leaves us wanting, though your own imagination is left to make up its own ending, and this reviewers final thoughts were very satisfying.
John Travolta
Tony Scott and Denzel Washington are a Hollywood power-couple, though not in the traditional sense, their hits such as Man on Fire and misses such as Deja Vu are part of a rich tapestry that is their relationship and Pelham is a high point.
Travolta plays our villain who masterminds the train heist. He and his associates are slick and focussed on their end game. Ryder (Travolta) has a chip on his shoulder and a bone to pic with "the man" which in this film is the Mayor of New York (James Gandolfini).
Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington is a family man who lives and breathes trains. He has risen in the ranks though after some recent controversy has been demoted to watching the trains on the computer screenings and maintaining communications between the drivers.
After the train from Pelham Bay that departed at 1:23pm stops on the tracks with no foreseeable dander ahead, the wheels are set in motion on this action caper.
Tuturro is solid and enlightening as the hostage negotiator and he is a joy to watch on screen. His dramatic turn was subtle yet effective. His character was believable though I felt more could have been made of his role, but that is only a minor qualm.
Director Tony Scott
The movie stood out to be an amalgam of three other favourites; Speed,Collateral and Phonebooth. All these were woven into the narrative and this reviewer was not upset by such overtones at all.
There were moments where you expected Hollywood to veto some actions but thankfully this was not the case and shock and awe kicked in with pleasant results.
This reviewer was expecting something less exciting than what was served up and fortunately I couldn't see this branching out into a sequel/franchise so it allowed a sense of finality to the narrative which is rare in the current cinema landscape.
Critic RogerEbert.com at time of writing was yet to review this film
Rotten Tomatos.com rated this film 51/100%
How would you rate it? Tell us below..
IN PRODUCTION: Tony and Denzel must love Trains. The locomotive thriller Unstoppable is in the works about a runaway train stocked with toxic liquid, which also stars Star Trek's Chris Pine,
Dunk Films
Cinema Rat
Rat Chat
Cheers,
CR.
Rhythmatism
Zentertainment
Budget Centsability
Cinema Rat
Rat Chat
thanks for stopping by!
-CR.
www.cinemarat.com
Dunk Films
Koovies
I know I'm being far too precious. I suppose that remakes are a safe bet; when you're spending the kind of money that Hollywood does on movies you expect to see a return on your investment.
Cinema Rat
Rat Chat
Hollywood folklore has this beautiful anonymous quote. In an interview a producer was asked by the journo why he thought tinsletown took to remakes so well and kept rehashing old classics, to which he replied: "because they didn't get it wrong the first time".
Nice to meet you please drop by again sometime"
-CR.
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Originally I had heard this was heading striaght to DVD although cinemas appear to have changed their mind and from what I have read recently Denzel had left Unstoppable as it was too similar to this one and it bombed. BUt this could have been gossip.
Cinema Rat
Rat Chat
Yeah JK Denzel was sweet talked by Scott into coming back. he did leave though. Denzel doesnt get his shirt off in this (sorry ladies and select gents) though he does pick up a gun. Civilian Denzel is less exciting than bad ass Denzel though still just as watchable.
The dialogue & vernacular was uncanny, slick & contemporary..You have to know 'the streets' to relate to much of it.
Having grown up in Ct. , attending Fordham Univ. in the Bronx (during the filming of the original 123), driving the Pelham Pkwy, and riding the 123, I was super impressed with the overall dynamic of this film..I've watched it over & over and got a different perspective each time..
As far as I'm concerned, 'Johnny T' & 'Denny Dub', you're both my 'f--king heros' in this movie.
The dialogue & vernacular was uncanny, slick & contemporary..You have to know 'the streets' to relate to much of it.
Having grown up in Ct. , attending Fordham Univ. in the Bronx (during the filming of the original 123), driving the Pelham Pkwy, and riding the 123, I was super impressed with the overall dynamic of this film..I've watched it over & over and got a different perspective each time..
As far as I'm concerned, 'Johnny T' & 'Denny Dub', you're both my 'f--king heros' in this movie.