"The Taking Of Pelham 123"

"The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" 3 stars Rated R 1 hour 45 minutes Denzel Washington John Travolta J...  More »

"The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" 3 stars Rated R 1 hour 45 minutes Denzel Washington John Travolta John Turturo James Gandolfini When Columbia pictures decided to re-make their 1974 classic "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3", they had to know their new version would suffer by comparison. So let's not compare the two. We'll judge the new "Pelham 1 2 3" on its own merits of which there are many. John Travolta's in the driver's seat hijacking the New York subway train. Denzel Washington's in a tough spot as the voice of reason negotiating with an obviously deranged extortionist whose not afraid to kill passengers. Travolta's actually comfortable communicating with his new friend as Travolta calculates his demand for ten million dollars. Director Tony Scott's lively visual style makes the most out of the film's agonizing suspense, getting the money there before the deadline, when Travolta promises to start killing passengers. And there's hell to pay when hostage negotiator John Turturo decides to try his hand at reasoning with the increasingly agitated mastermind. The plot throws us a few surprising contemporary curves just to distance itself from the original. Director Tony Scott's restless camera is always on the move, even If it costs the film any semblance of subtlety. As the mild mannered Washington warms to his new role as a man on a mission. "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" takes action fans exactly where they want to go. It's no classic but it is fun reaching its destination with 3 stars. You're in for quite a ride...This is Sy Becker with another look at the movies.  « Less