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Movies / On DVD / The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
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The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)

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Reviews Counted:204

Fresh:105

Rotten:99

Average Rating:5.4/10

Consensus: Despite a strong cast, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 suffers under the excesses of Tony Scott's frantic direction, and fails to measure up to the 1974 original.

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Rated: R [See Full Rating] for violence and pervasive language

Runtime: 1 hr. 46 min.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

Theatrical Release: Jun 12, 2009 Wide

Box Office: $65.5M

Synopsis: In The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Denzel Washington stars as New York City subway dispatcher Walter Garber, whose ordinary day is thrown into chaos by an... In The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Denzel Washington stars as New York City subway dispatcher Walter Garber, whose ordinary day is thrown into chaos by an audacious crime: the hijacking of a subway train. John Travolta stars as Ryder, the criminal mastermind who, as 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? [More]

Starring: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, James Gandolfini, John Turturro

Starring: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, James Gandolfini, John Turturro, Luis Guzman, Michael Rispoli, Gary Basaraba, Todd Susman, John Benjamin Hickey, Aunjanue Ellis, Lee Shepherd, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Jason Butler Harner, J. Bernard Calloway, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Tonye Patano, Ramon Rodriguez, Alexander Kaluzhsky, Katherine Sigismund, Alice Kremelberg, Victor Gojcaj, Robert Vataj, Jake Richard Siciliano, Anthony Annarumma, Víctor Cruz

Director: Tony Scott

Director: Tony Scott
Screenwriter: Brian Helgeland
Producer: Todd Black , Tony Scott , Jason Blumenthal , Steve Tisch
Studio: Sony/Columbia Pictures

[See More Credits]

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    THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 TRAILER 1
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REVIEWS FOR THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1 2 3

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1 - 20 of 204 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 >> >|
Arrange By: Fresh | Rotten | Name | Source | Date
 
 

In the post 9-11 New York City, it’s a patently ludicrous suggestion that four machine-gun toting, sinister looking individuals can walk freely about the most heavily-guarded subway system in the world.

Full Review Source: sbs.com.au | comment Comment
Aug 9, 2010
Simon Foster
Simon Foster
sbs.com.au

When logic subsides, as alas it does, it is the sheer force of Washington's intensity and Travolta's élan that keeps the film on, ahem, track

Full Review Source: Killer Movie Reviews | comment Comment
Jan 17, 2010
Andrea Chase
Andrea Chase
Killer Movie Reviews

All restless shots and relentless cuts, ticking clocks and roving maps, a stream of shouting and shooting and speed-ramping and slow-motion and little real excitement.

Full Review Source: Cinematical | comment Comment
Dec 17, 2009
William Goss
William Goss
Cinematical

This is either bad writing, bad direction, bad acting or a combination of the three.

Full Review Source: Cinemalogue.com | comment Comment
Dec 6, 2009
Rubin Safaya
Rubin Safaya
Cinemalogue.com

If the trademark Scott gloss serves as a superficial hook, his also-adept manner of building tension and suspense then keeps one interested.

Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | comment Comment
Aug 31, 2009
Michael Dequina
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com

It would be impossible to make a completely dull film of Godey's story, but Scott has succeeded in reducing it to an empty, mechanical spectacle.

Full Review Source: The Australian | comment 1 Comment
Aug 30, 2009
Evan Williams
Evan Williams
The Australian

Solid performances can't lift this picture above its own mediocrity, however. The plot is formulaic ... and the ending obvious.

Full Review Source: Washington Times | comment Comment
Aug 30, 2009
Sonny Bunch
Sonny Bunch
Washington Times

If you're not feeling too cerebral Tony Scott's action movie set pieces are pretty good -- also silly sometimes -- but they're more than enough to fill in time between the lines of clichéd dialogue.

Full Review Source: MovieTime, ABC Radio National | comment Comment
Aug 27, 2009
Jason Di Rosso
Jason Di Rosso
MovieTime, ABC Radio National

In yet another blander-than-bland remake of a classic film, flash-over-substance specialist Tony Scott takes Joseph Sargent's taut, 1974 action-thriller and processes it through the multiplex mulching machine.

Full Review Source: The Age (Australia) | comment Comment
Aug 27, 2009
Jim Schembri
Jim Schembri
The Age (Australia)

There was a reality to [the original film] that I think is missing from this.

Full Review Source: At the Movies (Australia) | comment 1 Comment
Aug 26, 2009
Margaret Pomeranz
Margaret Pomeranz
At the Movies (Australia)

If you’ve never seen the original, the new Taking of Pelham 123 will probably come across as an okay thriller, but if you have seen the original it’s clear evidence as to why the movies aren’t as good as they used to be.

Full Review Source: At the Movies (Australia) | comment Comment
Aug 26, 2009
David Stratton
David Stratton
At the Movies (Australia)

Mechanical and unspirited, this is just another goddam remake, as they might say in the Big Apple.

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
Aug 26, 2009
Paul Byrnes
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald

When all is said and done, The Taking of Pelham 123 is a reliable, if unremarkable thriller that delivers what it must, and doesn’t waste a moment doing so.

Full Review Source: Herald Sun (Australia) | comment Comment
Aug 26, 2009
Leigh Paatsch
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)

Pelham would’ve been better served by a handful of Ritalin, or perhaps a director who wouldn’t dare sacrifice rollicking suspense to feed his meaningless camera fetishes. Stick with the 1974 version.

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
Aug 23, 2009
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
Dark Horizons

Ultimately, this is not a great train-robbery film -- but hey, in the whole scheme of things, it's not a bad one, either.

Full Review Source: Courier Mail (Australia) | comment Comment
Aug 23, 2009
Colin Newton
Colin Newton
Courier Mail (Australia)

"Bland, overweight, and overpaid actors enact their dumbshow against a backdrop of urban efficiency prettied up for consumer delight."

Full Review Source: Vancouver Voice | comment Comment
Aug 23, 2009
D.K. Holm
D.K. Holm
Vancouver Voice

Stays on track as an entertaining-enough suspense thriller featuring fine performances by Denzel Washington, John Travolta and James Gandolfini.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Insiders | comment Comment
Aug 21, 2009
Scott A. Mantz
Scott A. Mantz
Entertainment Insiders

Made with all the sinewy economy and storytelling clarity honed by making lots of high end TV commercials, Tony Scott pumps contempo energy and visual style into this classic good story

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
Aug 20, 2009
Andrew L. Urban
Andrew L. Urban
Urban Cinefile

It is all about star power and screen charisma with Washington and Travolta making formidable adversaries, whether on screen together or at opposing ends of the microphone.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
Aug 20, 2009
Louise Keller
Louise Keller
Urban Cinefile

[It's]a popcorn movie, nothing more and nothing less.

Full Review Source: New England Movies Weekly | comment Comment
Aug 11, 2009
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
New England Movies Weekly
 
 
1 - 20 of 204 (sorted by date)
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LATEST NEWS FOR THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1 2 3

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June 19, 2009: Submit to the RT Show and Earn a Cool $100
Time for the weekly update, folks. As always, thanks to everyone who has submitted reviews and helped contribute to the show. Every week, we continue to bring you a lively, upbeat, and fun... More...

June 15, 2009: Watch RT on Current TV
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June 12, 2009: Comparing the Takings of Pelham 1 2 3
Now that Tony Scott's "The Taking of Pelham 123" is in theaters, we're free to compare it with the 1974 original -- which is exactly what /Film is doing now. More...

June 11, 2009: Critics Consensus: Pelham 1 2 3 Doesn't Quite Take
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June 11, 2009: Box Office Guru Preview: Travolta Faces Off With Denzel in 1 2 3
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