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The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)

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Average Rating: 5.4/10
Reviews Counted: 213
Fresh: 108 | Rotten: 105

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.

Average Rating: 5.6/10
Critic Reviews: 38
Fresh: 20 | Rotten: 18

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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Movie Info

A New York City subway dispatcher draws on his extensive knowledge of the subway system in order to outsmart a dangerous criminal mastermind who's hijacked a subway train in this remake of the 1974 thriller inspired by John Godey's best-selling book. Walter Garber (Denzel Washington) is drifting through his daily routine when he receives word that a heavily armed gang of four has hijacked a subway train and is holding all of the passengers hostage. Led by cunning master thief Ryder (John

R, 1 hr. 46 min.

Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

Directed By: Tony Scott

Written By: Brian Helgeland

In Theaters: Jun 12, 2009 Wide

On DVD: Nov 3, 2009

Box Office:$65.5M

Sony/Columbia Pictures

Can a director be arrested for the attempted hijack of our emotions?

June 15, 2009 Full Review Source: New Yorker

| Comments (2)

Anthony Lane

New Yorker

Top Critic

Washington demonstrates his really remarkable ability to make us forget he's a movie star and completely believe he's a flawed but noble civil servant.

June 15, 2009 Full Review Source: At the Movies

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Ben Mankiewicz

At the Movies

Top Critic

I was really disappointed by this.

June 15, 2009 Full Review Source: At the Movies

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Ben Lyons

At the Movies

Top Critic

Whereas the original, directed by Joseph Sargent, was essentially a well-oiled B movie, the new incarnation, directed by Tony Scott, is bristling with high-tech gimcrackery and over-the-top camera flourishes.

June 12, 2009 Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor

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Peter Rainer

Christian Science Monitor

Top Critic

Set in a nightmare New York City, the subway hostage thriller batters our nerves like a tom-tom.

June 12, 2009 Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune

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Colin Covert

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Top Critic

The film does what a good hostage negotiator does: It distracts us from what's going wrong and pulls us into the story.

June 12, 2009 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times

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Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

Top Critic

Thunderous, metallic, ominous, screeching sound effects add to the sensory perception that you're watching a megaton monster barreling toward a dramatic showdown.

September 29, 2011 Full Review Source: American Profile

| Comment

Neil Pond

American Profile Source: American Profile

Veteran directorial fireball-hurler Tony Scott (Deja Vu, Top Gun) messes it up, as usual.

August 26, 2011 Full Review Source: East Bay Express

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Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

This sort of thing by design devolves into two guys talking on a phone, which if it's got any chance of working requires strong actors to bring their characters to life. Which is probably where Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 succeeds best.

March 21, 2011 Full Review Source: ComingSoon.net

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Joshua Starnes

ComingSoon.net

A valiant effort, but ultimately Pelham feels like little more than Washington's latest star vehicle, bound for Netflix after a short summer run.

January 26, 2011 Full Review Source: Las Vegas CityLife

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Matt Kelemen

Las Vegas CityLife Source: Las Vegas CityLife

The fourth (and least effective) collaboration between Denzel Washington and Tony Scott...

November 13, 2010 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

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.

August 9, 2010 Full Review Source: sbs.com.au

| Comment

Simon Foster

sbs.com.au

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

January 17, 2010 Full Review Source: Killer Movie Reviews

| Comment

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.

December 17, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinematical

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William Goss

Cinematical

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

December 6, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinemalogue.com

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Rubin Safaya

Cinemalogue.com Source: Cinemalogue.com

The movie might leave audiences feeling a lot like hostages themselves, at the hands of the director. Who seems to have a bit of a contact high with all the grating noise, grit and funk of runaway trains. Somebody needed to put the brakes on this guy too.

November 7, 2009 Full Review Source: NewsBlaze

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Prairie Miller

NewsBlaze

A high-octane, attention-deficit adventure as riveting as it is ridiculous upon closer inspection.

October 22, 2009 Full Review Source: Sly Fox

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Kam Williams

Sly Fox

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

August 31, 2009 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com

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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.

August 30, 2009 Full Review Source: The Australian

| Comment (1)

Evan Williams

The Australian

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

August 30, 2009 Full Review Source: Washington Times

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Sonny Bunch

Washington Times Source: Washington Times

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

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Im not sure how good the original wsa but this was a different take on your normal terrorist/criminal hostage movie. Decent acting, ok action. It was what it was.

January 8, 2011

John Manard

Super Reviewer

I liked the original Taking of Pelham but I don't think it so good it didn't warrant a remake. That said, I'm not particularly fond of remakes but I was pleasantly surprised with this one. They certainly updated it and made the story a little more realistic in some ways but then again, they also messed up in many ways.

October 13, 2011

Anthony Lawrie

Super Reviewer

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 Quotes

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1. Ryder: You're my god damn hero.
– Submitted by Jossan F (8 months ago)
1. Phil Ramos: I can't get it out of my head. I'm gonna die today.
– Submitted by Chris P (9 months ago)
1. Ryder: Life is simple now. They just have to do what I say.
– Submitted by Chris P (9 months ago)