Do you want to see ‘The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3’?

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)

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Average Rating: 5.4/10
Reviews Counted: 215
Fresh: 109 | Rotten: 106

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

You're so busy enjoying the sound and picture quality that you're inclined to forgive the film's missteps.

February 11, 2012 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

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James Plath

Movie Metropolis

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

| Comment

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

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: She was an ass model.
– Submitted by eddie r (3 months ago)
1. Ryder: You're my god damn hero.
– Submitted by Jossan F (11 months ago)
1. Phil Ramos: I can't get it out of my head. I'm gonna die today.
– Submitted by Chris P (13 months ago)
1. Ryder: Life is simple now. They just have to do what I say.
– Submitted by Chris P (13 months ago)