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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:203

Fresh:104

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.

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

Runtime: 1 hr 46 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Theatrical Release:Jun 12, 2009 Wide

Box Office: $65,452,312

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 audacious crime: the hijacking of a subway... 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? --© Sony Pictures [More]

Starring: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, Luis Guzman

Starring: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, Luis Guzman, Michael Rispoli, James Gandolfini

Director: Tony Scott

Director: Tony Scott
Screenwriter: Brian Helgeland
Producer: Todd Black, Tony Scott, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch
Composer: Harry Gregson-Williams
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment

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Release:

Nov 3, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Widescreen - 2.39

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - English, French
  • Subtitles - English, French
 
 
 
 

Reviews for The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

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101 - 120 (sorted by date)
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Helgeland's story is so formulaic and the characters so stock that we're just sitting there waiting for these guys to perform like circus animals.

Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
06/12/09
Andrew O'Hehir
Andrew O'Hehir
Salon.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Most disappointing is the new film's reluctance to even attempt to match the ingenuity of the original movie's celebrated one-two punch ending.

Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
06/12/09
Liam Lacey
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 has all the usual virtues of a good action suspense drama.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
06/12/09
Mick LaSalle
Mick LaSalle
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Pelham is not merely a film that may induce seizures in those who are susceptible; it is a film that seems engineered to approximate the experience of a seizure for those who are not.

Full Review Source: New Republic | comment Comment
06/12/09
Christopher Orr
Christopher Orr
New Republic
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The film's leading men exceed the action genre's usual requirements, if only briefly.

Full Review Source: Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) | comment Comment
06/12/09
John Wirt
John Wirt
Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)

It ticks along as efficiently as a new clock. The performances are smooth, the car-crash effects remarkable, the pace never flagging.

Full Review Source: Seattle Times | comment Comment
06/12/09
Moira MacDonald
Moira MacDonald
Seattle Times

Is this some statement on what happens to white collar criminals in prison? They come out and interject sodomy jokes when they're trying to be taken seriously? Is this how we should expect Gordon Gekko to be in the Wall Street sequel?

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
06/12/09
Erik Childress
Erik Childress
eFilmCritic.com

Travolta as the bad guy unfortunately did not work. I think if Washington & Travolta's roles had been reversed perhaps we would have had fireworks.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Spectrum | comment Comment
06/12/09
Jolene Mendez
Jolene Mendez
Entertainment Spectrum

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 is a near-perfect summer entertainment thriller that shows good story, good director and good actors trump gaudy special effects any day.

Full Review Source: Detroit News | comment Comment
06/12/09
Tom Long
Tom Long
Detroit News

Kinetic director Tony Scott balances his need for speed and flash with fleshed-out drama, making Pelham the best of his recent outings.

Full Review Source: Denver Post | comment Comment
06/12/09
Lisa Kennedy
Lisa Kennedy
Denver Post

There are few things in life more pleasant than watching John Travolta enjoy himself on-screen.

Full Review Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | comment Comment
06/12/09
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

It feels like Pelham is close to something interesting but never gets there because Scott doesn't give a rip.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
06/12/09
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

At first it's exciting, but as the film progresses, that quick-cut, never-stop pacing seems increasingly desperate.

Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
06/12/09
Tom Maurstad
Tom Maurstad
Dallas Morning News

Against all odds and better advice, director Tony Scott, screenwriter Brian Helgeland and main protagonists Denzel Washington and John Travolta take a much-loved genre classic and arguably make it better.

Full Review Source: Toronto Star | comment Comment
06/12/09
Peter Howell
Peter Howell
Toronto Star
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, an energetic updating of the 1974 mass transit thriller, takes account of how much the character of New York has changed.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
06/12/09
A.O. Scott
A.O. Scott
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Star chemistry, not director Tony Scott's overheated style, saves The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 from being yet another tired remake.

Full Review Source: What Would Toto Watch? | comment Comment
06/12/09
Christian Toto
Christian Toto
What Would Toto Watch?

Most of the film’s energy is generated by flamboyant cinematography and music-video cutting, and much of that energy is false.

Full Review Source: Wall Street Journal | comment 1 Comment
06/12/09
Joe Morgenstern
Joe Morgenstern
Wall Street Journal
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

You can always count on a Scott, in this case Ridley's little bro Tony, to jangle your nerves.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
06/12/09
John P. McCarthy
John P. McCarthy
Boxoffice Magazine

Crisp supporting turns by John Turturro (as a hostage negotiator) and James Gandolfini (as the mayor) combine with plenty of vehicular mayhem to make this a superior diversion.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
06/12/09
J. R. Jones
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader

The new players can't generate the grimy elan of the old film.

Full Review Source: Baltimore Sun | comment Comment
06/12/09
Michael Sragow
Michael Sragow
Baltimore Sun
 
 
101 - 120 (sorted by date)
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August 27, 2009: 10 Hair-raising Moments With John Travolta
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