Remakes...hmm...I can think of a couple I liked ('The Thomas Crown Affair', for one). But generally, I don't think they're a good idea: especially when the original film got it right the first time. As a fan of the 1974 version of this movie (starring Walter Mathau and Robert Shaw), I was kind of dreading watching this remake. I think John Travolta tends to over-act his 'bad-guy' characters, and I wasn't looking forward to watching him in this role. But, I've enjoyed some movies directed by Tony Scott ('Enemy of the State'/ 'Man on Fire') and I usually like Denzel Washington (except when he over-acts his 'bad-guy' roles), so I thought I'd give it a go.
My overall feeling about this particular remake...I didn't hate it - but I won't remember it.
The Taking of Pelham 123 is set in New York. The story is about a small group of criminals who board a subway and take a section of it, with its passengers, hostage. They demand a ransom and co-ordinate a deal with the mayor, the police and a metro representative. The city has an hour to pay up; or a hostage will be killed each minute. (In the original film, a million dollars was the price tag - Now, in 2009, with the cost of living exponentially higher, it's ten million).
Once again, Tony Scott incorporates his high-tech cinematography style- shaky camera; over-lapping images; blurred action scenes. I get a bit frustrated when I can't see what's actually going on during chase scenes (especially, when the dialogue is boring and I need something to concentrate on), so I wasn't too happy with not being able to follow anything going on above ground.
Below ground: the film tries to concentrate on the relationship between Travolta (tattooed 'bad-guy') and Washington ( 'average joe' guy, trying to right a wrong from his own life). The script just wasn't good enough and the supposed connection between the two wasn't genuine for me. It just made me miss the original film.
Back in the day (I know I'm sounding like an old-timer now) screenplays usually allowed us to get to know the characters a little bit before the crisis happened: we'd get invested in them and care if they lived or died. Now, the action has to start right away (or God forbid we lose interest) and the screenwriter hopes that the dialogue that ensues between two characters while all the action goes on will make us get to know them and care about their well-being. In this film; that just didn't happen for me. There wasn't anything unique or original about these characters and because I already knew how the story was basically going to play out, I didn't care about them.
The film had a lot of challenges to face in 2009 that the original film didn't. -New York, post '911' is very different (someone takes someone hostage - are they a terrorist?) - everyone has cell phones and computers with webcams (probably why the ransom had to go up). - And the whole time the film was going on, I couldn't believe the SWAT team couldn't take down 4 guys with guns.
Generally, this movie isn't terrible: it's got its moments - but it's definitely a renter.
I wanted to write this review because I want everyone to see the 1974 version. They got so many things right with it...Who doesn't love Walter Mathau, for one? (and his 'average joe' character outshines Denzel's) - New Yorkers back then, weren't afraid of everything and the hostages in the subway are actually characters in the film who often times get sassy with their captors - Politically incorrect humour is abundant in the movie and it makes the film funny- The three other bad guys have roles, and the audience gets to know them- The New York cops and the Mayor are animated and interesting in their own right - And finally, the film isn't handicapped by present-day technology ( you actually believe four guys with guns, in a dark tunnel where no one can see what they're doing, are a threat).
If you insist on seeing only the 2009 remake of 'The Taking of Pelham 123', be warned: Travolta saying "mother f*****" a ton of times does not put him in the same caliber as Robert Shaw's cool, calm, calculating 'bad-guy'. If you don't see the original; you'll really be missing out.
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