The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
The movie The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 is a story about a sub way train being hijacked and the person who executes this plan is Ryder (John Travolta). As because it is John Travolta, please do not have great expectations from the movie, as you will be in for some disappointment because it has got nothing new to offer.
Director Tony Scott has failed quite badly in this venture and one of the major reasons is the special effect that is defies any and all scientific logic. The performances by even the lead actors are so cold; they seldom stir your senses. I would say they are simply heartless performances- the characters just seem to have done their jobs, not emoting to move the viewers.
The story part …hmm the film is based on John Godey’s novel and the script for the movie was penned by Brian Helgeland. Most of few might already know the story or might have seen the older version already. The 1974 movie The Taking of Pelham one two three is revived with a few alterations in the present film; just that. Now that might dampen your spirits quite a lot but this is the fact. The movie is so unreal when compared to the older version that itself is enough to describe the movie.
Unfortunately, the basic requirement of realism is also lacking in the film; just revolving around some exaggerated special effects and sequences that will simply make you yawn because ultimately your mind searches for some meaning right?
Well, let’s proceed with the story- by now you will know it is about train hijack and the ransom money has shot up to 10 million dollars as compared to the older movie. The professional profile of the main characters has changed in this film. John Travolta is the hijacker who was formerly a fraud and the transit executive played by Denzel Washington is the intermediary. Here come the special effects again that are so weird as compared to the old film, just beyond any reason and sense.
The performances by Travolta and Washington are not bad after all, but when compared to the acting skills executed by Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw in the older version they are not that convincing. The supporting cast has hardly any time to make a mark on the audience. The characters are just are overshadowed by the senseless action sequences giving no time for them to register themselves in the audience’s mind except for the main characters who are present in almost all the scenes.
You can seldom stop drawing comparisons between the old and the new versions of the film. The film that was made in the year 1974 was so believable but you will hardly find any realism in the new one. The action sequences and special effects are simply nonsensical that will drive your senses mad and by the end of the film you will wondering about the film’s sensibilities; do not bother to search for any meaning behind the action sequences because it has none and all that you see is unreal for sure.
Cast: Denzel Washington as Walter Garber, John Travolta as Ryder, Luis Guzmán as Phil Ramos, Victor Gojcaj as Bashkim, John Turturro as Camonetti, James Gandolfini as Mayor
Directed by: Tony Scott
Written by: Brian Helgeland
based on the novel by John Godey
Running time: 106 minutes
Rated: R for violence and pervasive language
Rating: 2.5/5
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Posted on Saturday, June 13th, 2009 at 2:33 pm