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.
Comment
06/12/09
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)
51
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:202
Fresh:104
Rotten:98
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.
Australian Theatrical Release:
Aug 27, 2009 Wide
US 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... [More]
Starring: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, Luis Guzman
Director: Tony Scott
Reviews for The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
101 - 120 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 has all the usual virtues of a good action suspense drama.
06/12/09
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.
06/12/09
The film's leading men exceed the action genre's usual requirements, if only briefly.
06/12/09
It ticks along as efficiently as a new clock. The performances are smooth, the car-crash effects remarkable, the pace never flagging.
06/12/09
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?
06/12/09
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.
06/12/09
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.
06/12/09
Kinetic director Tony Scott balances his need for speed and flash with fleshed-out drama, making Pelham the best of his recent outings.
06/12/09
There are few things in life more pleasant than watching John Travolta enjoy himself on-screen.
06/12/09
It feels like Pelham is close to something interesting but never gets there because Scott doesn't give a rip.
06/12/09
At first it's exciting, but as the film progresses, that quick-cut, never-stop pacing seems increasingly desperate.
06/12/09
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.
06/12/09
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.
06/12/09
Top CriticStar chemistry, not director Tony Scott's overheated style, saves The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 from being yet another tired remake.
06/12/09
Most of the film’s energy is generated by flamboyant cinematography and music-video cutting, and much of that energy is false.
06/12/09
Top CriticYou can always count on a Scott, in this case Ridley's little bro Tony, to jangle your nerves.
06/12/09
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.
06/12/09
The new players can't generate the grimy elan of the old film.
06/12/09
...would probably have been even better if the two stars had switched roles...
06/12/09
Latest News for The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
August 27, 2009:
10 Hair-raising Moments With John Travolta
Travolta's brutal butch hair -- or lack thereof, handlebar moustache aside -- in this week's remake of The Taking of Pelham 123 got us nostalgic for ol' dimple chin's former... More...
June 19, 2009:
Submit to the RT Show and Earn a Cool $100
Time for the weekly update, folks. As always, thanks to everyone who has submitted reviews and helped contribute to the show. Every week, we continue to bring you a lively,... More...
June 15, 2009:
Watch RT on Current TV
This week, The Rotten Tomatoes Show will be looking at the movies that opened over the weekend, with help from you (the Rotten Tomatoes community), the Current TV community, and... More...
June 13, 2009:
Denzel and Travolta co-star in remake of classic hostage drama. 
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