← Back to Reviews
in
The Taking of Pelham 123 (Tony Scott, 2009)
Well, considering I was one of the first to say that this was a bad idea, I want to take that all back and point you toward this solid flick: Although I could get into all kinds of tiny things which originally bothered me about this flick, overall, it turned out to be so well-done and so carefully-considered that it's really not worth my crying about anything. This film changes things from the original film, but it also seems to flesh out lots of details and character development which were ignored in the wonderful first flick. Denzel Washington and John Travolta are BOTH surprisingly well-cast in this film about two guys who are actually much closer to each other than either one believes even if the audience may believe that there's a serious line dividing the two of them. This version of the novel isn't quite as funny and it also includes many surprising details which will undoubtedly help many viewers to enjoy it not so much as a remake but as a readaptation. Travolta always looked ridiculous in the trailers, but his looks are the only thing ridiculous about the character. He comes across as incredibly intelligent and definitely in-charge. The coming attraction didn't really give me all that much to think about concerning Washington, but the script actually allows him to play a much-deeper character than the wonderful Walter Matthau in the first flick (everybody better swear to watch that one ASAP), and to tell you the truth, I cried during one of Denzel's big scenes (the one where he "saves the kid").
Tony Scott went out of his way to pump up this film and make it very exciting. I'm just glad that Brian Helgeland's script was almost funny enough for me to compare it to the original. I want everyone who has seen this movie to comment on the ending. That's the thing which is the greatest difference between the two flicks. Which one had the better ending, and what did you think of the way this one played out? Once again, I have a few complaints, but overall, I'm really happy with this version.
Well, considering I was one of the first to say that this was a bad idea, I want to take that all back and point you toward this solid flick: Although I could get into all kinds of tiny things which originally bothered me about this flick, overall, it turned out to be so well-done and so carefully-considered that it's really not worth my crying about anything. This film changes things from the original film, but it also seems to flesh out lots of details and character development which were ignored in the wonderful first flick. Denzel Washington and John Travolta are BOTH surprisingly well-cast in this film about two guys who are actually much closer to each other than either one believes even if the audience may believe that there's a serious line dividing the two of them. This version of the novel isn't quite as funny and it also includes many surprising details which will undoubtedly help many viewers to enjoy it not so much as a remake but as a readaptation. Travolta always looked ridiculous in the trailers, but his looks are the only thing ridiculous about the character. He comes across as incredibly intelligent and definitely in-charge. The coming attraction didn't really give me all that much to think about concerning Washington, but the script actually allows him to play a much-deeper character than the wonderful Walter Matthau in the first flick (everybody better swear to watch that one ASAP), and to tell you the truth, I cried during one of Denzel's big scenes (the one where he "saves the kid").
Tony Scott went out of his way to pump up this film and make it very exciting. I'm just glad that Brian Helgeland's script was almost funny enough for me to compare it to the original. I want everyone who has seen this movie to comment on the ending. That's the thing which is the greatest difference between the two flicks. Which one had the better ending, and what did you think of the way this one played out? Once again, I have a few complaints, but overall, I'm really happy with this version.