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The Taking of Pelham 123


Colin

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The Taking of Pelham 123

I don’t love all of Tony Scott’s direction, except for the wonderful Domino (2005),

Crimson Tide (1995), True Romance (1993), and of course, Top Gun (1986).

I do love all of Denzel Washington’s work, including The Great Debaters (2007), American Gangster (2007), Training Day (2001), Crimson Tide (1995) and Malcolm X (1992). I think he is better in this than Inside Man (2006), although the parts are very similar. I also like him better in this than Deja Vu (2006) and the predictable Man on Fire (2004).

But it is the wonderful performance of John Travolta that puts Pelham 123 over the top. He is wonderful in Be Cool (2005, Chili Palmer again!), Swordfish (2001), The General's Daughter (1999), Primary Colors (1998, as Bill Clinton), Phenomenon (1996), Broken Arrow (1996), Get Shorty (1995, Chili Palmer), Pulp Fiction (1994), Look Who's Talking series (1989, 1990, 1993), Blow Out (1981), Urban Cowboy (1980), Grease (1978), and of course, Saturday Night Fever (1977).

I saw Star Trek and X-Men: Wolverine. I did not see the 1974 version. This action thriller is better: the script is tighter, the dialogue more realistic and integral to the plot, the pace, although not fast, never lets up, there is a lot less fake CGI imagery, and of course, terrorism is never far from the news these days. This is the best heist film I have seen in decades.

I rate it 10 dollars – worth seeing in the movie theaters, certainly worth renting. I am not a movie buyer - only a few movies that I want to watch often enough to own (U-571, Master & Commander, Total Recall) - but it maybe worth owning.

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I can see liking Robert Shaw, perhaps, but Walter Matthau? In serious action role?

and who is over-acting? Not Denzel, not here, not Travolta either

don't expect your father to like this re-make, but you will

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