February 12, 2008
Scouting for the Re-Taking of Pelham 123
Ooh, a fun update about the remake of The Taking of Pelham One-Two-Three. AMNY's Subway Tracker reports that location scouting is well under way, "Crews were at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station today...crews will be doing a camera test near Jerome and Tremont in the Bronx tomorrow some time (near the 4 line)." Transit officials even confirmed that crews were scouting today!
Last September, the remake plans were announced, with Tony Scott directing and Denzel Washington reprising the Walter Matthau role of Lt. Zachary 'Z' Garber. John Travolta joined the cast in October, to play villain Mr. Blue, portrayed by Robert Shaw in the 1974 film.
We recently watched original movie again and were reminded of the references to the city's finances and the mayor's dilemma of what to do. Back in the 1970s, the city was near bankrupt and movie's (and book's) idea of a $1 million ransom seemed risky. We wonder if the slowing economy will make the remake's ransom demand seem as vast.
And fun fact: Giants co-owner Steve Tisch is one of the producers. Guess a movie on the Giants' season and Super Bowl win will have to wait.
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No.
God no.
The original was perfect and any stupid useless remake is going to be absolute rubbish. Wait, they did remake in the late 90s and filmed it in Toronto and it was absolute rubbish. This is just going to be garbage.
You can't top Walter Matthau.
Jerry Stiller delivers the line, "Even great men have to pee." just perfectly.
The twelve tone jazz score by David Shire is a classic.
The morons who came up with yet another remake need to throw themselves off a subway platform.
Can't Hollywood come up with anything original anymore. No, of course not. It is this kind of rubbish thinking that makes me not go to the movies.
just like the music industry, the movie industry sucks. How many covers of Lucinda William's passionate kisses will they put out for chris.
they did do a remake with edward james olmos.
The film was made in a different era. the ads for
this film were right next to ads for Marilyn Chambers, behind the green door. OK maybe not,
but maybe some other triple X feature.
Just like Death Wish was made at a different time.
Will they leave the Asian visitors not speakin English scene in? or what about Jerry stiller finding a bomb in the bronx? and it turned out to be a cantaloupe.
Gesundheit.
How will the plot get around the fact that our current mayor can pay off any ransom out of his change pocket?
Must be a period piece.
And of course they'll cast a woman as "Mr Pink" ... thus the obligatory female re-casting in a remake and a self-referential nod to another movie all to boot. Am I right or am I not wrong?
>>>Back in the 1970s, the city was near bankrupt and movie's (and book's) idea of a $1 million ransom seemed risky.
..."one MILLION dollars!" --Dr. Evil
www.forgotten-ny.com
I don't see why they're not using the abandoned, underground 9th avenue station in Brooklyn...its perfect. Two platforms, rusty 70s atmosphere. Abandoned and since used for a lot of film (just redecorated to make it look like w/e station).
I'm just going to recycle my comment from the last time this was brought up:
They could remake it, but move it to a tougher city. The real greatness in the original is the attitudes of people, from the passengers to the MTA employees to the cops. They have that 70s "F*$% me? No, F*$% you!" vibe going. The dialog is terrific.
That New York City simply doesn't exist any more. This town is way too soft. Manhattan is now the billionaire's playground. They should move it to Detroit or some other place.
The original was such a perfect period piece. In order to work I think the remake will have to be a much different beast. Maybe John Travolta will play Mr. Blue as an embittered, middle-aged Tony Manero.
TVM likes the word "rubbish" it seems.
#8
Well-said!
oh good lord, a remake? i thought the writer's strike was over? #8 is right. they really should be doing a reinterpretation of some sort, there's no way this movie will be even halfway decent. but i suppose a lot of people will watch it for all of the explosions and implausible near-death moments! i mean, that 70s version, man, it sure was boring.
Guess a movie on the Giants' season and Super Bowl win will have to wait.
No fear, there's already a movie being made about the Giants season and Super Bowl win. It's been available for pre-order since they won on giants.com.
Screw the passengers. What do they want for 35 cents? To live forever?!
Screw the passengers. What do they want for 35 cents? To live forever?!
awesome!
the taking of pelham 1-2-3 was always used as my example of the stupidity of placing cops in silly security booths at end of the platform before all the underwater tunnel stops...
as shown in TOFP123, there is no need to confront police to access the tunnel, just get on the train and pull the emergency brake at desired location!!!!
as seen in the movie, various terrorists can get on at various stops and meet up in one car or execute their plan from previously arranged locations through out the entire train!
my take on the movie itself, it will be a very dumb remake similiar to the cheezy "Money Train" movie
Hollywood is GUARANTEED to suck all the quirky character development and NYC grit right out of this and turn it into yet another short-attention-span macho-dialogue explosion-fest. Remember the scene where the NYPD car rolls over in Astor Square while rushing the ransom money uptown from the Federal Reserve? Be prepared to see that re-enacted with balls of fire, things going boom and multiple cars soaring through the air.
Also be prepared for the traffic jams, street closures and snotty production assistants as the movie studio takes over the streets.
I can confirm they're shooting in Woodside now, they were on Friday and supposedly tomorrow too.