Movie Trailers: The Taking of Pelham 123, Remake Vs. Original

As you no doubt have heard, the original 1974 film The Taking of Pelham 123 has been remade into a contemporary thriller. But instead of a team of stylishly eccentric subway highjackers, the new version seems to feature just one, a tattooed John Travolta. Taking over the role of protagonist Lieutenant Zachary Garber, originally played by Walter Matthau, is Denzel Washington, sporting an earring just like his nemesis Travolta—maybe director Tony Scott is exploring some sort of deep ying/yang metaphor.

Also along for the ride are James Gandolfini, John Turturro, and Luis Guzmán. A promising cast, but if the trailer is any indication, this slick remake has done away with all the rusty, analog charm of the original. It looks like Inside Man on a train instead of in a bank, and without the mitigating balm of Clive Owen. But at the very least, you can bank on a midnight screening of the original at the Sunshine once the remake drops, so that's one reason not to hate Tony Scott. (One.)

Here's the remake trailer; below is the original trailer.

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By John Del Signore in Arts and Events on February 13, 2009 5:05 PM

Comments [rss]

Glenn Fernandes

Though a remake, I am excited to watch this movie. Its full of action and drama. For more wallpapers, trailers refer http://www.entertainmenttrend.com/the-taking-of-pelham-1-2-3-movie-review/

pattitrishka

Don't wait, watch the original on Hulu. It hits the spot when you need a gritty NYC movie-fix.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/27822/the-taking-of-pelham-one-two-three

Radtard

I love Denzel "control room"

Pshhh

HA you know the MTA only has a grainy black and white tv with someone asleep in front of it

Think2wice

Anything will Travolta or Nicholas Cage are deal-breakers for me.

fugothamist

i agree

thefacts

The original characters actually had NY accents.

rlhbomb

Another lame remake made even lamer by Travolta.

Let's add ridiculous cgi and fx for no reason other than to make up for craptastic acting and a lame rewrite.

The remake should have had someone hijacking the L train and tormenting and killing a bunch of hipsters.

Or the hijackers could have bumped into Bloomberg as he slummed it on the train on his was to work to rid the city of them dangerous poor folk.

unregistered_wiseguy

Looks like a typical remake: better visuals but the story is not as well told as the original.

MrManhattan

Vinnie Barbarino hijacking a subway?

I'll wait till NetFlix has it.

Toby von Meistersinger

I am not going to see this. I'll just watch my DVD of the original.

boricuachick

I always loved the original Taking of Pelham 123. I lived in the Bronx when this movie came out and it captured that period really well. The subway was craaazy with crime back then. I remember feeling relieved when a Guardian Angel came onboard late at night on the D train. I still think this flick is righteous.

JacqueMehoff

This ain't no bank robbery!

chunk

Save your tears for the remake of Bonnie and Clyde. The original 123 was a fun but forgettable b-movie with stock characters and an outrageously miscasted Walter Matthau.

goodcow

There's nothing forgettable about the original movie which is a classic and gritty thriller with perfect dialogue that captures the grit of New York. Both remakes are horrible.

fugothamist

u used 'grit' twice in one sentence

jaycjay

Technically this is the second remake. There was also the 1998 made-for-TV version.

John Del Signore

You're going to be annoying everyone with that factoid until this thing opens in June, aren't you?

jaycjay

Only those who refer to it as the remake.

But I prefer the term "enlightening."

JenChungsBaby

Prediction:

Old movie -- New movie

Fine understated acting -- Bad over the top acting

Minimal use of special effects -- CGI galore

Interesting dialogue -- Corny dialogue

Subtly developed intriguing characters -- Cliched stupid characters

One car rolling on Astor Place -- Many cars exploding on unrecognizable street

Instant classic -- Instant Netflix

And of course the ransom demand this time around will be in the neighborhood of $100 million.