The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (re-release)

Throughout, there's a skillful balance between the vulnerability of New Yorkers and the drastic, provocative sense of comedy that thrives all over our sidewalks.

Exciting, suspenseful drama.

Sargent's whole enterprise doubles as a '70s archaeological dig.

Good action caper.

I watched The Taking of Pelham 123 just for Jerry Stiller; I just wished the hijackers had demanded more screen time for him.

The original Taking of Pelham One Two Three is better than the Travolta-Washington remake because of its ability to find tension and thrills without too much bloodshed. In other words, it relies on its script and atmosphere rather than pervasive f-words and heavy gore.

Outstanding thriller with an entertaining blend of suspense and humor with dynamic performances Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw. Four armed men hijack a New York City subway train and demand $1 million dollars which must be delivered in 1 hour for the train and the lives of the passengers held hostage. Lt. Zachary Garber (Walter Matthau) of the New York City Transit Police must contend with City Hall, the demands of the hijackers, and the ticking clock in his efforts to save the passengers and bring the hijackers to justice. The initial hijacking plan doesn't seem to make any sense because their options are so limited. At one point Lt. Garber jokingly says: "They're gonna get away by asking every man, woman and child in New York City to close their eyes and count to a hundred." But there is a clever getaway plan coordinated by Mr. Blue (Robert Shaw), who plays a former mercenary soldier. His team members include two professional criminals and a fired motorman (Martin Balsam) with a grudge. It's the performances and chemistry between Matthau and Shaw, and fine supporting performances that makes this film work. We are drawn in by skillful character development, allow personalities to take shape, giving this thriller charisma and a vitality all of it's own.

Definitely well performed and randomly full of humorous charm. The ending look was so silly it almost took me out of it, but only almost.

En général, les remakes de vieilleries s’avèrent plus mauvais, plus merdiques que les films d’origine… mais ce n’est pas toujours le cas ! car parfois, la vieillerie était (déjà) une daube à son époque… et effectivement ce métro de 1974 (d’ailleurs plein de **** de *******, on dirait notre reure à nous, putain !) se révèle très inférieur à son remake de 2009 ! On n’aurait pas cru ça et pourtant, c’est la stricte vérité, la vieille daube ne peut lutter et pourtant, oui pourtant, le remake est loin d’être un chef-d’oeuvre, entendons-nous bien…! c’est dire donc si ce film est poussif, souvent ridicule et bien peu crédible : c’est écrit avec les pieds et totalement invraisemblable de A à Z. Dans ces pathétiques conditions, nous n’insistons pas et tirons immédiatement la sonnette d’alarme : hors de question de continuer à voyager dans un étron pareil ! (et puis en plus, c’est plein de ****** !).