THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 (C+)

Starring: Denzel Washington and John Travolta

Story: In The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, New York City subway dispatcher, Walter Garber's, day is thrown into chaos by an audacious crime: the hijacking of a subway train. Ryder, the criminal mastermind who, as leader of a highly-armed gang of four, threatens to execute the train’s passengers unless a large ransom is paid within one hour. As the tension mounts beneath his feet, Garber employs his vast knowledge of the subway system in a battle to outwit Ryder and save the hostages. But there’s one riddle Garber can't solve: even if the thieves get the money, how can they possibly escape? (Sony Pictures)

Rated: R

Bottom line: Half riveting, intellectual thriller - half lazy, tension-free ‘action’ flick, this lopsided remake speeds along with strong performances from both Washington and Travolta…and then slams on the brakes with a screenwriter who clearly thought (about ½ the way thru the film) that it would be a good ideas to drop most of the dialogue in lieu of a boring chase. I’m fairly certain THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 is the reason God invented DVD/Bluray players and NetFlix.

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