Interesteg What makes it different from others?

SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Micah Lloyd Excellent characters with emotional depth. My wife, daughter and granddaughter all enjoyed it...and me, too! Very good movie! You won't be disappointed.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

jtraweek-48592 So many credits were shown in the movie but I think the lady officer on the train deserves a salute for her humble role as the beginning of the end for the four masculine robbers. The last frame of the movie was a classic. One of the finest shows of the decade and still mesmerizing. Bravo!

LeonLouisRicci Very Popular, but Overrated, Crime/Heist Movie Forged out of that 1970's Grit and Post Modern Template of "Tell It Like It Is" and "Foul Mouthed" Neo-Realism. There's Nothing Fancy here. It is Bare Boned, Character Driven, and Captures by Contrast those "On the Streets" and those "Underground".It's got a Heavy Hand, especially when it comes to Loud Mouthed Ridicules of People and Places. The New York City "Style" seems to have Captured Most Viewers and Viewed Today some of the Un-PC Stuff can be "Refreshing".The Film has a Cult Following, among those Director Quentin Tarantino (a 1970's Fetishist), and Objectively it is Typical of its Era and there are quite a Number of Films from the Time that are just as Good and some that are Much Better.But Given its Due as a Good Combination of Suspense and Humor it all Works quite Magnificently and Grips from the Get-Go.Never Letting Up, and if You can Forgive the Hyperbolic, Unlikable Characters (Mayor, Cops, and Transit Authorities) who all seem to be Straining to Stand Out among the many Stereotypical New Yorkers Populating the Frame, it can be an Exciting and Entertaining Movie.

encyes When watching "Pelham" it's easy to see why it was remade twice: a gripping storyline, intriguing characters, an event that could easily happen forty years ago, or twenty years from now. This 1974 version is so well done, from throwing you immediately into the story, to great actor choices like Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw, it's hard not to like – more or less love – this film. It dispenses with unnecessary romantic subplots, and never deviates from the cat and mouse game interwoven from start to finish. Shaw is captivating as the menacing mastermind, and Matthau is surprisingly good as his would-be nemesis. Even the supporting cast from Jerry Stiller to Maltin Balsam (as "Mr. Green" – BIG smiles for all BIG 'Reservoir Dogs' fans out there) to Hector Elizondo are wonderful choices. Sure the clothing is dated as is perhaps some of the Seventies lingo, but it never detracts from the intense story. It really has that 70s movie feel and the external Manhattan scenes are terrific. If there is any negative to be given about this film, the less-than dramatic ending and its subsequent frozen last image could have used an additional Hollywood-styled edge-of-your-seat conclusion. Otherwise, this a movie is well worth the watch.

Robyn Nesbitt (nesfilmreviews) "We are going to kill one passenger a minute until New York City pays us $1 Million.""The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" is a perfect example of a tension filled, wonderfully constructed, and extremely entertaining thriller. It's a testament to "Pelham" that it has been remade twice--once as a made-for-TV movie, and the other as a big-budget action picture. However, the decision to produce these remakes hasn't yielded satisfying results. Peter Stone earned an Oscar nomination in 1974 for his screenplay, which is adapted from John Godey's 1973 novel. You can count among its biggest admirers Quentin Tarantino, who borrowed the color-coded nicknames of the villains in the film for his band of thieves in "Reservoir Dogs."Four armed men hijack a New York City subway train and demand $1 million dollars which must be delivered in 1 hour for the release 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.The main strength of the film is the acting. Shaw, Balsam, and Elizondo each get to play to their own specific skill set. Shaw is cool, devious, and calculating. Balsam is a working class, somewhat decent, criminal. On the other side of things, Matthau is at his sardonic best as Garber. Little time is spent on the back story, subplots, or exploration of motives. It's about a subway train, the bad guys, the good guys, hostages, and money. That's it. comparing the original to the 2009 Tony Scott- directed remake, where substantial screen time is devoted to such concerns, the movie falls well short. Do yourself a favor: instead of watching the remake, seek out the original. It's an urban thriller with charisma and a vitality all of its own.