Tony Scott’s ‘The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3′ Opens Everywhere Friday

You don't expect Hollywood to make movies that aren't sequels or remakes, do you? That would be inconceivable.

It's hard to feel sorry for Washington since he's gotten steady work is a variety of genres: dramas, biopics, sci-fi, action flicks, crime thrillers, etc. Unlike his co-star Travolta, Washington has never been through a "comeback" phase in his long career.

More impressively, Washington's personal life is refreshingly normal for a A-list star. You never hear of his cheating on wife, abusing his kids, or getting high. I'm convinced that his squeaky clean image has contributed to his success in a "post-movie star" age.

You also never hear about his politics. Don't tell me, I don't want to know, but he knows what his job is and he does it well.

I'm a big fan of Denzel Washington precisely because he stays out of the tabloids. He comes off as a very intelligent and likable guy.

He has range too. 3 films to consider:
Man on Fire
Glory
Training Day

Travolta is also a fine actor (Battlefield Earth notwithstanding). I thoroughly enjoyed his performance in The General's Daughter. This looks like an entertaining movie with 2 actors I enjoy.

Once again a white male is the terrorist…

good original film. Walter Matthau was excellent… we are definitely not fans of Tony Scott- Ridley's hack brother- and we invite anyone to point out a really good film he's done. Jumpy camera, quick cuts, bad lighting and phoney rainstorms ('The Last Boy Scout' is a particularly bad example), not to mention terrible narrative strucutures are his regrettable trademarks. 'Crimson Tide' was just barely watchable and that is amongst his better work.
Our guess is this is a quick gone to rental film…

Well. . . no, not really. It would be nice though, wouldn't it?

I really liked Robert Shaw — great, great actor.

I though "Man on Fire" was pretty damn good, and I always like to see a New York movie shot with the city inner workings as a big part of the story. At least from the trailer, this looks entertaining to me. Given the massive technological/social differences in this New York and the one of the original (cell phones, 9/11 jitters, etc.), an update makes sense, and won't hurt my memories of the original one bit. I always have super-low expectations for Travolta, but, well, Tony Manero and Danny Zuko have earned 30 years of good will for me and I'll always give him a chance, Battlefield Earth notwithstanding. Denzel seldom makes a stinker (it's been a looong time since "Carbon Copy."), and it's even got James Gandolfini! This is definitely worth a mid-week matinee for me.

Amen to that.

God forbid they decide to remake JAWS cause no one can do Quint…..

"farewell and ado my fair spanish ladies……."

Agreed, though that's kind of what the Sci-Fi Channel has been doing with all these weak shark flicks they've been putting out. Still, I can see it now. . .

"A shark, out to save the world from evil white-male polluters, is hunted by Shia LeBouf, as the grissled Captain Quint, and Generic Blond Actress No. 1732, as the tough as nails rogue cop who solves ocean going crimes in her spare time. Will they realize who the real bad guys are in time? Coming this Summer to a Moron-o-plex near you."

"Shia LePoof" as Captain Quint……..Are you on Glenn Becks Comedy tour? That is friggin funny!!!

Refresh my memory. Did the subway car eat Shaw near the end of the movie, or do I have it mixed up with another film?

if you want to really stoke someone up talk to Quentin Tarantino about 'Romance'… terrific script, spotty performances and hack direction. No, he was a UK commercial director- flashy 30-60 second stuff. His lineage is what worked; having the very talented Ridley Scott as your brother opens up many doors. You are correct about the others- he was at the forefront of the MTV directors (McG and others) who on the basis of a clever rock video (and low pay) got to helm major films.

Film is a director's medium. Stage is an actor's medium. Therefore, the director is key. Hollywood seems to have forgotten that…

I remember those stories of Mr. Shaw.
They are even more humorous today when you look at what Dreyfuss has turned into. I believe Robert ,where he alive today, would take Dreyfuss right back up that mast and chain him in the crow's nest this time.
Some of the truly great actors had been notorious drunks, Richard Harris, Peter O'Toole to name a few. What suprises me the most, is that when you read about these men's (Shaw included) youthful exploits they make today's "Hollywood Badboy's" look like "Catholic Schoolgirls".
Truly amazing actors. And I bet it would have been a hell of a lot of fun to go drinkin' with them!

Your better than imdb. How the hell do you remember all this stuff. And please keep it up!

Anyway, I can't believe I forgot Sir Richard……..What a crew…

The original was great. It wil be interesting to see if they can really update it. "Money Train" was sort of a take on it some years back.

The original was such a great snapshot of 1970s NY, so how it will be updated really interests me. Walter Matthau was awesome and Robert Shaw was great too.

If you haven't seen the original, as I have not, then a Hollywood remake can act as an introduction of the story to a new generation.

I have only seen Tony Scott's "Man on Fire" and I thought it was one of the best films I have seen. That doesn't diminish the original in any way. But, just because it was a remake does not necessarily mean it lacks value.

Travolta? I don´t think so. I like Denzel Washington, but is he credible as this sort of regular guy? I am bored by the trademark frantic visuals and the trailer replaces drama and tension with noise (whoosh! Boom!).