Useless Remake #477: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
 

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=38799

Okay, this is a movie I wouldn't mind a remake of with something going in the right direction. Getting Tony Scott is, IMO, a step in that direction, because whether you hated Domino and Man on Fire (I loved both personally), he is tailor-made for the action genre. The Last Boy Scout? True frickin' Romance?

But this has "shit" written all over it. For one, Denzel Washington's casting is some of the biggest typecasting I've heard in a while. For one, he virtually played the same exact role in Inside Man, and both of that and the original Pelham have the haggard cop trying to talk down a hostage crisis, and he also toplined The Manchurian Candidate remake. I loved him in Inside Man, but honestly, they should just make this Inside Man 2 from the sound of it. However, if Tony Scott can make him half as badass as he was in Man on Fire...

Also, look at the recent casting of John Travolta in the scenery-devouring Robert Shaw role from the original. Maybe it's because South Park etched an irremovable image of him trying to coax Tom Cruise out of the closet, but the man is 250 pounds of Canadian bacon when it comes to playing villain roles. The greatness of Face/Off covered it, but remember the ham-fisted turn he has in The Punisher? I rest my case. If he plays it more like Vincent Vega, then we might be in good hands, but after his anti-intensity output this year, I can't see the man taking a subway hostage.

Maybe this can work out, but right now, I'm not convinced.

I have a feeling this will be a lot different than the original, they're probably only using the title and very basic plot.

There was a middling TV remake some years ago with Vincent D'Onofrio in the Shaw role and Edward James Olsmos and Lorraine Bracco sharing the Walter Matthau role.

Tell me, why does it need remade?

So they can do a remix of the kickass main theme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXrEptVgUnc

I need an MP3 of that theme.

PM me if you still want this. And anyone else.

I absolutely adore the original...tightly-wound thriller laced with humor throughout.

Unnecessary remake though.

Didn't they recently remake this for television?

I absolutely agree, although I think a good remake could say something interesting about post 9/11 New York. I tend to think this will not be that remake.

Check the first response.

I have that poster on ignore.

They've got my money, lookin forward to it.

I need mp3s of the entire score.

Email me directly, everyone who wants it.

The original was my first R rated movie that I was taken to by my parents. Have not seen it since 74. I should get a copy.

PM sent. I've got David Shire's Conversation score if anyone wants that.

:sad: :(

Re: Useless Remake #477: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
 

The trailer is up, eh I don't like it.

http://www.catchthetrain.com/

Re: Useless Remake #477: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
 

we better get an SE of the original on dvd for having to deal with this shit.

Re: Useless Remake #477: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
 

I know I watching my non-anamorphic copy last week.

Re: Useless Remake #477: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
 

Wow -- lame trailer. Not even looking forward to seeing this movie.

Read an interview that while filming, Denzel had never even seen the original. :down:

Re: Useless Remake #477: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
 

I have always wanted to see a remake of this movie, so I'm excited. The original was a very deliberate thriller, and it worked, but I always thought more action could work, too.

I'll agree that Washington's role looks very similar to his role in Inside Man, and Travolta might ham it up as the villain, but at the end of the day, it's Denzel Washington AND John Travolta. That's the kind of star-powered pairing we haven't seen in a while.

I like the trailer. I think it sets up the story nice, shows that it isn't all action, but shows that the movie will get tense. I really hope it's good, this might be my second-most anticipated movie after Transformers 2.

Re: Useless Remake #477: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
 

Where's this trailer? link or actual posting of trailer please

EDIT: nevermind here it is.

<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/k_fbAz4--qw&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/k_fbAz4--qw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>

Haven't seen the original...this looks like entertaining at the least. Dunno if it's actually any good..but I'll want to see it until I hear a large amount of negative feedback of it.

Re: Useless Remake #477: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
 

what drugs are you on?

Re: Useless Remake #477: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
 

Can't make an exact decision on this one, but it ain't the '74 one. Looks like one of the many "Die Hard on a..." movies studios were pumping out in the late 80's through the mid-90's. It could be good as a fan of Tony Scott, but I'm not feeling this one.