Critic Reviews

Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) Rank 2 Reviews

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Movie critics combined give Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) a score of 2.2662 out of 4
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Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for eFilmCritic.com (David Cornelius)eFilmCritic.com (David Cornelius)
It entertains the way it wants, as shiny, shallow popcorn fun. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at eFilmCritic.com (David Cornelius)
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Total Film (Matt Mueller)Total Film (Matt Mueller)
For a good hour, Scott delivers a tense cat-and-mouser. Goes off track when Denzel turns action hero, but his riffing with a sinister Trav is what propels this Pelham. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Total Film (Matt Mueller)
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Uncut Magazine [UK] ()Uncut Magazine [UK] ()
The film thrills like a super-saturated fairground ride, but Scott ducks the question of post -9/11 terror, and fails to deliver on a metaphorical level. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Uncut Magazine [UK] ()
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Heart 106.2 (Simon Thompson)Heart 106.2 (Simon Thompson)
It moves along at a decent pace but I’d have liked something more – but what exactly, I can’t quite put my finger on. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Heart 106.2 (Simon Thompson)
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Daily Mail [UK] (Christopher Tookey)Daily Mail [UK] (Christopher Tookey)
The Taking Of Pelham 123 may not be up there with his best, but it's professional, fast-moving and holds the interest. It will pay a few bills, which is the only reason it exists. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Daily Mail [UK] (Christopher Tookey)
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Financial Times (Nigel Andrews)Financial Times (Nigel Andrews)
If you like Scott you can argue that too much is better than too little. This movie has a vision and sticks to it. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Financial Times (Nigel Andrews)
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Sky Movies (Rob Daniel)Sky Movies (Rob Daniel)
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Digital Spy (Stella Papamichael)Digital Spy (Stella Papamichael)
Scott does like his bells and whistles, substituting those for real atmosphere and sense of place. Fortunately that's not enough to completely wreck a serviceable thriller. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Digital Spy (Stella Papamichael)
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.25 out of 4 stars for Newark Star-LedgerNewark Star-Ledger
But at this point in the summer -- which, by Hollywood yardsticks, is nearly half over -- that's okay. We've been waiting too long for a sharp little urban thriller with a couple of tense scenes and one fine, bold performance. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Newark Star-Ledger
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.25 out of 4 stars for Jam! MoviesJam! Movies
But by then not even those missteps can't derail a movie confidently rocketing down to the wire on sheer momentum, fuelled by sound, fury and Washington and Travolta's movie-star magnetism. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Jam! Movies
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.25 out of 4 stars for Kansas City StarKansas City Star
The heart of "Pelham" is a series of conversations between these two men. Ryder seems fully in control, setting the parameters of the negotiations and killing at will; Walter must try to soothe the ex-con's bad temper and stall for time. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Kansas City Star
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.25 out of 4 stars for Spout BlogSpout Blog
By the time I've moved up to 3rd in line, I've vowed to reserve my use of the word "pointless" for experiences like The Taking of Pelham 123, which are literally pointless, in that there is no point of impact. They simply do not have a reason to exist. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Spout Blog
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.25 out of 4 stars for TheDivaReview.comTheDivaReview.com
There's still the odd bit of unnecessary OTT violence thrown in just to make sure you're awake, but The Taking of Pelham 123 is rather restrained by Tony Scott's standards and the calmer tone suits this piece. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at TheDivaReview.com
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.25 out of 4 stars for JoBloJoBlo
Still, THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123, is a solid enough thriller, although it's easily one of the lesser Scott/ Washington pairings (better than DEJA VU, but nowhere near as good as CRIMSON TIDE or MAN ON FIRE), and probably won't be Travolta's big comeback fi ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at JoBlo
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.25 out of 4 stars for Giant MagazineGiant Magazine
As major studio productions go though, it's solidly crafted, well-acted and filled with moments of genuine tension and humor. And if it encourages moviegoers to hit Netflix and check out the original version, that's even better. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Giant Magazine
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.25 out of 4 stars for Ozus' World Movie ReviewsOzus' World Movie Reviews
Things move along at a brisk pace as the underground transfer of the money is negotiated, but Scott is not satisfied to just let the story play out without ratcheting up the violence and the action sequences, and the paunchy 'everyman' civil servant has t ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.25 out of 4 stars for Film.comFilm.com
Washington's screen presence is powerful, as always, and the movie isn't a bad way to pass a couple hours, as long as you don't sit too close to the screen and are inured to a steady barrage of loud dialogue that doesn't bother to be clever. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Film.com
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.25 out of 4 stars for AskMen.comAskMen.com
Director Tony Scott has built a career out of crafting films that have been unabashedly geared toward the testosterone set. It's hard not to admire the R-rated gusto with which Scott has infused this film. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at AskMen.com
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.25 out of 4 stars for Denver PostDenver Post
Still, the big show remains the mind-game match-up between Ryder and Garber and the actors who portray them. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Denver Post
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.25 out of 4 stars for Dallas Morning NewsDallas Morning News
The silver lining here may be that this remake gets a few more people to check out the original, a beautiful scrapbook of mid-'70s New York City, full of great performances and influential flourishes. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Dallas Morning News
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.25 out of 4 stars for Tri-City HeraldTri-City Herald
Like the original, The Taking of Pelham 123 struggles. The commandeered plot is like the film's train. When you first get on board it just sits on the track. Once the story begins moving, you can predict each stop along the route. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Tri-City Herald
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.25 out of 4 stars for St. Louis Post-DispatchSt. Louis Post-Dispatch
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 should satisfy action fans who enjoy seeing Washington in dangerous situations. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for suite101suite101
Pelham's many strong points are junked in favor of cheap ticking-clock thrills. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at suite101
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN) (Bob Bloom)Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN) (Bob Bloom)
The repartee between Travolta's Ryder and Washington's Walter Garber is the cement that binds the movie. When it deviates from them, the film goes to pieces. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN) (Bob Bloom)
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Baltimore Sun (Michael Sragow)Baltimore Sun (Michael Sragow)
The new players can't generate the grimy elan of the old film. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Baltimore Sun (Michael Sragow)
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for St. Paul Pioneer Press (Chris Hewitt (St. Paul))St. Paul Pioneer Press (Chris Hewitt (St. Paul))
It feels like Pelham is close to something interesting but never gets there because Scott doesn't give a rip. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at St. Paul Pioneer Press (Chris Hewitt (St. Paul))
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Eclipse MagazineEclipse Magazine
What works in this film is the relationship that builds between Garber and Ryder. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Eclipse Magazine
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Hollywood Report CardHollywood Report Card
Also, as performances go, Gandolfini, Turturro and Guzman are great actors, but aren't big players in the film. They nearly only cameo here. I also felt that Washington, though acting well, was miscast. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Hollywood Report Card
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for One Guy's OpinionOne Guy's Opinion
Like most remakes, this oddly perfunctory retooling is unnecessary, and actually inferior to its model. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at One Guy's Opinion
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Boston GlobeBoston Globe
The new Pelham is a solid, suspenseful tale all over again, so long as it stays in the subway tunnels and airless offices of the transit department. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Boston Globe
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Miami HeraldMiami Herald
Hiring Tony Scott to direct The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 is like hiring Michael Bay to direct My Dinner With Andre: A colossal mismatch of director and material. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Miami Herald
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Deseret NewsDeseret News
This version of the hijacking thriller tale is pretty messy and has all-over-the-map performances and a too-showy directorial style. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Deseret News
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for The Movie KitThe Movie Kit
Hire Denzel Washington. He is bound to make any mediocre film better than it should, which is precisely what he does in The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at The Movie Kit
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Go Memphis articleGo Memphis article
The laughable climax is punctuated with a military-style salute from a police hostage negotiater that is so silly. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Go Memphis article
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Movie City NewsMovie City News
The only real competition with it this summer, so far, is the old guy with the balloons and the three guys in the desert trying not get blown up. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Movie City News
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Las Vegas WeeklyLas Vegas Weekly
Scott does his best to turn this back-and-forth into an action movie, but it does more to distract from the simple, economical story than enhance it. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Las Vegas Weekly
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Philadelphia InquirerPhiladelphia Inquirer
The only surprise in the new Pelham is that there's nothing to replace the narrative ingenuity of the original. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for NewsdayNewsday
Director Tony Scott may not suffer from attention-deficit disorder, but he is convinced you do. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Newsday
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for TwinCities.comTwinCities.com
Whenever things start to bog down, Scott's instinct is to cut to a shootout or a catapulting police car, preferably in slow motion. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at TwinCities.com
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Sacramento BeeSacramento Bee
There are only so many ways to photograph a train in a tunnel, despite Scott's visual doodling. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Sacramento Bee
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for The Globe and MailThe Globe and Mail
The best thing the new Pelham can offer in compensation is a spinning panorama of midtown gridlock and a glance at an iconic yellow cab with the tourist board "Made in New York" motto on its rooftop sign. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at The Globe and Mail
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 1.75 out of 4 stars for Screen DailyScreen Daily
The Taking of Pelham 123 is a professionally mounted genre exercise which tries to please both the thriller and social drama crowds and suffers as a result. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Screen Daily
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 1.75 out of 4 stars for 7M Pictures7M Pictures
Flash can work in a film, but it can also be used to cover things up, and "The Taking of Pelham 123" had a lot that needed to be covered up. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at 7M Pictures
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 1.75 out of 4 stars for indiomoviesonline.comindiomoviesonline.com
Instead of Helgeland pumping energy into the story, it's the external elements that benefit from a modern sensibility, leaving the plot and dialogue to languish on a gummy subway car floor. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at indiomoviesonline.com
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 1.75 out of 4 stars for Creative LoafingCreative Loafing
Few directors are as impersonal as Tony Scott (Domino, Days of Thunder), and he exhibits this detachment once again with a picture that's more interested in style than substance - even the city of New York, the true principal player in this tale, fail ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Creative Loafing
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 1.75 out of 4 stars for Jo ReviewsJo Reviews
"The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" contained the mix that every thriller has; the bad guy, the good guy, the mayor (portrayed by the entertaining James Gandolfini) and the hostages. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Jo Reviews
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for Sun Online ()Sun Online ()
Despite extensive updates, the plot feels a bit predictable. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Sun Online ()
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for Little White Lies (Matt Bochenski)Little White Lies (Matt Bochenski)
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for This is London (Derek Malcolm)This is London (Derek Malcolm)
Tony Scott’s remake of the semi-classic of 1974 begins and ends badly. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at This is London (Derek Malcolm)
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 1.50 out of 4 stars for efilmcritic.comefilmcritic.com
The least we can expect from our heist thrillers is to watch a group of professionals on both sides of the versus. Pelham's good guys are pretty neutered, just standing around watching Washington & Travolta converse. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at efilmcritic.com
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 1.50 out of 4 stars for Cinema BlendCinema Blend
That train wreck ending might be more forgivable if the rest of the film had been more substantive, but it's a fairly meaningless, if well acted conversation wedged in between some even more meaningless, blurry city footage. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Cinema Blend
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 1.50 out of 4 stars for Slant MagazineSlant Magazine
Pelham a bludgeoning ride, one that would benefit from Scott recognizing that a measure of restraint is nothing to sneeze at. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at Slant Magazine
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) scores a combined 1.50 out of 4 stars for MSNBCMSNBC
Scott seems not to trust the cat-and-mouse maneuverings of Washington and Travolta to carry the film, instead sucking away the claustrophobic intensity with car chases and other superfluous frills. ...read the complete Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 movie review at MSNBC
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by DefyTime on July 17, 2009 Richardson, Texas
This movie feels like has been done a hundred times over. I'm so tired of seeing the same plot with almost the same actors. Denzel is much better than this. ...
by aravind08 on July 16, 2009 ,
It is thriller movie, music is very nice and direction was very excellent, because all slide have the thrilling and suspense. it is mindbogglingly. ...

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Overall Rating:
2.3435
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) is ranked overall as  out of 4 stars
Avg Critic Score:
2.2662
Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The (2009) is ranked overall as  out of 4 stars
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