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Tony Soprano is taking over New York! THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 gets a mayor!
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. I'm concerned.
I love THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123. Robert Shaw, Walter Matthau, Martin Balsam, Hector Elizondo and Lee Wallace as The Mayor (he also played the Mayor of Gotham in Tim Burton's BATMAN). Great stuff.
Now, I don't hate Tony Scott like a lot of people do, but I'm worried. The remake is Denzel Washington in the Walter Matthau role of a NY transit cop who deals with a hostage situation as one of the subway trains get held for ransom. Robert Shaw was the leader in the original and John Travolta is the leader now. Again, I don't have a hate-on for Travolta like a lot of people do, but... Robert Shaw? Not even in the same league.
Now we have The Mayor in James Gandolfini. In the original, the mayor was an idiot, who didn't want to make any decisions, let alone decisions that would mean coming up with a huge sum of money or let a train full of his citizens get blown away.
Of course, Gandolfini could playing against type here, but I have the feeling they cast a strong man for a strong character. If I'm wrong, great. If not, then this won't bear much resemblance to the movie I know and love. It might find its own identity. I hope so. I like most involved in this project... I just happen to love the original.
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Pelham 123 is a perfect movie. Don´t remake it. Please, give us original scripts!
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Too much of a movie star. Matthau was more of an everyman. A blue collar schlub.
And Travolta, well, I don't hate him either. But we've seen him in this kind of role already.
Still, I hope Tony can keep it in his pants and not serve us up some more cinematic diarrhea like that DOMINO crap. -
This never should've been remade. The performances were great. The music was fuckin' badass. And the ending is perfect. They'll never be able to top it.
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Tony "everything in close up" Scott might be a decent director if they took the damn telephto lense away from him!!!
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This was remade once already with a pretty good cast about 10 years ago. I remember it as being about as good of the original, lifted for me by the presence of Richard Schiff. Take a look :- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0140594/
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Mar 24, 2008 3:59:47 AM CDT
I heard they're gonna remake The Godfather as well soon
by ingloriousjedi
Aparently Jay Hernandez will play Michael and Keanu Reeves will play Don Corleone...
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The Godfather is the next step.
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enough already. Can you imagine how pompous and serious Denzel is going to be compared to Matthau in the role?
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enough already. Can you imagine how pompous and serious Denzel is going to be compared to Matthau in the role?
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..i was fishing for rather than serious
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With Shia and some raper.
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... why Denzel does all this crap with Tony. Hes a talented actor, why work with with someone who hasn't made a single good film ffs?
And remaking this doesn't seem like the best idea either. -
Inside Man. So I wouldn't expect a take on the part overly distinct from that - which does bear some similarities to the original character. But Travolta as Shaw? Please. How will he not ham it up in his normal take on 'menacing'.
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1. Denzel just relaxes and has a good time with the role.
2. John Travolta doesn't ham it up and go over the top.
I'm just kidding myself, aren't I? -
Inside man stole liberally from 70s thrillers, particularly Dog Day Afternoon, and was pretty good because of it... Why not have denzel play the same character, this time foiling train hijackers, then they could finish the retro trilogy by remaking The Anderson Tapes, with Denzel in there somewhere too. Like all those involved in this, the original is a flawless classic which holds up perfectly today, a remake is as pointless as PYSCHO or PLANET OF THE APES...
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70% of the public wouldn't have heard of Pelham. They should call this 'HOSTAGE POINT' Tagline - 'The tracks have been set'.
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What is it good for?But at least this keeps Tony Scott away from his "The Warriors" remake!Do Top Gun2 Tony....
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Whenever someone here writes they're "worried" or "nervous" about a movie, I picture them in a corner, fetal, rocking back and forth muttering about the director or casting.
I mean, is shit like that SO important to your life? -
you know, maybe some people just dont like every nice movie memory they have turned to fecal matter.
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on this remake.
A modern PELHAM was already done (and masterfully, at that) with INSIDE MAN. This is just a waste of time and talent. -
At least this remake should inspire an anamorphic reissue of the original film on DVD...hopefully.
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i guess thomas sangster wasnt available.
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... in the original was a parody of Abe Beame - the then Mayor of NYC. Different generation will have a different take on the NYC Mayor.
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John Travolta was cast. God that guy sucks. What was his last good role?
HE IS NOT GOOD. DEATH TO SCIENTOLOGY. HE IS ALSO A CLOSETED HOMOSEXUAL. -
That guy scares the shit out of me.
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he plays an over-the-top diabolical bad guy, like he did in Broken Arrow, Swordfish, The Punisher, Face Off and Battlefield Earth, because those movies were really really awesome.
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Just to watch Travolta step on the third rail at the end of the movie in front of Denzel will be fantastic enough!
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Do we really need another movie with Travolta as an evil genius? He's sorta become a caricature villain at this point.
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Have Denzel play the hijacker and Travolta play the negotiator. I'd buy THAT for a dollar!
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Are you on crack? Hardly a classic?? Go see the movie, and then come back abd try to say that shit. And Humprey Boget? No wonder you don't have a bloody clue what you're talking about. Isn't this the SECOND remake Denzel has done where he is playing the part that originally a white actor played? I am just noticing, so don't get your libby panties in a wad.
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Period. It's a slow death, but a sure death unless they get their heads out of their asses. And Travolta as the head hostage taker is sure and certain death to this project.
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James Gandolfini just can't choose good roles. Sopranos was Perfect and the part in True Romance was good but will he ever pick a good part again? He should play a Col. Kurtz type role or something, he has a lot of freaking pondus and charisma it's better to play his type than to try and be another... Jack Nicholson, which he isn't.
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in 3-D. Liev Shrieber will direct and star in it. You know you want it. Plus, it's a musical.
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Shit, we'LL be lucky if we get MONEY TRAIN 2: AVID FART BOOGALOO. And while we're at it - respect for David Shire's funktastic original score. We'll end up with something woeful by one of Hans Zimmer's lackeys. Harry Gregson Williams, I'm talking to you!
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...I am looking forward to this remake.
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for me Punisher was the last straw. I like Travolta, but I didn't want to see the Punisher fighting him. Bad casting for that movie. The other roles you mentioned he was great in.
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I don't feel like trudging through to find who said it, but I agree that Denzel should have been cast as the highjacker. He seems to do well when playing the baddie (e.g., Training Day). And Travolta-- as the cop-- would be somewhat forced to keep the ham to a minimum (as opposed to, say, most every movie he's been in the last decade).
And if they're able to keep Gandolfini on a tight leash, the contrast of a physically strong and imposing man acting weakly would make for a hell of a performance.
Unfortunately, I'm betting it's going to turn out like a bad sequel to "Money Train". -
How 'bout Luis Guzman? He'd probably be ok in the role.
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He is always superb in any role he does no matter how minor it is. The only thing I can say is he didn't work for me as a lead man in his short-lived series a few years ago. I couldn't decide if it was because the writing didn't work for me, or if Luis is only good in small doses. Check him out as the sidekick in Count of Monte Chriso. He was incredible.
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If Alzheimer's wasn't a problem, they would never do remakes. We would know EVERYTHING!!!
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the clever negotiator? Seen it already. They should dig up Jason Robards for the role.
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He's one of those 'stars' who more often than not plays out the same character repeatedly, but in that movie he shined. Must be, as you said, he played the bad guy and that was just something out of character for him and he really went with it. Antoine Fuqua made those Mexican gangbangers scary as hell too, but in other movies they're the opposite of those characters. That movie was just brilliant.
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I don't believe that this will be anywhere near the brilliant original with the genius Walter Matthau. I love that flick!
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Denzel was outstanding in that one, and so was Ethan Hawke for that matter. Another film I liked where Denzel played against type was Jonathan Demme's excellent remake of THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE. My favorite Denzel Washington film is HE GOT GAME, just found his performance so immensely moving in it. I think he's one of the best actors alive.
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...very much indeed, which is why I won't be going to see this. Perhaps if more of us did the same then Hollywood would get the fucking message about the cancer called 'remake syndrome' it's currently riddled with.
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Thank you, no thank you. Assholes. Denzel already ruined "The Manchurian Candidate" a piece of shit remake of a classic he didn't even bother to watch. I'll pass. Fucking Hollywood.
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The original film was a great time capsule of 1970s NYC that should be left alone. It was no masterpiece, but I felt like the actors could not have done a better job with their roles, and the characters were refreshingly flawed.
Acknowledging this remake as an unfortunate fact, even though I dig Tony Scott, like Denzel, and would normally be happy to see a lot of these actors show up in a different film, the casting here just seems flat-out wrong. For one, I have little confidence in Travolta as a bad guy. But the major problem I see is that Denzel can't/won't play the Matthau character as the curmudgeonly anti-hero of the original. One reason Matthau could pull it off was because he looked goofy, and I think Denzel is simply too handsome for the role. This is the sort of role that begs for a guy like Steve Buscemi or Paul Giamatti.
As for the Shaw role, my immediate thought was that Gary Oldman could do a good job. You need a guy who exudes menace, and Travolta is simply not that guy. If you were to swap Gandolfini and Travolta's roles, you might be on the right track - Gandolfini can scare the crap out of people and Travota could easily be a dimwitted mayor.
I also agree that this film would make more sense as an INSIDE MAN sequel rather than a remake of a film that simply can't be repeated. -
Rather than the actor who played said character however long ago when they have a new role.
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Fire Travolta.
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is it any good?
I love a good caper.
It seems as though the characters aren't taken seriously, but the premise seems serious.
Am I missing something? -
...then do yourself a favour and check it out, it really is a great flick. Plus it's already been remade once, with Edward James Olmos and Vincent D'Onofrio, so I really don't see the point of this. Especially with Travolta, who you just know is gonna ham it up to high heaven, as that seems to be all he's capable of doing anymore, stupid fucking man-animal that he is.
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I mean...come on...next up Dakota Fanning as Hawkeye in a remake of Last of the Mohicans...
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BTW - in the original wasn't the mayor almost a dead ringer for Ed Koch? And, I think it was before Ed Koch had even become mayor (not exactly sure of my NYC politics). So, will this mean NYC will have a future Tony Soprano - lookalike mayor??
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the original isn't even that old in cinematical form. it doesnt have any special effects that would need updating, its actors sure as heck dont need updating. nothing can top shaw/matthew in their roles. it stung well enough with all the horror remakes, but now this is just fucking criminal of george bush proportions. for fucking shame. next up seven samurai and godfather, cuckoos nest, cool hand luke anyone?!
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70s new york is a character itself, captured in movies ilke taxi driver, pelham, death wish. seriously that atmosphere was great too.
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please leave David Shire's awesome theme alone, don't re-do it with techno or screetching guitars. god, i hate that!
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The original Pelham was the first R-rated movie I went to see where I didn't have to sneak in (friend's parents took us). To this day the movie still holds up. So I ask again - why remake it? Robert Shaw was one of the best actors of his time, and he died way too young. Travolta is good, but he's not in the same league as Shaw as Quint pointed out. I will say they are assembling a decent cast, but Matthau, Shaw, Elizondo, Balsam, and even that dude Wilson from Home Improvement were all many times better.
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I watched the original recently and its not a great movie but its gained in popularity for its nostalgic look of new york in the early 1970's. It got horrible reviews when it came out. The new one would be a pointless gotta get a payday movie. Do we really gotta see Travolta do his Swordfish/Broken Arrow/Face Off shtick again.
Pelham is a good slice of life in NY/heist movie that was great in its simplicity that can't be recreated in 21st century to good results. Let it go. -
They won't be able to top that shit:
http://tinyurl.com/32mzoa -
Mar 24, 2008 11:01:54 PM CDT
And they should've gotten Trejo to be a hostage taker
by caruso_stalker217
I'd pay to see it then.
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Actually, in John Godey's original novel, the Walter Matthau character was a black man. So, the casting of Denzel Washington in that role this time around isn't as outrageous as it might sound. So many Talkbackers here are complaining about this film as a remake, when it may simply be a more faithful adaptation of an acclaimed novel that was a bestseller in its time.
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not outrageous, just kind of silly...nothing to do with the fact Smith is black, it's just so vastly different, why call it the same role, really? won't Denzel be playing himself anyway? I'm sure he will pound his chest at some point saying that someone was trying to kill his wife.
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When the remake comes out. I bet a new Bluray version will be out too for everyone here at AICN. The original was such a good flick the remake already doesn't stand a chance. Unless they add a new spin to it or change the bad guys up to something else.
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Loved that show!
Gief more plx! -
Tarantino ripped off three big ideas from Pelham, with the colour-coded names, the identical outfits, and even the undercover cop. If Scott uses the same ideas, people will say he ripped off Tarantino! Will the crooks be wearing black suits and ties?
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I'm glad to see he's really stretching his acting ability.
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He will never escape that role. Sorry.
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actually, the funny part is that he's done that same move in 3 movies...I'll leave it to you to come up with the other 2...
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