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Tony Soprano is taking over New York! THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 gets a mayor!

BOO! by CuervoJones	Mar 24th, 2008 03:00:15 AM
Pelham 123 is a perfect movie. Don´t remake it. Please, give us original scripts!
I really don't like Denzel for the Matthau role by caruso_stalker217	Mar 24th, 2008 03:01:24 AM
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.
And I agree by caruso_stalker217	Mar 24th, 2008 03:05:44 AM
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.
No Telephoto!!!! by Le Phantom	Mar 24th, 2008 03:56:12 AM
Tony "everything in close up" Scott might be a decent director if they took the damn telephto lense away from him!!!
Remade this once already... by Kefrif	Mar 24th, 2008 03:59:32 AM
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/tt01 40594/
I heard they're gonna remake The Godfather as well soon by ingloriousjedi	Mar 24th, 2008 03:59:47 AM
Aparently Jay Hernandez will play Michael and Keanu Reeves will play Don Corleone...
Well, they are remaking The Stepfather by CuervoJones	Mar 24th, 2008 04:40:55 AM
The Godfather is the next step.
Remake Retardedness by quantize	Mar 24th, 2008 04:41:00 AM
enough already. Can you imagine how pompous and serious Denzel is going to be compared to Matthau in the role?
Remake Retardedness by quantize	Mar 24th, 2008 04:41:03 AM
enough already. Can you imagine how pompous and serious Denzel is going to be compared to Matthau in the role?
actually Sanctimonious is the word... by quantize	Mar 24th, 2008 04:43:01 AM
..i was fishing for rather than serious
Platinum Dunes presents: The Birth of a Nation by CuervoJones	Mar 24th, 2008 04:49:53 AM
With Shia and some raper.
I dont get... by m_reporter	Mar 24th, 2008 04:50:41 AM
... 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.
I assume Washington got it because of by elab49	Mar 24th, 2008 05:25:32 AM
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'.
I want MAN-BEAR-PIG: THE MOVIE by random dude	Mar 24th, 2008 05:44:48 AM

I think it could work if... by tonagan	Mar 24th, 2008 06:01:44 AM
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?
They should recast Jerry Stiller as his original character by Riley Martin	Mar 24th, 2008 06:10:24 AM
I think he could still play it! But really, is there any way in hell this could be any good? I'm not a remake nazi like some, but the original movie just drips with coolness, from the music to the cinematography, to the casting. Go ahead, make a hijack movie with these 3 actors with Tony Scott directing. Just don't call it Pelham.
Why not just make this a sequel to INSIDE MAN by Erik_Richmond	Mar 24th, 2008 06:10:41 AM
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...
I agree with Erik_Richmond by ingloriousjedi	Mar 24th, 2008 06:23:01 AM
70% of the public wouldn't have heard of Pelham. They should call this 'HOSTAGE POINT' Tagline - 'The tracks have been set'.
Fuck THAT! by travis-dane	Mar 24th, 2008 07:10:11 AM
What is it good for?But at least this keeps Tony Scott away from his "The Warriors" remake!Do Top Gun2 Tony....
"Worried"... by floggy bottom	Mar 24th, 2008 07:37:16 AM
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?
Yeh it is... by quantize	Mar 24th, 2008 07:58:04 AM
you know, maybe some people just dont like every nice movie memory they have turned to fecal matter.
They should pull the fucking plug... by Darkman	Mar 24th, 2008 08:51:37 AM
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.
Ba-WOMP-WOMP-WOMP....ba-WOMP-WOM P-WOMP... by Osmosis Jones	Mar 24th, 2008 09:08:44 AM
At least this remake should inspire an anamorphic reissue of the original film on DVD...hopefully.
the travolta casting sucks. by alice 13	Mar 24th, 2008 09:25:32 AM
i guess thomas sangster wasnt available.
The Mayor... by taxdude	Mar 24th, 2008 09:55:56 AM
... 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.
i was interested until... by Unlabled	Mar 24th, 2008 09:56:00 AM
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.
JOSH BROLIN WOULD HAVE BEEN PERFECT HOSTAGE TAKER by BringingSexyBack	Mar 24th, 2008 10:23:21 AM
That guy scares the shit out of me.
John Travolta will be fine as long as by kafka07	Mar 24th, 2008 10:23:25 AM
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.
SPOILER ALERT by bobinnova	Mar 24th, 2008 11:00:18 AM
Just to watch Travolta step on the third rail at the end of the movie in front of Denzel will be fantastic enough!
Swordfish in a tunnel? by Bill Clay	Mar 24th, 2008 11:16:03 AM
Do we really need another movie with Travolta as an evil genius? He's sorta become a caricature villain at this point.
How about a casting switch? by Bill Clay	Mar 24th, 2008 11:21:48 AM
Have Denzel play the hijacker and Travolta play the negotiator. I'd buy THAT for a dollar!
Remakes are killing the industry. by uss cygnus	Mar 24th, 2008 11:33:18 AM
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.
Hmmmmm by DonnieDorko	Mar 24th, 2008 11:40:34 AM
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.
They're going to remake Citizen Kane by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Mar 24th, 2008 11:54:15 AM
in 3-D. Liev Shrieber will direct and star in it. You know you want it. Plus, it's a musical.
PELHAM? by palimpsest	Mar 24th, 2008 12:08:35 PM
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!
As a fan of the original novel... by LoneGun	Mar 24th, 2008 12:09:07 PM
...I am looking forward to this remake.
kafka07, he's done that one time too many by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Mar 24th, 2008 12:17:33 PM
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.
casting by gnortsmra	Mar 24th, 2008 12:19:58 PM
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".
stiller's replacement by gnortsmra	Mar 24th, 2008 12:22:30 PM
How 'bout Luis Guzman? He'd probably be ok in the role.
Luis Guzman is never okay by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Mar 24th, 2008 12:27:52 PM
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.
Bull Malarky by Queerbait	Mar 24th, 2008 12:55:04 PM
If Alzheimer's wasn't a problem, they would never do remakes. We would know EVERYTHING!!!
How many times is Denzel gonna play.... by GrandMuffTarkin	Mar 24th, 2008 12:56:58 PM
the clever negotiator? Seen it already. They should dig up Jason Robards for the role.
GNORTSMA: DENZEL IN TRAINING DAY WAS OUTSTANDING by BringingSexyBack	Mar 24th, 2008 12:57:05 PM
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.
Wow, this is fucking cool! Although by Motoko Kusanagi	Mar 24th, 2008 01:14:49 PM
I don't believe that this will be anywhere near the brilliant original with the genius Walter Matthau. I love that flick!
Loved TRAINING DAY. Love Denzel. by LoneGun	Mar 24th, 2008 01:30:43 PM
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.
I liked the original Pelham 123... by BiggusDickus	Mar 24th, 2008 01:36:15 PM
...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.
Fuck. This. Movie. by Rebeck2	Mar 24th, 2008 01:55:24 PM
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.
FUTURE WORST REMAKE OF 2008 by Mullah Omar	Mar 24th, 2008 04:00:24 PM
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.
It bugs me when headlines refer to a character by Reel American Hero	Mar 24th, 2008 04:06:54 PM
Rather than the actor who played said character however long ago when they have a new role.
Word of advice... by Knuckleduster	Mar 24th, 2008 04:14:07 PM
Fire Travolta.
I've never heard of this movie. by Detective_Fingerling	Mar 24th, 2008 05:10:18 PM
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?
If you haven't seen the original... by Sledge Hammer	Mar 24th, 2008 05:26:58 PM
...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.
"Denzel Washington in the Walter Matthau role" by BadMrWonka	Mar 24th, 2008 07:16:39 PM
I mean...come on... next up Dakota Fanning as Hawkeye in a remake of Last of the Mohicans...
Ed Koch lookalike by timmerlimmer	Mar 24th, 2008 07:36:21 PM
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??
and one more thing... by VictorNewman	Mar 24th, 2008 08:52:53 PM
please leave David Shire's awesome theme alone, don't re-do it with techno or screetching guitars. god, i hate that!
The original was a great movie by Ferf Muckmeyer	Mar 24th, 2008 10:16:20 PM
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.
Ridiculous Remake by SWEEP	Mar 24th, 2008 10:41:22 PM
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.
Lotta love for Shire's score by caruso_stalker217	Mar 24th, 2008 11:00:56 PM
They won't be able to top that shit: http://tinyurl.com/32mzoa
And they should've gotten Trejo to be a hostage taker by caruso_stalker217	Mar 24th, 2008 11:01:54 PM
I'd pay to see it then.
BadMrWonka - Washington & Matthau by LoneGun	Mar 24th, 2008 11:13:50 PM
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.
LoneGun by BadMrWonka	Mar 24th, 2008 11:49:42 PM
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.
Just buy the original on dvd when it is released... by spectrebeeyatch	Mar 25th, 2008 02:17:35 AM
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.
Wish there was more sopranos... by Snake-eyes	Mar 25th, 2008 06:29:34 AM
Loved that show! < br > Gief more plx!
Damn them! by nightmute	Mar 25th, 2008 07:35:25 AM
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?
Denzel plays a Cop!!!!! by Samuel Fulmer	Mar 25th, 2008 07:59:16 AM
I'm glad to see he's really stretching his acting ability.
Forever Tony by fiester	Mar 25th, 2008 05:10:50 PM
He will never escape that role. Sorry.
instruction by BadMrWonka	Mar 25th, 2008 06:57:10 PM
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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Tony Soprano is taking over New York! THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 gets a mayor!

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