The Taking Of Pelham 123

I have to be totally honest. I have never seen the original version of Pelham. In fact, I had never even heard of it until the remake was due out this week and I mentioned to my mum that "it looks good" from the trailer on TV. That was when she went off on one at me about how it was a remake and how remakes are never as good as the original movie.

I made a conscious decision not to see the original before seeing this updated version, as it can force your opinion entering the new film.

Thanks to those nice chaps over at www.seefilmfirst.com I picked up two freebie tickets to a special advance preview screening at the Odeon in Leeds/Bradford. Charlotte came with me to see the film.

The movie kicks straight into the action. Within five minutes, you have the lead antagonist, played by John Travolta in place and in charge of Pelham 123, a subway train on New York's busy network. Travolta is in excellent form as the psychotic Ryder who issues a warning that he desires $10,000,000 within the hour otherwise he will begin terminating hostages every minute until he receives his demands.

Ryder makes contact with Walter Garber, a dispatcher working for the system played by Denzel Washington. Washington is, well, Washington. You get what you expect from the great man. He's a great actor, but always tends to play the same person. I would actually find it hard, almost impossible to name any character Denzel has played in any other movie...and I must've seen him in over ten films as far as I can recall. But he's doing what he does best and the one-on-ones between him and Travolta are awesomely written and portrayed.

As the deadline draws closer and closer and closer, it's a race against time and morals which could have devastating consequences.

Gripping but simple in story, well acted, with some genuinely funny moments in there.

The atmosphere was great in the cinema and the movie did not disappoint.

It's fun, it's thrilling and I believe a lot of people will enjoy this movie.