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The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 16.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Remake of '70s thriller is riveting but violent and intense.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 16–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    A man and his crew hijack a subway train for money and kill anyone who gets in the way. But another man tries to erase a wrongdoing by stepping up to the plate to help, and strangers aid each other in a time of crisis.
  • Violence:

    Lots of very realistic threats and gunfire, with gory results. People are shot point-blank, their blood spattering everywhere.
  • Sex:

    A young woman flashes her bra to her boyfriend via Webcam.
  • Language:

    Lots of strong language throughout, including very frequent use of "f--k," as well as "s--t," "ass," "hell," "damn," "goddamn," "oh my God," and more.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

Parents need to know that this action-packed remake of the gritty, same-named 1970s thriller is intense and violent and not meant for young kids. The fast-paced story is accompanied by heaping doses of realistic, bloody (expect lots of gunplay ... and resulting gore spatters) and profanity (including lots of "s--t"s and "f--k"s). But on the up side, there's not much in the way of sex, product placement, or substance use/abuse.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the movie's violence. Does it have more or less impact than the fights and explosions in more fantasy-based movies? How does this movie compare to other thrillers? Is it believable? Does that matter? Parents and teens who've seen the original can also discuss how this one stacks up. Why do so many movies get remade in Hollywood?

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism

    I'm okay with swearing But most of it in this movie was just tasteless Did any one else notice the multiple instances in which the sony logo was displayed? The ending wasn't too my taste which is why it only got 3 stars.

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Oregon
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

    great thriller

    I loved this movie! It was full of action and thrill. If your parent doesn't care about language I would say for 10 year olds. if they do care about language then for 12 year olds.

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism

    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    Great Movie

    Great movie. John Travolta gives an excellent performance and Denzel Washington gives a good one to. It's intense and full of action. I would have given it 5 stars but it could have done without the cussing.

  4. I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

    Not a hard R, but lots of strong language (SPOLIERS!)

    I went to see this movie being a huge fan of the orginal and i liked this version a lot better than that one. It's deffintly has more adult content than the other one though. There are very very very frequant uses of the f-word (in the first sentence of the movie it's used about 3 times) and John Travolta uses it almost every sentence. Since the movies about a train hijacking you know there going to be violence and while it is not very frequant there are scenes where people get shot and they are pretty bloody espically 2 scenes where one of the hijackers is shot in the head and another where 2 of them are shot repedently. On the other hand the movie is GREAT with very strong performances from Washington and Travolta and is a great thriller for anyone that wants to have some fun!

  5. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    Not appropriate for any age

    This is the worst movie I have everr seen. The language is totally inappropriate for all ages. The story was not much better. I would not recommend any to go see this film

  6. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Alaska
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0

    teens will like it but it will scare kids under 12

    It was very good im 13 and I enjoyed so its a teen movie I do think it has alot of bad language but nothing too bad , I think you should see it with your teens but the shooting will give your little kids nightmares , and it keeps you at the edge of your seat the whole time , it is a awsome movie to wath when you want a action/thriller.

  7. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    excellent remake is one of the summer's best

    profane sure but aside that this film is one of the summer's best in a riveting thriller jhon is not too soft to play the role in fact this one of his best performances please go see this undeloooked brilliant thriller

  8. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title off for age 10 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    pelham 123

    im 10 and i went with my parents and felt very uncofertable hearing all the f bombs if you want a very very good movie rent the 1974 version

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

    f$%k

    has a lot of f words

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