The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (R, 2009)

common sense media says

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


parents & educators say
  • 100% say language is an issue
  • 67% say violence is an issue

What parents need to know

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.

Positive 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 applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

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?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Subway dispatcher Walter Garber's (Denzel Washington) day starts mundanely enough, with complaints about non-working switches and workplace pranks. But events take a turn at 2:13 p.m., when he fields a call from Ryder (John Travolta), an ex-con who's hijacked a train and is demanding $10 million for the release of its passengers -- and he threatens to shoot one of them for every minute the loot fails to show. Still reeling from being demoted to the dispatch desk after being accused of taking bribes, Garber senses a chance to redeem his name. But the stakes are high and the odds ugly.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1 2 3 is successful, fancy filmmaking: It's efficient, gripping, and hits the right marks. But in this update of the 1974 classic, New York is no longer gritty. Busy, yes; rat-infested, yes. Tawdry like New York in the 1970s? No. That's not to say that a train hijacking could only happen in old New York. But a crime that takes place in the warren-like bowels of the city seems discordant when set against the slick, finance-driven backdrop depicted here, somewhat diminishing the intensity of this still-gripping thriller.

On the acting side, though there's little shading in his character as it's written, Washington tries hard, managing to add depth to the role. And Travolta turns in a believable performance, but it takes some time for him to establish his villainy. Menacing with his perma-scowl and tattoos, his voice is nevertheless too decent (even while uttering expletives). The rest of the supporting cast -- which includes James Gandolfini as a lame-duck mayor and John Turturro as a hostage negotiator -- is strong, elevating the film's artistry. The breakneck camerawork heightens the drama, but a few more lingering shots would have been nice. Without them, the characters feel like pawns in a glitzy game -- one that's entertaining but not a classic.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Sony Pictures
Director: Tony Scott
Cast: Denzel Washington, James Gandolfini, John Travolta
Genre: Action/Adventure
Run time: 106 minutes
Theatrical release: June 12, 2009
DVD release: November 3, 2009
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: violence and pervasive language
Watch our review

This review was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo
 
 

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What parents & educators say

15
Based on 9 parent & educator reviews:
  • 100% say language is an issue
  • 67% say violence is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

 
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.

 
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!

wishucdb3Dlkme
teen, 14 years old
 
I LOVED this movie so much, I watched it at least a thousand times. I found it gripping and interesting to watch and I also am a fan of Denzel Washington so, this was a definite favorite for me.

fangningsheng
teen, 14 years old
 
Interesting
This was an interesting movie. I never knew what would happen next. I would rate it R for some bloody violence and pervasive language.

lovealwayskelly
kid, 13 years old
 
Great movie, but really up to the parents
Would've been PG-13 if it weren't for the constant uses of F***. I've never heard that word so much in my life... hehe. At least 102 uses. The violence is there but it's not to horrible, altougth there are four occasions in the movie were a person dies of a gunshot. A man takes a shot for a woman and her son. If you're child is like me and knows not to use the F word and hears it at school every day anyway, this movie is fine. However, if they don't, this movie is 16+. As I said the violence is there but not insane. A police car falls of a bridge and is crushed. That's really the extent of it.

SgtPrinny
parent of 16 year old
 
Awesome
This is a great movie. But be warned there are many, many f bombs.

MktheReviewer
teen, 14 years old
 
Vilonet and Intense...BUT Great Movie
this movie is really intense.There is a lot of suggestive language and violence. But, I think, it is OK. IF you dicuss with your child, the violence and intensity of this movie. If they are OK with the continuosly intense scenes then they should see it. WITH, adult supervision! :)

 
the taking of pelham 1 2 3 is a good movie only for your older teens and parents you need to know that this movie has intense violence and a lot of strong language used.

Prototype79043
teen, 16 years old
 
violence was over the top, but realistic. You shouldn't worry about language, because kids know every word in the book

espngy15
teen, 14 years old
 
O.K for 12+
alright this movie is not bad for kids 12+ because most kids at age 12 know all of the curse words there is not any blood in this movie not to much violince i think the story line is not for kids under 12 but i think 12 year olds can handle it

genericscreenname1
teen, 17 years old
 
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.

CinemaFanatic
teen, 17 years old
 
Fantastic Movie, But Foul Language
It is an intense, but awesome movie. It is not extremely violent, but it's the language that makes this intense film R. There are f-words galore, but one might notice that it is mainly the villans that use it, showing what kind of men they are. If your child likes action, hostage situations, etc. than this is the movie for them. I would give this movie 4 stars, but language is so rough it makes it hard to enjoy it for a while. The role models are fantastic as Walter (Washington) tries to save the hostages of the subway and the film shows that not all heroes are perfect, that they make mistakes too. Top-Notch performances by both Travolta and Washington. So if you like action, intense movies, this is for you.

 

Samtian
adult
 
For 16 and up.
The language was ridiculous and not needed. The only sexual content was a girl flashing her boyfriend, but it is easy to see that coming and is avoidable. There is a lot of blood and violence, including accidents and people being shot.

cheesydude
kid, 12 years old
 
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.

TJ 1o1
teen, 15 years old
 
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.

mattthemovieman
teen, 17 years old
 
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

adam61
teen, 17 years old
 
f$%k
has a lot of f words

minaj
teen, 17 years old
 
i didnt think it was that violent but just constant using of F**k

4Spice
adult
 
good movie
good action movie worth watching some violence and some language some F##K words worth watching 12 and over

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