 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
- Review Date: June 9, 2009
- R
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2009
Common Sense Media says
Remake of '70s thriller is riveting but violent and intense.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
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.
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?
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.
What 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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AGE
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.
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AGE
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.
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AGE
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.
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AGE
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.
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AGE
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!
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AGE
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! :)
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AGE
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.
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AGE
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
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AGE
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.
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AGE
violence was over the top, but realistic. You shouldn't worry about language, because kids know every word in the book
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| Studio: | Sony Pictures |
| Director: | Tony Scott |
| Cast: | Denzel Washington, James Gandolfini, John Travolta |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 106 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 12, 2009 |
| DVD release date: | November 3, 2009 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | violence and pervasive language |
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