Film – The Taking Of Pelham 123
‘The Taking Of Pelham 123’, directed by Tony Scott, was launched this September. If you have been anywhere near a cinema you probably have seen a trailer or poster of it. Unfortunately, it should be reported it is not as thrilling as one would expect.
The movie is the third filmed copy of the first version in 1974 followed by a second in 1998 and the third in 2009. Actors such as John Travolta, known from e.g. ‘Old dogs’ and ‘Be cool’, and Denzel Washington, known from ‘American Gangsters’ and the ‘Great Debaters’ star in the film. The genre is determined as ‘action-drama’.
The title ‘Pelham 123’ reflects a metro in New York City that leaves the Pelham station at 1.23h p.m. on a daily basis. When the Pelham gets taken over by the criminal Spyder (John Travolta) and his gang a ransom of 10 million dollar is demanded for the hostages in the train. Garber (Denzel Washington) is the man contacted in the control centre through the radio. He needs to contact the appropriate authorities to get the money down to the metro in one hour and the time run starts.
Put it like this, it sounds like a nerve-racking movie with aggressive violence that gets you out of your chair. Sadly, this is not the case. During the hostage you do not feel as much tension and stress as you would like to feel or would expect. Despite of the fact passengers are shot for each minute the money is delayed the situation inside the train seems calm and relaxed. Not the real meaning of a hostage is it?
Finally, looking at the trailer the movie attracts you mainly due to its cast. Both John Travolta and Denzel Washington performed in great movies which is normally a guarantee for a successful film. Sadly, this movie proves the opposite.
Hey!
ReplyDeletePart of the assignment was to give each other feedback, so here's the first bit...
Your blog definitely shows what you think of the movie, which is in my mind a good thing. You have given plenty of facts and figures to make clear what you were talking about.
I could not help noticing that in the second to last paragraph there were some minor mistakes in structure. 'Put it like this', could do without the word 'it' in this sentence. 'Despite of', should be 'despite' or 'in spite of'. Finally, 'not the real meaning of a hostage' is probably not the best sentence to make clear what you are trying to say.
Hopefully you will not see this as criticism, but as useful feedback, as far as it is useful that is.
Michelle