6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 3.8 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.9 |
Walter Garber is a New York City subway dispatcher whose ordinary day is thrown into chaos by an audacious crime: the hijacking of a subway train. Ryder, the criminal mastermind behind the hijacking and leader of a highly-armed gang of four, threatens to execute the train's passengers unless a large ransom is paid within one hour. As the tension mounts beneath his feet, Garber employs his vast knowledge of the subway system in a battle to outwit Ryder and save the hostages. But there's one riddle Garber can't solve: even if the thieves get the money, how can they possibly escape?
Starring: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, Luis Guzmán, Michael RispoliThriller | 100% |
Action | 99% |
Crime | 65% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Catalan: Dolby Digital 5.1
English Audio Description: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps) / Catalan: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy (on disc)
BD-Live
movieIQ
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Who's responsible for who lives and who dies in New York?
It seems like it's a stigma at best or a mark of certain death at worst to have the word "remake"
attached to any picture, especially when trudging into "classic" territory; Psycho's
remake is
the poster child of all that can go wrong, and while 1974's The Taking of Pelham One Two
Three isn't exactly Hitchcock, it's still something of a fan favorite and a fine example of
memorable 1970s-style filmmaking. Replacing Walter Matthau with Denzel Washington (Glory) and Robert
Shaw with John Travolta (Broken Arrow),
Director Tony Scott's (Revenge) 2009 take
on
the story is surprisingly engaging despite its particularly predictable nature. Still, for as
unremarkable as The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 may be in the grand scheme of things,
Scott,
Washington, and Travolta manage to make the unremarkable rather remarkable. Though
the
ending comes as no surprise, the talented trio deliver a film packed with intense tit-for-tat
dialogue,
remarkably real performances, and the director somehow squeezes every last ounce of life out a
film
that banks heavily on two rather dull locations and minimal action but maximum tension.
How often are heroes seen with a napkin bib in the movies?
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 arrives on Blu-ray with a strong 1080p. 2.39:1-framed transfer. This one delivers everything discerning viewers have come to expect of a Sony new release. The film's grain structure is left intact throughout, providing to the image a pleasant film-like quality; likewise, other signs of artificial image manipulation are not present. The transfer reveals extraordinary levels of fine detail throughout; though the bleaker subway car interior and tunnel exterior shots don't have much to offer from a visual perspective, the rest of the image shines. Close-ups of faces reveal -- and probably much to the chagrin of the actors -- every pore, imperfection, and stubble of facial hair. Several birds-eye view shots of New York City look positively amazing; there's not a soft edge or dulled detail to be seen, and the image retains impeccable clarity in every shot and at any distance. The film features a broad range of color presentation; the interior of the subway car takes on a somewhat murky, green tint, with not much opportunity for sparkling hues, but the scenes above in New York City and inside the control center feature a nice, clean, and clear palette that looks wonderful, from bright yellow taxis to the Mayor's red tie. Black levels are beautifully rendered; the subway tunnel scenes deliver pitch-perfect dark shadows that retain an inky tone with nary a hint of gray. Likewise, flesh tones appear accurately rendered. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 looks excellent on Blu-ray in every regard.
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 pulls onto Blu-ray with an impressive DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Like the video, this one delivers a positively booming yet clear and entertaining soundtrack that's the norm from Sony action-oriented titles. Though The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 is primarily a dialogue-heavy film, there are still plenty -- just somewhat scattered -- opportunities for the soundtrack to shine. Listeners will not only hear but also feel the subway car speeding down the tracks in one early scene; even later in the picture as the cars are separated, the more slowly meandering movements along the track deliver a full and lifelike sonic experience. The rear channels are fully utilized throughout; not only do the subway cars rattle through the soundstage, but police sirens blare in several scenes and general ambience -- both in external city shots and inside the control room -- place the listener squarely into the experience. Several scenes featuring gunfire erupt nicely, particularly those shots that reverberate through the subway tunnels. Music enjoys a crystal-clear and distortion-free presentation with a robust low-end support, and dialogue reproduction is consistently faultless. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 sounds just as good as it looks on Blu-ray.
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 boards Blu-ray with a nice selection of extra materials, the
package headlined by a pair of commentary tracks. The first features Director Tony Scott
discussing the film's ability to stand alone from the original, Scott's initial involvement with the
project, casting the parts and the strengths the primaries brought to the film, the rigors and
challenges of the shoot, and much more. Track two features Writer Brian Helgeland and Producer
Todd Black. This is a fairly cut-and-dry track that covers the expected angles with the appropriate
level of enthusiasm and insight. They discuss the ensemble cast, getting the project off the
ground and the challenge of delivering a quality picture, set design, creating the thick tension
that permeates the
film, and much more. Next is No Time to Lose: The Making of 'Pelham 1 2 3' (1080p,
30:25), a quality piece that looks at a broad spectrum of topics, including pitching the film to
Sony and Denzel Washington, updating the look and feel of the film, the challenges of the shoot,
the work of the actors and the research that went into crafting the most realistic characters
possible, and plenty more. The Third Rail: New York Underground (1080p, 16:15) takes
viewers behind-the-scenes of the public transit system in New York city and shooting in the city's
real subway system. From the Top Down: Stylizing Character with Danny Moumdjian, the
Lab Salon (480p, 5:17) looks at the importance of the right haircut in Hollywood.
Marketing 'Pelham' (1080p, 7:04) contains various trailers for the film. Also included
Sony's CineChat application; BD-Live (Blu-ray profile 2.0) functionality; Sony's
"MovieIQ" that offers live, up-to-date
details about every scene, including cast and crew filmographies and biographies, soundtrack
listings, and more; and 1080p trailers for Angels & Demons,
District 9, Moon, Boondock
Saints 2: All Saints Day, Blood: The Last
Vampire, Black Dynamite, The Da Vinci Code,
Casino Royale, and
Year One. Disc two
of this set contains a digital copy of The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. Replayed on a second
generation iPod Touch, listeners will be greeted with a strong, hefty, clear soundtrack that
spreads information nicely across the two-channel presentation. The video quality is solid;
colorful, bright, crisp, and nicely detailed, the only problem is persistent blocking, but for
on-the-go viewing, the presentation -- both video and audio -- is more than adequate.
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 is one of those rare movies that succeeds despite its predictable story arc. This is, at a glance, basic stuff, a routine good guy versus bad guy showdown that involves the ubiquitous hostages and demand for large sums of money, but Scott's direction, Helgeland's script, and Washington's and Travolta's performances in particular turn an ordinary movie into one that's borderline extraordinary. Sony's Blu-ray effort is, itself, excellent. Featuring the expected near-reference quality video and audio presentations alongside a strong collection of extras, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 comes highly recommended.
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