Scott gets into the zip and rush of urban energy with an enthusiasm bordering on hilarity.
80
VarietyTodd McCarthy
VarietyTodd McCarthy
More than anything a fascinating portrait of how much New York has changed in 35 years, the film delivers the goods in excitement and big-star charisma.
80
New York Daily NewsJoe Neumaier
New York Daily NewsJoe Neumaier
A fast and relentless hostage thriller that never stops.
63
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
There's not much wrong with Tony Scott's The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, except that there's not much really right about it.
60
The Hollywood ReporterMichael Rechtshaffen
The Hollywood ReporterMichael Rechtshaffen
Curiously, despite the ever-energetic Tony Scott at the throttle, the sleek new edition isn't as transporting as it should have been.
Watching this Pelham--a money job from its conception--you can believe that there's no other motivation on Earth.
50
Village Voice
Village Voice
Scott's redo comes up short in almost every regard against the '74 model--against David Shire's knuckled-brass score, against its mugs' gallery of '70s New York character actors, against Peter Stone's serrated script, and certainly against its wordless punchline.
50
Miami HeraldRene Rodriguez
Miami HeraldRene Rodriguez
Just plain silly.
20
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
Loud, abrasive, and featuring performances seemingly calibrated to be heard over the cacophonous roar of Travolta's mad, bad overacting.