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hyped garbage

Absolutely the worst movie.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

Okay, first the good things. Robert Shaw was good as the main hijacker. Walter Matthau was fairly good as the subway cop who was frustrated by everything (including, I'd guess, the plot). Photography was good. I liked the musical score. Now the bad things. SPOILERS AHEAD. The whole plot boils down to this: bad guys hijack a subway car filled with riders who become hostages, and demand one million dollars or they will murder the hostages. That's it. That's the plot. And it just does not work. I knew from the very beginning that the hostages would never be murdered. I knew from the start that the hijackers would not get away with it -- either they would wind up dead or arrested, or they'd lose the money. That was the entire basis of the "suspense." So for me, there was no suspense. This made the entire remainder of the movie an exercise in futility. I can hear the director and producers saying, "How many different complications can we stick in this movie to keep the audience worried? Let's have the hijackers demand a million dollars in an impossibly short period of time, so that it's obvious it won't be delivered and all the hostages will be killed. Let's have the mayor sick and weak and stupid and unable to make a simple decision, unable to decide to pay the ransom and save the lives of innocent hostages. Let's make the main hijacker (Robert Shaw) really really smart, but so stupid that he makes one impossible demand after another, despite the fact that what he supposedly wants is the million bucks. When the cops finally try to deliver the ransom, let's put every conceivable roadblock in their way, literally, to make it appear that they will never reach the subway on time. Meanwhile, let's inject a lot of absurd "comic relief," like maybe having some Japanese people visit and be treated in a racist manner. When the hijackers finally leave the subway car with their money, let's not end the movie there, let's have the subway car become a runaway car, so now the audience has to worry about whether they will all be killed when the car crashes. Let's not end it there, either -- let's have a shootout at the subway corral, and then the hero (Walter Matthau) can get the drop on the bad guy (Robert Shaw). No, wait, what if the bad guy refuses to give up, and instead electrocutes himself on the notorious third rail? Wow! No, wait, let's not end it yet -- what if one hijacker is still at large, the one who sneezes all the time, and Walter Matthau tracks him down and thinks he's innocent until he sneezes? Bottom line, I can't believe I'm in such a tiny minority here, I can't believe people were entertained by this stuff. One of the most irritating, unbelievable, and annoying "thrillers" I've ever seen.

Up there at the top of what makes this a really good thriller is the cast. Plenty of familiar faces - in supporting roles - meat and potatoes seasoned actors that breathe gritty New York life into even bit parts. And that's just the minor roles. Robert Shaw's on screen presence is unmatched. Martin Balsam always brings a lived-in realism to his roles...almost comforting - even as a bad guy. A youthful Hector Elizondo, is a cocky thug you just know is going to mess up ... Walter Matthau, what is there to say but stellar as always as the Transit Authority Lt. running the show. The perfect counterpoint to Shaw and everyone else. The hostages a bit shrill - the film gives us nothing personal about them. Lots of screaming is the only device that makes us sympathize with their terror.Funny script - throw away lines. And very little in the script to make you think oh groan, that wouldn't happen or that couldn't happen or how stupid that was. Airtight logic...nice turn in the last frame with an inimitable Matthau glance. A few of the greats can say with one look that it takes most everyone else a whole page of dialogue to communicate.In summary this is economical no frills "just tell the d*mn story" film-making in the mold of Don Siegel - Eastwood of the last 20 years and Sidney Lumet throughout his career. Ultimately the word to describe 1-2-3 is satisfying. You come away feeling satisfied - you have been entertained!

What a perfect example how to make a flick without effects. What you see is all real so forget the 2009 remake and pick this one up even as it is 40 years old.This is an instant classic with excellent performances and even a bit of joking in the beginning with the Japanese people. I remember seen it with my dad back in the days when I was a teenager and nowadays that almost everything is available I ordered it and didn't regret it after all. What starts out as a hijack of a metroline in NY slowly turns into a cat and mouse game. The story is so strong that it never bored me at all. Even as I still remember what did happen you just sit through this action thriller and the ride is over before you know it. earlier I told that there were no effects and before people will say hey, there are, well, speeding up the reel isn't an effect for me, what you see happening above ground and in the metrolines is actually filmed in NY. No shaky camera's or over the top shots, straight in your face as it should be done. Perfect, no go take the ride.Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 1/5 Story 4/5 Comedy 0/5

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three is directed by Joseph Sargent, is based on the novel by John Godey, has music by David Shire and stars Robert Shaw, Walter Matthau, Martin Balsam, Earl Hindman, Hector Elizondo, Julius Harris and Lee Wallace.This is one of the best thrillers of the 1970's a film filled with suspense, action, tension and a great deal of humour too.Four heavily armed men(Robert Shaw, Hector Elizondo, Martin Balsam and Earl Hindman)hijack a New York subway train and hold the passengers hostage. The leader of the group Mr Blue(Robert Shaw)contacts the Transit Police and demands payment of one million dollars cash. There is a deadline when the money has to be delivered by or Blue and his men will kill hostages until it's delivered.The Transit Police officer who ends up speaking to Mr Blue over the train radio is Lt. Zachary Garber(Walter Matthau). Garber tries desperately to get the deadline extended knowing that it is not going to be easy persuading the Mayor's office to decide to let them have the money, let alone deliver it to the subway on time. Garber also tries to figure out what nobody else is asking, how do the gang intend to escape the subway if they get the money? An added complication arises when the Garber learns that a Police officer is on the train, Garber doesn't know if it's a man or a woman and worries what will happen if they try and take on the hijackers.Given the subject matter it's a surprise to hear quite a bit of funny dialogue in this. The cast are all superb with Matthau proving he could be a fine dramatic actor as well as a brilliant comic. Shaw is chilling as Mr Blue but is never monstrous, unlike Hector Elizondo as the crazy Mr Grey, who can't wait to start shooting hostages. Martin Balsam is excellent as Mr Green who is responsible for driving for the train, he is suffering from a cold which he will end up wishing he had gotten rid of long before taking on this job. Earl Hindman is also very good as Mr Brown.Lee Wallace is hysterical as the Mayor who is also suffering from a bad cold and must decide whether to allow the payment of the ransom or not. James Bond fans will enjoy seeing Julius Harris in this as a Police Inspector. This is a really good thriller and is there any chance that the gangs colour cover names were an inspiration to Quentin Tarantino when he made Reservoir Dogs?