Okay, so one of my all-time favorite movies that nobody under 40 has ever heard of is "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" from 1974. It features several great actors who are no longer with us -- Robert Shaw, Walter Matthau, Ernest Borgnine. It has a terrific story and one of the most satisfying endings of any movie I've ever seen.
In the movie, a New York City subway train (complete with passengers) gets hijacked and held for a million dollar ransom by three armed men. They give the mayor one hour to cough up the cash, or else they will execute one of the passengers for every minute the money is late.
Of course the premise raises some questions. Like, how do the bad guys take over the train? How do they plan to get away? How do you get a million dollars gathered, counted and transported down a subway tunnel in less than an hour? And, how many hostages (if any) will live through the ordeal?
It's a fine movie and well worth seeking out, if only to watch the look on the video store clerk's face when you ask for it.
Why am I bringing this up? Because the movie is getting remade, that's why. There will be a new version coming out in 2008, starring Denzel Washington. I don't know if I'm excited about this or not. The original movie is so good, it really shouldn't be remade. (Think "The Longest Yard.") Do we really want a hatchet job like that performed on one of the best thrillers ever made?
On the other hand, it could be decent. (Think "Ben-Hur.") Of course, the original "Pelham" wasn't a black and white silent movie, like the original "Ben-Hur" was.
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