Taking of Pelham 123 - Movie Review

Since I've never seen the original, I can only take this movie at face value and, really, that's how all movies should be judged, remake or not. Not a bad thriller - Denzel Washington can do no wrong and John Travolta is odious enough. Tony Scott's kinetic camera work and overbearing soundtrack are distractions rather than enhancements; it's as if he doesn't trust his material to be suspenseful enough. I understand the original is a small, gritty masterpiece but this one comes across as larger than it needs to be. I liked the New York City locations, when the story took us there, so there was that to enjoy. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.