Stephen King Liked A Disappointing Remake Starring Denzel Washington & John Travolta

He is likely to be a grasp of scary readers to ridiculous lengths, however there’s extra to writer Stephen King than scares, psychotic clowns, and youngsters that shine. For one, his favourite movie is not even a horror: the author of books like “The Shining,” and Goodreads’ highly-rated entry, “The Stand,” deemed William Friedkin’s “Sorcerer” his number-one watch. King is keen on praising motion pictures on-line. In an inventory submitted to Leisure Weekly in 2003, the writer put collectively an fascinating playlist of movies that had caught his eye that yr, together with Tony Scott’s “The Taking of Pelham 123.” A remake of the 1974 movie starring Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw, Scott’s take starred Denzel Washington as an MTA dispatcher who confronted off in opposition to John Travolta because the chief of a gang of criminals who holding hostages on a subway practice. 

Praising the movie on the time, King mentioned: “Director Tony Scott’s most lucid and suspenseful film. Denzel Washington is terrific within the half originated by Walter Matthau, however the true pleasure right here is watching John Travolta’s balls-to-the-wall star flip because the villainous Ryder (referred to as Mr. Blue and performed by Robert Shaw within the 1974 model).” Now, after all, every to their very own, however whereas King would possibly’ve been buzzed over one in every of Tony Scott’s remaining works, the remainder of the world wasn’t so enthusiastic.

Following its launch, “The Taking of Pelham 123” was panned by critics. Sitting at 51% on Rotten Tomatoes, Scott’s remake was deemed by Deborah Ross of The Spectator as a “pointless, redundant, irrelevant movie remaking during which nothing of weight is ever at stake, and no relationships are ever shaped.” The Atlantic’s Ed Koch additionally in contrast it to the 1974 movie, saying, “The unique movie was far superior and will probably be remembered in years to return, whereas the present remake will quickly be forgotten.” Normal audiences weren’t too keen on the movie following its launch both, with the film incomes simply over $150 million in opposition to a funds of $110 million.

In our rating of Tony Scott’s finest movies, “The Taking of Pelham 123” does sit nearer the underside of the pile, however not for being a horrible watch. For the sorely missed filmmaker, there are merely movies like “True Romance,” “Prime Gun,” and “Man on Fireplace” that make for a greater time and are a real show of Scott at his finest. King might need a bead on chilling spines and making your hair rise up on finish, however within the case of “The Taking of Pelham 123,” that is nonetheless, even in any case these years, a practice journey that’s price lacking.