Why The Taking Of Pelham 123 (1998) Is A Flat Remake

https://screenrant.com/taking-pelham-123-movie-1998-flat-remake/

Before Tony Scott's remake there was also a 1998 TV movie version of The Taking Of Pelham 123. This remake gathered a strong cast, including Edward James Olmos, Vincent D'Onofrio as Mr. Blue, Donnie Wahlberg and Lorraine Bracco (The Sopranos). The setup is the same as the original - although there are minor tweaks in technology to make it feel more up to date - while the story plays out almost identically too, right down to the final gotcha moment.

The issue with 1998's The Taking Of Pelham 123 is how lethargic it feels in comparison to the original. The ticking of the clock isn't felt as keenly and while the cast does decent work, they don't feel particularly engaged by the material either. It even lacks the feeling of claustrophobia that added so much to the tension of the 1974 movie.

The Taking Of Pelham 123 1998 is the kind of remake that is content to copy and paste while not really adding anything to the mix. For those who haven't seen the 1974 movie then it might work as a tight little b-movie with a solid line-up of talent, but next to the first adaptation, it feels like a flat retread. The year after the original Taking Of Pelham 123 Robert Shaw would deliver an iconic turn as Quint in Jaws, and over a decade later, director Joseph Sargent would himself contribute to the franchise when he helmed the now infamous final entry Jaws: The Revenge.