The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (DVD, Repackaged)

One of the all-time great "rainy-day" or "channel-surfing-stop-here" movies. I was so happy to see this out on DVD. Don't expect hours of extra-features; this DVD doesn't need them. I saw this movie originally as a kid on TV, too young to see at at the theater. Rated R but if it were made these days it would either be a PG or PG-13 just due to a couple "n-words" and "f-words" but nothing like the non-stop profanity in today's movies. You could sit down and watch this with most tweens and not get embarassed, but it is anything but a kid movie. It is a brilliant mix of suspense, comedy, drama and crime. It gets going almost right away and isn't bogged down by the typical love-interest or other side stories. It probably lives up to the hype of "awesome thrill-ride". It must have been written originally by someome with inside NY Transit knowledge. It keeps you thinking and never insults your intelligence. There aren't any of those common gaping holes in logic that you have to overlook as you see in some movies. IT IS JUST PLAIN A FUN MOVIE TO WATCH!!!

Robert Shaw is typical awesome tough Robert Shaw
Mathau is great as a transit police boss

THERE IS NOTHING I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE MOVIE! NO COMPLAINTS!

If you haven't seen it, I give my highest recommendations. You will not be disappointed. One of the things that is really date but funny now for different reasons is the good-guy characters being upset about womens-lib and women coming into the male-dominated transit authority. I'm sure it was common workplace dialogue back then and got great laughs but now gets laughs for totally different reasons. Stuff like "I'll be damned if I stop cussing just because they let broads in" Dated but hilarious for different reasons if you picture saying that in the workplace today, in front of "the broad!!"

But what makes this a really great movie is the fact that you will want to see it again even though all the surprises and plot points are known. it is STILL just a fun movie to watch. As I said, great to pop in on a rainy day or one of those movies that automatically gets you to stop if you are channel surfing. Now if you have the DVD, you will probably watch it for a few minutes then grab the DVD to put in and probably start back from the beginning.

FAR MORE VALUE FOR THE MONEY THAN JUST ABOUT ANY MOVIE OUT THERE NOW!! For less than 10 bucks you can have it in your mailbox in just a few days.

ONE WORD OF WARNING? Pay close attention to feedback when you buy this. 98% is not as good as you think. I went cheap when buying and convinced myself that 98% was good enough feedback. One week later I get an out of stock e-mail but the company was still listing it as fo sale with more than 10 available. Go with high feedback and spend the extra dollar or two