The Taking of Pelham 123

A group of criminals led by a man who calls himself Ryder (John Travolta) hijack a New York subway train and demand $10 million for the hostages. MTA worker Walter Garber (Denzel Washington), who was unlucky enough to take their call, finds himself in the middle of the crisis, trapped by his sense of duty and Ryder’s insistence that he deal only with Garber.

The ClearPlay Factor

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 received an R-rating for “violence and pervasive language.” How pervasive? ClearPlay removes nearly 100 F-words, and about 60 assorted profanities on top of that. Also edited in the ClearPlay version are a risqué scene involving an impromptu striptease, discussions of sex, and seven brutal, bloody murders.

Does Pelham go down as easy as 1 2 3?…

One might think, with all the language being edited, that the violent Pelham wouldn’t hold up in edited form. The opposite is actually the case. What emerges is a taut thriller focusing on the interplay between Travolta and Washington. Caution for parents: While the bloodletting is cut, murders are still implied, making those averse to or too young for violence the wrong audience for this movie.

Marty Nabhan—Supporter of Rapid Transit

Rated R for violence and pervasive language.; 106 min; Directed By Tony Scott