Everyday people go to train stations around the country, and everyday there seems to be at least one crazy person walking the train station platform. You know who they are. The people that make up these outlandish stories just to get a little change. Or people that talk loud as hell for no apparent reason. Just a couple of my experiences in the train station. Hopefully I never run into a person like John Travolta’s character in “The taking of Pelham 123″.

Set in New York City, Denzel Washington stars as MTA official,Walter Garber who has to take a backseat in the office due to a pending investigation. Hopefully Walter watched “Inside Man” before going into work that day because he was in for an unpleasant surprise. Ryder, played by John Travolta and his crew take over train “Pelham 123″ and demand, *Dr. evil voice* $10 million dollars, and one cent of course.Moreover, he wants it in cash and in one hour or people are going to start dying. This is no joking matter either. Ryder and his crew are trigger happy.

Ryder insists on only talking to Garber throughout the whole ordeal.During this hour Ryder makes sure as to keeping Garber on a extremely strict time schedule about the status of the ransom money. Ryder also come across as a sort pushy psychiatrist in the film,getting Garber to admit something in order to save a life. This is the kind madness and disregard for human life Travolta displays throughout the film. Even going so far as flipping off the snipers positioned on the train tracks. I like when movies show the family side of characters. When Garber has to inform his wife that he has to take care of some business dealing with this hostage situation, you can feel the love that she has for him. Even though that love is extremely blunt in the words she uses.

There’s some crazy camera angles in this movie. Especially the aerial views.They really show the city off well.However, it was one scene when the mayor gets off the subway where the camera is continually spinning.I swear it had me damn near ready to throw up. The scene in which the NYPD races through the streets of New York city is a great scene. Tony Scott does a great job with this scene and it adds to the suspense and tension of the movie.

Denzel’s character seems like a pretty lowkey guy. Just trying to make a dollar out of 15 cents (a dime and a nickel). It’s a wonder though how cool, and calm the makers of the movie made Garber.Had that been me in a hostage situation i’m sure it would’ve unsanitary and potentially embarrassing things said and done by me. Denzel, is you know Denzel. He’s one of the greatest actors ever. In the movie he even makes eating a sandwich seem masterful.John Travolta walks the line between comical and crazy in Pelham 123. The frequent use of “motherfucker” had me dying laughing every time. The movie is suspenseful. I’m 60/40 on this one though. It was just a good movie to me. I’ll say go see it just to see the crazyness of John Travolta. I tell you one thing though, I would want to see how he would handle this person on that same train.

Overall grade:B-

Pay Attention: There was one scene in the movie on the train with a guy and a girl on web chat that pissed me off.

Quote of the movie: “Don’t know what he looks like but he sounds good. He’d be my bitch in prison”