1st timewhere: CENTURY 14 VALLEJO in Vallejo, CA
when: Friday, June 12th, 2009
show: 1:05 pm
auditorium: 11
seat: 4th row, 7th column
2nd time
where: EDWARDS FAIRFIELD STADIUM 16 in Fairfield, CA
when: Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
show: 9:30 pm
auditorium: 7
seat: 4th row, 5th column
A subway train is hijacked by a group which demands a large ransom of $10,000,000.01 from the city of New York. If the ransom is not paid in a timely manner (i.e. at 3:13 pm), the passengers will be executed one at a time for every minute past the deadline. The vindictive evil mastermind with a death wish, Dennis Ford a.k.a. Ryder (John Travolta) plays opposite a train dispatcher with a questionable past, Walter Garber (Denzel Washington). But what is really at stake here does not come to surface until later on in this tight thriller with excellent performances from both actors.
noteworthy scenes: 1.) The one in which Ryder talks about what a sled dog did; 2.) The man and boy needing to urinate; 3.) Ryder vulgarly berating the Mayor (James Gandolfini); 4.) The bribery confession; and 4.) The mayor urged to act upon the opportunity of a "leadership moment."
audience reaction: They enjoyed this movie which turned out to have a "hands-clapper" ending.
recommendation: If you love Suspense Thrillers, you'll love this one.
spoiler alert! It's only in New York City, it seems, where you'll find idiots driving across an intersection even though sirens from about a dozen or so vehicles in an emergency police motorcade are blaring loud enough to wake up the dead! I guess said idiots are busy talking on their cellphones (my pet peeve) or listening to their I-Pods (a pet peeve in the making) at the same time that they are driving. Meanwhile, a self-professed train commuting dispatcher has an easy time of negotiating the crowded and busy streets of NYC in a truck, which puts the Humvee to shame, with nary a scratch on its fenders! Wow! Why did the bad guys remove their bullet-proof vests when they knew that the cops were in hot pursuit of them? When Ryder said that there were 17 hostages left, there were actually 18.
fyi: A reviewer cryptically says that this is "a thriller for our times." I think I know what is meant: Days prior to 911, the value of stocks on American airliners dropped precipitously as knowledgeable investors (insiders) predicted a marked and rapid devaluation of such stocks. Just check the stock market history for the days before 911 (if they have not been altered yet). They made their money on the Blood of the Innocents! This is alluded to in the movie. This whole damn evil and disgusting affair makes me sick! My heart goes out to those who lost their love ones in the tragedy.
I did not see the original, so I have no way of knowing which one is better.
word of advice: Do let Morality and Ethics guide your conscience in your investment endeavors.
tidbits: On my way to Oakland, about two weeks ago on I-80, this older red Honda Civic drove past my car with its driver texting--yes, T-E-X-T-I-N-G! What a f-----g bitch! I should have cut in front of her and slammed on my brakes. I don't recall if the license plate is from New York, though. On another note, now we know that 10 million dollars (in hundred dollar bills) weigh about 220 pounds. Also, I went to see this for the second time as I waited for the midnight showing of TRANSFORMERS, ROTF; it was either this or stand for hours in line in the crowded and stuffy main lobby where a box office clerk told me that the line started at around 6:00 pm! Folks, get a life!
