If you like movies about New York as much as I do, you've probably seen the classic 1974 Thriller The Taking of Pehlam 1 2 3. If you haven't, get it now. It's one of Tarantino's favorite movies and heavily influenced Resevoir Dogs. Not to mention, you'll want to check out the original before going to see the upcoming 2009 remake starring John Travolta, Denzel Washington, John Turturro, and James Gandolfini.

"Walter Matthau portrays the cynical and grumpy Lieutenant Zachary Garber, a New York City Transit Authority policeman. His routine is interrupted by an unexpected hijacking of a subway train (on the number 6 line). The police rush to deliver the ransom of one million dollars in unmarked bills of low denominations in an hour's time, dispatching a squad car for a frantic drive uptown from the financial district, as Lieutenant Rico Patrone (Jerry Stiller) attempts to negotiate by radio from transit police headquarters, distracting the hijackers' attention."

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There was a 1998 TV remake of the film starring Edward James Olmos and Vincent D'Onofrio that went almost unnoticed. It'll be interesting to see what Hollywood does this time around with the remake, but I fear it will fall flat at best. Why they've even chosen to remake this movie is a mystery to me. It's not that the first one was so good that it stands the test of time as a thriller. It comes off as rather campy when watched today. For me, it's a period piece -- a look at New York in the 70s -- and an historical look at the history of thrillers and action movies as they've influenced today's popular culture.

Even the Beastie Boys got in on it, referencing the movie in the lyrics of their hit Sure Shot, on the 1994 album Ill Communication: "Well, it's the taking of Pelham, one, two, three / If you want a doodoo rhyme then come see me". That's what I'm talkin' about.