In spider-man 2, and other movies why they didnt use the MTA NYC Subway?

Question

In the scene where spiderman stop the "R" train on the EL. the subway train is not the same as NYC and i know there's no "R" EL in Manhattan. i've notice that in other movies that takes place in NYC but doesnt use the NYC Subway. why is that?

Answer 1

Because it is a fiction movie, not a documentry.

Answer 2

Bottom line is the expense they would have to absorb and then there is the MTA red tape .There are some movies that did film in the subway,The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ,a Perfect Murder the Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 .A list of others that I cannot remember off hand .The reason sometimes in addition to help them decide is that the cast and crew have to go to track safety school before any filming can commence and they all have to pass the class .In fact Robin Williams was in the school this past summer.Hope this helps

Answer 3

Because it's a movie, not reality, therefore it doesn't matter!!   Just enjoy the story and stop nitpicking the details!

Answer 4

I know the red line in Los angles has special equipment and arrangements for filming to be done. this is often a preferred line for filming subway sequences.

eg; the Italian job and Speed.

I don't know about the films you ask about though

Answer 5

The NYC subway system is too valuable and too well traveled to afford "down time" for motion picture filming.  It would be tied up for hours for several days just to set up a shot.  Both impractical and expensive.

Answer 6

Double check the location of the plot.

Answer 7

Maybe the production company couldn't get permits in time for filming.

As far as I know, the MTA has closed stations which can be used for movies, as was done in "The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3."  In that movie, the car was stationary for a considerable length of time, which is very easy to do in an unused station.  But if the plot requires an "El" to speed full-tilt-boogie to its barricade, the MTA just doesn't have that to use.  

Nor can it afford to shut down stations for considerable lengths of time, which would explain why one episode of "Law & Order" that was supposed to have a scene at the Port Authority terminal, instead had the scene shot across the river in Hoboken, NJ at NJ Transit's rail terminal.

Sometimes, you have to "fake it."