Peter Welch Speed is the definition of a film that knows what it is. It finds its tone and it excels.The film tells the story of Jack Traven, an LA SWAT officer. After the film immediately catches the audience's attention with a high-pressure hostage situation in a downtown LA elevator (an exploit that provides smart indirect characterization of our leads), the film deals mostly with a city bus on the highway. A bomb expert has rigged the bus, and if its speed drops below 50 MPH, the explosive will detonate, The narrative takes twists and turns, and as our protagonists decipher clues left behind by the villain, the viewer is always highly engaged. The always-evolving plot is very smartly designed. While the series of difficulties our characters face is numerous, it is never confusing. Plot arcs appear and resolve themselves in such a way that the audience is never lost, in fact the clues are simple enough for the audience to play detective along with the characters.The characters in Speed are all very simple but very strong. We learn about who the characters are by seeing them react in high-pressure situations. This is ideal in making people who seem real and it is executed effectively. By the time the movie ends, it's hard not to feel pride and relief for the characters after seeing the hell that they go through and their courage. This is an action movie, but it constructs its characters with more nuance than most acclaimed dramas.Speed isn't afraid to be what it is, and that is perhaps its biggest triumph. All of the film's action is totally over-the-top. The bus infamously makes a totally unrealistic jump across a giant stretch of uncompleted highway, and the viewer is left laughing at its sheer stupidity. But, the film wears the insanity on its sleeve and isn't embarrassed by the craziness. If you wanted a serious police drama, Speed wasn't the right choice.If you want to crack open a beer and just enjoy a smart, funny, and just plain fun action movie, Speed is the right choice.

Predrag "Speed" is one of the best action films with a few comedy bits; it is so great that it will live you clinging to your chair. There are lots of action, suspense and great explosions that will bow you away. Speed does live up to its title, even if you see it multiple times; the suspense is still there. Speed has a great cast including Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Joe Morton, Jeff Daniels and Sandra Bullock. The plot is as strong as a rock: After seeing his painstakingly crafted bomb plot fail at the hands of two L.A. Cops (Reeves and Daniels), the bomber (Hopper) sets about exacting his revenge by setting a bus to explode if its speed drops below 50mph. The tension is expertly crafted, the film adjusts its pace at the all right times and the character development and attention to detail make the film rounded enough to avoid the trap of it becoming a formulaic action or disaster movie. A smart script full of nice touches and clever one-liners keeps you listening as well as watching. The result exceeds your expectations time and again throughout the length of the film.Hopper makes the film, and although this shot Reeves' star right into the stratosphere, he still clearly is just a pretty face, as he cannot act for toffee. Bullock gives the best performance of her career (what a shame she consistently picked turkeys after leading in this epic) as the gutsy damsel at the wheel, and Reeves (let's be kind) grunts and flexes his way through the film except on the few occasions when his acting ability is uncomfortably stretched. Jeff Daniels meanwhile appears like a different human from the actor who goofed around so hilariously in "Dumb and Dumber." Overall, this movie is excellently made with big wonderful explosions, great casts, non-stop actions, a fast movie and it's like a roller coaster.Overall rating: 9 out of 10.

James Emtage The opening with the camera descending an elevator shaft is one of the longest I've ever seen, but it leads to a tense sequence involving stopping a passenger-filled elevator rigged with explosives from falling. The characters are well-cast and Keanu Reeves and Jeff Daniels do well as their characters Jack Traven and Harry Temple. Dennis Hopper certainly brings his crazed villain to life. I was relieved that all the passengers got out the elevator safely, but it got tense again when Jack and Harry attempted to corner the bomber. I actually thought he'd been killed after the explosion on the other side of the door. The celebration party is always entertaining the the dialog is well written.I wasn't expecting a bus to explode BEFORE hearing of the one that plays a major part in the storyline. I was surprised that the bomber had survived and realised his clever and crafty ways of avoiding detection. I never forgot the rule about no one getting off the bus and larger ransom demand of $3.7 million widened my eyes the first time I heard it. Jack chasing after the 2525 bus is fun to watch and Annie just catching the bus is a fairly sweet part. I've heard of bombs that are triggered by timers and remote-detonated, but one that's triggered by speed is a new one for me. It took me a while to realise this situation with the bus is a hostage situation unlike any other. It truly becomes a thrill-ride and Jan de Bont certainly brings it to maximum velocity in his directional debut. I was surprised that the passengers wouldn't believe that there was a bomb on the bus and I was shocked when a small-time criminal shot Sam the bus driver. Annie taking Sam's place behind the wheel is terrific and she drives the bus very well, especially during the tense-filled sequences involving built-up traffic and a hard right turn while keeping the bus above 50mph.I was glad for Sam when he safely gotten off the bus onto a pacing flatbed truck (I hope he made a full recovery) but I thought the bomber went too far by detonating a explosive under the bus stairs when Helen (one of the passengers) tried to get off. Then the tension built up again with an approaching 50-foot gap in the freeway. I thought "The number 50 is coming up quite a few times! The speed bus cannot go under, the total of the number of the bus 2525 and now the gap in the freeway!" I was amazed the bus made the jump.At the airport, Jack going under the bus was another tense moment and I was hoping he would deactivate the bomb. I started to understand more about the bomb at this point. But I was almost on the edge of my seat again when Jack nearly got killed under the bus and had to hold on by puncturing the bus's fuel tank, but with help from the passengers, they got him back on board so I was pleased. But the tension doesn't stop there - with the fuel gauge gradually dropping, so were chances of survival.I should've figured the bomber Howard would not be at his home as he knew they'd be coming for him, but I wasn't expecting yet another explosion and for Harry and most of his team to be killed. I really felt for Jack but I was as stunned as he was when he realises that Howard has been watching the bus the whole time with a hidden camera. The trick of recording 1 minute of footage a replaying it on a loop to fool Howard while the passengers are offloaded onto an airport bus is VERY clever! Jack and Annie escaping the bus is another terrific sequence, although I feel for the bus as it runs out of fuel, its speed drops below 50mph and the bomb detonates in a huge but effective explosion.I was wondering how the storyline would continue since the bus was major part, but Howard realising he'd been fooled and taking Annie hostage while the ransom drop was made plays its part. Howard collecting the ransom without being seen was another clever move, as is the sequence on the subway train. Howard delivers his lines well and Jack's fight with him on top of the train is another brutal sequence. I was hoping Jack would in, but I wasn't expecting Howard to lose his head to an overhead signal! Jack removes the explosive vest from Annie but they can't stop the train, so Jack setting the train at full speed instead is quite a choice. I was impressed with the effect of the train derailing and I agree that relationships based on extreme circumstances rarely work out. I suppose after surviving something so dangerous, one thing a couple can do is share a romantic moment as onlookers take pictures!

StuOz A bus loaded with passengers has a bomb on it.A mixed group of people trapped together in a deadly situation. There is a guy with a hidden gun, the nerd, the cute woman, etc. Does this sound like a disaster movie? Yes, but people always label this flick as an "action thriller". Well, who cares, call it what you will.But just to back up my point even more, that scene where Reeves talks down the alarmed passenger with the gun, and then some other passenger jumps in to save things...well that sort of moment was done in several 1970s disaster flicks (for example 1970's Airport).Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, the suspense of it all...Speed is knockout movie that you will want to see again and again!