Filled with plenty of chills and thrills; it speaks to the modern mania for velocity.
Speed (1994)
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Reviews Counted:41
Fresh:37
Rotten:4
Average Rating:7.6/10
Runtime: 5 hrs 33 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Synopsis: SPEED: A mad bomber (Dennis Hopper) is out for revenge against LAPD rookie cop Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves), who, with the help of his partner, Harry Temple (Jeff Daniels), foils the criminals' plot... SPEED: A mad bomber (Dennis Hopper) is out for revenge against LAPD rookie cop Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves), who, with the help of his partner, Harry Temple (Jeff Daniels), foils the criminals' plot to extort money from the city by holding hostage an elevator full of people. He plants a bomb on a bus, set to arm itself when the vehicle hits 50 mph, and detonate if it drops below that speed. The hero, with the help of a beautiful passenger named Annie (Sandra Bullock), must defuse the explosive device before the bus runs out of gas. This fast-paced thriller received two Academy Awards for Best Sound and Best Sound Effects Editing, as well as a nomination for Best Film Editing. [More]
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Dennis Hopper, Jeff Daniels
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Dennis Hopper, Jeff Daniels, Joe Morton, Alan Ruck, Carlos Carrasco
Director: Jan de Bont
Director: Jan de Bont
Screenwriter: Graham Yost, Joss Whedon
Producer: Mark Gordon
Composer: Mark Mancina
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Reviews for Speed
In each sequence is packed the sum thrills of a Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal starrer combined.
Audiences may have experienced similar stories before, but they are seldom done this well and with this level of energy.
Not only is this flick a taut and wonderfully-crafted thriller, but Speed has some of the highest 'rewatchability factor' I've ever witnessed in an action flick.
'Speed' may not make much sense, but it moves so fast you won't have time to think about it.
All niceties of plotting, characterization and acting have been eliminated from this stripped-for-action vehicle, which is 116 minutes of pure adrenaline.
The smart and sassy Bullock is a knockout. She makes us believe the impossible things Annie is doing and, better, makes us care.
Audiences may have experienced similar stories before, but they are seldom done this well and with this level of energy.
If you’re inclined to pick it apart and ask a lot of questions, you’ll quickly conclude that there’s zero chance this kind of scenario would unfold in the real world, but it’s so well done here, you just don’t care.
Succeeds primarily because of De Bont's attention to detail and, specifically, the way his camera moves through the inner workings of Hopper's bombs and the various modes of transportation they theaten.
The plot becomes so overextended, as Reeves and Hopper wage their endless public transportation battle, even the hardest Die-Harders will consider leaping off way before the final stop.
A really entertaining film, full of breathtaking stunts, explosions, chases and other spectacular actions. Unfortunately, those qualities seem to wear off on the second viewing...
Undeniably, the picture now and again supplies that edge-of-the-seat sensation; yet, by action-adventure standards, Speed is leaden and strangely poky. It never seems to shift into overdrive and let fly.
The most breath-stoppingly thrilling motion picture to open since the original Die Hard.
In a film like this, timing is everything, and everyone from the stunt coordinators to the crew-at-large seems to have gotten it right the first time.
We've seen this done before, but seldom so well, or at such a high pitch of energy.
Jack Traven is the perfect role for Reeves. He is asked to do little more than set his jaw and look good in a tight T-shirt, and he's good at both.
Reeves finally proves that not only can he act, he can be do some great stuff if he is cast and directed right.
Latest News for Speed
March 31, 2009:
The Legacy of The Matrix
1999 was one of the most important years for modern cinema. Ten years on, we're celebrating a remarkable twelve months of movies with new features around some of the year's best... More...
December 04, 2008:
Keanu Talks Speed, Bill & Ted Sequels ![]()
Keanu Reeves has already brushed off the "Speed 3" rumors that surfaced earlier this week...but he is, apparently, up for another "Bill & Ted" movie. More...
June 19, 2006:
Box Office Wrapup: "Cars" in Pole Position Again, "Da Vinci Code" Reaches $679M Globally
Despite the arrival of four new films cluttering the multiplexes, the Disney/Pixar animated film Cars remained the most popular movie in North America for a second straight... More...
June 15, 2006:
Critical Consensus: Soggy "Nacho," Aimless "Drift," Untidy "House"
This week at the movies, we've got wrestlers ("Nacho Libre"), Tokyo drifters ("The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift"), time-delayed lovers ("The Lake... More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
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| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 83% 83% | Harry Potter and the H… |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
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| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
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| 88% 88% | Inglourious Basterds |
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