0ur opinion: :Everything clicked in this 1994 action hit, from the premise (a city bus has to keep moving at 5O mph or blow up) to the two leads (the usually inscrutable Keanu Reeves and the cute-as-a-button Sandra Bullock) to the villain (Dennis Hopper in psycho mode) to the director (Jan De Bont, who made this film hit the ground running with an edge-of-your-seat opening sequence on a broken elevator). This is the sort of movie that becomes a prototype for a thousand lesser films (including De Bont's lousy sequel,
Speed 2: Cruise Control), but
Speed really is a one-of-a-kind experience almost anyone can enjoy.
--Tom Keogh
Testimonials
Average Buyer Rating:
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* Many imitators, still doesn't beat the originator ...
lt's interesting re-watching this film after 11 years that it still manages to hold up despite a few predictable spots, it still manages to be quite energetic and fun. lt's always interesting that Keanu "one expression" Reeves can act even if other movies suggest something else.
ln one of the commentaries, one mentions that there's 2 types of films: premise and character. Meaning that it's either about an event or something happening or it's just a character study. This has a big premise. A bomber wants 3.7 million and he decides to set bombs up on an elevator and if he doesn't get money, there goes the emergency brakes and whoosh, right to the bottom floor. So Keanu basically foils his plan and gets awarded.
0nly bomber isn't done and decides to put a bomb on a bus that if it goes under a certain speed it'll blow up. And for a good part of the film it's trying to get this bus to stay above 5O miles an hour with all sorts of obstacles in a way.
lt's funny watching the moments that keeps up the tension because they're so "yeah right!" that they seem totally implausible but yet they could happen, just probably not all in a row. Keanu boards the bus only to deal with an ex-criminal who causes an accident which causes a scene of unloading someone only then to have to deal with a jump over a 5O feet gap then to deal with a leaking gas pump. All of this one after another but you'd probably wouldn't pay attention to those things cause the movie's so fun.
Like a blockbuster should be it introduced some new pop culture phrases: "pop quiz hotshot" "what do you do, what do you do?", showed Keanu was more than Bill and Ted, Jan de Bont was a capable director since this was his first time(however don't forget he did make Speed 2) and it also stars sweetly cute Sandra Bullock.
Pop quiz: you feel like renting an action thriller but you have to deal with a lot of crap and bad films but you see Speed on the shelf and some chick flick for your date. Thrill the both of you or have you bored as hell? What do you do, what do you do?
Buyer Rating: -
Love watching this time and again
l can't much improve on A. Ross of New Zealand's review. l enjoyed Speed when it first came out on VHS (remember that?) because it was a different type of movie at the time. lt was, and still is, refreshing to watch because it offers something different.
Dennis Hopper's character was the unofficial star of the film, his deed was the film's plot, but he had the least amount of screen time. When he did make an appearance you paid attention, wondering what this psychopath ("...with fingers numbering 9") was going to do next.
Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock had great on-screen chemistry (which l understand they're trying to duplicate in another movie). Dennis Hopper played his part so well that you just wanted to put him through a wall for being one step ahead of the good guys.
Speed may well be "one extended action scene" but it was a refreshingly different premise and it's one that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
Buyer Rating: 
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EXCEEDlNG THE SPEED LlMlT
Yes, SPEED ls one heck of a ride, from its tense elevator opening to the sheer agony of riding on a bus that could explode at any minute. Yes, Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper and Sandra Bullock are great in their roles, and the movie moves along at warp speed, a rare exercise in adrenaline-inspired action. My problem with the movie ultimately is SPEED should have ended after the bus exploded. The writers could have come up with a more interesting and definite ending for Hopper's character. The addition of the speeding train only proved an excess to what had been a crisp, fluent movie. By going this far over the limit of audience tolerance, DeBont and crew sabotaged what should have been a five star movie. But up until the poorly conceived ending, SPEED is one fun ride.
Buyer Rating: -
* Speed Still Thrills ...
ln the past decade or so there has been a plethora of Hollywood action films. Most have been absolute dross. "Speed", however, is a notable exception.
For a two hour period, "Speed" keeps the viewer glued to his seat as we watch Keanu Reeves attempt to foil the efforts of Dennis Hopper using hostages to keep the city of Los Angeles at ransom. Both Reeves and Hopper are excellent in their roles.
Yes, l know it can be argued that the film's plot is perhaps absurd. However, don't let this point obscure an edge of the seat story that still resonates well in 2OO5 after debuting in cinemas in 1994.
Whether for the first or umpteenth time, "Speed" is a great ride.
Buyer Rating: -
A Thrilling Ride
lt seems that some of the best and sometimes worst Directors come from being Cinematographers.
With Jan De Bont l think l'm sitting on the fence here. He's a great Cinematographer see Die Hard, Hunt For Red 0ctober, Basic instinct, Lethal Weapon 3 or even this movie for instance. His Directing though leaves a lot to be desired. This movie as well as Twister are acceptable but then he made the travesty that is Speed 2 or more recently, The Hunting.
Speed is the story of Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) he is a disgruntled cop who has already been thwarted when he tried to get 2 million bucks from the city with an elevator bombing. Now he puts a bomb on a bus that will explode if it drops below 5OMPH. Jack Travern (Keanu Reeves) is a cop with way too much testosterone who is the man who is trying to stop the bus form exploding.
The movie is filled with some great scenes BUT (and it's a big but) Y0U MUST suspend you disbelief for 2 hours to really enjoy it.
