Speed (1994) DVD Reviews

Starring	Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Daniels
Director	Jan De Bont
Genres	Action/Adventure

Critics' reviews (6) of Speed
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This pure adrenalin-pumping entertainment of the highest order sees action man Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock trapped on a crowded LA bus that crazed extortionist Dennis Hopper has primed to explode if its speed falls below 50mph. Slipping smoothly into top gear from the nail-biting scene-setting opening, director Jan De Bont's “Die Hard on the Buses” moves into the fast lane with a nonstop barrage of brilliantly filmed action, nerve-jangling thrills and death-defying stunts. Completely outrageous, over-the-top and as exciting as can be, this wild ride will make you wish your sofa came equipped with seat belts.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
A fast, adrenalin-pumping action-packed thriller that achieves a high level of suspense; it works brilliantly well for the most part, even if the good guys cause more destruction than the bad, although it goes off the rails towards the end.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
"...Delivers wall-to-wall action....[Reeves has] become an actor of real charisma....Hopper finds new ways to convey crazy menace..."
- New York Times
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Speed
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5 out of 6 people found this review helpful

Rush!!!

Top notch action,adventure,comedy,romance & all the rest well worth a Watch.
- - A customer from Preston Lancashire
  - Posted 15 Oct 2004 15:39
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Superb

Keanu can't act, countless plot points make no sense at all, the basic idea was blatantly 'homaged' from Junya Sato's The Bullet Train (1975) and the whole thing is utterly preposterous — but somehow Speed works.

Could it be the remarkably taut direction (and the exciting use of dizzy hand-held cameras by ex-cinematographer De Bont)? Or that Sandra Bullock and Keanu are so damned easy on the eye? Or indeed that Dennis Hopper is still the finest screen psycho currently at large? All these, and more.

Essentially an updated 70s disaster movie (complete with the scaredy-cat passenger arguing with the uptight one: 'I can't die here!' 'Hey, shut up, man! I got a wife!'), the idea is simple: when the bus hits 50 m.p.h., the bomb is activated, if it dips below 50, it explodes. Conceived by madman-with-a-grudge Hopper, Keanu's first problem with this situation is that he isn't on the bus, leading to a fabulous sequence involving a requisitioned Jaguar XJS and some amazing stuntwork. From there on in, it's excitement central, as traffic jams, 50-foot gaps in the road and various smaller bombs cause mayhem for Keanu and Sandy, who's gamely taken the wheel.

The result is inevitable, and a tad drawn-out, but as ever it's the way it's done that determines the success or otherwise of films like this, and the relentless pacing andwondrous action sequences, coupled with a witty script ('Poor people are crazy,' mugs Hopper at one point, 'I'm eccentric') make Speed a decided cut above the rest Theatrically, of course, the movie went ballistic all over the world. One can only see it doing the same on video.

There are very few action movies that cut to the chase quite as quickly as Speed and then have the stamina to keep it up for nearly two hours.
- - A customer from Birmingham
  - Posted 21 Apr 2007 21:21
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Speed

Great family entertainment - Keanu and Sandra are great together with Dennis Hopper in great form.
- - A customer from Derry, Northern Ireland
  - Posted 01 May 2005 16:48
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Speed
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Speed

Brilliant film,well put together and keeping the viewer on their toes
- - A customer from manchester,england
  - Posted 03 May 2005 10:41
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful

Rush!!!

Top notch action,adventure,comedy,romance & all the rest well worth a Watch.
- - A customer from Preston Lancashire
  - Posted 15 Oct 2004 15:39

5 out of 6 people found this review helpful

Rush!!!

Top notch action,adventure,comedy,romance & all the rest well worth a Watch.
- - A customer from Preston Lancashire
  - Posted 15 Oct 2004 15:39
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Superb

Keanu can't act, countless plot points make no sense at all, the basic idea was blatantly 'homaged' from Junya Sato's The Bullet Train (1975) and the whole thing is utterly preposterous — but somehow Speed works.

Could it be the remarkably taut direction (and the exciting use of dizzy hand-held cameras by ex-cinematographer De Bont)? Or that Sandra Bullock and Keanu are so damned easy on the eye? Or indeed that Dennis Hopper is still the finest screen psycho currently at large? All these, and more.

Essentially an updated 70s disaster movie (complete with the scaredy-cat passenger arguing with the uptight one: 'I can't die here!' 'Hey, shut up, man! I got a wife!'), the idea is simple: when the bus hits 50 m.p.h., the bomb is activated, if it dips below 50, it explodes. Conceived by madman-with-a-grudge Hopper, Keanu's first problem with this situation is that he isn't on the bus, leading to a fabulous sequence involving a requisitioned Jaguar XJS and some amazing stuntwork. From there on in, it's excitement central, as traffic jams, 50-foot gaps in the road and various smaller bombs cause mayhem for Keanu and Sandy, who's gamely taken the wheel.

The result is inevitable, and a tad drawn-out, but as ever it's the way it's done that determines the success or otherwise of films like this, and the relentless pacing andwondrous action sequences, coupled with a witty script ('Poor people are crazy,' mugs Hopper at one point, 'I'm eccentric') make Speed a decided cut above the rest Theatrically, of course, the movie went ballistic all over the world. One can only see it doing the same on video.

There are very few action movies that cut to the chase quite as quickly as Speed and then have the stamina to keep it up for nearly two hours.
- - A customer from Birmingham
  - Posted 21 Apr 2007 21:21
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Speed

Great family entertainment - Keanu and Sandra are great together with Dennis Hopper in great form.
- - A customer from Derry, Northern Ireland
  - Posted 01 May 2005 16:48
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

[Highly rated reviewer]

too slow haha

Keanu moves fast in this blockbusteroonie

hopper fails to live up to his name

bullock shud go study another profession like how to act lol

georgin
- - BigNoelfromthesouth from Evesham
  - Posted 19 Jun 2008 13:49
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Speed

Brilliant film,well put together and keeping the viewer on their toes
- - A customer from manchester,england
  - Posted 03 May 2005 10:41
Watchable but nothing special

As long as you suspend belief and accept that you could drive a bus around town without letting the speed drop below 50 mph then this film is fine. As far as the action goes - seen better seen worse. Worth a watch but just don't expect too much from it.
- - A customer from Waterlooville
  - Posted 25 Sep 2006 22:32
Great!!

Full on, speedy film! Great to watch! 5 stars!
- - A Wilson from England
  - Posted 04 Jun 2007 20:05
very good action film

very good film cant wait to watch speed 2
- - A customer from england
  - Posted 07 Jun 2007 20:56
Speed - Fantastic!

Keanu Reeves is absolutely fit in this movie, lucky Sandra Bullock. Keanu's character Jack (a young cop) must save passengers on a bus that will blow up if the bus drops under a certain speed. There's a crazy mad man played by Dennis Hopper and a loyal partner played by Jeff Daniels as Harry. Excellent viewing keeps you on the edge of your seat, exciting and just superb.
- - Cornetto from Lancaster
  - Posted 17 Aug 2007 10:55
its ok

the movie has some action and its good to watch
- - A customer from London
  - Posted 19 Nov 2007 22:23

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Critics' reviews (6)
This pure adrenalin-pumping entertainment of the highest order sees action man Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock trapped on a crowded LA bus that crazed extortionist Dennis Hopper has primed to explode if its speed falls below 50mph. Slipping smoothly into top gear from the nail-biting scene-setting opening, director Jan De Bont's “Die Hard on the Buses” moves into the fast lane with a nonstop barrage of brilliantly filmed action, nerve-jangling thrills and death-defying stunts. Completely outrageous, over-the-top and as exciting as can be, this wild ride will make you wish your sofa came equipped with seat belts.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
A fast, adrenalin-pumping action-packed thriller that achieves a high level of suspense; it works brilliantly well for the most part, even if the good guys cause more destruction than the bad, although it goes off the rails towards the end.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
"...Delivers wall-to-wall action....[Reeves has] become an actor of real charisma....Hopper finds new ways to convey crazy menace..."
- New York Times
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
"...[A] dazzling action thriller....Even Hitchcock, I think, would have approved..." -- Rating: A
- Entertainment Weekly
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
"...A crackling blend of suspense and fun that gives you the rush of a runaway roller coaster..."
- Rolling Stone
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
"...[De Bont] delivers a wild ride that's worth the fare..." - Recommended
- Premiere
- Posted 11 Mar 2005

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- Speed
  
  A mad bomber with a vendetta against a young cop plants a bomb on a bus in L.A. The hero, with the help of a beautiful passenger, must diffuse the explosive device which is set to detonate if the bus slows to under 50 miles per hour. Academy Award Nominations: 3, including Best Film Editing. ...