Scintilating actioner (Speed (DVD))

Member Name: shaneo632

Product:	Speed (DVD)
Date:	19/09/09 (2 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Thrilling set pieces

Disadvantages: None

note: also appears in part on Flixster and The Student Room

Speed belongs to a class of action films that are both clever and extremely action packed - alongside Die Hard, Terminator 2, and Aliens, it is one of the best films of the genre - an exhilarating rollercoaster ride of suspense and magnificent set pieces.

The film opens as Police Officer Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) and his partner Harry Temple (Jeff Daniels) are in LA defusing a bomb. Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper), a former LAPD man who was let go after his hand got disfigured in the line of duty, is holding people hostage in an elevator shaft with a bomb. However, even once this is over, there's a more dangerous game at hand - he has placed a bomb on a bus, activated once the bus first exceeds 50mph. Once it then drops below 50mph, the bus will explode. Thus, the chase is on to stop the bus from blowing up and bring Payne to justice.

This is an absolutely relentless action film - the thrills come thick and fast, with one insane set pieces after another. Reeves is merely decent in his role, but Sanda Bullock as Annie, one of the more outspoken passengers on the bus, is hilarious, and Dennis Hopper is great as the villain in one of his more memorable roles. If you want thrills that don't condescend to the viewer and keep you guessing, then this is one to watch. Just make sure to avoid the dreadful sequel, which Reeves was at least smart enough to avoid (can't say the same for Bullock).

An incredibly tense thriller with a superb concept, Speed isn't the smartest film around, but entertainment-wise, it's the cream of the crop. Hopper makes a superb villain and whilst Reeves is no great actor, he creates a protagonist you can root for.

Summary: A non-stop rollercoaster ride