Review of Speed (1994) by Liam C — 04 Sep 2014

Pop quiz, hotshot, what do you get if you take a really preposterous concept, that only the 90s could come up with, fill it with well written characters and a breakneck pace? You get, Speed!

Jan de Bont is such a strange director, he made this very well done thrill ride and kind of peeked right there. I like Twister for what it is but after Speed, Twister is a real let down but even in his first feature, he showcases his crazy, but really well executed, action. Like I said before, this thing is from the 90s it absolutely reeks of it, the CGI opening titles are something only the 90s could've produced and it adds to the movie's charm. What I liked a lot is the fact that you aren't in the bus after only a few minutes, the movie actually has build up and for about 30 minutes there isn't a bus in sight.

The movie already had a fantastic concept and USP to get audiences into seats and, on the whole, you don't go into an action movie for well done characters but it does always help, the actors really bring a lot to their roles where they didn't really have to at all. I started the movie expecting a fun action movie but was surprised the actors were given quite a lot to work with. At first I was thinking, it wouldn't really matter who they casted here because anybody can do these roles but I was really wrong and now after watching it, I can't imagine anyone else in these roles. Even the secondary characters have little quirks here and there that makes them all stand out and memorable and the movie had a great sense of humor but poor Jeff Daniels though, being demoted to supporting role before long. I don't know how much he did but I know Joss Whedon was cruelly uncredited for his efforts on this but given how the characters really stand out, I wouldn't be surprised if I was told he wrote 75%+ of it.

Speed, overall, is a very strange concept that looks like it wouldn't work and begin to feel monotonous after awhile with it's relentless pace but with attention to character when needed, fantastic lead actors, a good story and exciting set pieces, Speed is everything an action movie should be and was an instant classic.