"I saw this movie once where this bus had to SPEED around the city, keeping its SPEED over fifty, and if its SPEED dropped, it would explode. I think it was called...The Bus That Couldn't Slow Down!" - Homer Simpson
Speed is the Die Hard of the 90's.
It reaches near perfection in its simplicity.
Premise: A cop must save a bunch of passengers on a bus wired with explosives that will detonate if the bus's speed drops below 50 MPH.
You wouldn't think a movie where a bunch of people drive around for two hours on a bus would be entertaining, but you'd be wrong. In fact, everything involving the bus is gold. The movie only falters when Keanau leaves the confines of the bus. The subway finale is garbage. The entire movie is centered around the bus. You can't end the movie in a subway! And just like the highway isn't finished, the subway track isn't finished? What?! I don't think they use subway tracks that aren't finished...
But let's focus on what this movie does unbelievably well and that is to create tension. The movie succeeds by creating a ticking clock that nearly lasts the entire movie. Every time the speedometer nears that 50 mark, you lean forward a little in your seat. At one point, they actually create TWO SIMULTANEOUS ticking clocks by having Keanu puncture the gas tank. Now we have to worry about the gas running out AND the bomb blowing. That's good stuff...
Unfortunately, when you talk about this movie, you have to talk about "The Jump." This is by far one of the worst "Nuking the Fridge" moments in cinematic history. The bus has to jump a fifty foot gap of equal elevation. Sound impossible? Well...it should have been! Instead, the bus hits a fucking bike ramp at the end of the unfinished section of highway and levitates over the gap. It looked ridiculous the first time I saw the movie, and it still looks ridiculous. Even in the action genre, some semblance of reality must be maintained. I'll believe that Arnold can kill 81 guys single-handedly (Commando), but I still don't believe that damn bus could make that jump!
Speed is the Die Hard of the 90's.
It reaches near perfection in its simplicity.
Premise: A cop must save a bunch of passengers on a bus wired with explosives that will detonate if the bus's speed drops below 50 MPH.
You wouldn't think a movie where a bunch of people drive around for two hours on a bus would be entertaining, but you'd be wrong. In fact, everything involving the bus is gold. The movie only falters when Keanau leaves the confines of the bus. The subway finale is garbage. The entire movie is centered around the bus. You can't end the movie in a subway! And just like the highway isn't finished, the subway track isn't finished? What?! I don't think they use subway tracks that aren't finished...
But let's focus on what this movie does unbelievably well and that is to create tension. The movie succeeds by creating a ticking clock that nearly lasts the entire movie. Every time the speedometer nears that 50 mark, you lean forward a little in your seat. At one point, they actually create TWO SIMULTANEOUS ticking clocks by having Keanu puncture the gas tank. Now we have to worry about the gas running out AND the bomb blowing. That's good stuff...
Unfortunately, when you talk about this movie, you have to talk about "The Jump." This is by far one of the worst "Nuking the Fridge" moments in cinematic history. The bus has to jump a fifty foot gap of equal elevation. Sound impossible? Well...it should have been! Instead, the bus hits a fucking bike ramp at the end of the unfinished section of highway and levitates over the gap. It looked ridiculous the first time I saw the movie, and it still looks ridiculous. Even in the action genre, some semblance of reality must be maintained. I'll believe that Arnold can kill 81 guys single-handedly (Commando), but I still don't believe that damn bus could make that jump!
Why It's Awesome: Simple premise...great execution.
Best Line:
Stephens is repeating over the walkie-talkie what Jack is saying word-for-word.
Jack spots the bomb.
Jack: Fuck me!
Stephens: Oh darn...
How dare you mention Speed in the same sentence as Die Hard! Speed isn't even in the same league as Die Hard.
ReplyDeleteThere's numerous scenes in this film that are hard to believe, but Speed is still fun to watch.
ReplyDelete