sped up to actually having a plot

Rating: 7/10 (24 April 2006)

If you look at "Speed"'s plot, it sounds like any old ridiculous Hollywood movie: madman plants bomb on bus, cop has to stop bus from blowing up. Usually, I wouldn't even consider watching such a movie. However, Dennis Hopper as the terrorist carries the movie. His character Howard Payne is sort of a cross between his characters from "Easy Rider" and "Apocalypse Now", albeit totally evil. Keanu Reeves's character is one whom anyone could have played and it wouldn't be much different, although who else would say "whoa" like Reeves? And Sandra Bullock's character isn't bad.
All in all, this is an above average action flick. Not a masterpiece by any stretch, but better than the usual Stallone or Schwarzenegger movie. Also starring Joe Morton, Jeff Daniels, Alan Ruck and Beth Grant.
And one more thing: avoid the sequel like you would the Ebola virus!