The definitive action movie.

Rating: Null/10 (3 January 2000)

Alrighty! Forget for a moment that practically every action movie made is going to have plot holes, paper-thin character development, corny points, and somewhat dry acting. Think back to the Lethal Weapon series, Die Hard, and other legendary flicks. You're not going to hear Shakesphearean dialogue or majestic cinematography as you did in The English Patient or Schindler's List. The drama genre is supposed to exhibit those aspects of filmmaking, not action.
Speed is the definitive action flick. The plot itself is innovative, just like the claustrophobic Die Hard and The Towering Inferno. Hostages On A Speeding Bus is a far from common idea. Jan De Bont carries out every facet of the movie with a deft touch. Although none of this is supposed to be believeable (numerous technical goofs, ridiculous premise for Howard Payne to hijack the bus notwithstanding), but as long as you can watch Speed for what it is worth, you will realize that it embodies everything a great action movie should.
I saw Speed for the first time the summer of 1994 and many dozens of times since. Keanu plays his role well, if a bit stiffly, but it works for the film. Dennis Hopper is the quintessential Bad Guy, the bad guy of all bad guys. And Sandra Bullock is the ultimate robo-babe. She was perfect for this breakthrough role.
There are a couple of things that I would have liked to have seen in more detail. Annie mentioned her enrollment in the University of Arizona, but it used only as a means for Howard Payne to call her a "wildcat". His elevator job scheme at the beginning seemed a bit hokey. The runaway train situation appeared hastily devised, and could have been done without.
Jan De Bont made a winner out of Speed.