The Timeless Adrenaline Filled Action Classic

Rating: 9/10 (16 May 2010)

The nineties was a great time for action blockbusters, where instead of relying heavily on CGI, the action sequences in those movies were actually filmed as they were, and rather than spending so much time for in depth story and character development, they choose to engage us in a more direct, emotional manner. "Speed" is quite easily the greatest example.
In the film, LAPD Bomb Squad cop Jack Traven must race against time to rescue passengers onboard a bus with a bomb that'll go off if it goes below 50mph. Keanu Reeves reinvents the action hero by, instead of being the big tough guy with a ton of one-liners, he is earnest, emotional and perhaps most importantly, vulnerable. At his side is the wonderful Sandra Bullock as Jack's lovable sidekick/love interest Annie, whose bubbly and sarcastic personality beautifully compliments with Jack's gungho, intense character. And on the other side is Dennis Hopper as the disgruntled bad guy who is as crazy as he is intelligent, setting up the foil for the centerpiece with taunts and impossible tests for our hero.
The real draw here, however, remains the now iconic high octane action sequences. In a simple yet brilliant fashion, three major crisises make up the three acts. And be it the elevator, the bus or the subway, once the action starts, prepare to hold on to dear life until it ends. Because not only does it never stop, it barely slows down. And it's not just the vehicles that go for a ride; out heroes too endure a roller coaster ride of emotions. Hopelessness, anxiety, fear and exhilaration; we uncontrollably become inclined to feel not just for them, but with them.
And I reserve this paragraph for praising the very underrated score by Mark Mancina. The memorable main theme sets you in the mood for pulsating action, while the heroic theme not only works brilliantly on the romance between Jack and Annie, it does wonders to amplify the heroic and noble nature of saving lives.
Even today, at 16 years later, and having seen the movie multiple times, Speed still gives me the emotions I had when seeing it for the first time, putting me at the edge of my seat. With it's ability to engage a viewer so strongly, Speed was destined to become a timeless classic. And it is.