Speed- The Best Action 1994 Summer Blockbuster Movie
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_(1994_film)
Speed is a quintessential 1990s Summer blockbuster. Released in June of 1994, starring Keanu Reeves, Jeff Daniels, Dennis Hopper and Sandra Bullock it was a high-octane action flick that still resonates today. The film was successful in the box office, grossing $350 million in 1994 and has become a cult action film 3-decades later. The fast pace, likeable and believable cast and nonstop action make this a must see for any action fan.
This film is rated R, but the violence and the explicit content are not shocking. This film is famous for the bus-jumping scene in which an LA-city bus jumps an unfinished freeway expanse. The film is not overly vulgar, but it has earned an R-rating due to overall violence, language and suspense.
Speed is the story of LA partner police officers in the bomb squad played by Keanu Reeves and Jeff Daniels. An elevator falls in an office building, and Reeves and Daniels must save the occupants before it plummets down the shaft. Dennis Hopper plays the antagonist, a former bomb-squad police officer who has a score to settle. Hopper takes Reeves on a famous and action-packed ride when he reveals a bomb on an LA-city bus will detonate if the speed of the bus falls below 50 MPH. From then on, it’s a fast-paced and memorable action flick ending with the rescue of the bus riders and the end of the villainous Hopper on another runaway train.
Action movies of the 1990s focused on character development. Reeves and Bullock have good chemistry on the screen and Dennis Hopper plays a maniacal villain with a blemished past as a police officer. The runtime of this film is approximately 2-hours, which is consistent with other films of the era including Independence Day. I saw this movie years ago, and remember the media being full of advertisements for this film. It made an impact on film culture, and was commercially and culturally successful. Most viewers of this film will be impressed with the slick and fun nature of this flick, which resonates with audiences even today as exceptional.
Rated 94% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, this is highly recommended. Although this movie is almost 30-years old, the visuals still stand up and the stunts are entertaining. This should be viewed as a pure action flick with an all-star 1990s cast that shines. Like many 1990s films, it is 2-hours long and character development is a focus. Reeves and Daniels are the stereotypical good cops with heaps of energy and Hopper is a twisted maniac of a villain.
Speed is an incredible action flick and it is available for free on YouTube now. I highly recommend watching it, and it is worth 2-hours of your time. This will not be time wasted.