As a seasoned cinephile who has witnessed countless action flicks come and go, I can confidently say that the electrifying adrenaline rush of Speed (1994) is a cinematic rollercoaster worth revisiting time and again. The almost perfect Tomatometer rating of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, just edging out the formidable John Wick: Chapter 4 (94%) is testament to its enduring appeal.
“Got a surprise for Speed movie enthusiasts! Catch Keanu Reeves‘ top-rated action movie streaming from December 1st. That’s right, the classic Speed directed by Jan de Bont boasts an impressive Tomatometer rating of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, just slightly ahead of another beloved Reeves flick, John Wick: Chapter 4 (94%) as per the current count.
Equipped with a high Rotten Tomatoes rating from critics, it’s clear how the movie Speed successfully and rapidly gained popularity when it was released in 1994 at more than 55 miles per hour. This essential action film showcased an outstanding cast that included not just Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, but also Dennis Hopper as the menacing antagonist Howard Payne, and tragically depicted the fate of Jeff Daniels’ character, Harry.
In summary, the collection of components led to an ideal combination of circumstances for Reeves and his fellow actors, as the movie Speed consistently performed well at the box office, raking in a total of $283 million globally (according to The Numbers). However, director Jan de Bont remained puzzled about why people would be interested in a film centered around a bus in L.A. De Bont shared this sentiment during an interview with ComicBook.com, reflecting on the movie’s 30th anniversary in June.
The idea behind Speed was truly distinctive, and one might wonder why anyone would create a movie about a bus in bustling Los Angeles. Imagine an actor confined within the bus, unable to move – neither entering nor exiting. However, considering I am familiar with Los Angeles, I realized how challenging it would be for a real bus to replicate that journey.
It would be absolutely impossible. So, I saw all those difficulties and thought, ‘Wow, this could be really, really exciting.’ And Paramount, who had the project early on before this, they said no to me and said, ‘Well, who wants to see a movie about a bus?’”
‘Speed’ Director Couldn’t Believe Anyone Wanted to See a “Movie About a Bus”
Additionally, it’s important to mention that Keanu Reeves achieved his highest Tomatometer score of 97% in Toy Story 4, where he provided the voice for stuntman Duke Caboom. However, the collaboration between Reeves and Sandra Bullock in Speed is still highly praised by director Jan de Bont, as he stated in an interview. In the same conversation, he expressed his admiration for this dynamic duo.
The casting for the actors was spot-on. Sandra Bullock convincingly played her role as a bus rider, which is quite fitting given her lack of prior bus riding experience. Interestingly enough, I ensured that she had plenty of actual bus rides in the weeks leading up to filming…
81-year-old de Bont, who is known for movies like ‘Twister’, ‘The Haunting’ (1999), and ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’, made a similar statement during that interview.
“They discovered how monotonous waiting on a bus could be and learned appropriate responses – everyday scenes on a bus. It’s something you have to live through to truly appreciate it. In essence, it’s the accumulation of these ordinary moments that make it intriguing. Plus, with the various obstacles a bus encounters along its route to maintain speed, I can imagine this being transformed into an engaging and captivating movie.
The initial success of ‘Speed’ led to a less memorable sequel in 1997, with Keanu Reeves choosing not to reprise his role, despite Sandra Bullock’s participation. Nevertheless, there remains potential for a quality continuation at some point. Intriguingly, Steve Asbell, President of Production at 20th Century Studios, has provided an encouraging update on ‘Speed 3’, suggesting that the process involves crafting a compelling idea and script to lure both Reeves and Bullock back into the franchise. For now, fans can look forward to rewatching the original when it becomes available for streaming on Hulu starting December 1st.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-11-29 03:01