This week is a bit of a theme week here as I’m reviewing films that contain bombs. So I’ve recently rewatched a couple (and some for the first time) and will review them this week. On Friday I’ll close it of with a top 10 of the best movies with bombs.
So today it’s time for the first movie and that’s one with a Dutch influence. The director is none other than Jan de Bont and this was his American film debut, one which made a splash and would allow him to direct mmovies like Twister and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life
“Pop quiz, hotshot. There’s a bomb on a bus. Once the bus goes 50 miles an hour, the bomb is armed. If it drops below 50, it blows up. What do you do? What do you do?”
There’s no better way to summarize this exciting action thriller. Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) is the one who has planted the bomb and it is up to cop Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) to ensure that it does not explode. His colleague and bomb expert Harry (Jeff Daniels) is on call to help him.
The setup is both bizarre and brilliant because you are immediately assured of tension. The script is able to manipulate the various variables effectively making it a movie without dull moments. Unexpected things happen with the people in the bus, the bus itself has its problems and the road is sometimes an enemy as well. De Bont succeeds in pulling it all of, injected with lots of humor. Keanu Reeves is ok in his role, but both Sandra Bullock and Hopper are the ones who excel. It is a film that I hadn’t seen in a while and which still manages to entertain me.
Adore Speed. Any time it’s on TV, it’s a need to see film. There’s nothing I don’t enjoy about it. Never fails to entertain!
My sister used to watch this every day when we were young and I can understand that appeal completely 🙂