Here's another classic action movie you shouldn't be without.

Like all good Nineties action movies, it incorporates large doses of explosions, and attitude, clever plot twists, tales of justice and revenge, and plenty of chase. In some ways it's a bit of a thriller, considering how people do die, and the villainous Howard Payne (played by Dennis Hopper) always seems to have the upper hand, leading Jack Traven (that's Keanu Reeves) on a wild ride across the city. It's a bit like Die Hard 3, but instead of a cab there's the bus.

It starts with a runaway elevator, then moves on to this runaway bus - where he first meets Annie, and just when you thought it was over we're taken on a runaway subway.

A maniac bombman is on the loose, demanding a ransom, and Keanu can't do much else than follow along. Though he does try.

The speed itself isn't always that high, but the notion of speed comes across plenty, especially when the bus is swerving around corners on two wheels. It's intense, and the Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock (Annie) combination is perfect. That's part of what makes this more than the sequel, though the movement between different methods of transportation is another part. Though the prospect of a runaway cruise ship (that's the sequel) is on a whole other level, it's also too big a machine for you to really wrap your mind around, with too many people involved, and the speed isn't as perceptible on water. It wasn't bad, but it goes a bit overboard. Moderate doses of people and public methods of transportation seems to be the winning formula.

Keanu puts on a great performance here, even if he is just like he always seems to be - himself. The other characters contribute to the mood, and the sceneries of a nineties L.A. are somehow nostalgic to view, even though I've never been there. I keep thinking it was better in the old days, and maybe it was. The pollution was prevalent, but so were the relations between strangers, and the vehicles back then definitely looked tougher than they do now.

It's a tough movie, and it moves at perfect speed. Great watch.

 rated 4/5: fo shizzle

June, 2022

Best romantic action movie ever! Isn't it?

With Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, and Jeff Daniels on the side for a while, and the convincingly bitter and somewhat mad badman Dennis Hopper!

I'm reminded of how he used to be a frequent guest in movies like this, but I haven't seen him for some time. Guess he might've grown old (yupp, died 2010, RIP :/)...

The pace is never wrong in this movie.

The sceneries neither. The bus is legit. The cars are appreciably old but varied and robust by design. The tension's high and the chase just keeps going! And I like the bonding. The open moments. The fond rekindling... or do you say refondling?

Anyway it's a classic. Good action. Good chase. A plot that doesn't always go the best possible way, but indeed it does so in the end. And always with the greatest haste when it does.

It's worth a watch this old but gold one yo son.

 rated 4.5/5: almost awesome