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We meet our hero, Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) and his senior partner, Harry Temple (Jeff Daniels), members of the Los Angeles bomb squad, as they're called to an office building where an elevator has been rigged with explosives. In an exciting sequence, they foil a diabolical extortionist, Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper), who is holding the hostage filled elevator for ransom. This sets into motion (no pun intended) a duel of wits between a vindictive Payne and Traven.

Months after the first incident, a bus and its driver are blown apart simply to get Traven's attention. Payne calls to explain that another bus will arm an onboard bomb when it reaches 50 MPH; the bomb is rigged to explode when the bus slows below 50. Traven races to the bus to keep the bomb from arming, but he's too late. He's forced to jump onto the moving bus to try to disarm the bomb. On board, he's thrust into partnership with a feisty, attractive passenger, Annie (Sandra Bullock), who takes over driving the bus when the driver is shot accidentally.

What follows is an ingenious, inventive action thriller filled with stunts and special effects and that doesn't slow down until a third climax on a runaway subway to which Annie is handcuffed. Although she had fifteen credits to her name before Speed, including the role of Lenina Huxley in the genre film Demolition Man of the previous year, Speed probably marked the beginning of America's love affair with Sandra Bullock. And Reeves is, for once, effective in a role that suits his limited range. Very well structured with a clever, intricate plot and good performances, it's obvious why Speed was a big hit. Preposterous, yes, but you don't notice until well after the film is over.

Video: How Does The Disc Look?

The film's theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 is presented in anamorphic video and the results are quite nice. Some haloing is occasionally visible but it never intrudes. I suspect that De Bont's dynamic camera techniques - the camera or the scene always seems to be in motion - either doesn't allow the MPEG encoder to settle down enough to generate halos or our eyes are distracted by the dynamics and rarely have a chance to focus on a halo.

Small object detail and textures are maintained, with a very slight hint of softness, and the overall effect is quite film-like. Colors are excellent, although almost everyone seems to have a tan. The California sun or slightly hot chroma? Hard to say since the vivid colors of the art and furnishings in the film's opening sequence and the bright colors found on the runway at LAX do not appear overdriven. Brightness and contrast are first-rate, and this transfer sports deep, rich blacks with shadow detail rather good. Digital Video Compression Center did the work. Too frequently this shop applies a brick wall video filter and video ringing is evident; I'm pleased to report that you'll find no such ringing here.

Audio: How Does The Disc Sound?

The default Dolby Digital 5.1 track is excellent. The mix features very aggressive surround cues, enveloping the viewer in the action. Deep bass is present and quite satisfying, but not quite as room shaking as some other action flicks. Sound effects are imaginatively constructed and presented with authority. This is Mark Mancina's first and arguably best score. Orchestral timbre, supplemented by a synthesizer, is quite good but not as transparent as more recent releases. I found the sound stage a bit narrow. Dialog remains undistorted and intelligibility is high, even in the most dynamic action sequences.

A second 5.1 track is in DTS. After careful gain parity, I found the DTS track even better. It offers a subtle improvement in timbre and bottom end. The coherence of the three-dimensional sonic field was also subtly improved.

A French 2.0 Dolby Surround track is also included, along with English and French subtitles and English Closed Captions.

Supplements: What Goodies Are There?

This is a Fox Home Entertainment Five-Star Edition, and the studio has included a smorgasbord of supplements spread over two discs. The first disc contains two feature-length, screen-specific commentaries. This was Jan De Bont's directorial debut and he seems to be pleased to talk about his work. This is my favorite type of commentary, quite technical and focused primarily on how the film was made. De Bont will digress from time to time, talking about his players, but overwhelmingly he concentrates on the craft. We learn which scenes are miniatures, which are supplemented by matte paintings, which stunts are performed by the actors (and how) and which are performed by stuntmen. He talks about camera technique and how he created the illusion of speed with a ponderous bus.

The second commentary is with screenwriter Graham Yost and producer Mark Gordon. Yost and Gordon bicker and chat and fool around, but they seem very comfortable with the process, perhaps because they were able to play against one another rather than address the audience. We learn about casting, behind the scenes staffing, the evolution of the story - both enjoy revealing little production tricks that shouldn't be are visible but are, like the cable pulling the exploding bus, or a small camera mounted on the side of the second bus. (It's most visible at 46:47 and 47:11.) It was also a relief to hear the writer and producer admit how the bus jump defies physics. (The 30-foot long bus would have had to be lofted over five and a half feet to clear that fifty-foot gap; no such mechanism was present on that freeway. Such gaffs frequently pull me out of my suspension of disbelief.( They've worked on three films together and their banter makes it clear that these guys are friends.) I can't decide which commentary I enjoyed more, De Bont's technical discussion or this funny and informative dialog.

The last feature on the first disc is the THX Optimizer to set your system for this particular transfer. Yes, this is a THX approved DVD.

Disc two contains all kinds of goodies. The first item on the second disc's main menu is Action: Sequences; on that screen you'll find the first two featurettes: Bus Jump (9:36), and Metrorail Crash (6:16). These are comprehensive shorts that show us how two of the more impressive sequences from the film were filmed. Next is Multi-Stream Storyboards in which you can watch either the storyboards alone or at reduced size sharing the screen with the finished film sequence. There are five sections: Introduction, Bomb on Bus, Bus Jump, Metrorail Fight & Crash, and the unfilmed Baker Sequence, which features an optional audio commentary by director De Bont. Multi-Angle Stunts demonstrates just how much coverage De Bont filmed for expensive stunts. Up to eight cameras covered the Bus Jump, the Cargo Jet Explosion, Jack vs. Payne, and the Metrorail Crash. You may watch any of the cameras individually or all of them simultaneously.

The second submenu screen is Inside: Speed. The first of three featurettes on this page is On Location (7:22), which reveals some of the behind the scenes work. We see the configuration of several of the busses used in the shoot. De Bont's dynamic camera techniques become clear with ingenious mounts that permit linear or bouncing motion. Much of the short focuses on the director. Stunts (12:08) shows us how many of the gags were accomplished and confirms what we suspect, that Keanu Reeves did many of his own stunts. The stunt coordinator is given due credit, and we're privy to the emphasis on safety. Visual Effects (9:14) demonstrates which scenes are based on models, which are based on CGI, and how practical effects are enhanced. The complete text of the original screenplay is accessible from this submenu. If you're interested, be aware that this exploration will take you through 267 screens. The last text feature in this section is production design, which is interactive. When an icon is found on a text screen, selecting it will bring up a graphic, illustration, or photo to support the text. Use the navigation arrows or your remote directional keys to maneuver through the visuals.

The next section on the Main Menu is the Interview Archives where we find Keanu Reeves (5:56), Sandra Bullock (9:27), Jeff Daniels (6:48), Dennis Hopper (4:41), and Jan De Bont (4:22). Each interview is divided into several topics and, as you might expect, the story and the players' characters are discussed in detail. In the unlikely event that you haven't seen the film before, avoid these. Spoilers are revealed. We're unaware of it yet, but these are the source interviews that were edited into another supplement, an HBO Making-Of Special.

Next are five Extended Scenes. You may play them individually or sequentially. Included are Jack Shoots Payne in the Neck, Payne Lives / Cops Party, Annie's Job, After Helen's Death, and Ray's Crime. Had these scenes been left intact in the theatrical version, they would have harmed the film's taut pace; the scenes may be found where they belong - in the supplements.

The last feature on this submenu is the Image Gallery. The gallery is organized into eighteen separate sections in which there are dozens of images. This is the only feature on the second disc presented in anamorphic video; all the rest are in full screen or non-anamorphic widescreen.

The last submenu accessible from the main menu is Promo:tion [sic]. Here you'll find the Theatrical trailer, eleven TV spots, and the Press Kit / Production Notes spread over nearly twenty text screens. From the Promo:tion page you also have the choice of viewing the Speed music video by Billy Idol (4:40), an incomprehensible anachronism that seems terribly out of place as the closing credits roll. Finally, the disc's last featurette, HBO First Look: The Making of Speed (24:12), may be found here. Dennis Hopper hosts, bravely doing his best with some embarrassing lines, and excerpts from the interviews seen elsewhere on this disc are intercut with scenes from the film and a few behind the scenes sequences. This is a typical fluff piece that may be considered an extended trailer that tells you more than you should know.

Which leaves a clever little easter egg. A hidden icon may be found in the upper right corner of disc two's main menu. Selecting it will display the credits for the DVD on several screens, then select the bus icon on the last text screen and you may never rent a pair of earphones for an in- flight movie again...

DVD-ROM Exclusives: What do you get when you pop the disc in your PC?

Oddly enough for a big Five-Star Collection release, Fox has not included any ROM extras at all.

Parting Thoughts