artdoag-2 Reviews

Speed (1994)

The definitive action movie.

[3 January 2000]

Alrighty! Forget for a moment that practically every action movie made is going to have plot holes, paper-thin character development, corny points, and somewhat dry acting. Think back to the Lethal Weapon series, Die Hard, and other legendary flicks. You're not going to hear Shakesphearean dialogue or majestic cinematography as you did in The English Patient or Schindler's List. The drama genre is supposed to exhibit those aspects of filmmaking, not action.

Speed is the definitive action flick. The plot itself is innovative, just like the claustrophobic Die Hard and The Towering Inferno. Hostages On A Speeding Bus is a far from common idea. Jan De Bont carries out every facet of the movie with a deft touch. Although none of this is supposed to be believeable (numerous technical goofs, ridiculous premise for Howard Payne to hijack the bus notwithstanding), but as long as you can watch Speed for what it is worth, you will realize that it embodies everything a great action movie should.

I saw Speed for the first time the summer of 1994 and many dozens of times since. Keanu plays his role well, if a bit stiffly, but it works for the film. Dennis Hopper is the quintessential Bad Guy, the bad guy of all bad guys. And Sandra Bullock is the ultimate robo-babe. She was perfect for this breakthrough role.

There are a couple of things that I would have liked to have seen in more detail. Annie mentioned her enrollment in the University of Arizona, but it used only as a means for Howard Payne to call her a "wildcat". His elevator job scheme at the beginning seemed a bit hokey. The runaway train situation appeared hastily devised, and could have been done without.

Jan De Bont made a winner out of Speed.

The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (1999)

Great fun for kids and grownups alike

[2 January 2000]

I bought this movie for my friend's 2 year old son for Christmas, but I couldn't resist the urge to watch it myself. The story, characters, and songs were pretty cute, I must admit. The underlying message, that sharing is good, may seem juvenile in scope simply because it is a Sesame Street production and includes blue and red fuzzy monsters and talking turnips, but applies to everyone. Being a 21 year year old, I particularly liked the scene where Vanessa Williams emerged in a pretty provacative outfit made of trash (yeah!). Nevertheless, EIG contains a valuable theme that I wish more people would follow. Teletubbies and Pokemon have stomped their way into our culture, but are a mere fad, and the more reserved and prestigious Sesame Street has not lost a step. Oscar, Elmo, Big Bird, and Maria (woo-hoo!) will remain long after the Teles and Pokes have run their course. That's what makes SS so unique.

Blade Runner (1982)

An unappealing, but realistic view of the future.

[2 January 2000]

The opening sequence of Blade Runner still haunts me every time. The eye, gazed upon the skyline of a futuristic L.A., views erupting fireballs from factories, a hazy, clouded horizon, and structures of cathedral-like architecture. To me, this summarizes the idea of the film: a future where technology has gotten the best of us and our future is muddled with uncertainty. Perhaps we are approaching such a time when images like this will be commonplace.

I saw Blade Runner years ago on television, and I must have been nine or ten. It moved pretty slow, and I figured that because it had Harrison Ford in it, that I was in for a roller coaster ride. Not quite. I was asleep in minutes. However, in 1996 I read a captivating article about it in Entertainment Weekly, and I drove to the mall to get it. Since I love the widescreen format, I purchased that particular version. I pumped it in the VCR and was HYPNOTIZED. The very idea of technology going out of control, like creating artificial beings in our likeness to perform hazardous and undesirable tasks, and having it backfire in our faces was unique. A vision of American society, 37 years hence (from 1982, when the movie was created), with hovercars, architecture having evolved to unreasonable limits, androids working alongside humans, distant space colonies, videophones, with hairstyles, clothes, weapons, and television sets of the 20th century creates a strangely beautiful depiction of where we just might be headed. I apologize for the extremely long sentence! However, the sometimes dated special effects, corny looking cars, the stoic, robotic delivery of some dialogue ("It's too bad she won't live... but then again, who does?") notwithstanding, this all works in favor of the film. This is why Blade Runner is a noir-ish sci-fi film, like The Matrix and Demolition Man are, that not everyone will enjoy. Is it exciting to watch? Not neccesarily. Will you be glued to the chair, pulse pounding? Probably not. The underlying idea runs much deeper than the average future-based flick (like Freejack!) and correctly earns its cult status.

The soundtrack and score is entrancing, particularly the opening "eye" scene and the credits music. You can order it from any music store. It is typical of most Ridley Scott movies to incorporate a memorable, ear pleasing score, like Alien or Legend.

The stark, sad view of 2019, in all likelyhood, may not be what this century will digress into. But it makes a good film!