Speed 4K Blu-ray delivers stunning video and reference-quality audio in this exceptional Blu-ray release
L.A.P.D. SWAT team specialist is sent to defuse a bomb on a bus. But until he does, he and a passenger must keep the bus at more than 50 mph -- or the bomb will explode.
For more about Speed 4K and the Speed 4K Blu-ray release, see Speed 4K Blu-ray Review published by Martin Liebman on May 6, 2021 where this Blu-ray release scored 4.5 out of 5.
Disney has released the superb 1994 Jan De Bont Action film 'Speed' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/HDR video. The disc
includes the same DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack found on the 2008 Blu-ray. A smattering of extras that were not included on that 2008 disc are
included here.
Keanu Reeves and Jeff Daniels play bomb squad officers Jack Traven and Harry Temple.
As the movie begins, this duo is defusing a dangerous situation that has several
people trapped in an elevator; with the cables already blown, there's another bomb attached to the elevator's emergency brakes which are the only
thing between
them
and
death. The inventive pair mount a rescue operation and hunt down their suspect (Dennis Hopper), a
crazed
man with a grudge who plants the bomb on the elevator with the intention of extorting money
from the city. With the suspect
presumed dead in
an explosion, the city presents citations for valor to Traven the Temple, but Traven soon discovers
the
bomber
lives on and has planted yet another deadly device on a crowded city bus, one that innocent
passenger Annie (Sandra Bullock)
soon
finds herself driving. Thankfully, this speed-demon is on the bus because her license
has been revoked for, yes, speeding. Once the bus passes 50 miles per hour, the
bomb activates.
Should the vehicle drop below that speed, it will detonate. Traven must locate the bus, guide it
through nightmarish Los Angeles city traffic without slowing down, and with Temple's help over the phone disarm the bomb, locate his adversary,
and put an end to his
madness once and for all.
The included screenshots are sourced from the included 1080p Blu-ray disc which features new video rather than a recycling of the old Fox
disc.
Speed's 4K UHD presentation offers a good fundamental upgrade over the existing Blu-ray which is now over 13 years old. The 2160p/HDR
specification brings the movie to the screen in full command of its visual wares, boasting an impressively filmic veneer by way of a pleasantly natural
and consistent grain structure that's tighter
and more finessed than that found on the old 1080p release. The result is a picture that is fresh and clean, straight out of theaters, essentially,
looking
not a day older than its debut in 1994. Textural output is exemplary in support. Close-ups yield superb facial definition while, as applicable, views of
Howard Payne's burned and mangled hand show all of the gory prosthetic details for all they're worth. Inside the bus (and along its exterior, for that
matter), viewers will note all of the little examples of wear and tear on the floor or the seats and the larger structure as well as the various clothes
the passengers wear on the ride. It's all significantly sharper, more clear, more tightly defined, and more naturally occurring over the Blu-ray. The
image's
superiority is in evidence simply by watching and delighting in the resolution gains but on closer A-B comparison the differences are even more
obvious and approach drastic in many instances.
Color output is equally improved in every scene. The HDR spectrum is expressive even as the film begins in the lower light elevator shaft interiors
and
as some of the action shifts to the warmer and richer building interior areas. But the palette does its
best work outside, in the daylight, or inside the bus which is itself flooded with natural light. It is here where much of the movie takes place and there
are ample opportunities for the image to shine, albeit even as it's often confined to a single location. The sequence that begins around the 27-minute
mark where a bus explodes
and the game between Jack and Howard begins anew is a fine example of the HDR's impressive color punch. The fiery explosion that envelops the
bus is gloriously rendered on the UHD,
offering a full spectrum of deep, vivid colors that the Blu-ray cannot touch. But just the finer command of color depth, accuracy, and vividness are
enough in a general sense to delight. While the color timing doesn't yield truly dizzying color expressiveness -- contrast is a bit warm overall --
there's no
mistaking that Speed's color output has never been so accurate and finessed as it is here. Add in firmer, brighter, crisper whites (such as
Jack's t-shirt); superior black level depth (shadowy backgrounds inside the elevator shaft as the film begins); and freedom from any blatantly
obvious print flaws or encode flubs and this is Speed as audiences have never seen it before at home.
For this UHD release of Speed, it appears that Disney has simply repurposed the existing DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. For a
full review,
please click here.
Speed includes a slate of "new" extras, at least new to Blu-ray. They are all included on the 1080p Blu-ray disc. The UHD only offers the
legacy commentary tracks. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase. This release ships with a slipcover.
UHD:
Audio Commentary: Jan De Bont.
Audio Commentary: Graham Yost and Mark Gordon.
Blu-ray:
Audio Commentary: Jan De Bont.
Audio Commentary: Graham Yost and Mark Gordon.
NEW! Action Sequences: Bus Jump (480i, 9:38): An in-depth look at making one of the film's most memorable action shots.
NEW! Action Sequences: Metrorail Crash (480i, 6:18): As with the above supplement, this piece explores the intricate and delicate
processes involved in making the film's climactic action shot.
NEW! Inside Speed: On Location (480i, 7:21): Looking at the functions of many of the dozen buses used to make the film.
NEW! Inside Speed: Stunts (480i, 12:09): Building some of the most intense scenes that usually blend together human and
automotive elements.
NEW! Inside Speed: Visual Effects (480i, 9:14): Making key effects shots ranging from the opening title shots to the climactic
finale.
NEW! Inside Speed: HBO First Look: The Making of Speed (480i, 24:13): An all-encompassing feature that explores
story, characters, action, technical details behind the shoot, and more.
NEW! Extended Scenes (480i, 12:07 total runtime): Included are Jack Shoots Payne in the Neck, Payne Lives/Cops Party, Annie's
Job, After Helen's Death, Ray's Crime, and Cargo Jet Explosion: The Airline Version.
NEW! Trailers and TV Spots (1080p/480i, various runtimes): Included are Theatrical Trailer, Pop Quiz, Game, Get Ready, Go Faster,
This Weekend, Ultimate Rush, Review, Movie of the Year, Critics, and Rescue Me Review Alt.
Speed's UHD presentation is excellent. The 2160p/HDR video presentation couldn't be much better. The resolution boost yields a sublime filmic
feel and the HDR colors are bold and deep without altering essential tonal integrity. It's good stuff. There's no new audio, which may disappoint some,
but the existing lossless 5.1 track is superb. Disney has included a few extras that were not on the original Fox release. Highly recommended, and be
sure to check out the companion release SteelBook packaging variant.
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