Reviews (94)

What was so wrong with it?
My mother and I were the only two people in the theater the day that we saw Speed 2: Cruise Control. After watching the movie, I couldn't understand why so many people hated this movie. It was not a bad movie by any account, except for some discrepancies in the destruction of the cruise ship. The movie made me laugh while also giving me a dosage of suspense, thrills, and great special effects. Sandra Bullock is always a joy to watch on screen, giving each of her movies a comic, light and happy feel. The absence of Keanu Reeves is nothing to worry about, seeing as how he didn't really bring much adventure to the first movie either. Jason Patric delivers a terrific performance, and it is Willem Dafoe's character who is the epitome of insanity and hunger for revenge. I wouldn't really listen to a lot of what people had to say: this is a comical, thrill-ride movie that will have you laughing and holding your breath.

Fast Bus 2: Big Slow Ship
Speed 2: Cruise Control (1998)
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Jason Patric, Willem Dafoe
Directed By: Jan de Bont
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 121 minutes
___________________________________________________________

On One Hand...
"Thumps up!"
-Roger Ebert

...on the Other.
"A waterlogged sequel that'll soon be bottom-feeding with Beyond the Poseidon Adventure."
-Mike Clark, USA Today
___________________________________________________________

The Love Boat meets Air Force One

Speed 2: Cruise Control was one whacked-out movie. Throwing the thrilling dramatic elements of the first film overboard, all it has left is the action...and some dude called Jason Patric.

One sure thing that can be said about this movie is its special effects are fabulous. We're talking big money effects, including that oh-so-cool finale where the Seabourn Legend (the ship) crashes into a resort town.

___________________________________________________________

The Plot

Trouble continues to follow LA citizen Annie Porter when she and her new hubby (a stone-faced Jason Patric) book a tropical cruise on the Seabourn Legend cruise ship. A crazed computer hacker (Willem Dafoe) has taken over the ship and is setting on a course to destruction...to some sort of some tanker, I guess, that would've exploded (and ends up exploding anyway, but the ship is safe, of course). So, of course, Annie and her beau attempt (meaning they will of course succeed) to save the ship and its passengers.

__________________________________________________________

The Cast

Sandra Bullock as Annie Porter
(Speed, 28 Days, Two Weeks Notice)
Ms. Bullock, easily my favorite actress, gives a good, if not great, performance, in an iffy-at-best action movie. Speed was outstanding, and it's hard to live up to that, but Sandra OWNS this movie, pretty much.

Jason Patric as Officer Alex Shaw
(Your Friends and Neighbours, Sleepers, Narc)
For one, I have no idea who this actor is, he's new to me. And I'm not likely to see any more of his movies based on his performance in this movie. Instead of Keanu Reeve's more human performance as an LAPD cop in the first movie, Patric plays his Alex Shaw (also in the LAPD) as a traditional action hero, always stone-faced and heroic. In fact, Alex Shaw is not the most interesting character in the world. Well as long as Annie's happy...

Willem Dafoe as John Geiger
(The English Patient, eXistenZ, Spider-Man)
Dafoe takes over the psycho role, vacated (and beheaded) by Dennis Hopper in the first film. He's didn't seem evil (maybe crazy) but he is rather cool, and his plot to destroy the Seabourn Legend cruise ship was inspired. Willem Dafoe is a very talented man.

Another very good performance comes comes from deaf actress Christine Firkins, who plays a deaf teenager named Drew. This movie is notable for the fact that there's not only a deaf character, but the fact that they hired a deaf actress for the part.
___________________________________________________________

So, About the Special Effects...

The effects in this movie are very, very good (they better have been, considering its supposed $110-$150 million price tag). The ship is jaw-droppingly cool, as good as the titular vessel in Titanic...unlike that movie though, Speed 2 employed an actual cruise ship (the real Seabourn Legend) in some shots (most shots of it are computer graphics). The finale in the resort town was very, very neat (I talked about this part in the first part of this review).
___________________________________________________________

So What Did I Think?

Aside from the effects, this a pretty average action movie with pretty average performances. While nowhere near as good as the first Speed movie, this sequel is glossy, silly movie-night fun (even though it thinks its a seriously heavyweight action movie).

___________________________________________________________

not bad
ok, this sequel does not live up to the standards of the first but it is very enjoyable. Sure there can be the occasional stupid dialogue here and there, but only really by one person, Willem defoe, but he did an ok job but i didnt see it for him, i saw it for the action. The action sequences really picked up when daylight came. They are good but they should have cut them shorter a bit, only because i really wanted to feel the rush like in the first, but i love the ship running into the town and the boat blowing up in the end. I think this film would have been great if Keanu had accepted to come back and they should have kept the MA rating. sandra Bullock, good as usual, Jason Patrik, well they needed somebody to fill in and he did a good job. This film does not take itself too seriously, they made it for the fans, and i liked it, just enjoy it for what it is, a pretty decent sequel.

Speed 2 needs to slow down!
The original Speed was a different kind of movie (Who would have thought a movie that took place mainly on a bus would be so good?) that for one reason or another MANY people enjoyed. Speed 2 seems to be one of those "We liked the first one so we want a sequel!" Kind of movies, and it turned out to be pretty bad. Speed 2 actually makes a Disney sequel look GOOD.

The movie centers around our heroine Annie (her role reprised by Sandra Bullock) who is taking a driving test in the beginning of the movie to get her license back for (gasp!) speeding! She has just gotten herself out of a relationship with Jack (Who was in the first one) and is now with Alex (Jason Patric). When she finds out that Alex works for the same squad that Jack works for she isn't too happy with that.

Later Alex decides to take Annie on a cruise and when they do things start off fine and dandy until a mad bomber (William Dafoe) by the name of Geiger takes over the cruise ship trapping a few passengers on board.

Let's put this one thing aside, Keanu Reeves didn't show up in this film. Surprisingly enough this one thing is what starts the film slide into ruin. Jason Patric and Sandra Bullock don't really have a whole lot of chemistry. It isn't as well developed as it was in the first Speed movie. I'm sure that even if Keanu Reeves had appeared in this movie it wouldn't have saved it from becoming a mess anyhow.

William Dafoe doesn't make for the greatest villian either (who would've thought that five years later he'd be the Green Goblin in the blockbuster hit: Spider Man?). He has the potential to be a great mad bomber but somehow he misses what the bomber in the first movie had. That would be his lack of remorse and intelligence.

Speed 2 doesn't keep on the edge of your seat like the first movie did. Speed 2 is like a Disney Sequel, not good enough for the theater. Speed 2 I can honestly say was a bad movie. An under developed plot put along with some pretty under developed characters make this movie seem like garbage.

I don't recommend this movie to anyone who liked the first one. Those who enjoyed the first movie probably won't like this one.

Defiantly not as Good as the first
it was alright, but i can't say it was better or as good as the first. i strongly recommend watching the first, then watching the second. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Anybody seen Keanu? The action star of Speed opted outof this overbearing sequel, which finds costar Sandra Bullock in love withanother guy (Jason Patric) and in trouble aboard a cruise ship underthe control ofa mad extortionist (Willem Dafoe). Speed director Jan de Bontis back at the helm for part 2, but even he seems to have forgottenthat what made the first film work was the simplicity of its hook(the bomb, the bus that can'tdrive below 50 mph, the handful of sympathetic passengers, etc.).Speed 2 isall about hugeness: big ship, lots of places to get into trouble, and so on.Even with an eye-popping, endless finale of the vessel crashing into port (andcausing mondo destruction), there is nothing about this movie that is remotelyas involving as its predecessor. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (94)

What was so wrong with it?
My mother and I were the only two people in the theater the day that we saw Speed 2: Cruise Control. After watching the movie, I couldn't understand why so many people hated this movie. It was not a bad movie by any account, except for some discrepancies in the destruction of the cruise ship. The movie made me laugh while also giving me a dosage of suspense, thrills, and great special effects. Sandra Bullock is always a joy to watch on screen, giving each of her movies a comic, light and happy feel. The absence of Keanu Reeves is nothing to worry about, seeing as how he didn't really bring much adventure to the first movie either. Jason Patric delivers a terrific performance, and it is Willem Dafoe's character who is the epitome of insanity and hunger for revenge. I wouldn't really listen to a lot of what people had to say: this is a comical, thrill-ride movie that will have you laughing and holding your breath.

Fast Bus 2: Big Slow Ship
Speed 2: Cruise Control (1998)
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Jason Patric, Willem Dafoe
Directed By: Jan de Bont
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 121 minutes
___________________________________________________________

On One Hand...
"Thumps up!"
-Roger Ebert

...on the Other.
"A waterlogged sequel that'll soon be bottom-feeding with Beyond the Poseidon Adventure."
-Mike Clark, USA Today
___________________________________________________________

The Love Boat meets Air Force One

Speed 2: Cruise Control was one whacked-out movie. Throwing the thrilling dramatic elements of the first film overboard, all it has left is the action...and some dude called Jason Patric.

One sure thing that can be said about this movie is its special effects are fabulous. We're talking big money effects, including that oh-so-cool finale where the Seabourn Legend (the ship) crashes into a resort town.

___________________________________________________________

The Plot

Trouble continues to follow LA citizen Annie Porter when she and her new hubby (a stone-faced Jason Patric) book a tropical cruise on the Seabourn Legend cruise ship. A crazed computer hacker (Willem Dafoe) has taken over the ship and is setting on a course to destruction...to some sort of some tanker, I guess, that would've exploded (and ends up exploding anyway, but the ship is safe, of course). So, of course, Annie and her beau attempt (meaning they will of course succeed) to save the ship and its passengers.

__________________________________________________________

The Cast

Sandra Bullock as Annie Porter
(Speed, 28 Days, Two Weeks Notice)
Ms. Bullock, easily my favorite actress, gives a good, if not great, performance, in an iffy-at-best action movie. Speed was outstanding, and it's hard to live up to that, but Sandra OWNS this movie, pretty much.

Jason Patric as Officer Alex Shaw
(Your Friends and Neighbours, Sleepers, Narc)
For one, I have no idea who this actor is, he's new to me. And I'm not likely to see any more of his movies based on his performance in this movie. Instead of Keanu Reeve's more human performance as an LAPD cop in the first movie, Patric plays his Alex Shaw (also in the LAPD) as a traditional action hero, always stone-faced and heroic. In fact, Alex Shaw is not the most interesting character in the world. Well as long as Annie's happy...

Willem Dafoe as John Geiger
(The English Patient, eXistenZ, Spider-Man)
Dafoe takes over the psycho role, vacated (and beheaded) by Dennis Hopper in the first film. He's didn't seem evil (maybe crazy) but he is rather cool, and his plot to destroy the Seabourn Legend cruise ship was inspired. Willem Dafoe is a very talented man.

Another very good performance comes comes from deaf actress Christine Firkins, who plays a deaf teenager named Drew. This movie is notable for the fact that there's not only a deaf character, but the fact that they hired a deaf actress for the part.
___________________________________________________________

So, About the Special Effects...

The effects in this movie are very, very good (they better have been, considering its supposed $110-$150 million price tag). The ship is jaw-droppingly cool, as good as the titular vessel in Titanic...unlike that movie though, Speed 2 employed an actual cruise ship (the real Seabourn Legend) in some shots (most shots of it are computer graphics). The finale in the resort town was very, very neat (I talked about this part in the first part of this review).
___________________________________________________________

So What Did I Think?

Aside from the effects, this a pretty average action movie with pretty average performances. While nowhere near as good as the first Speed movie, this sequel is glossy, silly movie-night fun (even though it thinks its a seriously heavyweight action movie).

___________________________________________________________

not bad
ok, this sequel does not live up to the standards of the first but it is very enjoyable. Sure there can be the occasional stupid dialogue here and there, but only really by one person, Willem defoe, but he did an ok job but i didnt see it for him, i saw it for the action. The action sequences really picked up when daylight came. They are good but they should have cut them shorter a bit, only because i really wanted to feel the rush like in the first, but i love the ship running into the town and the boat blowing up in the end. I think this film would have been great if Keanu had accepted to come back and they should have kept the MA rating. sandra Bullock, good as usual, Jason Patrik, well they needed somebody to fill in and he did a good job. This film does not take itself too seriously, they made it for the fans, and i liked it, just enjoy it for what it is, a pretty decent sequel.

Speed 2 needs to slow down!
The original Speed was a different kind of movie (Who would have thought a movie that took place mainly on a bus would be so good?) that for one reason or another MANY people enjoyed. Speed 2 seems to be one of those "We liked the first one so we want a sequel!" Kind of movies, and it turned out to be pretty bad. Speed 2 actually makes a Disney sequel look GOOD.

The movie centers around our heroine Annie (her role reprised by Sandra Bullock) who is taking a driving test in the beginning of the movie to get her license back for (gasp!) speeding! She has just gotten herself out of a relationship with Jack (Who was in the first one) and is now with Alex (Jason Patric). When she finds out that Alex works for the same squad that Jack works for she isn't too happy with that.

Later Alex decides to take Annie on a cruise and when they do things start off fine and dandy until a mad bomber (William Dafoe) by the name of Geiger takes over the cruise ship trapping a few passengers on board.

Let's put this one thing aside, Keanu Reeves didn't show up in this film. Surprisingly enough this one thing is what starts the film slide into ruin. Jason Patric and Sandra Bullock don't really have a whole lot of chemistry. It isn't as well developed as it was in the first Speed movie. I'm sure that even if Keanu Reeves had appeared in this movie it wouldn't have saved it from becoming a mess anyhow.

William Dafoe doesn't make for the greatest villian either (who would've thought that five years later he'd be the Green Goblin in the blockbuster hit: Spider Man?). He has the potential to be a great mad bomber but somehow he misses what the bomber in the first movie had. That would be his lack of remorse and intelligence.

Speed 2 doesn't keep on the edge of your seat like the first movie did. Speed 2 is like a Disney Sequel, not good enough for the theater. Speed 2 I can honestly say was a bad movie. An under developed plot put along with some pretty under developed characters make this movie seem like garbage.

I don't recommend this movie to anyone who liked the first one. Those who enjoyed the first movie probably won't like this one.

Defiantly not as Good as the first
it was alright, but i can't say it was better or as good as the first. i strongly recommend watching the first, then watching the second. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The BEST!
Speed is my favorite Sandra Bullock movie. She is just...phenominal in it. And Keanu Reeves...what a hunk!!
The way they put this film together was great: the stunts, the action, the suspense and thrill of it all! Jan DeBont needs to get back together with Sandra to do another action movie. That would be cool!! I CANNOT think of another movie that is better that Speed! It's definitely #1 on my list.

Depends on which one you want!
Let's face it, Speed(5 stars) is a wonderful Action movie, problably the best Action movie of the year, but Speed 2(3 stars) doesn't live up to the original as well as I thought it would. The movie would be so much better if Keanu Reeves reprised his role as Jack Traven. Dennis Hopper was a great villian in the original.

Best Action of the 90's.
Despite what some may say, these two films offer an endless supply of edge-of-your-seat action, some of the most amazing stunts, and very good special effects. THE ACTION FILMS OF THE 90's!

What is it with the people?
Ok, let me guess ... You saw Speed and thought it was a great movie? Or at least you heard it was great movie. Well, it is - bet ya! And now you heard people talking - Speed 2 is a terrible movie, the winner of the golden raspberry (the worst movie of the year). So, why buy it, especially when it is a set?

Ok, let me set it straight. Speed 2 isn't a bad movie - it just isn't as good as Speed 1. The story of Speed 2 is dumb (as in every other action movie - take Eraser, or M:I-2), but it makes a nice background for the action and nobody ever goes to see an action-flick for the story. And if we are honest than even Speed 1 didn't have that much of a great story - it isn't so much better than the stroy of the second movie.

What counts is action, and you get plenty of it here. It's the same class of action as in Speed, with a different playground. You get even the cute Sandra Bullock and a cute Jason Patrick (instead of Keanu Reeves). In addition you get a little bit of romance, 'cause the character of Jason Patrick wants to marry the character of Sandra Bullock ...

Ok, so, are missing anything for an action movie? I am not! Just 'cause Speed was such a surprise and a overaverage action-flick, was everybody expecting the same from Speed 2 ... And it was impossible to fulfill, or at least it didn't work out. So in this packet, we have a great action movies on DVD (Speed = 5 stars) and an average action movie (Speed 2 = 4 stars). And 'cause it's just the two normal DVDs you can buy separately in one box, the rating is 4 stars! Buy it, if you love Sandra Bullock/Jason Patrick and if you love good action!!! ... Read more