‘Speed’

On the evidence of this invigorating 1994 blockbuster, veteran cinematographer Jan De Bont, in his helming debut, has what it takes to be an action director. Although it has some standard characterizations, uninspired dialogue and an overall derivativeness, “Speed” moves too fast for any of that to matter much. Where pure action is concerned, De Bont and his team turn out visually sophisticated mayhem that makes the implausible plausible and keeps the thrills coming. In this story of a mad bomber vs. the LAPD’s stalwart SWAT team, a diabolical Dennis Hopper has rigged up a deadly explosive device that will detonate if a runaway bus on a crowded freeway is allowed to go under 50 mph. It’s quite a dilemma for leap-before-you-look hero Keanu Reeves and his SWAT team pals--not to mention passenger Sandra Bullock, who ends up at the steering wheel (HBO Tuesday at 8 p.m., Wednesday at 3:55 a.m.).