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Downtown 
"Welcome back, Billy Buck"
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 Posted - 11/13/2006 : 22:15:02
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What's the best car chase scene of all time? We're going to compare them all in a way that's totally UNfair: without regard for the eras in which they were made. The French Connection had one that was an incredible cinematic acheivement because it was so prototypical, which is why it's usually held up as the standard by which all others are compared. But since then, I think there have been some much better car chase scenes. And with that, I'm going to nominate:
Max Max 2: The Road Warrior
How long is it? 30 minutes? 45? It just keeps going, and never gets tiresome or repetitive. And the photography! Those fender-mounted cameras at high speeds are incredible. By the time it's finally over, the audience is exhausted but you hardly notice that effect as it's happening.
(Honorable Mention: Bullit. San Francisco is the perfect city for a "traditional" car chase scene) |
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Sean 
"Necrosphenisciform anthropophagist."
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Posted - 11/13/2006 : 23:31:03
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Bullitt would be the one that springs to mind. I saw it 25 years ago but still remember it.  |
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demonic 
"Cinemaniac"
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Posted - 11/14/2006 : 00:11:19
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French Connection is a great one, and even greater with the knowledge that the old lady Hackman nearly runs over under the bridge was a real old lady in the wrong place at the wrong time and not a stunt woman... utterly terrifying!
A really great car chase should make you wince and gasp, like a real high speed chase would. Most chase scenes in films are so glossy and carefully planned there's almost no palpable reality left. |
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silly 
"That rabbit's DYNAMITE."
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Posted - 11/14/2006 : 03:23:53
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For sheer amusement, I loved the mini coopers in the Italian Job. Made me want to own one!
Most inane: Pick a Herbie movie
I love Bullitt, and I love watching it for the era that it's stuck in. Did you see what the cops were wearing? And an airport without any security checks? And having to (gasp) use a pay phone to check in with your boss? I love everything about that movie.
Mad Max 2 was awesome, though, I'll give you that. And it's held up okay for being 25 years old, it isn't hard to imagine that people will be fighting over gasoline  |
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 11/14/2006 : 05:55:35
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The Italian Job!
(Pick which version you prefer. Both were great.) |
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GHcool
"Forever a curious character."
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Posted - 11/14/2006 : 06:33:37
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| I think my favorite car chase movie would probably be The Blues Brothers. Its funny, outrageous, and a lot of fun. Its also practically a non-stop car chase and has probably the most road carnage in movie history. |
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BaftaBaby 
"Always entranced by cinema."
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Posted - 11/14/2006 : 08:18:50
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quote:
Originally posted by GHcool
I think my favorite car chase movie would probably be The Blues Brothers. Its funny, outrageous, and a lot of fun. Its also practically a non-stop car chase and has probably the most road carnage in movie history.
As for "non-stop" there's Spielberg's Duel. The entire film is a chase. A different kind of chase, I'll grant you. But instead of speed thrills it offers real menace. 
And there's that even more existential chase in American Graffiti. That elusive white car. Life lessons 
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Gentleman Ghost
"Brevity: soul of wit."
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Posted - 11/14/2006 : 09:41:17
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I seem to recall a good car chase in Beverly Hills Cop. I think that's the one where Eddie Murphy is dangling out the back of a truck.
Also, you could potentially count Indy fleeing from the airstrip in Raiders of the Lost Ark. |
Edited by - Gentleman Ghost on 11/14/2006 09:42:27 |
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silly
"That rabbit's DYNAMITE."
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Posted - 11/14/2006 : 11:31:43
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quote:
Originally posted by GHcool
Its also practically a non-stop car chase and has probably the most road carnage in movie history.
I went to a BB screening where John Landis spoke, and somebody asked him about the car chase and how expensive it was to film. He said they only had about twenty cars and wrecked them over and over and over again - they had a 24/7 hour body shop putting them back together for the next scene.
At the very end, where the brothers get out of their car (I hope I'm not spoiling this, but if you haven't seen it go watch it) and turn around and it falls apart? John said the crew who set that up asked him how many pieces he wanted, and he said something like "thirty eight" (can't recall the number right now) and whatever it was, that's exactly how many pieces fell off.
I remember the movie being taken to task for being too expensive, and for years I thought it was the car chase scenes, but an interview with Akroyd set me straight - he said it was the massive number of extras they had on hand to finish the film. I can't imagine it being done any other way, but I guess if they were filming it now it would be about three people and the rest would be CGI.  |
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 11/14/2006 : 12:23:58
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quote:
Originally posted by silly
I remember the movie being taken to task for being too expensive, and for years I thought it was the car chase scenes, but an interview with Akroyd set me straight - he said it was the massive number of extras they had on hand to finish the film. I can't imagine it being done any other way, but I guess if they were filming it now it would be about three people and the rest would be CGI.
I knew one of the women who was an extra on that movie. She appears in the crowd both as the car enters the Civic Center and then again only seconds later when it crashes out of the other side of the Civic Center. Yes, there were loads of extras, but they worked very, very hard!
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Paddy C
"Does not compute! Lame!"
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Posted - 11/14/2006 : 13:15:45
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These days there are so many amazing set-piece car chases in movies that they tend to get overlooked! (Bad Boys 2 anyone?  )
Even though technically there are no cars chasing or being chased, I really liked the chase scene in 'Terminator 2', think it's one of the best sequences in one of my favourite actioners. Starts with the famous gun and roses scene, then Eddie Furlong hops on his scrambler, the evil terminator starts running after him on foot ( ), then grabs a juggernaut, and Arnie ends up saving the day on a harley doing that cool shotgun loading trick.. the music in that whole sequence is excellent as well.
Honourable mentions:
The pod race in 'The Phantom Menace' (again no real cars..  )
The getaway sequence in 'The Matrix Reloaded' on that stretch of freeway they built for the movie
'Ronin' |
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Whippersnapper. 
"A fourword thinking guy."
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Posted - 11/14/2006 : 14:09:12
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quote:
Originally posted by ChocolateLady
quote:
Originally posted by silly
I remember the movie being taken to task for being too expensive, and for years I thought it was the car chase scenes, but an interview with Akroyd set me straight - he said it was the massive number of extras they had on hand to finish the film. I can't imagine it being done any other way, but I guess if they were filming it now it would be about three people and the rest would be CGI.
I knew one of the women who was an extra on that movie. She appears in the crowd both as the car enters the Civic Center and then again only seconds later when it crashes out of the other side of the Civic Center. Yes, there were loads of extras, but they worked very, very hard!
Huh! We're not THAT gullible Chocky! 
How could she possibly have run around that fast?
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benj clews
"...."
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Posted - 11/14/2006 : 21:53:11
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For my money, it's between Ronin and The Bourne Supremacy.
Does C'etait un Rendezvous count, BTW? I've not seen it, but I hear great things about it. |
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thefoxboy
"Four your eyes only."
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Posted - 11/14/2006 : 22:05:42
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| I also liked the chase in Terminator 3. |
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Downtown
"Welcome back, Billy Buck"
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Posted - 11/14/2006 : 23:04:58
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quote:
Originally posted by benj clews
For my money, it's between Ronin and The Bourne Supremacy.
Does C'etait un Rendezvous count, BTW? I've not seen it, but I hear great things about it.
We're not debating what does and doesn't belong in an accolade. It counts if you say it counts! |
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Chris C
"Four words, never backwards."
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Posted - 11/14/2006 : 23:07:37
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Add "Bourne Identity" and "The Transporter" to the list. In no particular order my other favourites are:
Blues Brothers
Ronin
Italian Job (1st movie only)
Terminator 2
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Cinema's best car chases!
