MOVIES: Best Car Chase Scenes From the Movies
Since the movie and car industries essentially grew up together there has always been a fundamental link between them. Directors quickly realised that by combining their elements they could create scenes of absolute style, or climactic and epic chase situations which appealed to men everywhere – as they watched their tough as nails heroes defying the odds by pushing beautiful cars to the limits through crowded city streets.
The classics have been recorded and re-recorded on many occasions so I’ve decided to look at more recent films which have been able to make use of impressive advancements in camera and stunt technology to produce some heart pounding moments which we’ll never forget.
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
That SUV doesn't even know what is about to happen to it.
With the creepy martial arts twins hitting the highway in a sleek black Cadillac Escalade EXT in hot pursuit of the rebel lieutenant Trinity and her cohorts, making top speed in a silver coupe, it seemed that the action was going to be impressive. Little did anyone know that they were about to bare witness to car chase history, as Trinity boarded a transport truck and hijacked a ridiculously stunning black Ducati 996 and proceeded to race into oncoming traffic.
With mercenary programs, machine AI’s and local police forces chasing and firing at her, she proceeded to dodge bullets, cars and leaping agents. The scene left no room for modern contenders as it climaxed with Morpheus slicing through the Cadillac’s tires with a katana and then fighting off an agent atop a truck amidst a slow motion explosion.
The Bourne Identity (2002)
Cars aren't supposed to go down stairs.
When Matt Damon took on the persona of amnesiac CIA assassin Jason Bourne we all knew that we were in for something special, which might give 007 a run for his money. While Bourne has a greater capacity for ‘wetwork’, we didn’t realise that he could compete with Bond until he was forced to pit a vintage Austin Mini Cooper against the local police authorities of Paris. With only a tiny Mini as an asset he proceeded to take on the entire city by making use of its diminutive stature and performing crazy stunts like descending stairs at high speed. Through the hair raising twists and bends Borne managed to lose or destroy most of his pursuers, culminating in the final officer being derailed due to a collision with a Peugeot 405.
Return of the Jedi (1983)
Watch out for that tree!
One of the most classic of references here, this scene was a major win for Lucas Arts as Luke and Leia battled or sought to escape imperial troopers. Considering the break neck pace that these speeder bikes cruise at it’s hard to imagine how anyone who doesn’t have ‘Jedi reflexes’ could manage, but the troopers did a fine job as they pursued the fleeing princess through the densely packed forest floor of Endor. With blaster bolts firing and massive trees blurring past continuously, every viewer was on the edge of their seat awaiting the inevitable bone crushing impact of Stormtrooper on pine tree.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Nice bike kid.
This is, without doubt, one of the most amazing car chase scenes of all time. Take the masculine Harley Davidson motorcycle complete with a robotic Arnold Schwarzenegger and a shotgun VS the imposing liquid T-1000 Terminator and an equally imposing big-rig truck. Put these elements in a tiny canal and what you have is a hair raising, blood pumping chase scene that had every man jumping up and down in anticipation and every woman staring wide eyed in distress.
As the massive truck slams through concrete, our hero sails his bike into the canal and snatches his ward from his bike at full acceleration – all the while firing his rotary-cocked shotgun at the mammoth chasing them. The scene climaxes with the truck exploding and the intimidating T-1000 walking through the flames in his liquid metal form.
Warren Kings writes on many different topics. Take a look at his latest articles on safety equipment online and speed bumps.
