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Home > Blogs > Sir Critic on Cinema > Archives > 2006 > June > 08 > Entry
Pick the best movie cars and chases
With Pixar’s underrated Cars (that’s a hint, folks) coming out in theaters tomorrow, now seems like the ideal time to start our engines and pick the best movie cars and chases.
With so many great cinematic vehicles and pursuits to choose from, I can’t list them all without seriously straining my fingers or your eyes. So I’ve decided to narrow my choices down to the five best in each group.
BEST CARS
Aston Martin DBV, from Goldfinger: I don’t joke about my work, 007, and I don’t joke about the coolest car in movie history. It’s the first one that made me say “I gotta get me one of those!”
The Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me: The James Bond series has given us so many great cars, I had to double-dip here. I loved this car as much for how it looked as what it did. A car that turns into a mini-submarine would be great for a guy like me who can’t swim.
Herbie the Love Bug: Who wouldn’t love a cute little car that could drive itself? Not for nothing was this the top-grossing movie of 1969.
The DeLorean from Back to the Future: Even a DeLorean was cool with a flux capacitor.
The Batmobile from Batman Begins: I have to admit when I first saw pictures of the car, I thought it looked silly, but the movie made me realize that nothing says “get outta my way� like a Tumbler with big fricken’ tires.
And now, on to the best chases. For the chases, organized races do not count, hence the absence of the chariot race from Ben-Hur. Besides, it has no cars.
BEST CHASES
Raiders of the Lost Ark: Is there any side of that truck that Indy doesn’t end up on?
Bullitt: Steve McQueen and his Ford Mustang take a flying leap. Several, actually.
The French Connection: The most harrowing and realistic of all movie chases.
Toy Story: From a radio controlled car to a rocket to falling with style, this is the best chase animation has ever created.
The Matrix Reloaded: The movie as a whole may not be that great, but the freeway chase alone was worth the price of admission.
Now it’s your turn to put the pedal to the medal and burn up the comments with your choices. Have Fun, Fun, Fun till your daddy takes the T-Bird away.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: Lists
Comments
By SRCputt
June 11, 2006 10:25 PM | Link to this
My standard answer to the best chase scene I’ve ever seen is To Live and Die in LA. Another great LA chase scene is the motorcycle/truck chase in Terminator 2.By Kelle
June 11, 2006 7:05 AM | Link to this
I’m not a huge fan of the seemingly endless car chases in movies. A little chase goes a long way for me; however, my favorite would have to be the mini-Coopers in the Italian job. In the subway? That’s hot!By Derwood
June 11, 2006 12:00 AM | Link to this
Don’t forget the original Gone in 60 Seconds.. The whole movie was centered around the chase.. Also, a better movie, somewhat, was To Live and Die in LA.. That movie had a fantastic chase..By Doug
June 8, 2006 4:36 PM | Link to this
Where’s the car chase from “The Blues Brothers”? An RV full of rednecks, a thousand cop cars, Illinois Nazis thru the streets of Chicago? What could be better?By Dave
June 8, 2006 12:11 PM | Link to this
You have a very good list there, but for a Steve McQueen chase, his motorcycle ride in “The Great Escape” is the best.