This is a favorite sub-genre of mine. I'm not talking about movies that have 1 or 2 great car chases in them (like THE FRENCH CONNECTION, BULLITT or THE SEVEN UPS). I'm talking about movies whose plots center around one big 90 to 120 minute car chase or series of chases.
Hear are the ones I really like (in no particular order):
* DIRTY MARY, CRAZY LARRY
* VANISHING POINT (the original, not the TV remake)
* DEATH RACE 2000
* SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT (the original ONLY)
* RACE WITH THE DEVIL
* WHITE LINE FEVER
Rule of thumb: if a car chase movie takes place in the south and has a character in it named either:
* Bubba
* Skeeter, or
* Booger
it is probably very good.
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I'm totally with you man. Car chase movies are one of the most underlooked and appreciated sub-genres of all time. It's a shame that people will miss out on such classics as the original Gone in Sixty Seconds, which was one dedicated guy (I think Halicki was his name?) pulling strings and putting everything he had into a movie. Seriously, the end of the movie is a 40 minute car chase. I'm not exaggerating, it's an actual 40 minute chase with tiny breaks of dialogue here and there. If you haven't seen it, go out and do so immediately. The only drawback of the movie is the porno-quality acting, but seriously, I'm not watching the movie for its acting.
I also liked Ronin, but I don't think it's a movie that centers completely around car chases. You've pretty much covered all the bases on car chase movies, though. I've heard of a movie called the Italian Job that supposedly has car chases in it, but I've yet to see it.
Nick
3 Words: The Blues Brothers.
3 Words: The Blues Brothers.
/me bows in homage
'Duel' is a really great 'horror' car chase film. I bet that's a small genre. I'm sure many of you have seen that, but for anyone who didnt know it was made by Spielberg in his early pre-Jaws days. I'm not certain but I think it was his first 'real' film.
'The Chase' with Charlie (or is it Charles now) Sheen is a film I seem to be alone in liking. I know there's loads of things about it that make people hate it, but I really enjoy it. Plus its got Henry Rollins, Flea and Anthony Kiedis in it.
Pete
'The Chase' with Charlie (or is it Charles now) Sheen is a film I seem to be alone in liking.
I actually like it, aswell. It's pretty lite fluff but fairly entertaining.
I am with you, "The Chase" was one of the most entertaining films Sheen has ever made.
How about The Last Chase, about Lee Majors making a run in the last working car in the country/world.
While THE LAST CHASE fits in the car chase films genre, it's a real stinker. Even the cheesy TV-star cool of Lee Majors can't save this one.
Other flicks that center around a car chase, or sometimes a road race:
CANNONBALL! (a David Carradine gem)
THE GUMBALL RALLY
SUGARLAND EXPRESS (another good Speilberg flick)
FAST CHARLIE THE MOONBEAM RIDER (a David Carradine stinker)
EAT MY DUST!
GRAND THEFT AUTO
I don't know whether it is because I can't take a car chase seriously, or because,
I take them too seriously but, I have seldom been impressed by dramatic car chase movies or car chase scenes. What I have been impressed by, is comedic car chase movies like Kramer's "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World" and "Scavenger Hunt." Both of which are--more or less--continuous car chases.
And both with all-star cast lists as long as your arm.
Here are some more movies, not car chase movies, that had comedic car chases that impressed me. "The Bank Dick," "Magical Mystery Tour," "Sullivan's Travels" and "Who's Minding the Mint."
Enjoy all the films.