Top 16 awesome movie chases

I probably would've put the chase from Batman Begins in, it's just about the only action sequence in the film where you can make out what's going on, plus it's a race against time, not just the police. And time, as we all know, waits for no (bat)man.

I thought about including the chase from Matrix Reloaded (which I enjoy), but to me, it doesn't have the same impact as most of these do. The reason for that the Wachowski's rely a bit too much on CGI, and it never feels quite as tense as something like To Live and Die in L.A. or Death Proof, in which real people are in danger (controlled danger, but still...).

Granted, the bit with Trinity on the motorcycle is an exception, and while the whole thing is pretty great, it just doesn't have the same weight (in my opinion) as the ones I included.

Also, that would have left me with 17 entries, and my OCD would not stand for an odd numbered list.

Edited at 10:55 on 25/11/10

And MediaOracle used them correctly too...

Edited at 09:42 on 25/11/10

Side note to MediaOracle: I have to respect someone who writes film titles in italics. That's dedication to punctuation and grammar you don't get anywhere else. Kudos.

Edit: shit.

Edited at 11:10 on 25/11/10

There are some great choices on this list - props for Blade Runner and The Third Man in particular. It's not all about a adrenaline fuelled ramp stunts, y'know.

Having said that, I might have included the car chase from Matrix Reloaded - whereas some movie have cars specifically just for crashing, the Wachowski Brothers built a whole fucking section of a highway for their chase! I'd give them a place on the list just for effort.

My mistake -- I haven't seen Vanishing Point. Duel is a tense chase movie, but I don't think I would call it very action packed. Felt more psychological to me.

Well, the same could be said for Vanishing Point, but I included that one.

The main reason I didn't include Duel is because I've not seen it. Or at least, if I have seen it, it was a long time ago, and I don't really remember it. Anyway, I'm sure there were lots of great choices that didn't make the cut, but these were the ones I was most fond of.

Also, for some added fun, you can plug any of these videos into the Benny Hillifier, and then watch the hilarity ensue. For example:

http://bennyhillifier.com/?id=01du2W6VJis&feature=player_embedded

surprised to not see "Duel" here though

Doesn't it make a difference, tho, that in that movie, the chase was the entire movie -- whereas these were just parts of the movies?

Kudos for "Vanishing Point", surprised to not see "Duel" here though.
Always going to be one or two that don't get included. Completely agree with French Connection at number 1, I love that film.
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