A movie chase scene is a quintessential part of any good action film. An action film without one is like a 'Rocky' film without a montage.
When one thinks of a chase scene, images of a porkpie-hat-wearing 'Popeye' Doyle, speeding through the streets of New York, automatically spring to mind. However, some spectacular chase scenes have occurred in a whole host of other modes of transport, including speedboats, juggernaut lorries and even tanks.
Here is my top ten list of what I regard as the best movie chase scenes of all time.
10. Face/off (1997) Directed by John Woo
John Woo is a director who can always be relied upon to think outside the box. This 1997 effort starring John Travolta as a straight-arrow F.B.I detective bent on revenge against Nicholas Cage, a murderous maniac who killed Travolta's son sees one of the few water-borne chase scenes in film history.
In the tumultuous climatic scenes, Travolta, who now has Cage's face, (and vice versa, due to an undercover mission gone awry; hence the title) flees in a super-powered speedboat, hotly pursued by Cage. John Woo utilises exciting slow-motion scenes to great effect in his trademark style, as if the boats are competing in a deadly ballet.
Put simply, this chase scene deserves a mention as it tries to break away from the clich-ridden car versus car battle we have all come to expect in films these days.
9. Golden Eye (1995) Directed by Martin Campbell
The first of the 'Bond's' starring Pierce Brosnan, and regarded by many as his best features an exhilarating chase scene using a practically unstoppable vehicle. Being Bond, an MI6 double 'O' agent, Brosnan can apparently turn his hand to anything and seemingly pilot any vehicle to hand. When Natayla Simonova (Izabella Scorupco) the obligatory Bond-girl is captured, Bond steals a stationary T-80 Russian main battle tank to give chase.
Cue mayhem and destruction as Bond cuts a devastating swathe through the crowded streets of St Petersburg, even ending up with a giant statue of Peter the Great on top of his tank at one point. It was rumoured that the Russian army lent their best stunt driver to film the scene, and this is certainly plausible as the tank makes 'handbrake' turns and 180 degree 'J'- turns with pin-point precision in this nail-biting chase scene.
8. Matrix Reloaded (2003) Directed by A. Wachowski & L. Wachowski.
Despite being a poor film overall, and a bit of a let down considering the ground-breaking original, Matrix Reloaded makes the list due to the supreme special effects used in the filming. The most noteworthy element of the chase scene is actually the road itself, as the largest purpose-built road surface in film history was constructed for the chase scene finale. A one-off one-mile stretch of freeway was built at a cost of millions of dollars to film the seventeen-minute scene (also the longest in cinema history).
7.Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) Directed by James Cameron
Now a classic, Terminator 2 warrants a mention for placing the viewer in the terrifying position of just what do you do you do if your assailant is invulnerable? Schwarzenegger reprises his role as the Terminator T-800 series, this time reprogrammed to protect. He now faces a seemingly indestructible shape changing T-1000 model played by Robert Patrick.
Several exciting chase sequences include the T-1000 chasing the hard-pressed Arnie in a Juggernaut lorry, a helicopter and even on foot.
6. Bourne Supremacy (2004) Directed by Paul Greengrass
There are very few films these days that make me say 'wow' out loud at the end of a car chase scene, but this is exactly what I did after seeing the chase through the streets of Moscow in the Bourne Supremacy.
The big screen incarnation of Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne, on the run from the mysterious group of assassins who want him dead, flees for his life in an old dilapidated taxi against a hoard of faster BMW's and his opposite number in a four-wheel drive. With similarities to Ronin, in the scope and execution of the action sequences, the feel is a very European one, which is no surprise as Greengrass is English. The scene highlights perfectly that the star doesn't always have to have a top-of-the-range vehicle to evade his pursuers; an expert driver in a beat up car can do just as well.
The chase scene itself is done masterfully well and the viewer feels every impact as the cars crash into each other. Speed is conveyed extremely well, which also adds a sense of realism and excitement.
5. Last of the Mohicans (1992) Directed by Michael Mann
One for the pedestrians and lovers of the wilderness of eighteenth-century Canada, Last of Mohicans makes the list as it culminates with the best 'on-foot' chase scene I have ever seen.
Chingachgook, the eponymous Last of the Mohicans tears along a narrow mountain pass, on the verge of a thousand foot drop to avenge the death of his son, Uncus. Driven mad by grief he cuts his way though the array of bodyguards of Magua, the Mohawk Indian responsible for his son's demise, closely followed by his adopted son Hawkeye.
As a viewer one urges on Chingachgook in his quest, having shared the trials and tribulations over the previous hour and a half or so up until this point. This is a testament to the script, [adapted as screenplay from the novel by James Fenimore Cooper (no mean task)], the direction and the acting, as in this short time you feel attached to the characters and share in their will for revenge.
4. Ronin (1998) Directed by John Frankenheimer
Ronin harks back to the old-fashioned chase scenes crafted by stunt drivers like Remy Julienne, before the advent of special effects. Frankenheimer used real stunt drivers to convey a break-neck, high-speed chase through the narrow streets and winding country roads of Nice and Arles in Southern France and a climactic final chase through the streets of Paris. A film for real 'petrol heads', a then state-of-the-art Audi S8 is pitted against several contemporary Citroens and other high-specification models, as well as BMW's and Peugeot's.
Ronin deserves its high place in the list, as it is effectively one long car chase scene interspersed with a plot to capture a briefcase.
3. Taxi (1998) Directed by Gerard Pires
Set in the picturesque city of Marseille, 'Taxi', centres around the mundane life of an aspiring racing driver and current pizza delivery boy, Daniel' (Samy Naceri) who becomes a taxi driver. Slapstick comedy chases and high-octane thrills are set around a plot where Daniel must fulfil his promise to track down a set of bank robbers, in return for his speeding fines being quashed.
With no special effects involved whatsoever, the action is exhilarating and non-stop.
2. The French Connection (1971) Directed by William Friedkin
A tale of the murky underworld of International drug dealing and the human collateral damage that ensues, 'The French Connection', centres on Detective Doyle (Gene Hackman), a New York Police Officer and his efforts to intercept a heroin shipment from Marseille.
Doyle quickly becomes aware that some powerful people are heading the international connection, and he subsequently is captured and drugged before escaping. After surviving an assassination attempt by a sniper, Doyle sees the suspect fleeing on an elevated train. Commandeering a Pontiac Lemans, he speeds through the streets, infamously nearly killing a woman and her baby, in pursuit.
It deserves a number two slot, as it was a head of its time in terms of realism and sheer excitement.
1. Bullit (1968) Directed by Peter Yates
Bullit features the most referenced chase scene in film history. The chase scene is a clash between two iconic American automotive legends, the Ford Mustang and the Dodge Charger. A straightforward good guy versus bad guy scenario, the film is heavily stylised around Steve McQueen at the height of his popularity as the 'King of Cool' where Frank Bullit (McQueen) must chase two mafia hit men over the hills of San Francisco. The use of the aggressive somewhat unrefined raw power of the Dodge, driven by the hoods, is cleverly juxtaposed with the refined, subtler Mustang driven by McQueen.
The film deserves it number one spot as it unashamedly makes the car the star of the chase scene. Considering it was shot in 1968, it uses a highly sophisticated camera point of view as if the viewer were on board in the rear seat, making the scene truly breathtaking in parts.
At first it may seem difficult to think of ten chase scenes, let alone the top ten best in cinema history, but once you start you'll find there are so many it is hard to narrow down the list. Everyone will have a different interpretation of a good chase scene, but the unanimous consensus seems to be that the 'King of Cool' takes the top spot.