These are car chase scenes that almost any gear head has seen in their lifetime. What's surprising about most Hollywood chase scenes is that most of them are overblown and overdone exercises in noise and nonsense. To be a real gear head car chase scene it has to include certain elements. The bare essentials of a great car chase scene include; actual physical cars, real car sounds, authentic action, and, most of all, the scene has to showcase what the character and car can do together.
One common theme throughout these scenes or sequences is the very limited use of Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI). Something most films should take note of. Films should use CGI sparingly rather than solely rely on it to sell your action. As viewers, we enjoy the authenticity of scenes far above that of CGI clutter and confusion.
Here is our collection of the must-watch gear head car chase scenes.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015); The Size and Scope
If you are a fan of big choreographed sequences and car chase scenes, you should be watching Mad Max: Fury Road. Directed by the same guy who directed Happy Feet (2006), George Miller outdid himself with this scene. Mad Max is as mad as ever in this epic car chase scene.
This scene encompasses a guy with a flame-throwing guitar and multiple types of vehicles; from 4x4s to coupes, to motorbikes to trucks. The trucks were heavily modified, like most vehicles in this film. Miller insisted on going big for Fury Road. Its scope and size are worthy of viewing to any film fan let alone any gear head. It leaves the hairs on your neck standing on end as you see the actors and stunt drivers race through a desert, all at once. The fact that the scene isn't made up of CGI is dumbfounding. Miller wanted it to be as authentic as possible, which is one of the reasons why it took so long to get greenlit and filmed.
The Dark Knight (2008); The Rawness
A relatively short for a car chase scene but it leaves a lasting impact on you. The sounds and action create a scene that keeps you intensely focused on what everyone is doing. The direction and quality of stunts aren’t that complex compared to that of the opening scene from The Dark Knight Rises (2012). However, the simplicity and rawness of the action define this scene as one of brilliant stunt coordination and stunning practical effects. A stable of most of Christopher Nolan films. Nolan uses practical effects whenever possible and only uses CGI when it cannot be done on the day. Something most other films should be doing whenever the budget allows for it, instead of using CGI as a catch-all.
On top of all that, we got to see another great iteration of the Batmobile on the silver screen.
The Bourne Supremacy (2004); The Brutality
The Bourne Trilogy films stand out amongst the many, many Hollywood action films as some of the very best. It has everything you need when you feel the need for an action film; a spy-thrilling story intertwined with great action sequences.
The Bourne Supremacy brought fans of car chases a new contender for the best car chases. Matt Damon's character, the aptly named Jason Bourne, produces one of the most brutal car chase sequences that stays in the memory long after viewing it. Bourne is faced with escaping in a Volga 3310 Taxi from an agent in a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon through the streets of Moscow. A true David versus Goliath story. The editing of the action that takes place keeps you intensely watching until the very bitter end.
Bullitt (1968); The Purists Wet-Dream
We couldn't conclude this list without mentioning the daddy of all car chase sequences. It is, of course, the car chase scene from Steve McQueen's Bullitt with the iconic 1968 Ford Mustang. If you're a fan of McQueen's, check out this fan's memorabilia collection.
McQueen races through the streets of San Franciso chasing down the bad guys in a 1968 Dodge Charger 440 Magnum - which is up for sale. McQueen made sure that the scene was as authentic as possible, he had to be seen driving it and catching air over the San-Fran hills. The sound design is a purists wet-dream, anything you hear is real; real V8 engine sounds and real tire screeches. To any gear head, the sound of a V8 engine on full boar is knee-wobblingly spine-tingling amazing. This scene is surely a must-watch if you at all interested in cars or action.