Motoring Movie Mania

[andy400]

I'm on a mission to see as many of the motoring movie greats as possible over the next few weeks. I, have of course, done the more obvious ones (Cannonball / Gumball / Smokey / Convoy) and last night had a back to back Le Mans and Vanishing Point session. Input please - what else should be on the list?

[andy400]

Of course, Mad Max, how could I forget those? Done them all, of course, but not for a while so they're definitely on the list.

[John_S4x4]

My recomendation for a good car chase film is Shaker Run. It is also filmed in New Zealand, and is very 80's, with cheasey acting and bad plot (Woman scientist hires two stunt drivers to unknowingly transport some BIO WMD). The only 'good' bits are the car chases and car jumps (including jumping out of a car ferry, at sea), especialy when the baddy crashes his car, whilst chasing the good guys, right outside a 80's Ford Dealership. So he nicks the Zakspeed Ford Capri from the display, as you do and continues the chase in the Zakspeed Capri. Pure class , but totaly bad film, all at the same time. Here's a nice review of it here

www.geocities.com/paladin_s98/shaker.html

I have also seen Black Moon Rising, starring Tommy Lee Jones. See here

www.sd455.com/movieblackmoonrising.htm

and the Green Helmet starring Sid James

www.sd455.com/moviegreenhelmet.htm

Anybody else seen these ?

I would rate RONIN and BOURNE IDENTITY/SUPREMACY films.

I have heard the following are worth a look although I wouldn't call tham classics :-
a film about NASCAR legend Junior Johnson called "The Last American Hero" and also "To Live and Die in LA"
I have also heard about "Fear is The Key". Another B movie classic, from what I have heard.Speedtrap. The great Joe Don Baker chases 100 stolen cars around Cali. Jensen intercepter is abused and destroyed. Excellent. Gone in 60 seconds. the original . A hopeless film, but perhaps the most beautiful destruction sequence of all time in the unkillable Mustang.The Car. Demon Lincoln kills teenagers. Fantastic. Corvette Summer. Oh dear, Mark Hamill alert. Etc etc

Basicaly, take a look here www.sd455.com/movie.htm
and let us know what you think of them. By the looks of things, you have already seen the best and most well known films, I suspect quite alot of the films you will now see, for car chases, will have hammy acting and low budgets.

Regards John S
]

>> Edited by John_S4x4 on Saturday 19th February 09:09

[lazyitus]

Days of Thunder

[v8thunder]

Bad '80s car chase films always have some shots that make you think 'cool - pity no-one's got the guts to do that any more' about them. These are, by default:

-A huge Cadillac doing a U-turn in a deserted, neon-lit street.
-Low angle shots of a gang of muscle cars, all revving into life, switching their headlights on and screaming off.
-Car chases at night. Haven't seen one for ages.
-Car chases where nothing actually explodes/gets smashed to pieces, and due to good driving the 'hero' always manages to keep his car spotless.
-The good guys actually having a good car. In today's anti-car world, we always seem to give the villain the best car as a sop to the 'evil capitalist' image, and always feature gratuitous shots of it exploding in slow-motion at some point.

[The Wiz]

Next Friday Vanishing Point in on ITV late.