You know what’s stupid? A list of the greatest car chases in film history that doesn’t include Goldfinger. Seriously! The Times chose Quantum of Solace, with its crazy-cut editing and impossibility of figuring out who is chasing whom at any given moment, to represent Bond films on this list.
Look, if you know films, when you see the headline “Greatest Car Chases” there are things that you know. You know that The French Connection will be up there, and may be number one. (And rightly so.) You expect to see Bullitt and the original Italian Job. This list has all three. And you expect to see Goldfinger. You always see Goldfinger. It’s downright contrarian to omit it, especially in favor of Quantum of Solace.
I do believe that, when I update my book to include QOS, this car chase will be on the “Worst” list, because the squandered potential is so enormous. Great cars, great location, skillful driving stunts, and you can’t see a damn thing.
By the way, if you love comedic car chases, you should definitely check out What’s Up Doc?, a very funny update of the screwball comedy for the seventies, which does a take-off on the Bullitt chase that is delightful in its own right.
4 users commented in " Great Car Chases "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI agree ,QOS had a good car chase,just could not see it,,the only bond chase I did’nt care for was DAF,the Mustang chase through Vagas was to choreographed….
I think the reason(s) behind this choice as best Bond-car chase are:
1 Times probably thought the they had 2 choose QOS because that one still in cinema’s so people could go there. (maybe the even got paid for it but because its the Times i doubt it).
2 They thought they had too choose a recent Bond film because the think the old ones are less well known now, wich is ofcourse ridiculous. If theres any old bond film people still recall its Goldfinger.
And if you have to choose a recent bond car chase, take Bond-Xenia or the Tank in St Peterburg from Goldenye, the car park from TND or the chase on ice from DAD. (TWINE had no real car chase but a very good speedboat chase, the Chase in CR is no real car chase, bond drives behind Le Chiffre and the only notable thing is he makes a awesome 7 turn around crash to avoid Vesper, come to think of that one is at least not confused.
I liked QOS, not as good as CR but a 7 or 8 from 10 are in place. Thursday im going to see QOS for a 2nd time too decide if its a 7 or 8.
From Holland With Love
Flapflop
Ive seen QOS four times,it does get better..
I am *SO* glad you mentioned “Whats Up Doc”… simply one of the funniest movie ever made. I mean, it even made Ryan O’Neal likable. WOWIE! And yeah, that car chase was magnificent… that shot of them twisting down Lombard Street was simply iconic.
Madeline Kahn… *sighs*… was there anything she WASN’T fantastic in?
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