Rules of the road? Where we're going we don't need rules of the road. Buckle up for automotive high jinks more irresponsible than a Kelsey Grammer-Paris Hilton-Billy Joel car pool.
1. Ronin- There's something about the streets of Paris that inspire thoughts of romance, art, and a total lack of respect for automotive safety. With streets so narrow they're nothing but self-righteous sidewalks and director John Frankenheimer's insistence on keeping the stunts real, Ronin is a top-notch white-knuckle ride. The best part? Even while narrowly avoiding getting his ass turned into foie gras at every neck-snapping turn, Robert De Niro still wears a cool-as-a-cucumber expression that could stop Andre the Giant in his tracks.
2. Bullitt- The last time you were chased through the streets of San Francisco, odds are you didn't look nearly as cool as Steve McQueen (of course, he wasn't being chased by a pissed-off tranny, but why split hairs?). This sequence made Bullitt and the Ford Mustang legendary. The hills of San Fran make awesome ramps for catching serious air, and McQueen shrugs off the need for green screen or even a cool electronica soundtrack. The Mustang's roaring engine is enough to let you know "it's on."
3. The Blues Brothers- "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses." "Hit it." So begins the most over-the-top car chase in movie history. By the time the dust settles, the entire Chicago police force is ensnared in about four different 2,346-car pileups (except for car No. 55—they're in a truck!). And the whole time, Jake and Elwood take the time to admire Chicago's cultural landmarks, like the Honorable Richard J. Daley Plaza. Yeah, that's where they've got that Picasso...
4. Terminator 2: Judgment Day- The debate rages: The smaller, more elusive Harley or the full-on power of an enormous Mack truck? Judging by how cool Arnie looks on his hog, it seems like a no-brainer. It's when the truck is driven off an overpass and barely pauses in its relentless pursuit that things get interesting. That's right, John Connor, keep looking back—that's a couple of tons of "fuck you" headed right your way.
5. The Matrix Reloaded- Sometimes, even a movie where so much goes wrong can do at least one thing very, very right. The chase along a freeway hopping with teleporting killer agents and heavily armed albinos is one for the books. And once Trinity trades in the Caddy for a Ducati, the books aren't sure they can handle it anymore. There's a reason for all the slo-mo—it's time to catch your breath. Oh man…she's not going against traffic, is she?
6. The Bourne Identity- The Italian Job remake can keep its neo-Mini Coopers and its Charlize Therons. Give Matt Damon's Jason Bourne a beat-up old-school Mini and an unknown German actress and he'll show you what he's made of. That little golf cart proves surprisingly versatile, cutting through alleys, and even going down a flight of stairs. Of course, respect must be given to Paul Oakenfold's "Ready Steady Go," which amps the experience up considerably.
7. Bad Boys II- "That one puckered up my butt hole." In a high-speed chase with Rastafarian gangsters, director Michael Bay throws everything—we mean everything—at Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. We're talking cars, bullets, boats…and all while Smith is tearing ass in a silver Ferrari. Bay may have his faults, but delivering adrenaline-fueled, high-speed action isn't one of them.
8. The French Connection- No high octane, turbo-charged supercars here, just Gene Hackman and a late-model 1970 Turd Coupe and a New York subway train. They don't make them like this anymore—and we mean both car chases and cars. Hackman manages to hit everything during the course of the chase and that hunk of metal still keeps chugging. Your Prius wouldn't have survived the first sideswipe.
9. Batman Begins- Batman is one of the few superheroes whose ride is almost as famous as he is (Fact: Green Lantern drives a secondhand Ford Taurus), but Batman Begins took the possibilities of the Batmobile to new (literal) heights. Driving a superpowered tank across city rooftops is impossible, you say? Hey, Gotham P.D., you might want to duck.
10. The Transporter- Frank Martin is the best there is at what he does. How do we know? Because he tells us. Well, he also shows us in the opening scene of The Transporter, when he chauffeurs a pack of bank robbers around the South of France in his sleek BMW. The police never stood a chance against a guy who takes into account the weight of his passengers when adjusting his tire pressure.