Some of the Most Visually Stunning Movies

Dorian_Gray

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In light of some recent news, I've been doing some thinking and watching. I've picked several of my favorite "most visually STUNNING movies". It's not just the depth of detail these directors went to, it's also the beautiful storyline, and the symbolism that's present that most people that just watch once don't see. I put two of my favorites. I want to see what some of the community ranks as their favorites and some insight as to why.



1.) "The Fountain" - By Darren Arnofsky - Its story is as beautiful as the breathtaking visuals. It symbolizes the quintessential human fear: death, and what happens afterward. And it does so beautifully. The visuals of Xibalba that the character Izzy is studying are amazing. Even the score for this masterpiece is 1st class. Produced by Clint Mansell and the Chronos Quartet, you don't even have to watch the movie to feel the pain and anger that the characters are experiencing. You could never watch the movie and just listen to the soundtrack, and still be moved to tears.
Some ScreenCaps:
Hugh Jackman
The Tree of Life
Floating Candles In the Queen's Chambers


2.) "Sunshine" - By Danny Boyle - The visuals of the sun are awe inspiring. This movie gives new meaning to the phrase "God is in the Sunshine". Searle (the psyc officer on-board Icarus II) sums it up quite nicely. He says, "it's like showering in light" "it surrounds you, it fills you". Some reviews say the story gets sloppy near the end, but personally I think it's what the movie story has led up to. Also this movie has my favorite quote of all time... "At the end of time, a moment will come when just one man remains. Then the moment will pass. Man will be gone, and there will be nothing to show that we were ever here but stardust. Alas, man alone with god."
Some ScreenCaps:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/2665434423_8161a29f80_o.jpg
The Sun
In A Dream
My Wallpaper
 
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elgrande

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"2001: A Space Odyssey" is both a brilliant work of filmmaking and a tremendous piece of eye-candy. As usual, Kubrick seems to work out every little detail in every frame. As a story, it's very philosophical and may be a bit hard to follow for some, but if you pay attention, you will. Oh, and then there's the magnificent score.

"Requiem for a Dream", also by Darren Aronofsky, is a very visual picture. The very close close-ups and the blink-and-you'll-miss-it editing are great. Storytelling-wise, it's a very depressing, hard-hitting and bleak depiction of the effects of drug addiction. There are some masterful performances here, specially by Ellen Burstyn and Jennifer Connelly.

"Dick Tracy", by Warren Beatty is another great example of a visual film. The cinematography and set desing are so awesome, it's like another important part of the story.

"Boogie Nights" and "There Will Be Blood", both by Paul Thomas Anderson are visually-striking films, that also happen to be well-directed, well-written and well-acted.

There's a very particular visual language in everything Pedro Almodóvar has ever done. The very bright basic colors of the set pieces always stand out. Check out "Todo Sobre Mi Madre", "La Mala Educación" and "Volver" to see what I mean.

Guillermo del Toro and Tim Burton are also very visual directors as well. "El Laberinto del Fauno" and both "Hellboy" films by del Toro, and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", "Big Fish" and "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" by Burton come to mind. All very cool pics too.

You know, most people don't pay attention to that kind of thing. You go to film school or, you just like movies? For me, it's both :biggrin1:.
 
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Dorian_Gray

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You know, most people don't pay attention to that kind of thing. You go to film school or, you just like movies? For me, it's both :biggrin1:.

I just have a eye for detail, and very few movies make my cut. But I did take some film-making classes for about 2 semesters. I completely forgot about Guillermo del Toro and Tim Burton. They are both masterful film makers and out of the two Guillermo is probably my favorite, but they just don't make the storyline as deep as I like. I love it when I can watch a movie once and not understand a thing. It makes me ponder the meaning of the movie and what the director was trying to get across to his audience. The Fountain I've watched a couple dozen times and it still gets me sometimes. It's all in what YOU take from the film.
 
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scarletfury

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Blade Runner (1982, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford) - The visuals, the look, the feel, the focus of the film... all amazing. The cityscape shots and all the skyscrapers and monoliths in the film throughout are all breathtaking to look at.
 

Mem

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Pan's Labyrinth is one of my favorites. Visually Stunning and great story.
 

jason_els

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I'll give you a few and if you'd like more, just ask. They are presented in no particular order. I guarantee you each one is a masterpiece of cinematography in addition to being great films of exceptional quality:

The Last Emperor
Sunrise
Metropolis
The Scarlet Empress
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Blade Runner
Nosferatu
The Passion of Joan of Arc
Moulin Rouge
Hiroshima Mon Amour
Onibaba
The Lord of the Rings
Ran
Citizen Kane
Kwaidan
Barry Lyndon
(shot entirely without electrical lighting)
House of Flying Daggers
Days of Heaven
La Dolce Vita
Brazil
The Cremaster Cycle
Black Orpheus
(Cocteau)
The Year of Living Dangerously

Very extra special mention goes to Jean Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast. Be sure to watch it only at night for its magic is dispelled by daylight. Any Disney incarnation of this story is a complete rip-off. I don't think any black and white film, save for Sunrise, is this beautiful. Here's a clip from Beauty and the Beast, and here's a clip from Sunrise.
 
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Dorian_Gray

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I'll give you a few and if you'd like more, just ask. They are presented in no particular order. I guarantee you each one is a masterpiece of cinematography in addition to being great films of exceptional quality:

The Last Emperor
Sunrise
Metropolis
The Scarlet Empress
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Blade Runner
Nosferatu
The Passion of Joan of Arc
Moulin Rouge
Hiroshima Mon Amour
The Lord of the Rings
Ran
Citizen Kane
Kwaidan
Barry Lyndon
(shot entirely without electrical lighting)
House of Flying Daggers
Days of Heaven
La Dolce Vita
Brazil
The Cremaster Cycle
Black Orpheus
(Cocteau)
The Year of Living Dangerously

Very extra special mention goes to Jean Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast. Be sure to watch it only at night for its magic is dispelled by daylight. Any Disney incarnation of this story is a complete rip-off. I don't think any black and white film, save for Sunrise, is this beautiful. Here's a clip from Beauty and the Beast, and here's a clip from Sunrise.

House of Flying Daggers was a gorgeous movie. The colors were just amazing. I'll have to rent some of those you suggested.:smile: Thanks
 

b.c.

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I'll give you a few and if you'd like more, just ask. They are presented in no particular order. I guarantee you each one is a masterpiece of cinematography in addition to being great films of exceptional quality:

The Last Emperor
Sunrise
Metropolis
The Scarlet Empress
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Blade Runner
Nosferatu
The Passion of Joan of Arc
Moulin Rouge
Hiroshima Mon Amour
Onibaba
The Lord of the Rings
Ran
Citizen Kane
Kwaidan
Barry Lyndon (shot entirely without electrical lighting)
House of Flying Daggers
Days of Heaven
La Dolce Vita
Brazil
The Cremaster Cycle
Black Orpheus (Cocteau)
The Year of Living Dangerously

Very extra special mention goes to Jean Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast. Be sure to watch it only at night for its magic is dispelled by daylight. Any Disney incarnation of this story is a complete rip-off. I don't think any black and white film, save for Sunrise, is this beautiful. Here's a clip from Beauty and the Beast, and here's a clip from Sunrise.

I might be inclined to add Ying Xiong and Oliver Stone's Heaven and Earth right off the top of my head among others (that I'm too whipped right now to even try to think of).
 

Phil Ayesho

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Both Amelie and Barry Lyndon were GREAT pics...


Out of Africa

Fight Club

Forbidden Planet

Sense and Sensibility

The Sting

The Incredibles
 

naughty

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I love this thread. You all have mentioned a number of my personal favorites already. Here are some others I recommend:


Dr. Zhivago
Dreams -Akira Kurosawa
Marie Antoinette
Tess- Roman Polanski
What Dreams may come
Memoirs of a Geisha
Frida
Insects and Angels
Lust/Caution
Raise the Red Lantern
Farewell, My Concubine
Sleepy Hollow -Tim Burton
Far from the Madding Crowd -1967
Wuthering Heights- 1970
Pride and Prejudice- 2005
THe New World
Kundun
Orlando
Ryan's Daughter
Orfeo
The Old Gringo
My Family
Vanity Fair



I will list more as I think of them.
 
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