# Most beautiful movie ever made **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 21, 2001, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763 "2001-04-21T04:47:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2001, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763/21 "2001-04-22T00:05:43Z")
Maybe it was just the setting, and the pretty boy/J. Crew model actors and actresses, but I thought The Talented Mr. Ripley was just the most amazingly beautiful film. (I hope the Vb codes came out okay on this quote…) I’m with you, **ThisYearsGirl**. The locations were marvelous, and Jude Law certainly isn’t hard to look at. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2001, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763/22 "2001-04-22T00:06:55Z")
Sorry about that! Tried to paste/quote and it didn’t work. What am I doing wrong?? ---
**Author:** ![moggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@moggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moggy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2001, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763/23 "2001-04-22T00:30:55Z")
My vote is for Prospero’s Books, an artsy re-telling of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” starring Sir John Gielgud. It’s like a visual tapestry, there’s so much going on in each shot. Also Shakespeare in Love and Secret of Roan Inish.They’re both groovy. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2001, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763/24 "2001-04-22T06:02:19Z")
**Raise the Red Lanterns** - nobody else ever seems to have seen it when I bring it up, but it’s simply beautiful. I’ve seen quite a few by the same director, and he really seems to know how to work with color and sound. And I know hardly anybody has seen it, because it isn’t available in the US except by fansub, but the **Shojo Kakumei Utena** movie, which I think is really called **Adolescence Mokushiroku** , is the most stunning bit of animation I have ever seen. I believe it’s being released on DVD some time this year. It makes no sense even if you have seen the series, but oh my. Also **Lawrence of Arabia** ; until I saw this I’d never seen the desert shot this way. Lean showed the viewer so many different moods in it, with changes in scenery, lighting, all that. Simply amazing. I’m not sure how well the character of the Lawrence I knew from **Seven Pillars of Wisdom** came through, and the whole thing’s probably dreadfully politically incorrect these days (witness how poor Omar Sharif’s name always comes at the end of the list, and how he wasn’t even wanted at the American premiere) but I did love that desert. Like the man said, “It’s clean.” ---
**Author:** ![exchicagoan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/0ea827/32.png) [@exchicagoan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/exchicagoan)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2001, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763/25 "2001-04-22T06:18:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ITR champion \* > \*\*I’d suggest “The Night of the Hunter”. The landscpaes, lighting, and everything just give it a really scary feel. It shows that a lot of effort went into the sets, camera angles, and everything else. The movie is sort of designed to imitate a child’s nightmares, and it’s very effective. \*\* Excellent—contains the SINGLE most visually stunning scene EVER.-------UNDERWATER-shot. The very dead SHELLEY WINTERS sitting upright in a flyver. Eyes closed, blonde hair flowing upward. Total peace. STUNNING. However—my choice is EXCALIBER----A+ in every catagory. Costumes, lighting, CARMINA BURANA. Opening scene–“I’m impressed already!” ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2001, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763/26 "2001-04-22T09:53:05Z")
How to choose just one? I can’t, so, on the basis of sheer visual splendor: B & W: The Bicycle Thief Color: Lawrence of Arabaia, in 70mm on the big screeen. Nothing else even comes close. Color (home video): Pleasantville: The best use of color / black and white mixed in the same film ever. A River Runs Through It: A snoozefest, but gorgeous. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Dead\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecb155/32.png) [@Living\_Dead\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Dead_Girl)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2001, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763/27 "2001-04-22T11:11:04Z")
Well, I’m going to go with the obvious and say American Beauty - just the bag blowing in the wind scene is enough for it to qualify, IMO. Beautiful film. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2001, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763/28 "2001-04-22T16:20:55Z")
Many of the movies in my top 10 have been mentioned, but this one hasn’t: Julie Taymor’s _Titus_ (1999) - she is stunningly imaginative. I never cared for the play until I saw this filmed version. ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2001, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763/29 "2001-04-23T01:18:57Z")
Third hand for **City of Lost Children**. **The Thin Red Line** also gets my vote. ---
**Author:** ![Studi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Studi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Studi)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2001, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763/30 "2001-04-23T03:33:44Z")
**Titus** Studi ---
**Author:** ![strangecurrencies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@strangecurrencies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/strangecurrencies)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2001, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763/31 "2001-04-23T04:01:08Z")
Miller’s Crossing is one, to me. I think this movie is the Coen bros. finest hour, it is tied among three for my favorite movie ever. I have never understood why this film was so underated. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2001, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763/32 "2001-04-23T13:03:39Z")
“Sunrise” (1927). The height, the pinnacle, of silent-film cinematography. ---
**Author:** ![WIGGUM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WIGGUM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WIGGUM)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2001, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763/33 "2001-04-23T14:27:27Z")
_Legend_ starring Tom Cruise is my favorite movie as far as visuals go. The cinematography is incredible. I have never seen a fantasy world reproduced on the big screen that was its equal. The score is fabulous as well. Written by Tangerine Dream with vocals by Jon Anderson of _Yes_, it adds incredible depth to the visuals. The storyline is cool too. Tim Curry’s portayal of “Darkness” gives me goosebumps, and Mia Sara is just plain yummy. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2001, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763/34 "2001-04-23T15:43:53Z")
Throwing my hat into the ring with “The Last Emperor.” ---
**Author:** ![moi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@moi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moi)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2001, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763/35 "2001-04-23T15:54:24Z")
Um, since this hasn’t been said yet, **Slithy Tove** , your OP is beautiful in and of itself. Really. Interesting and well-written. _blushing_ Hope you don’t mind if I seek out the first thread you started and search out what other interesting stuff you’ve been saying. 🙂 I’ve been listening to three soundtracks this morning ( **Fight Club** , **Death & the Maiden** and **Blue Velvet** ), the latter of which definitely strikes me as a “beautiful” movie, albeit with disturbing content. D&TM might also qualify, but I’d have to give it another see to say that with any strength. My thoughts also go to **My Own Private Idaho** and **The Dreamlife of Angels**. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2001, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763/36 "2001-04-23T15:57:56Z")
Triumph of the Will Olympia ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2001, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763/37 "2001-04-23T16:06:25Z")
I have to say that **Grok** has the most appropriate double-post I’ve ever seen. I wanted to mention **Life is Beautiful** , but he beat me to it. I also wanted to mention **A River Runs Through It** , but **Number Six** beat me to that. I guess all that’s left for me to say is: **To Kill a Mockingbird**. The opening sequence with the items in the cigar box perfectly conveys the innocence of youth needed to view the movie through. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2001, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763/38 "2001-04-23T16:41:41Z")
[ul][li] **Giant** - Great story, beautifully filmed.[/li][li] **Gone With the Wind** - Can’t believe no one’s mentioned this one yet.[/li][li] **Lolita** - (The recent version.) Regardless of what you may think of the movie, the cinematography was stunningly beautiful.[/li][li] **The Shining** - Since I snubbed Kubrick’s Lolita, I’ll give him a nod for this film. Beautifully filmed (in a horrifying way…)[/li][li] **The English Patient** (I can hear the groans…) The movie _was_ too long, but again, it was beautifully filmed. The shots of the cave paintings, the scene in the old church, many more shots beautifully done.[/ul][/li] I’ll second the mentions of **Lawrence of Arabia** and **Star Wars**. Both stunning on the big screen. And by the way, **Slithy Tove** , the Fulton County Library System (in Atlanta) has a large collection of fine videos. We just don’t hand 'em out to obnoxious Yankees who make fun of our accents. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-movie-ever-made/62763.md?page=1)