# Recommend some visually stunning movies (in whatever way). **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 15, 2003, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237 "2003-02-15T06:38:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![prisoner6655321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@prisoner6655321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prisoner6655321)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/61 "2003-02-18T18:58:11Z")
**2001: A Space Odyssey**. Arguably the most beautiful movie ever made. **All other Kubrick movies.** **How can anyone miss BLADERUNNER!** **The Cell** (gorgeous movie!) If you like City of Lost Children and Bladerunner then you have to see: **Dark City Brazil** And I would like to point out that if you want to see the glory of any “visually stunning” movie, you have to see it as the Director intended, which is the **widescreen/letterbox** edition. I’m definitely increasing my netflix list with this thread. Great thread! ---
**Author:** ![prisoner6655321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@prisoner6655321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prisoner6655321)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/62 "2003-02-18T18:58:11Z")
**2001: A Space Odyssey**. Arguably the most beautiful movie ever made. **All other Kubrick movies.** **How can anyone miss BLADERUNNER!** **The Cell** (gorgeous movie!) If you like City of Lost Children and Bladerunner then you have to see: **Dark City Brazil** And I would like to point out that if you want to see the glory of any “visually stunning” movie, you have to see it as the Director intended, which is the **widescreen/letterbox** edition. I’m definitely increasing my netflix list with this thread. Great thread! ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/63 "2003-02-18T19:49:22Z")
Got to add another - “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” - A Eurasian film, I saw it 30 years ago so can’t remember the country, or probably the correct title. But I still remember the stunning visuals. ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/64 "2003-02-18T20:31:05Z")
**Bram Stoker’s Dracula** is gorgeous. The saddest part is that there aren’t any extras on the DVD. I’m hoping they come out with a collector’s edition someday. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/65 "2003-02-18T21:05:55Z")
I came in to recommend Stanley Kubrick’s [Barry Lyndon](http://us.imdb.com/Tawards?0072684) (winning Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration & Best Costume Design), but I see that **The Scrivener** already has, so let me 2nd that nomination. You have to like “period pieces”, though, as it’s set in 18th century Europe. _And_, you have to have a long attention span, as it’s a 3 hour movie. But it _is_ gorgeous. As one viewer wrote: “It is in actuality a moving painting if there ever was one. This movies strongest point is its wonderful cinematography by John Alcott. With its pioneering lenses the movie is easily the most beautiful ever made.” ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/66 "2003-02-18T21:52:19Z")
Crank up the receiver and put in **Top Gun**. **Legends of the Fall** has beautiful location shots. ---
**Author:** ![tullius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tullius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullius)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/67 "2003-02-18T21:52:49Z")
Ridley Scott’s **The Duellists** (1978). Interesting story, spotty acting (Harvey Keitel, as always, is great, but Keith Carradine never seems believable saying most of his lines as a Napoleonic officer), but the photography is absolutely stunning. As a movie it’s a B, as a series of paintings an A+. ---
**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/68 "2003-02-18T22:19:07Z")
I have to second (or third?) the anime **Metropolis**. The computer generated art is not only stunning, but the handdrawn art is almost seamlessly integrated. It’s a wonder to behold. If you like more traditional animation, I’d imagine that Disney’s **The Little Mermaid** and **Beauty and the Beast** would also be a treat. I know they knocked my socks off in the theater. ---
**Author:** ![Jberto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@Jberto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jberto)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/69 "2003-02-22T05:53:59Z")
I’ve always liked the cinematography of Peter Weir’s films - Gallipoli, Fearless, Witness. Dark City and The Matrix are good examples as well. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/70 "2003-02-22T06:18:27Z")
**A River Runs Through It** ---
**Author:** ![pervertatoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@pervertatoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pervertatoid)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/71 "2003-03-04T03:57:40Z")
I realize this is way late…but…I can’t believe _Pleasantville_ wasn’t mentioned…I can’t believe I didn’t mention it. Heh…beautiful with the colors and black ‘n’ white mixed like that… ---
**Author:** ![Pantone\_Swatchbook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/cc9497/32.png) [@Pantone\_Swatchbook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantone_Swatchbook)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/72 "2003-03-04T04:20:15Z")
Cant believe no one’s mentioned Titus! A remake of Shakespeare’s bloodiest (and worst) play, filled with strange anachronisms (Mussolini-esque fascist architecture, 1930’s era technology juxtaposed with Medieval culture, etc). ---
**Author:** ![aaaaaarrgg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@aaaaaarrgg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaaaaarrgg)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/73 "2003-03-04T04:24:54Z")
yeah i know these are already mentioned but they are WORTH repeating, if solely for reinforcement! koyaanisqatsi amelie moulin rouge william shakespeare’s romeo + juliet pleasantville run lola run the matrix the lord of the rings, the fellowship of the ring the fifth element what dreams may come enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/74 "2003-03-04T04:39:35Z")
**I am Cuba** , It’s a Soviet-Cuban coproduction that was banned by the Soviets immediatly after it was released for making all the stuff it was supposed to be condemning look too good, and it was not really seen anywhere until some movie star unearthed it in the eighties. Now they stock it at the local Blockbuster. It is THE most beautiful use of black and white film ever. I watch well over a hundred movies a year in school, and I have never seen anything as stunningly perfect as **I am Cuba**. It took my breath away. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/75 "2003-03-04T07:16:39Z")
I always thought **Pitch Black** was a stunning visual work. The script is so-so, but it sure is pretty to watch. ---
**Author:** ![beajerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@beajerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beajerry)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/76 "2003-03-04T07:25:41Z")
Gilliam’s Brazil Kurosawa’s Dreams Kubrick’s 2001, A Space Odessey and The Shining Lynch’s Blue Velvet ---
**Author:** ![MissBungle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@MissBungle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissBungle)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/77 "2003-03-04T12:32:14Z")
Girl on the Bridge ---
**Author:** ![G.Cornelius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@G.Cornelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Cornelius)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/78 "2003-03-04T12:49:23Z")
To the votes for Kurosawa, I’d add [Kagemusha](http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?PID=1265249&frm=sh_google). I have not seen the DVD myself though. ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/79 "2003-03-04T18:54:37Z")
If no one’s mentioned these yet- Kurosawa’s ‘Ran’, if for the battle scenes alone. Fantastic stuff. Also from Kurosawa, ‘Dreams’. Visually completely amazing. (Yes, I wanted to be Kurosawa when I grew up. Got a problem with that?) ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237/80 "2003-03-04T18:57:27Z")
Okay. So they were all suggested earlier. I AM NOT AN IDIOT! Okay, yes I am. 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-visually-stunning-movies-in-whatever-way/155237.md?page=5)