Most aesthetically pleasing movie

Narcissus · 06-09-2006 07:02PM #1

As the title says, what do you think is the most aesthetically pleasing movie?

Off the top of my head I can only think of Hero and House of flying Daggers (which I haven't seen, I've just seen clips).

I guess the Lord of the Rings should get a mention too.

Karl Hungus · 06-09-2006 07:08PM

How do you define aesthetically pleasing? One person's pleasing could be another person's overpolished turd.

Furthermore what's the point of being aesthetically pleasing in the first place? If the visual style of a film isn't there to serve a purpose, create an atmosphere or mood, is it not just a case of style of content? Sure, there's lots of films that look nice, but are they any good?

Narcissus · 06-09-2006 07:41PM

Karl Hungus wrote:

How do you define aesthetically pleasing? One person's pleasing could be another person's overpolished turd.

That's the whole point though, everybody is going to like something different. So I was wondering what kind of movies people think look good.

Furthermore what's the point of being aesthetically pleasing in the first place? If the visual style of a film isn't there to serve a purpose, create an atmosphere or mood, is it not just a case of style of content? Sure, there's lots of films that look nice, but are they any good?

Of course a film has to have more than just good visuals to be good, but I just want to know what movies look good(Hero, for example, the use of vibrant colours), without relying heavily on CGI. The pseudopod (yeah i looked it up) in The Abyss, I thought looked really cool.

Sean7 · 06-09-2006 07:44PM

Hero was an absolutely beautiful movie that was actually backed by a decent story where as HoFD was completely pompous up-its-own-arse filmmaking that seemed like it had been solely made to take money off people who will automatically assume every Asian that is released worldwide must be a masterpiece (sorry went on a bit of a rant there). I also think alot of Kubrick films are visually fantastic.

I also think Sin City's b&w with little splashes of colour was a fantastic idea but I wouldn't like to see it used often but it worked for SC because it was a b&w comic book.

Rhyme · 06-09-2006 08:17PM

I quite liked 'What Dreams May Come'... twas pretty.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 06-09-2006 08:35PM

amelie looked great

Kintarō Hattori · 06-09-2006 10:36PM

Without getting into style over substance etc, if your just looking for a visual movie: The Fifth Element. Also I second What Dreams May Come. Good one.

projectmayhem · 06-09-2006 10:51PM

eo980 wrote:

Without getting into style over substance etc, if your just looking for a visual movie: The Fifth Element. Also I second What Dreams May Come. Good one.

5th element looked fantastic!

the matrix also had a very cool look to it, very blade-runnerish.

johnny_ultimate · 07-09-2006 12:06AM

Just watched Ran which is certainly up there. I second (or third, or fourth) Hero, but I agree HoFD was completely over hyped - a major disapointment. Also all Miyazaki films.

Crash · 07-09-2006 12:40AM

Schindlers list - for sheer beauty the little girl in the red coat scene was gorgeously done....

Pugsley · 07-09-2006 04:18AM

I can see this descending into a one word post thread pretty quickly.....

Off the top of my head, if your looking at any form of Cinema definately "Howls Moving Castle" or "Spirited Away" (both anime,and both by Hayao Miyazaki), however anime aside I would rate "The Last Samurai" quite highly, had some excellent scenery, and was excellently shot.

Also going to mention "Final Fantasy The Spirits Within", "FF7: Advent Children", and "Toy Story", 3 real benchmark CGI films as far as visuals go.

spacecoyote · 07-09-2006 06:30AM

while it wasn't the most appealing or pleasing of storylines i have to say i loved the way Requiem for a dream was shot!

Spirited away was also pretty stunning!

Black Swan · 07-09-2006 06:54AM

I guess we could all get caught up in terms of how we define aesthetically pleasing, but I won't. The first recent film that popped into my head was
Pride & Prejudice (2005). A very old film jumped into my imagination that I saw on DVD recently, too: Lawrence of Arabia (1962).

Giruilla · 07-09-2006 08:31AM

Some of mine have already been mentioned,
Amelie - for its visual style and perfect soundtrack
Blade Runner - I still think to this day it looks better than anything Lucas or Peter jackson have done with CGI
What dreams may come - Not a great film but definitely looked amazing

Others would be:
25th Hour
Miami Vice - I thought the way it was shot and the soundtrack made it very aestheticaly pleasing.

humanji · 07-09-2006 11:51AM

Although it wasn't well recieved as a film, the whole setting in Kevin Costners "The Postman" looked amazing. The whole scenary made a post-WW3 world look very inviting and it added so much to the western style of the movie.

Actually 2 other Costner films spring to mind too. Dances With Wolves again had that rolling landscape feel that The Postman had, where you really feel how peaceful and untamed the land is. And the other one is Waterworld which was almost the opposite. It had nothing but water as far as the eye could see. But the blue water melting into the blue sky added to the whole feeling of helplessness that the characters of the film felt.

And as mentioned before, Fifth Element looked stunning too. The bright vivid colours and the almost over the top characters made the film as much an experience as it was a movie.

I guess it all comes down to how much effort the filmmakers put into the look and feel of a film. There are so many by the book moneymakers out now that it's hard to find a real gem of a film, although it does help that gem shine a little brighter.

Well, I've rambled on long enough. Time for lunch!

Pigman II · 07-09-2006 06:50PM

"Road to Perdition" .Conrad Hall was a class cinematographer.

Dudess · 07-09-2006 07:26PM

Blade Runner is stunning. So is The Virgin Suicides.

TheIrishGrover · 07-09-2006 09:48PM

The cinematographer for most of Wong Kar Wai's films: In The mood For Love, Chungking Express etc. Also did Hero, Rabbit Proof Fence, Infernal Affairs, The Quiet American, Lady In The Water. Beautiful work. The man's a genius

Blisterman · 07-09-2006 09:50PM

O Brother where art thou.

mike65 · 07-09-2006 10:14PM

I'm not interpreting aesthetically pleasing as "pretty/beautiful."

Blade Runner

2001:A space Odyssey

The French Connection

Thief (aka Violent Streets)

Apocalypse Now

Citizen Kane

Mike

Tusky · 07-09-2006 10:15PM

Collateral looks fantastic. Anything by Ridley Scott is prettyful.

johnplayerblue · 07-09-2006 10:29PM

For me Barry Lyndon was very pleasing on the eye, but then again anything Kubrick had a had in was always very memorable. Saw Sin City a while back and was very impressed. But for pure aesthetics nothing can beat something like Baraka or even better is the earyler movies Koyaanisqatsi or Powaqqatsi. All three are stunning but Koyaanisqatsi is mesmerising.

gustavo · 07-09-2006 11:24PM

City of God was pretty well shot i thought
Fargo springs to mind too for some reason

Giruilla · 08-09-2006 07:11AM

Just remembered Lost In Translation! just looked and sounded amazing. I'm guessing Marie Antoinnette is gonna look pretty good too.

RAIN · 08-09-2006 08:39AM

Rite !!!

Ali - mann at his peak looks beutifull
Rocky - The first rocky is one of the most brilliantly shot movies ever !!!Phili looks amazing ,the morning scenes are stunning .
The Princess bride - looks like a farytail
The Wizard Of Oz - the sets !!
Open Range - costner movies allways look great

Citizen Kane - savage
Casablanca - its like a dream
Cool Hand Luke - Makes you wna be in prison !!
Taxi Driver - Makes you wna live in a **** hole !!
Annie Hall - Woody Allen nearly out directs marti !!
Last Tango In Paris - brando is his own cinamatography

Call Me Jimmy · 08-09-2006 01:10PM

Giruilla wrote:

Just remembered Lost In Translation! just looked and sounded amazing.

Yea watched it again there the other night. Agree 110% so many great shots, any one of which could have been a poster for the film.

And OT the sound was great as you said

Merrick · 08-09-2006 01:15PM

I think House Of Flying Daggers was one of the most gorgeous movies I've ever seen, that's all that has to be said about it.
I also loved Sin City for the black and white approach, and Kill Bill (v1) for the colour and pretty impressive soundtrack.

Playboy · 08-09-2006 03:13PM

2001
Heaven
Blue Velvet
Sin City

projectmayhem · 08-09-2006 04:34PM

Playboy wrote:

2001

they were playing that in peats today on one of their fancy new HD tv's with uber surround sound. looked absolutely amazing

Goodshape · 08-09-2006 09:01PM

Pugsley wrote:

definately "Howls Moving Castle" or "Spirited Away"

Was just about to mention them (and Princess Mononoke too). The sheer beauty of Howls Moving Castle in particular is enough to hold you captivated. Magical would be an apt word.

I'd also say almost any film by Stanley Kubrick -- most notably Lolita, Dr. Strangelove, Clockwork Orange, 2001, Barry Lyndon and Eyes Wide Shut. Picture General Ripper going off on a rant in Dr. Strangelove, or the opening scene from Eyes Wide Shut (with the lights on the staircase) or almost any scene from Barry Lyndon. Perfect. Truly a master filmmaker.

Flat · 08-09-2006 10:44PM

The Shining

watch it again!

you cant beat that intro

cashback · 09-09-2006 12:25AM

Giruilla wrote:

Just remembered Lost In Translation! just looked and sounded amazing.

Yeah that'd be my choice. I just love the way this film looks and the soundtrack complements it perfectly.
One of my favourite scenes is when Bob and Charlotte are running away from that crazy bar owner with the lazer gun and they just cut through this amusement arcade and out the other side. Can't explain why I love it but just the sounds of the arcade and the way the camera follows them is cool. Feels like you're running after them.

Anam · 09-09-2006 09:23AM

The Pianist
Once upon a time in the west.

Dave! · 09-09-2006 02:51PM

Lost in Translation -- kinda arty, perhaps a bit pretentious. makes tokyo look amazing.
Lucky Number Slevin -- some gorgeous camera-work there, great lighting

cork-langer · 09-09-2006 04:03PM

American Beauty!

Miguel_Sanchez · 09-09-2006 06:30PM

The Return - beautifully shot Russian film from three years or so back. ****ing great film too. My friend's girlfriend after watching it begged us to put it back on again straight away it was so good.

The Thin Red Line looks incredible (as do all Malick films). Am I right in thinking that Malick shoots at the Magic Hour as much as possible?

Barry Lyndon was shot using only natural light as far as I know. Stunning.

Collateral had a gorgeous look to it - I especially enjoyed that nightclub scene. Michael Mann loves his nightclub scenes.

Necronomicon · 09-09-2006 06:36PM

I'd like to throw in Silent Hill to the suggestions....not the greatest movie you'll ever see but it has some very good scenes. The creatures were done terrifically.

when the air-raid siren sounds and the screen turns pitch black, we see some brilliant set pieces. I love the way the walls start crumbling into a Hell-ish ash and the monsters come out (which look fantastic imo)

weemcd · 11-09-2006 12:13AM

Few that sprang to my mind when i saw this thread title;

Blade runner (as has already been said.)
Fight Club - one of the most in your face, yet aesthetically pleasing films around
sin city - also already mentioned
snatch - the whole film flows very well and very seamlessly, especially the cuts between the main character introductions and the fight at the end with pitt

almost drifting into unconsciousness in the water, before rising up and knocking his opponent out

However the most visually impressive film i think ive seen is sex and lucia, that truly is a beautiful, jaw dropping film.

The obviously nsfw trailer

ObeyGiant · 11-09-2006 08:20AM

I love the style of City of Lost Children. Actually, almost anything Darius Khondji has shot is wonderful to look at.

On the subject of Kubrick, I picked up a copy of The Kubrick Archives. The first half of that book is made up of stills from roughly every 30 seconds of his movies. I swear to Christ, every one of them looks like a perfectly composed photograph.

Wacker · 11-09-2006 04:48PM

My list:

The Searchers. All those shots of monument valley in Utah were breath-taking. Is is also refreshing to see John Wayne play a three dimensional character, but that is another story.

The Godfather. Hardly anyone ever seems to pay attention to the cinematography in this film; instead they focus on the acting and the script. Some of the shots are really artistic though; just look at the moment when Vito goes to buy fruit in the market; colours have never looked so vivid.

The Return Of The King. The scene with the lighting of the beacons; the most breath-taking shots I have ever seen. I doubt they will ever be bettered.

Finding Nemo. The shots on the reef at the start and at the very end were incredible aith all the colours of the various fish and plant-life.

Hero. I totally echo the criticisms made towards House Of Flying Daggers; it struck me as a cheap attempt to jump on the Crouching Tiger and Hero band-wagon. Hero was the real deal, however. I love how all the different fights had a running colour motif; particularly impressive was the fight on the lake.

stellastarr · 11-09-2006 05:45PM

Karl Hungus wrote:

How do you define aesthetically pleasing? One person's pleasing could be another person's overpolished turd.

Furthermore what's the point of being aesthetically pleasing in the first place? If the visual style of a film isn't there to serve a purpose, create an atmosphere or mood, is it not just a case of style of content? Sure, there's lots of films that look nice, but are they any good?

your quite right , yeah all directors cud just concentrate on makin the film look good , but wats more important content or image , the former is of coarse.

Secretpint · 11-09-2006 09:20PM

im just thinking of films that have frames that could be put in an Art gallery so im going to List of

oldboy,The proposition,harry Potter and the prisoner of Azakban
Dark Days,Any Terrence Malick film, Lost in translation.

anyone agree and could propbaly Articulate why this film are amazing just to look at better then me, go on!!!

missingtime · 24-11-2006 02:37PM

The Thin Red Line.

jester77 · 24-11-2006 02:54PM

The Science of Sleep. It was if someone just captured your imagination (well, mine anyway) and put it on screen!

Sleepy · 24-11-2006 04:46PM

Even on first seeing the thread the film that came straight to mind was the one so many others have mentioned: Hero. Absolutely beautifully shot.

And for the opening third of the movie: Jurassic Park.

Pigman II · 24-11-2006 07:02PM

Electra Glide in Blue. Saw it in the IFI during the week and I found the desert pretty amazing looking

Wacker · 26-11-2006 06:44PM

I was just reading this thread with the intention of replying, when I saw that I already had a few months ago. I hate when resurrected threads surprise me! But one might as well resurrect a thread as start a new one on the same subject.

glitter-bug · 26-11-2006 10:03PM

tryin not to do one word replys!
I loved amelie- i would watch that every day and just wished i lived in france
spirited away- the first anime movie i had seen and it had me hooked
finding nemo- such colours, its like a pack of skittles melted down

Peteee · 26-11-2006 10:53PM

I'm going to be slayed for this...

Pearl Harbour is stunningly shot

Minority Report and Saving Private Ryan too

humanji · 26-11-2006 11:37PM

Peteee wrote:

I'm going to be slayed for this...

Pearl Harbour is stunningly shot

Minority Report and Saving Private Ryan too

Actually agree with these too. Pearl Harbour had some fantastic sequences (we won't talk about the story or acting!!!) and the look and feel of Minority report was pretty cool with all the dark blue filters, giving everything an oddly sterile look. Or at least, that's what I think!

johnny_ultimate · 27-11-2006 07:31PM

Watched Pom Poko a few weeks ago and that would rank up there - stunning visuals (if completely loopers).
Also Pan's Labyrinth : hypnotic blue tinted visuals really unlike any other.

Most aesthetically pleasing movie

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