The 10 most well shot films of all time
- Thread starter Batutta
- Start date
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
Ogrus said:
I always try and be a bit off the cuff when making these list's. Most of my (and everyone elses) picks are 'gimmes'. It is nice to choose a film from time to time no one else may be thinking of
The Abyss was shot by Mikael Solomon, who also shot Far and Away which in iself is a very underrated and wonderfully shot film.
I think what this film did (and Cameron does really well) is define technology or gloss. Most of Jim's films share this vibe
T2, The Abyss, True Lies, Aliens ....
Whereas a film like Blade Runner defined 'SciFi Noir', The Abyss defines industrial tech for me. This same look is the precursor for T2, True Lies and even parts of Titanic.
Yeah, this film is one of the best shot films ever
Cheesesailor77
Veteran
not the definitive list, just the ones i appreciate the most. in no particular order:
LotR (It's true that the trilogy owes more to FX and grading than it's original lighting, but it was the first movie where I discovered the possibilties of what computers could allow you to do with your footage and a huge inspiration to me)
Blade Runner (Scott's compositions and camera moves are awe inspiring and the colors are brilliant for the setting, and 20 years before digital grading. The FX are truly spectacular too, I watch this and I can't believe the effects are more than 20 years old.)
The Matrix (I know some ppl give this movie ****, but almost EVERY set up in the entire movie looks amazing! I combination of great storyboarding, and a great DP and second unit to make sure EVERY shot is perfect.)
Punch Drunk Love (All of PTA's movies look great, and other's could honestly argue other works of his that look better, but for me, this is my favorite. The lonliness, all the wide angle stuff, everything looks so far away. All the lens flare and light distortion not only is very visually interesting but allows insight into the character. It's also a movie that looks great and ur not sure why, it doesn't LOOK light a well lit movie even though it is.)
Goodfellas (I watched this movie once when I was much younger and another time fairly recently, with my own film pursuits in full swing and I watched with my jaw dropped the whole time.The Precision with which it was put together is remarkable. I couldn't believe the bravery it took to shoot a lot of the scenes the way scorsese did, if the didn't edit together the way he thought they would, it could have been a disaster, but he had the vision the whole time.)
Seven (just as a movie, this is my favorite on my list. Fincher obviously fantasizes about blowing Scott, but it doesn't matter because top notch is top notch. Again, the lighting, composition, and colors have affected me in a way i can't completely communicate and are huge reason I make films today. Hopefully someday someone will be posting on a message board about how I fantasize about blowing Fincher.)
Ok, that's only 6, and although I can think of 100 GREAT looking movies, I can't right now think of any more movies whose cinematography changed the way I look at movies like these did, so I'll leave it at that.
(I wish I knew how to get grabs to post under MY pics
)
LotR (It's true that the trilogy owes more to FX and grading than it's original lighting, but it was the first movie where I discovered the possibilties of what computers could allow you to do with your footage and a huge inspiration to me)
Blade Runner (Scott's compositions and camera moves are awe inspiring and the colors are brilliant for the setting, and 20 years before digital grading. The FX are truly spectacular too, I watch this and I can't believe the effects are more than 20 years old.)
The Matrix (I know some ppl give this movie ****, but almost EVERY set up in the entire movie looks amazing! I combination of great storyboarding, and a great DP and second unit to make sure EVERY shot is perfect.)
Punch Drunk Love (All of PTA's movies look great, and other's could honestly argue other works of his that look better, but for me, this is my favorite. The lonliness, all the wide angle stuff, everything looks so far away. All the lens flare and light distortion not only is very visually interesting but allows insight into the character. It's also a movie that looks great and ur not sure why, it doesn't LOOK light a well lit movie even though it is.)
Goodfellas (I watched this movie once when I was much younger and another time fairly recently, with my own film pursuits in full swing and I watched with my jaw dropped the whole time.The Precision with which it was put together is remarkable. I couldn't believe the bravery it took to shoot a lot of the scenes the way scorsese did, if the didn't edit together the way he thought they would, it could have been a disaster, but he had the vision the whole time.)
Seven (just as a movie, this is my favorite on my list. Fincher obviously fantasizes about blowing Scott, but it doesn't matter because top notch is top notch. Again, the lighting, composition, and colors have affected me in a way i can't completely communicate and are huge reason I make films today. Hopefully someday someone will be posting on a message board about how I fantasize about blowing Fincher.)
Ok, that's only 6, and although I can think of 100 GREAT looking movies, I can't right now think of any more movies whose cinematography changed the way I look at movies like these did, so I'll leave it at that.
(I wish I knew how to get grabs to post under MY pics
)
Weston said:I already listed this as one of my favorites...but look how awesome the Village is. Roger Deakins is a damn good cinematographer.
Deakins - reminds me of many of Coen's films could be put up as sleepers.
Man Who Wasn't there, BFink, Big Lebowski, Oh Brother Where art thou - good choices, especially Oh Brother Where art thou.
Hmmm... This is a tough one. We have to take into consideration that some Filmmakers and cinematographers created unique styles, and announced new ways of "shooting". In my own subjective opinion, here are some of the one's I enjoyed most.
1- Wong Kar Wai's "In The Mood For Love". The picture speaks for itself. 2046, Chungking Express and Fallen Angels are all very,very good
2- M Night Shyamalan's "Lady In The Water", and every other M. Night Film. But Lady is above, due to the atention to detail.
3- The Others- Beautiful cinematography and lighting.
4- Fellini's La Dolce Vita and La Estrada. Black and White at its best.
5- Moulin Rouge- The Cinematography works with the expressive language of the film. Very, very good.
6- Blade Runner. A masterpiece. Riddley Scott is brilliant- even Hannibal looks great in Cinematography therms.
7- Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood. Tim Burton movies always have excelent cinematography.
8- Lars Von Trier "Europa"- a before "Dogma" Von Trier with excelent cinematography. One can say that the "Breaking the Waves"has excelent cinematography, since it introduced techniques that are now being copied the world over.
9- A Straight Story, from David Lynch. For me, his best film to date. Brilliant cinematography.
10- Though I hated the movie... "Memoirs of a Geisha". Brilliant cinematography, terrible story.
And many more, from Antonioni ( I know Emanuel will be furious for me to not state one of his movies- but he can enlight us on this matter ), to Kubrick, to Ang lee... Many more films deserve this... These are the ones that immediately come to my mind, at this time...
1- Wong Kar Wai's "In The Mood For Love". The picture speaks for itself. 2046, Chungking Express and Fallen Angels are all very,very good
2- M Night Shyamalan's "Lady In The Water", and every other M. Night Film. But Lady is above, due to the atention to detail.
3- The Others- Beautiful cinematography and lighting.
4- Fellini's La Dolce Vita and La Estrada. Black and White at its best.
5- Moulin Rouge- The Cinematography works with the expressive language of the film. Very, very good.
6- Blade Runner. A masterpiece. Riddley Scott is brilliant- even Hannibal looks great in Cinematography therms.
7- Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood. Tim Burton movies always have excelent cinematography.
8- Lars Von Trier "Europa"- a before "Dogma" Von Trier with excelent cinematography. One can say that the "Breaking the Waves"has excelent cinematography, since it introduced techniques that are now being copied the world over.
9- A Straight Story, from David Lynch. For me, his best film to date. Brilliant cinematography.
10- Though I hated the movie... "Memoirs of a Geisha". Brilliant cinematography, terrible story.
And many more, from Antonioni ( I know Emanuel will be furious for me to not state one of his movies- but he can enlight us on this matter
), to Kubrick, to Ang lee... Many more films deserve this... These are the ones that immediately come to my mind, at this time...theAlchemist said:In no particular order:
Maybe i'm forgetting some beautiful movies, but this was the best I could do without searching
- The Thin Red Line
- Apocalypse Now
- Stalker
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- The New World
- Days of Heaven
- Oldboy
- Persona
- Suspiria
- Hero
Pretty much the only thing I get out of Dario Argento films is the visual appeal of them, and Suspiria is definately a stunning picture.
MojoTrancer
Well-known member
Miller's Crossing. Definitely top 20 for me. Hat Cinematography
chrislockerman
Active member
I think any discussion of this sort needs to include Wong Kar Wai's 2046 and Hero directed by Yimou Zhang and shot by Christopher Doyle. Visually stunning. I think Rushmore needs to be included as well. Wes Anderson is meticulous in his visual structure.
Witness
Miller's Crossing
Road to Perdition
Lawrence of Arabia
Blade Runner
Casablanca
Oh Brother Where Art Thou
Saving Private Ryan
and of course Blaire Witch (just kidding)
OK, that's just 8, but it's all I can think of. For some reason, the "period" movies (Miller's Crossing, Road to Perdition) seem to me to be more striking in terms of photography. Maybe it's just the hats, or maybe real life had better lighting back then.
Miller's Crossing
Road to Perdition
Lawrence of Arabia
Blade Runner
Casablanca
Oh Brother Where Art Thou
Saving Private Ryan
and of course Blaire Witch (just kidding)
OK, that's just 8, but it's all I can think of. For some reason, the "period" movies (Miller's Crossing, Road to Perdition) seem to me to be more striking in terms of photography. Maybe it's just the hats, or maybe real life had better lighting back then.
Batutta
Major Contributor
Yeah, Deakins is great. Of his work, Shawshank would be my favorite...Another film I thought of that is often ugly to look at because of what's being filmed, but that I think is perfectly shot is The Exorcist (Owen Roizman). I remember watching it recently at the Mann's Chinese with William Friedken in attendance, and when the shot of Father Merrin approaching the house with that shaft of light coming from the window came on, the audience actually appluaded...just spontaneous applause for the recognition of an iconic image. Roizman's work on Wyatt Earp is worth a mention too, great lensing in an otherwise mediocre film.
Nik Manning
Well-known member
The Island
Matrix Trilogy
Jurrasic Park
Traffic
Star Wars The new last one
Batman the Beginning
Forrest Gump
Crank
10 films in the last 10 years.
The matrix trilogy was very well shot in my opinion
Matrix Trilogy
Jurrasic Park
Traffic
Star Wars The new last one
Batman the Beginning
Forrest Gump
Crank
10 films in the last 10 years.
The matrix trilogy was very well shot in my opinion
Billy Pilgrim
Stye in my eye
MojoTrancer said:Miller's Crossing. Hat Cinematography
It's a hansom picture about men in hats.
DavidBeier
Veteran
Citizen Kane
Vertigo
Apocalypse Now
The Godfather
Yojimbo
The Thin Red Line
Blade Runner
Persona
The Manchurian Canidate
Barry Lyndon
Vertigo
Apocalypse Now
The Godfather
Yojimbo
The Thin Red Line
Blade Runner
Persona
The Manchurian Canidate
Barry Lyndon
Contact_Therapy
Well-known member
I'm surprised nobody mentioned the greatest piece of American cinema ever filmed.