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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsWhat are some of the most beautiful movies you've ever seen?
I'm not necessarily asking for the best movie you've ever seen, or your favorite movie you've ever seen, but the most beautiful, well-made, well-crafted in terms of presentation. (Although that doesn't rule it out as also being your favorite or best movie as well).
I'm looking for something where the cinematography as well as editing and musical score come together to create a delightful presentation for the eyes and ears.
Note, a beautiful movie doesn't even necessarily have to be a good movie overall. For example, in terms of writing and character development and story development, Titanic was as mediocre as they come. But on the flip side, it was an extremely striking movie visually, and that's one reason I can't hate it across the board.
A couple of movies that stand out in terms of being "beautiful" movies IMHO:
O Brother Where Art Thou--Mix sephia tones that match the Depression era setting perfectly coupled with the bluegrass musical interludes, it just comes off delightful. The Coen Brothers know a thing or two about filmmaking, but I would say O Brother is their most beautiful creation.
The Natural--Another Depression era setting. Everything about this movie feels grand and big. Baseball at night has never looked better than it did during the climax of The Natural.
The Right Stuff--This one takes the cake as perhaps being the most perfectly executed movie in terms of cinematography and score and everything. Take your pick--the heroes walk of the astronauts, John Glenn's flight, and perhaps my favorite, Chuck Yeager reaching the top of the stratosphere in the F-104. An absolute stunning movie on all levels.
(An interesting note, both The Natural and The Right Stuff featured Caleb Deschanel, father of Zooey and Emily, and husband of Mary Jo, who played Annie Glenn in The Right Stuff, as Director of Cinematography, so that might explain my common attraction to both those films visually.)
What are some of your personal entries for beautiful movies?
JohnnyRingo
(18,636 posts)I read the book, then saw the movie during it's first run in the theaters. On Orange Sunshine. Twice.
Blew my mind, and that was in the days before modern computer CGI.
Codeine
(25,586 posts)are visually stunning. I never grow tired of that film, and Ive been watching it probably at least once a year since 1983 or so.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,862 posts)"The Sentinel" by Arthur C. Clarke. It's essentially the middle story of the movie.
Personally, I thought the movie as a whole was hilariously bad. Men in monkey suits. Pan Am to the Moon, and it's obvious that the load factors are so low that company is going to go out of business. The nonsense of the last part.
I know that my opinion is highly unpopular, especially in s-f circles. Perhaps my problem is that I didn't see the movie when it first came out, even though I was already an adult. So by the time I got around to seeing it, all I could see were the flaws. Although lots of people younger than me think it's wonderful.
Oh, well. There's no accounting for tastes.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,513 posts)Sneederbunk
(14,292 posts)Frances
(8,545 posts)Floyd R. Turbo
(26,549 posts)The Black Stallion
The Wild Bunch
nocoincidences
(2,221 posts)It once held the title as the most beautiful movie ever made, and I still think it is up there with the best.
ailsagirl
(22,897 posts)ailsagirl
(22,897 posts)A beautiful movie
LonePirate
(13,426 posts)Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
The Tree of Life
Inception
Pretty much anything with Roger Deakins as the cinematographer
progressoid
(49,991 posts)He has quite a resume.
Leghorn21
(13,524 posts)astonishing! (and I love that whole fuggin movie, every bit of it, as well!! Nick Cave wrote the soundtrack, oh my goodness, and performances are magnifico -) - anyway, you betcha, Roger Deakins is wonderful!!
sharp_stick
(14,400 posts)Some of the most beautiful photography I've ever seen in a movie. Incredible on the big screen and in HD. It's one movie where I almost didn't even care about the story as long as he shot some more fly fishing sequences. It won the cinematography Academy Award in 1993 for Philippe Rousselot.
I think he's the only cinematographer there is that will send me to the movie without knowing anything else about it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Rousselot
A close second is Pans Labyrinth. Completely different feel and mood but incredibly gorgeous from start to end.
50 Shades Of Blue
(10,013 posts)50 Shades Of Blue
(10,013 posts)Frances
(8,545 posts)CTyankee
(63,912 posts)The two Puccini arias sung in it amplified the beauty of the film. Plus fine acting...
Guilded Lilly
(5,591 posts)progressoid
(49,991 posts)Lawrence of Arabia
Wings of Desire
global1
(25,253 posts)The Greatest Showman.
Bluepinky
(2,275 posts)BluesRunTheGame
(1,616 posts)No plot or dialogue. Just music and film.
Boomerproud
(7,955 posts)Imho everything just worked to perfection.
unblock
(52,257 posts)First Speaker
(4,858 posts)...it's "Chicago" has a strange, generic-city feel to it. Someone, I forget who, once said it looks almost as if it was made in the same city as Beatty's Dick Tracy. And of course, it has a huge hole in the plot...like the film anyway.
Response to First Speaker (Reply #47)
TuxedoKat This message was self-deleted by its author.
sdfernando
(4,935 posts)Several others for me that have already been mentioned here like Lawrence of Arabia.
Also Gone With the Wind...not one of my all time favorites but really great cinematography.
oasis
(49,392 posts)Butterflylady
(3,544 posts)Can't even count x's on TV.
BluesRunTheGame
(1,616 posts)36 minute children's film from 1956.
JDC
(10,129 posts)Balloon, Balloon! The End or rather, Fin.
I should watch it again.
RGinNJ
(1,021 posts)Thanks for the memories.
PassingFair
(22,434 posts)MaryMagdaline
(6,855 posts)OilemFirchen
(7,143 posts)chelsea0011
(10,115 posts)Leghorn21
(13,524 posts)its some kind of haunting, eh??
Anyway, I concur, Oilem!
TexasBushwhacker
(20,204 posts)TlalocW
(15,384 posts)Cinema Paradiso
The Godfather
Close to Eden
TlalocW
flying_wahini
(6,611 posts)Frances
(8,545 posts)defacto7
(13,485 posts)GreenPartyVoter
(72,378 posts)Codeine
(25,586 posts)saving a fairly mediocre film. Few movies have looked that good.
defacto7
(13,485 posts)It's all visual. Dialogue is almost non existant. The visual becomes the dialogue. Like radio for the eyes.
Frances
(8,545 posts)Frances
(8,545 posts)greatauntoftriplets
(175,742 posts)The English Patient.
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)movie for a long while -- I was only able to see it once and have never been able to find it again. Anywhere.
wishstar
(5,270 posts)RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)I'll have to pay better attention, I guess. If I could ever tear myself away from MSNBC, that is.
mainstreetonce
(4,178 posts)Music beautiful too
Bluepinky
(2,275 posts)MuseRider
(34,111 posts)I have not thought about it for years. Outstanding.
Bluepinky
(2,275 posts)MuseRider
(34,111 posts)I have problems listening to anyone else play the Elgar Cello Concerto. They are all usually good but not as good. Very emotional about it after that movie.
flotsam
(3,268 posts)Scenery and story. Humans of three ages. The end of the seasons and life told well...
Chipper Chat
(9,682 posts)The opening sequence - a typical day in Paris - so beautiful I can watch it over and over. The music of Sydney Bechet is perfect.
dewsgirl
(14,961 posts)Chipper Chat
(9,682 posts)My type.
Upthevibe
(8,053 posts)...love that movie....
Sneederbunk
(14,292 posts)OregonBlue
(7,754 posts)beautiful to look at movies.
ailsagirl
(22,897 posts)Robert Redford's directorial debut-- not bad!!
DFW
(54,412 posts)Ådalen '31 and The Witness
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)Bayard
(22,103 posts)(Daniel Day Lewis version). Also love the music.
Legends of the Fall, Dances with Wolves,
OregonBlue
(7,754 posts)because I'm just captivated by the beauty of the film.
liberalmuse
(18,672 posts)I rarely watch movies more than once, but I've seen this many times. Love the cinematography, the music and the acting.
geardaddy
(24,931 posts)The cinematography and the scenery is just breathtaking.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_(film)
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,184 posts)My parents, the liberal, socially minded Catholics that they were (and still are), absolutely marveled over this movie starring Robert DeNiro and Jeremy Irons as Jesuit priests in Paraguay caught up at the cross roads of the Spanish crown, slave trades, church politics, etc.
They actually let me watch it as a kid which knowing them I'm a little bit surprised at--I believe it was rated PG but it was still rather bloody for its rating and heavy in terms of subject matter (my parents weren't ones to let me and my siblings watch a whole lot of movies aimed at grown ups).
I can't tell you the exact plot for the life of me, but I do recall it being absolutely gorgeous in terms of its rainforest scenery, its imagery and its epic soundtrack by Enrico Morricone.
Dave Starsky
(5,914 posts)This is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, and it's based on Ennio Morricone's "Gabriel's Oboe" from The Mission.
Danascot
(4,690 posts)Dave Starsky
(5,914 posts)I love so many of the movies already mentioned, but I just had to add Apocalypse Now to the list. I had the benefit of watching a pristine 70-mm print on a Cinerama screen, and it was nearly a religious experience.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,513 posts)at the local movie theater. Films deteriorate quickly when shown. I concur that watching a pristine print is nearly a religious experience.
Dave Starsky
(5,914 posts)Now with so much digital production and projection, it theoretically shouldn't make any difference.
But back in the day, you needed to make sure that the theater you went to see a movie had received ...
a) the earliest copy of...
b) the largest format print...
c) of the largest format negative.
If you could do all that, "Herbie the Love Bug" was simply amazing. You could almost reach out and touch the soft cheeks of Dean Jones' face.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,513 posts)There were no weird hairs, or scratches. It was unlike the usual showing.
backtoblue
(11,343 posts)I love periodicals and fairy tales
Lovely imagery in this movie.
oasis
(49,392 posts)skypilot
(8,854 posts)Also, Brian DePalma's "Carrie" with a very special and enthusiastic shout-out for the musical score by Pino Donaggio.
defacto7
(13,485 posts)I think that's the title. A missionary family tries to Christianize an obscure Amazonian tribe mirroring a disenchanted westernized native who goes on a vision quest brought on through an ayahuasca induced trance. Brutally honest and brutally beautiful.
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)YOHABLO
(7,358 posts)Tommy_Carcetti
(43,184 posts)They frequently work hand in hand.
flying_wahini
(6,611 posts)Out Of Africa
Room with a view
Cinema Paradiso
Aren't movies wonderful?
John Fante
(3,479 posts)Tommy_Carcetti
(43,184 posts)mikeysnot
(4,757 posts)my feel good movie.
Glorfindel
(9,730 posts)"Barry Lyndon"
"Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" (seriously!)
"Brokeback Mountain" - all those sheep flowing across the landscape like some kind of liquid
"Gladiator"
Lots of them! I really love movies. Thanks for a very thought-provoking question.
dameatball
(7,399 posts)kurtcagle
(1,604 posts)I love most of Miyasaki's work, but the sequence where Chihiro is on the spirit train crossing the phantom sea has to be the most hauntingly beautiful sequences I have ever seen in either live action or animated movies.
https://www.quora.com/In-Hayao-Miyazakis-Spirited-Away-whats-the-meaning-of-the-train-scene
Codeine
(25,586 posts)Hero. House of Flying Daggers.
Kill Bill! Nearly forgot that one.
Coventina
(27,121 posts)OregonBlue
(7,754 posts)MaryMagdaline
(6,855 posts)sarge43
(28,941 posts)Michelle Pfeiffer added immeasurably to the beauty of both films.
Coventina
(27,121 posts)Yeah, I said it.
It's a visually gorgeous movie.
So what if it's Disney and geared to kids?
Also, Snow White, Fantasia, and Sleeping Beauty.
The best animation ever done.
Live action, I'd have to give to Akira Kurasawa's "Dreams."
jalan48
(13,871 posts)Cary
(11,746 posts)tonyt53
(5,737 posts)Powerful and beautiful and simple at the same time.
thucythucy
(8,074 posts)Francois Truffaut's breakthrough film
And just about anything by Bergman--but especially Fanny and Alexander.
progressoid
(49,991 posts)Love it!
It's been a long time since I saw it. Frankly don't really remember the plot. I remember just sort of soaking it all in.
thucythucy
(8,074 posts)Fanny and Alexander's father dies young, and their mother marries a repressive Lutheran bishop who is determined to beat the sin out of the two children. They are rescued, but I won't spoil the rest of it.
I suspect the film was somewhat autobiographical, and I think it was Bergman's last major film. At the end one of the circus elders gives a soliloquy on the importance of imagination and entertainment, and his thoughts on a long life lived in the circus. It reminded me of Prospero's speech at the end of the Tempest, where Prospero (Shakespeare) gives up his magic (the theatre).
But the cinematography was just stunning. In fact, first thing tomorrow I'm getting the DVD!
Best wishes.
dawg day
(7,947 posts)And Godfather 1, just because of the lovely golden colors.
BeyondGeography
(39,375 posts)Beineix. Paris. 1981.
wcmagumba
(2,886 posts)Also many of the aforementioned movies...I'll second The Mission...
rurallib
(62,426 posts)the B&W just really enhanced the mood for me
Dr. Zhivago and Pan's Labyrinth are my other two
bronxiteforever
(9,287 posts)Franco ZeffirelliS Romeo and Juliet
nancy1942
(635 posts)Every frame looked like a genre painting from the era.
AJT
(5,240 posts)TomSlick
(11,100 posts)[link:
|TexasBushwhacker
(20,204 posts)Upthevibe
(8,053 posts)Not a lot of folks saw Wind River but I thought it was excellent (as was Hell or High Water)....
yardwork
(61,658 posts)Eko
(7,318 posts)It helped to shape my entire life after I watched it.
wcmagumba
(2,886 posts)"yo ugli head"...the relation that grew between the two castaway adversaries and the eventual child of the alien...great stuff...
longship
(40,416 posts)Here in the USA known simply as Amélie.
This is an artistic treat, like many of the other films cited in this thread. The visuals are stunning. All told, it's like a fancy little French bon bon. And Audrey Tautou completes the picture in an utterly charming ways.
US trailer:
This thread is a great idea.
BTW, the top film of this category has to be Lawrence of Arabia
Extended trailer:
An example:
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,862 posts)One of my all time favorites, and it never gets mentioned here when movies are discussed.
Here's my favorite scene:
Bayard
(22,103 posts)Another movie with amazing cinematography.
The empressof all
(29,098 posts)Goblin which is a Korean TV Drama...I guess that doesn't really count but honestly it is truly a lush and beautiful feast for the eyes.
edbermac
(15,941 posts)Kubrick got lenses that were going to be used for the Apollo moon landings and adapted them to a movie camera. There are scenes that are just lit by candles, no electric lights.
Danascot
(4,690 posts)& The Cell
Laffy Kat
(16,383 posts)Had some beautiful scenes. I know it was scorned, and rightfully so, in some circles, but the director (Marshall? can't remember) had some stunning cinematography in that film. The silk rinsing in the river...what a scene.
dewsgirl
(14,961 posts)Makes his bid for her virginity. The dance she does, is breathtaking.
DownFromTheMountain
(226 posts)Or Himalaya,,, Movies took over Painting
Leghorn21
(13,524 posts)highmindedhavi
(355 posts)overall, Life is Beautiful 1997
consider_this
(2,203 posts)Gary Oldman as Beethoven!
Beethoven had written a famous love letter, to his 'Immortal Beloved' (no other name) and the movie explores who that might be among many women in his life.
This movie brings evokes such meaning from the music and has some very memorable scenes.
FSogol
(45,491 posts)Maraya1969
(22,484 posts)consider_this
(2,203 posts)Tom Hulce as Mozart, F. Murray Abraham as Salieri.
This is just fabulous looking, fun, emotional, powerful drama.
A great summary from IMDB:
The life, success and troubles of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as told by Antonio Salieri, the contemporary composer who was insanely jealous of Mozart's talent and claimed to have murdered him.
FSogol
(45,491 posts)Its a movie made up of short stories with "Crows" being the best:
From wiki, Crows is
This Segment features Prelude No. 15 in D-flat major ("Raindrop" by Chopin. The visual effects for this particular segment were provided by George Lucas and his special effects group Industrial Light & Magic. It is also the only segment where the characters do not speak Japanese.
Also awesome are The Blizzard and the Tunnel
Dr. Strange
(25,921 posts)Starring Captain America!
LuvLoogie
(7,014 posts)There are others, but those jump immediately to my mind.
lame54
(35,295 posts)beautiful and very funny
TheDebbieDee
(11,119 posts)Based on the true story of a NY father who searches the Amazon jungle for his kidnapped son. Also, an interesting story of culture shock caused by the modern world encroachment on indigenous people.
u4ic
(17,101 posts)Last edited Thu May 3, 2018, 02:16 AM - Edit history (1)
TuxedoKat
(3,818 posts)The score by Maurice Jarre is wonderful, especially during the barn-raising scene. It's just so American, very Aaron Copeland like to me. I've given the soundtrack to visitors from Europe as a gift.
TuxedoKat
(3,818 posts)Posted this in the wrong place above so deleted and reposted.
Can't believe no one has mentioned The Red Shoes yet, great for music, cinematography, dancing.
Devdas - music, cinematography, DANCING
La Belle et La Bete - cinematography, special effects were amazing for 1946, especially The Temple of Diana
Goodbye Again - great score, introduced me to Brahm's Third Symphony.
consider_this
(2,203 posts)Great story, and just magical! (2003)
IcyPeas
(21,893 posts)So many painterly images throughout the movie.
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