Visually Stunning Movies

1. Kwaidan

7.9 (21K)

19643h 3mNot Rated

All four ghost stories that Kwaidan tells (or the first three at least) are incredibly visually distinct, and are furthermore presented with so much visual flair it's incredible. From the painted backdrops to the sets to the special effects - this is THE most gorgeous film I've ever seen.

Added

Jul 27, 2012

Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Peter O'Toole, José Ferrer, and Jack Hawkins in Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

2. Lawrence of Arabia

8.3 (329K)

19623h 47mPG

The greatest of the great epics shot on glorious 70mm film. The desert cinematography of Lawrence of Arabia (assisted by a sweeping and iconic score) is untouchable. I still think it looks the best of any film in my blu-ray collection (and is maybe THE film which you really mustn't watch in any lesser format – if I had a chance to watch it in 70mm at a theatre I would!)

Added

Jul 27, 2012

Harrison Ford and Sean Young in Blade Runner (1982)

3. Blade Runner

8.1 (853K)

19821h 57mR

Probably the best sci-fi cityscape committed to film. Before his death Philip K. Dick (my favourite author) praised the early rushes of Blade Runner for somehow putting on the screen the world he imagined in his writing (and I don't think another adaptation has gotten it right since). Ridley Scott also does things with lighting in this film (and to a lesser extent in Alien), which are just, amazing and without parallel.

Added

Jul 28, 2012

Ken Ogata in Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985)

4. Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters

7.9 (15K)

19852hR

This movie interweaves three distinct visual styles: black & white for Mishima's biography (including an unforgettable shot of Ken Ogata speeding through the clouds in the cockpit of a jet-plane – done for real), a documentary-like style for dramatizing Mishima's final day on Earth, and finally, for bringing Mishima's stories to life, a mind-blowingly, eye-poppingly colourful yet minimalist surreal style, incorporating THE most creative set designs I've ever seen in a film. All elevated by a positively stunning score from Philip Glass.

Added

Jul 27, 2012

5. Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior

7.9 (40K)

19802h 42mPG

The storyboard paintings Kurosawa worked on for five years before he got funding for the film come to life on the screen. Probably his best movie in terms of cinematography, this film also features some unforgettable sequences of ridiculously colourful, pure stylization.

Added

Jul 27, 2012

6. Dreams

7.7 (31K)

19901h 59mPG

Like most lists I do that are one-film-per-director, I have to include two films by Akira Kurosawa. This is a film all about its sound and visuals, and the approach more than pays off. Dreams, based on Kurosawa's actual dreams, is simply, an audio-visual experience nonpareil. Now this is what good special effects is.

Added

Mar 9, 2013

7. Real

4.7 (1.9K)

20172h 17m

An utterly confounding film which was ridiculed in its home country of South Korea, this is nonetheless a wholly original cinematic vision, which I've found intriguing enough to warrant multiple viewings. If nothing else, it is a must see for its visuals alone, which are insane (to put it lightly).

Added

Mar 15, 2019

8. Ivan's Childhood

8.0 (42K)

19621h 35mNot Rated

I'm not big on Tarkovsky, but boy does he have an eye for composition. This movie is worth it just for that scene in the forest with all those white trees, let alone all the other stunning images.

Added

Jul 27, 2012

9. Metropolis

8.3 (194K)

19272h 33mNot Rated

The 1920s special effects that this film was able to pull off on its ridiculously inflated budget at the time are a treat to behold. This is a film of so, so much enchanting imagery. It creates it's science fiction world with all the detail and tangibility of a modern sci-fi film.

Added

Jul 28, 2012

10. Lessons of Darkness

8.0 (7.1K)

199254mNot Rated

Herzog's footage of the Kuwait oil fires looks to have absolutely nothing in common with anything on our planet.

Added

Jul 28, 2012

11. Days of Heaven

7.7 (66K)

19781h 34mPG

I'm not a huge Malick fan but Days of Heaven is pretty great, and my god is it beautiful.

Added

Jul 28, 2012

Robert Mitchum and Shelley Winters in The Night of the Hunter (1955)

12. The Night of the Hunter

8.0 (103K)

19551h 32mApproved

The heavy contrast of black and white of the film noir style has never been made to look as ridiculously cool (or scary) as it does here.

Added

Jul 28, 2012

13. Wings of Desire

7.9 (81K)

19872h 8mPG-13

Wenders creates two different Berlins in this movie: the black and white Berlin the angels occupy, and the colour Berlin of the mortals. There is so much beautiful imagery in this film!

Added

Jul 28, 2012

Diane Lane, Matt Dillon, and Mickey Rourke in Rumble Fish (1983)

14. Rumble Fish

7.1 (40K)

19831h 34mR

Whether I really connected to this movie or not, I'm not sure, but what a visually-inspired film it is! The black-and-white cinematography, the rolling clouds and fog, it's so good. And this film also features the best use of colour in a black-and-white film that I've seen.

Added

Mar 9, 2013

Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman, Josh Hartnett, and Gackt in Bunraku (2010)

15. Bunraku

6.1 (21K)

20102h 4mR

This is what happens when the director just doesn't give a *beep* about anything but making his movie look cool. And I commend him heartily for it! Bunraku is an insane and highly entertaining movie. And the visuals are constantly awesome.

Added

Mar 15, 2013

Visually Stunning Movies

1. Kwaidan

2. Lawrence of Arabia

3. Blade Runner

4. Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters

5. Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior

6. Dreams

7. Real

8. Ivan's Childhood

9. Metropolis

10. Lessons of Darkness

11. Days of Heaven

12. The Night of the Hunter

13. Wings of Desire

14. Rumble Fish

15. Bunraku

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