There are films. And then there are films.

[kibblesnbits]

Big Trouble in Little China
Mannequin
Eraserhead

Just kidding - im a blank slate with a lot of the movies on this list.  From the suggestions here, I'm going to check them out.  Hope they're on the Netflix.

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[Perry]

In my opinion the most beautiful film ever:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095250/

The Big Blue
(Le Grand Bleu)

of Luc Besson

[FirstAscent]

Just kidding - im a blank slate with a lot of the movies on this list.  From the suggestions here, I'm going to check them out.  Hope they're on the Netflix.

I hope you do check them out. I can't speak for everybody's list, but I can speak for my lists. A couple of points:

- If you have an aversion to subtitles, I totally understand. Try these movies anyway. You will not regret it.
- Try to watch them intently. Take the viewing experience seriously.
- These are a mix of older and modern pieces. Both are deserving of your attention.

Now some notes on the films I suggest you watch now. These aren't really negotiable. If you haven't seen them, watch them. They are worth it. These have been mentioned before, several times by me, but who reads every post in a thread, let alone clicks on the links?

Please tell me which of these you've already seen, and which capture your attention. I'd be interested to know.

11 films to watch:

Let Me In: This film is very underrated. The problem is further compounded by those who watched the Swedish version first, and can't accept the fact that Let Me In is actually an astounding film. Why? It has an extraordinarily beautiful soundtrack, superb acting, beautiful lighting, metaphors within the cinematography and lyrics, and the story is simultaneously tragic and beautiful. A clip from the film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F62GjsKAfNs&feature=relmfu

2001: A Space Odyssey: Maybe you've seen this. But if you haven't seen it properly, then you need to watch it again. It is generally considered the greatest science fiction film ever made, is pretty much considered one of the greatest films ever made (consistently in the top ten - Sight & Sound's Directors Poll rates it at #2), and is generally one of the most discussed films ever, and will continue to be for the next 100 years. Watch every minute of this film with rapt attention. It is simultaneously very slow (sometimes boring), and yet also the most incredible trip anyone will ever go on: I defy you to watch the following clip and tell me it isn't art of the highest form. And remember this film was produced 46 years ago. Yes - 46 years ago, as production began in 1966. A clip from the film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpvOUnz4T7Q

Pale Flower (subtitled): I truly love this film. It's a beautiful example of the Japanese New Wave of the sixties. It's a noir with the deepest blacks and whites that almost seem blue. It's a morality tale (or would that be an immorality tale?). Whatever the case, you should watch it. The original trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOOr4nuWFqU

Hunger: This film will take you to the grave. Fassbender's performance is dedicated, to say the least, and McQueen's direction is fantastic. The trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9IiUbBV4zc&feature=relmfu

The Face of Another (subtitled): This is another film from the Japanese New Wave. However, it's also a film from Hiroshi Teshigahara. That means a lot. Please do not consider passing this one by. Tell me, how many films have you watched which belong to the category of avant-garde existentialism? I thought so. This film will stay in your mind. Trust me. The trailer just doesn't do the film justice. The trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK5Rz6txcDU

Yi Yi (subtitled): How can I convey what a beautiful film this is? So poignant, powerful, touching, sad, and wonderful. It's long, but worthy of several viewings. The trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F6tSorwYqw

Never Let Me Go: Carey Mulligan and Izzy Meikle-Small's performance are beyond measure. The cinematography is beautiful. The story just stabs you in the heart. The trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXiRZhDEo8A

2046 (subtitled): Are you prepared to watch what many consider to be one of the most beautifully filmed movies ever? Until you've watched a Wong Kar-Wai film, you're not yet complete. There are films, and then there are Wong Kar-Wai films. Words to describe his works? Dreamy. Sublime. Swooning. Meditative. Sumptuous. Beautiful. He is the master of love found and lost across the hallway corridor, and his films are a visual and auditory experience that just sings to the soul. The trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8OAxS9L7es

Here's an example of Wong Kar-Wai's film grammar (and Zhang Ziyi's incredible performance). In this clip from 2046 (only this scene is in black and white), Zhang's character realizes she's just fallen in love. The clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRfPF3tLIGQ

Mystery Train: I don't know how to describe this one. All I can say is, it provides fond memories after having watched it. The trailer: http://www.criterion.com/films/2057-mystery-train?q=autocomplete

Woman in the Dunes: This is pretty much the most famous film from Hiroshi Teshigahara. And it's actually a very famous film, period. It's another film that belongs in the category of avant-garde existentialism. It's a deep probing film about identity, freedom, and life. It will not go away when it's over. More information and a trailer: http://mubi.com/films/woman-in-the-dunes

Secret Sunshine (subtitled): This film features a devastating performance by the lead. It asks some tough questions. Midway through might put the viewer in a position to judge, but nothing is cut and dried in this film: The trailer: http://www.criterion.com/films/27750-secret-sunshine?q=autocomplete

[finkleshnorts]

Big Trouble in Little China
Mannequin
Eraserhead

Just kidding - im a blank slate with a lot of the movies on this list.  From the suggestions here, I'm going to check them out.  Hope they're on the Netflix.

If you can find some on netflix, could you post them here? I can't really browse netflix with my TV remote.

[FirstAscent]

Big Trouble in Little China
Mannequin
Eraserhead

Just kidding - im a blank slate with a lot of the movies on this list.  From the suggestions here, I'm going to check them out.  Hope they're on the Netflix.

If you can find some on netflix, could you post them here? I can't really browse netflix with my TV remote.

For Criterion films, (many of the films I recommend are Criterion films), Hulu would be the place to stream them. Example: scan down the right hand column of this page: http://www.criterion.com/films/27604-pale-flower

[kibblesnbits]

Big Trouble in Little China
Mannequin
Eraserhead

Just kidding - im a blank slate with a lot of the movies on this list.  From the suggestions here, I'm going to check them out.  Hope they're on the Netflix.

If you can find some on netflix, could you post them here? I can't really browse netflix with my TV remote.

(I hope your not talking about my three suggestions...)

Let Me In is confirmed on NetFlix.  First on my list.

[FirstAscent]

Big Trouble in Little China
Mannequin
Eraserhead

Just kidding - im a blank slate with a lot of the movies on this list.  From the suggestions here, I'm going to check them out.  Hope they're on the Netflix.

If you can find some on netflix, could you post them here? I can't really browse netflix with my TV remote.

(I hope your not talking about my three suggestions...)

Let Me In is confirmed on NetFlix.  First on my list.

So very glad that someone is going to watch my recommendations. Or is this just a coincidence? Are you going to go for all eleven films in my recent list a few posts back? Which ones caught your attention?

On a sidenote: I wish Wong Kar-Wai's Blu-ray of Days of Being Wild would arrive in my mailbox already: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cExEkJjyD8

[FirstAscent]

Two directors have come to my attention lately. They are Yoshishige Yoshida and Hou Hsiao-hsien. I actually can't believe how much Yoshida's A Story Written With Water looks like Hiroshi Teshigahara's work, after watching a trailer.

I definitely want to see Hou Hsiao-hsien's Cafe Lumiere.

Other titles of interest to me so far by these two guys are:

Director Hou Hsiao-hsien:
- A Time to Live and a Time to Die
- Three Times
- The Puppetmaster
- Good Men, Good Women
- Flowers of Shanghai
- Millennium Mambo

Director  Yoshishige Yoshida:
- Heroic Purgatory
- The Affair
- Flame and Women
- Woman of the Lake
- Eros Plus Massacre

Admit it, you've got to love the titles of some of these films. Especially those of the Japanese New Wave (Yoshishige Yoshida in this case).

Of course, after watching Edward Yang's Yi Yi, and being blown away by it, I've started to explore his catalog of films as well.

[naypalm]

God Bless America
Idiocracy

Movies about stupid people. God bless America is a gore-fest. Idiocracy is Idiocracy.

[LightRider]

Looper is a dumb movie.

[FirstAscent]

Looper is a dumb movie.

I haven't seen it, but you're probably right. Read the thread. There are some gems in here. Start with this post ( https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=109868.msg1224410#msg1224410 ), and then go back and read through the whole thread.

[kibblesnbits]

Big Trouble in Little China
Mannequin
Eraserhead

Just kidding - im a blank slate with a lot of the movies on this list.  From the suggestions here, I'm going to check them out.  Hope they're on the Netflix.

If you can find some on netflix, could you post them here? I can't really browse netflix with my TV remote.

(I hope your not talking about my three suggestions...)

Let Me In is confirmed on NetFlix.  First on my list.

So very glad that someone is going to watch my recommendations. Or is this just a coincidence? Are you going to go for all eleven films in my recent list a few posts back? Which ones caught your attention?

On a sidenote: I wish Wong Kar-Wai's Blu-ray of Days of Being Wild would arrive in my mailbox already: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cExEkJjyD8

Watched "Let the Right One In"(english subtitled) - very good movie, I'll add it to the dark,snowy movies (The Shining) that I throw in once the snow starts here.  First big snowfall - always The Shining. 

Anyone watch "Inherit the Wind" with Spencer Tracy?  That's a really great movie and a great cast.  Harry Morgan is a judge, Dick York (Bewitched) is on trial.

[FirstAscent]

Big Trouble in Little China
Mannequin
Eraserhead

Just kidding - im a blank slate with a lot of the movies on this list.  From the suggestions here, I'm going to check them out.  Hope they're on the Netflix.

If you can find some on netflix, could you post them here? I can't really browse netflix with my TV remote.

(I hope your not talking about my three suggestions...)

Let Me In is confirmed on NetFlix.  First on my list.

So very glad that someone is going to watch my recommendations. Or is this just a coincidence? Are you going to go for all eleven films in my recent list a few posts back? Which ones caught your attention?

On a sidenote: I wish Wong Kar-Wai's Blu-ray of Days of Being Wild would arrive in my mailbox already: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cExEkJjyD8

Watched "Let the Right One In"(english subtitled) - very good movie, I'll add it to the dark,snowy movies (The Shining) that I throw in once the snow starts here.  First big snowfall - always The Shining.

Just for the record, I did not recommend Let the Right One In.

In my opinion, it's too bad you watched Let the Right One In instead of Let Me In. The problem is, people who watch Let the Right One In before Let Me In in general can't help but criticize Let Me In, and their experience of watching Let Me In is reduced considerably. This is unfortunate, because objectively speaking, Let Me In is a better made film by far. What it has that Let the Right One In does not is:

- Better soundtrack
- Better acting
- A more tightly focused story
- Better cinematography
- Better lighting
- Deeper film grammar (watching the film over and over reveals subtle metaphors within the shots)

It's actually a major point of contention between those who watched Let the Right One In first, and those who appreciate Let Me In. Anyway, if you want to watch any of the movies I've recommended, I wholeheartedly encourage you to do so.

[Jermainé]

^ i hardly watch remakes so i'd have to agree with ya first.

however Judge Dredd(2012) blew my mind off into the abyss. Must see for action fans

[cbeast]

Has anyone seen Ink? It's probably one of the most creative extremely low budget films I've seen.

[FirstAscent]

^ i hardly watch remakes so i'd have to agree with ya first.

however Judge Dredd(2012) blew my mind off into the abyss. Must see for action fans

Let Me In is very well done. 89% critical review on RottenTomatoes. Three and a half stars (out of four) given by Roger Ebert. Stephen King calls it the best American horror movie in twenty years.

All that aside, it's an incredible movie. Suspenseful, beautiful, tragic, melancholy, etc. All four actors give fantastic performances: Chloe Moretz, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Elias Koteas and Richard Jenkins.

On a different note, I'm excited by the arrival of seven movies in the mail today:

Director Jean-Pierre Melville:
- Army of Shadows: http://www.criterion.com/films/153-army-of-shadows

Director Wong Kar-Wai:
- Days of Being Wild: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cExEkJjyD8

Director Yasujiro Ozu:
- Early Spring: http://www.criterion.com/films/770-early-spring
- Tokyo Twilight: http://www.criterion.com/films/771-tokyo-twilight
- Equinox Flower: http://www.criterion.com/films/783-equinox-flower
- Late Autumn: http://www.criterion.com/films/800-late-autumn
- The End of Summer: http://www.criterion.com/films/801-the-end-of-summer

I'm very excited. I'm not sure which one to watch first.

[FirstAscent]

Has anyone seen Ink? It's probably one of the most creative extremely low budget films I've seen.

When you judge a low budget film, do you judge it from the context of "Well, it's good considering it has no budget" or do you judge it from the context of "Well, it moves me emotionally or makes me think hard or just plain wows me in one way or another."?

By the way, Ink is getting three and a half (out of five) stars at MUBI, and they're a pretty tough crowd.

[cbeast]

Has anyone seen Ink? It's probably one of the most creative extremely low budget films I've seen.

When you judge a low budget film, do you judge it from the context of "Well, it's good considering it has no budget" or do you judge it from the context of "Well, it moves me emotionally or makes me think hard or just plain wows me in one way or another."?

By the way, Ink is getting three and a half (out of five) stars at MUBI, and they're a pretty tough crowd.

For a digicam no budget movie it had the most creative direction, camera work, and editing I'd seen at any budget. Films like that almost make me want to get back into video... almost.

[FirstAscent]

Has anyone seen Ink? It's probably one of the most creative extremely low budget films I've seen.

When you judge a low budget film, do you judge it from the context of "Well, it's good considering it has no budget" or do you judge it from the context of "Well, it moves me emotionally or makes me think hard or just plain wows me in one way or another."?

By the way, Ink is getting three and a half (out of five) stars at MUBI, and they're a pretty tough crowd.

For a digicam no budget movie it had the most creative direction, camera work, and editing I'd seen at any budget. Films like that almost make me want to get back into video... almost.

Without commenting on Ink specifically, as I know virtually nothing of it, the notion of creative direction and creative camera work and creative editing can mean many things. But sometimes I think people misjudge. I actually think the camera work in the first half of Melancholia (as an example, if you've seen it) was terrible. And they didn't exactly have a low budget or unskilled camera operators. They were using Arri Alexas, which are about as good as it gets. So the only thing one can assume is the terrible camera work was an attempt at being creative. But it was just awful. By awful, I mean blown highlights and hunting for focus. Shit that didn't make it a better movie.

Then there's fast cuts. They have their place, but they're unfortunately used sometimes to mask bad filmmaking. The Jason Bourne series utilized fast cuts well in fights, but for every good use of them, there are ten poor uses of fast cuts. If the camera guy is thinking that fast cuts are the way to mask bad camera work or poorly conceived cinematography, well then, he's just bad at his craft. Yes, fast cuts can turn shitty camera work into a rhythmic montage of images, which is better than nothing, but it's not great filmmaking.

To me, great filmmaking is understood when it's seen. It typically features slow choreographed camera work, powerful acting which shows emotion, lighting which is mesmerizing, and art direction that gives clues to plot and character through the visual placement of reflections and props which are telling secondary stories or metaphors, all accompanied by a soundtrack which fuses eloquently with the story.

[cbeast]

Has anyone seen Ink? It's probably one of the most creative extremely low budget films I've seen.

When you judge a low budget film, do you judge it from the context of "Well, it's good considering it has no budget" or do you judge it from the context of "Well, it moves me emotionally or makes me think hard or just plain wows me in one way or another."?

By the way, Ink is getting three and a half (out of five) stars at MUBI, and they're a pretty tough crowd.

For a digicam no budget movie it had the most creative direction, camera work, and editing I'd seen at any budget. Films like that almost make me want to get back into video... almost.

To me, great filmmaking is understood when it's seen.

Indeed.