The list of my favorite visually stunning films is long, and I can't possibly name them all! 300, Hugo, Barry Lyndon, and The Assassin all stand out. You'll see that they're all great movies, but what makes them so good?
300
If you're looking for a movie that's visually stunning, 300 is your pick. The film centers around King Leonidas (Gerard Butler), who leads 300 Spartans into battle against 300,000 Persian troops led by the "God-King" Xerxes. Throughout the movie, his wife Queen Gorgo tries to rally the Spartans to back her husband. The film is framed by a voice-over narration by Spartan soldier Dilios, which introduces fantastical creatures. While 300 is a historical fantasy, it also works well as a war movie.
It's easy to see why 300 is a favorite with a female audience. Although 300 has a somewhat cliched plot, it's visually stunning.
Barry Lyndon
Despite being shot on location, Barry Lyndon was not all shot in natural light. The second half of the film was shot at historic sites in Ireland and England. Director Stanley Kubrick wanted interior scenes to look like William Hogarth paintings, but he couldn't take the risk of damaging the buildings. In the end, he decided to light interior scenes with a tracing paper or similar plastic material instead, which gave them a gorgeous flare effect.
The opening half of Barry Lyndon takes place during the Seven Years War, a war that took place between 1756 and 1763. The main combatants were France and Great Britain, but Austria, Prussia, Spain, and Sweden were also involved. The war lasted from Europe to Africa, and some historians call it the first world war. The opening half of Barry Lyndon is set during this time, and the film shows how Barry struggles to balance his personal and professional life.
The Assassin
"The Assassin" opens with a breathtaking black-and-white sequence. Yinniang, a skilled assassin, murmurs orders and executes her first mission, which is a remarkably balletic affair. Her next job involves killing a local warlord. Jiaxin is worried that Yinniang is not strong enough to carry out her mission, and the scene changes dramatically as the two go head-to-head.
Sword fights are also a great source of visual spectacle in this film. In the dark, on slanted rooftops or in birch groves, the fights take place on an epic scale. They can also carry a ritualistic element. In some cultures, sword fights are an important way to warn, reveal, or frighten. In The Assassin, these moments are executed in such an extraordinary way, but at the same time, they're incredibly tense.
The film has an extraordinary set design. Various hovels and palaces are beautifully rendered. Costumes are equally lavish. The scenery is breathtaking, especially the hillsides of Far Eastern filming locations. While you're watching this movie, you'll be captivated by its beauty.
Hugo
This Martin Scorsese's film is a visually stunning blend of family drama and cinematic homage. The film traces the life and times of a young boy in the 18th century as he makes his way from home to a remote ice-cream factory. In this movie, the world comes alive in three-dimensional form thanks to 3D technology. The film's beautiful cinematography and use of 3D technology are breathtaking, and it blends silent scenes and dialogue beautifully.
The visual effects team of Hugo worked in tandem with the cinematography department to realize each of the film's visions. The film features the most stunning 3D images in its history, and Scorsese uses it to explore the character of Hugo and his relationship with objects. The 3D technology allows Scorsese to avoid the cliche of a pointy object jutting into the viewer's space.
CineTV Contest #12 - Visually Stunning Films
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