I love cinema. In particular, I’m a huge fan of the genres horror and sci-fi, but I do also like fantasy and art house…and well, if it’s a good film…it’s a good film isn’t it?! In it’s extreme, cinema is an art form and there are a lot of films that fall below that bar for me (and just pass as pure entertainment). Regardless of genre, there are certain boxes that just have to be ticked in order for a film to rise above the rest and pass the test of time…
Above all, I think a film is lost without a well-crafted script based on a good idea. Interesting direction is also a must (acting and shots), beautiful cinematography, stylish production and costume design, good acting, clever and efficient editing and a well integrated sound track (that adds to the vibe/mood & story) are all the signs of a great film.
I’ve decided to share a list of films (in alphabetical order) that I think for various reasons are excellent – most of these are now considered classics. Some tick all of the boxes and then there are a few films that fall short somewhere but I still really like them and think they should be watched. They’ve all got something special…weird humour, other worldliness, unique vision, unusual beauty, intelligence…
I have most certainly missed more than a few…I am always on the look-out for a really well made, inspiring film so if I’ve left something off – please let me know!!! I may or may not agree with you! I’m finding it more and more difficult to sift through the masses to find a gem.
Alien
Battle Royale (Batoru rowaiaru)
Blade Runner
Buffalo 66
Carrie
Dark City
Delicatessen
District 9
Donnie Darko
Eraserhead
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Gerry
Gummo
Halloween
Julien Donkey Boy
Labyrinth
Legend
Lost Highway
Mad Max
Metropolis (1927)
Moon
Mulholland Drive
Nosferatu (1922)
Paranoid Park
Psycho
Rec
Rec 2
Rosemary’s baby
Sisters (1973)
Solaris (1972)
Stalker (1979)
Sunshine
Taxi Driver
The Blaire Witch Project
The City of Lost Children (La Cité des enfants perdus)
The Dark Crystal
The Descent
The Evil Dead
The Innocents (1961)
The Matrix
The Night of the Hunter
The Ring (Ringu)
The Shining
The Terminator
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The Thing
The Woman in Black (1989)
THX 1138
28 Days Later
2001 A Space Odyssey
