Well we've had threads on good movies, bad movies, movies we are looking forward to etc. so in parallel to the current no trickery photo contest - how about the most beautiful movie you've ever seen - I’m talking cinematography and styling here not green screen cg trickery.

My nomination would be: The House of Flying Daggers (Shi mian mai fu).

Flawless in concept and execution for its colour, filming and style. I’ve never seen a movie so saturated in gorgeous colour but still retaining pin sharp detail with every aspect complimenting the next. Stunning set pieces, locations and costumes that look like they took a decade to embroider, all round the package off.

Hero with Jet Li. . .amazing color as well. . .great movement and flow. Awesome fight scenes and great plot line.

I haven't seen Hero yet, but I will soon. As far as beautiful films, the best I can think of is "Travelling Birds", largely thanks to Pierre Pigeon who referred me to it.

Hero runs a good second to Daggers but loses out in comparison uses a little too much CG (HOFT only used cg primarily for the in-flight dagger shots) for my liking and the wire work is a little OTT. In its own right though - yes it is great.

Plot isn’t a primary concern in the thread though – I’ve seen many visually striking movies with little discernable story going on…

I am in agreement with you Phil, I sore it only recently and it is crystal it is a shame however that the plot is dyer. Kill Bill 1+2 Both Excellent for cinematogrophy as the sets are very eye catching and addictive in the way I wished I was there, however Face Off Directed by Jon Woo is a magical experience for shot and poise. The angles are exquisit.
There is a Manga cartoon turned into a film called "Crying Freeman" that is worth a watch.

hmmm - the church scene in Face/Off springs to mind but can't remember much about the rest of it....Crying Freeman is a good flick all round. I watched it quite recently actually and it has dated quite badly though style wise, falling squarely into the Michael Mann/Miami Vice Shiny Suit School of Styling.

I agree with Kill Bill's and add the recent Kingdom of heaven by Ridley Scott. . that and Gladiator were amazing movies to watch.

Again though - both Kingdom Of Heaven and Gladiator relied heavily on green screen CG for there big set pieces.

The River Runs through it, Top Gun, Braveheart & Last of the Mowhicans also Dances with Wolves.

Oh yes, Braveheart is one of the best movies I am ever to see. It's excellent.

I Love Dances with Wolves! And The Last of the Dogman. I Thought both were wonderful...

Oooo, yes. Dances With Wolves is an extraordinary movie also. ;)

"The Power of One."

Thought the cinematography lent itself very well to the overall mood and feel of the story. Not necessarily the most stunning, visually, although there are moments. Catch this one ... 'it is power -ful.'

Well even though it was a documentary, the 2003 movie version of the BBC series Blue planet entitled Deep Blue was a sight to behold, granted it's all set in the ocean but thats no bad thing.

Ok, the particular brain cell I was depending on ... finally fired.

Any and all IMAX films.