Visual Movie Zen

Saw Sunshine a few weeks ago and it got me thinking about how some movies are so visually satisfying. So here's my list of the most visually appealing movies I've seen in the last few years. (If you have other suggestions, let me know).

These are not "realistic" movies, they're works of art. Who cares about whether what happens in these movies is possible, what matters is how it looks. In every case, the filmmakers sacrificed "reality" with beauty and I'm glad they did.

1. 300.


Frank Miller's graphic comic book comes to life. Yes, it's bloody, but the highly stylized film is groundbreaking. I remember thinking, I've never seen a movie like this before. I'd venture to guess that we'll see more movies like this in the future.

2. Hero.

I've never seen such vibrant colors in a movie. I love how the director often shot scenes using one main color - just wonderful to watch. As a photographer, I can alot from this film.

3. The Illusionist.

Shot in a sepia type style, the movie has the look of an old film. Especially nice are the flashback scenes when the film flickers a bit, making it appear like you're watch a hand-cracked movie. Minimal, yet arresting, it works wonderfully.

4. Sunshine


Sunshine is the most visually compelling sci-fi movie I've seen. I love the minimal look and the nice contrast between the cool blues inside the ship, and the hot reds and oranges outside. An original story told in an original way, the movie is extremely watchable. The New York Times hosts an interesting slideshow with the director which can be found here.