Best Films To Watch On A Big, Beautiful Screen?
April 18, 2016 4:13 PM Subscribe
We are house-sitting this weekend at a place with a divinely large TV screen. We normally watch movies on a laptop. What movies would you recommend that are best consumed on a big home screen -- movies with lots of color, action, and style that will treat our eyeballs (as well as entertain our brains)?
Lawrence of Arabia.
posted by LobsterMitten at 4:15 PM on April 18, 2016 [16 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten at 4:15 PM on April 18, 2016 [16 favorites]
Koyaanisqatsi, 2001, LOTR trilogy.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 4:17 PM on April 18, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 4:17 PM on April 18, 2016 [4 favorites]
Mad Max Fury Road
posted by miratime at 4:20 PM on April 18, 2016 [18 favorites]
posted by miratime at 4:20 PM on April 18, 2016 [18 favorites]
At some point, my husband read something about The Fifth Element being really common among home-theater enthusiasts for calibration and showing off new gear. Now it's our tradition to christen any new devices with it.
posted by Lyn Never at 4:26 PM on April 18, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by Lyn Never at 4:26 PM on April 18, 2016 [12 favorites]
Gone with the Wind. It's gorgeous.
2001 A Space Odyssey
Anything colorful and costume drama-like.
Marie Antionette
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 4:27 PM on April 18, 2016
2001 A Space Odyssey
Anything colorful and costume drama-like.
Marie Antionette
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 4:27 PM on April 18, 2016
ditto The Fall
posted by juv3nal at 4:28 PM on April 18, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by juv3nal at 4:28 PM on April 18, 2016 [4 favorites]
Seconding The Fall.
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 4:28 PM on April 18, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 4:28 PM on April 18, 2016 [4 favorites]
The Fifth Element
posted by sanka at 4:30 PM on April 18, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by sanka at 4:30 PM on April 18, 2016 [3 favorites]
2001: A Space Odyssey
The Fall
Pan's Labyrinth
Alien
John Wick
posted by Crystalinne at 4:31 PM on April 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
The Fall
Pan's Labyrinth
Alien
John Wick
posted by Crystalinne at 4:31 PM on April 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
Apocalypse Now
The Fountain
The Fall (as others have said)
posted by The Deej at 4:40 PM on April 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Fountain
The Fall (as others have said)
posted by The Deej at 4:40 PM on April 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
Hero
There Will Be Blood
Thin Red Line
House of Flying Daggers
posted by bluecore at 4:41 PM on April 18, 2016 [3 favorites]
There Will Be Blood
Thin Red Line
House of Flying Daggers
posted by bluecore at 4:41 PM on April 18, 2016 [3 favorites]
Echoing a lot of the above, but also: Planet Earth and Human Planet and the rest of those big-budget BBC documentaries are ASTONISHING on a big screen. Ever since my roommates and I got a projector, we've been binging David Attenborough's whole Netflix catalogue like crazy.
posted by showbiz_liz at 4:46 PM on April 18, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 4:46 PM on April 18, 2016 [14 favorites]
Legends of the Fall
posted by sammyo at 4:56 PM on April 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by sammyo at 4:56 PM on April 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
2001
Blade Runner
Barry Lyndon
Brazil
Inception
American Beauty
Sunshine
Rear Window
Grand Budapest Hotel
posted by Brian Puccio at 5:19 PM on April 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
Blade Runner
Barry Lyndon
Brazil
Inception
American Beauty
Sunshine
Rear Window
Grand Budapest Hotel
posted by Brian Puccio at 5:19 PM on April 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
Life of Pi
posted by St. Peepsburg at 5:27 PM on April 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 5:27 PM on April 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
The Sound of Music is such a majestic film, especially when viewed on a big screen. Read the movie's treasure trove of trivia; it's so interesting!
posted by Aha moment at 5:28 PM on April 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Aha moment at 5:28 PM on April 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
Check out this list: oscars for best cinematography.
Avatar is gorgeous.
2nding House of Flying Daggers
posted by artdrectr at 5:28 PM on April 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
Avatar is gorgeous.
2nding House of Flying Daggers
posted by artdrectr at 5:28 PM on April 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
No Country for Old Men has I think the most beautiful opening sequence of any movie.
posted by gregr at 5:33 PM on April 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by gregr at 5:33 PM on April 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
What type of movies do you like? There are lots of options for every genre, given a high enough quality source (good quality bluray)
posted by TheAdamist at 5:33 PM on April 18, 2016
posted by TheAdamist at 5:33 PM on April 18, 2016
Baraka is stunning- similar to Koyaanisqatsi and Samsara, which are also gorgeous, but personally I prefer the Baraka music. I used to work in a rep cinema that played it periodically, and so many nice calm people with very red eyes would saunter in and eat lots of candy while they quietly watched it.
The Cell is a creepy crime psychological thriller with some incredibly designed dream sequences.
Amelie is sweet and lovely, and has beautiful production design.
Slumdog Millionaire is bright, active, entertaining, and fun to watch.
I agree with above suggestions for Life of Pi and Sound Of Music, too.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 6:09 PM on April 18, 2016 [3 favorites]
The Cell is a creepy crime psychological thriller with some incredibly designed dream sequences.
Amelie is sweet and lovely, and has beautiful production design.
Slumdog Millionaire is bright, active, entertaining, and fun to watch.
I agree with above suggestions for Life of Pi and Sound Of Music, too.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 6:09 PM on April 18, 2016 [3 favorites]
Moulin Rouge
posted by littlesq at 6:19 PM on April 18, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by littlesq at 6:19 PM on April 18, 2016 [4 favorites]
We recently bought a large hi-def TV for our home. The first movie we watched on it was Paper Moon, which we were afraid wouldn't do it justice. But that movie has extraordinary black-and-white cinematography and was absolutely gorgeous on the big screen, despite not being colorful or flashy. We ended up being really happy with our choice.
posted by not that girl at 6:40 PM on April 18, 2016
posted by not that girl at 6:40 PM on April 18, 2016
Easy Rider.
Seconding the recommendation to watch the old b&ws. The Third Man is as gorgeous as any color film on a screen that can handle the contrast properly.
posted by praemunire at 6:46 PM on April 18, 2016
Seconding the recommendation to watch the old b&ws. The Third Man is as gorgeous as any color film on a screen that can handle the contrast properly.
posted by praemunire at 6:46 PM on April 18, 2016
Terrence Malick's early films, especially Days of Heaven. Wide screen entertainment pieces from the 50s and 60s like Mad Mad Mad Mad World, The Bridge Over the River Kwai, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and The Great Escape. My Dinner With Andre. jk.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:56 PM on April 18, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:56 PM on April 18, 2016 [3 favorites]
Sunshine and Blade Runner for sure.
posted by clone boulevard at 7:29 PM on April 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by clone boulevard at 7:29 PM on April 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
omg the ones where howl spirits away all the totoros to the sky castle
posted by obiwanwasabi at 8:17 PM on April 18, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by obiwanwasabi at 8:17 PM on April 18, 2016 [6 favorites]
Just to note that if possible you want to watch blurays rather than streaming. Streaming is okay-fine but 40-50Mbits/sec just gives better picture quality and if the house also has a surround receiver the sound on BD is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than over streaming or dvd.
A few pretty good and good-looking movies that haven't been listed yet:
Gravity (ESPECIALLY if they have a 3d setup!)
The Martian
The following movies might be... let's just say less than100% excellent... but the blurays are really well done:
Avatar
Speed Racer (srsly)
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:27 PM on April 18, 2016 [3 favorites]
A few pretty good and good-looking movies that haven't been listed yet:
Gravity (ESPECIALLY if they have a 3d setup!)
The Martian
The following movies might be... let's just say less than100% excellent... but the blurays are really well done:
Avatar
Speed Racer (srsly)
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:27 PM on April 18, 2016 [3 favorites]
Oh yes, Mad Max Furry Road by all means! Also The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 8:29 PM on April 18, 2016
posted by WalkerWestridge at 8:29 PM on April 18, 2016
Ran, by Kurosawa. Splendiferous.
posted by MovableBookLady at 8:30 PM on April 18, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by MovableBookLady at 8:30 PM on April 18, 2016 [3 favorites]
Breaking Bad (not a film, but really beautiful)
posted by Sebmojo at 8:47 PM on April 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Sebmojo at 8:47 PM on April 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
Speed Racer.
Jupiter Ascending.
Both of them are rather lacking in narrative excitement but you will not care because they make up for it in eyeball kicks. Speed Racer especially. There are sequences in that film I insisted on rewinding and watching again just so I could see it without blinking because they were so gorgeous and dense.
posted by egypturnash at 9:09 PM on April 18, 2016 [7 favorites]
Jupiter Ascending.
Both of them are rather lacking in narrative excitement but you will not care because they make up for it in eyeball kicks. Speed Racer especially. There are sequences in that film I insisted on rewinding and watching again just so I could see it without blinking because they were so gorgeous and dense.
posted by egypturnash at 9:09 PM on April 18, 2016 [7 favorites]
I was always kind of meh on the film version of West Side Story. About a year ago, I got to see it on the big screen and it was just wow! I finally got with that movie was all about and it blew me away.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:25 PM on April 18, 2016
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:25 PM on April 18, 2016
Blue / White / Red
Malick Malick Kubrick Malick
posted by holgate at 10:28 PM on April 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
Malick Malick Kubrick Malick
posted by holgate at 10:28 PM on April 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
Gravity
Speed Racer
The Matrix
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (remake with Ben Stiller)
Mad Max Fury Road
posted by alchemist at 11:27 PM on April 18, 2016
Speed Racer
The Matrix
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (remake with Ben Stiller)
Mad Max Fury Road
posted by alchemist at 11:27 PM on April 18, 2016
Last of the Mohicans! Singing in the Rain. Maybe something Hitchcock?
posted by pepper bird at 5:16 AM on April 19, 2016
posted by pepper bird at 5:16 AM on April 19, 2016
^+1 to "something Hitchcock," specifically North by Northwest.
Also: Auntie Mame
Also also: An Angel at My Table
posted by little mouth at 6:17 AM on April 19, 2016
Also: Auntie Mame
Also also: An Angel at My Table
posted by little mouth at 6:17 AM on April 19, 2016
If you don't just hate him, then Tarantino's The Hateful Eight is worth a look. He shot good chunks of it in 70mm, so the opening sequences are dominated by very wide shots of the wagon crossing a gorgeous snowy valley in the shadow of mountains, and it's breathtaking.
The film itself is a bit of a by the numbers closed-room mystery, punctuated by the by-now shopworn Tarantino obsessions of racism and male sexual dominance, but holy hell the opening bits are amazing to watch.
Basically, if you can find someone who owns the Blu-Ray, borrow it, and then turn if off once they get to the inn.
posted by uberchet at 7:42 AM on April 19, 2016
The film itself is a bit of a by the numbers closed-room mystery, punctuated by the by-now shopworn Tarantino obsessions of racism and male sexual dominance, but holy hell the opening bits are amazing to watch.
Basically, if you can find someone who owns the Blu-Ray, borrow it, and then turn if off once they get to the inn.
posted by uberchet at 7:42 AM on April 19, 2016
When I lived in Washington DC in the eighties I went to The Circle theater where they had classic films on the screen. Boy, did that make a difference. Casablanca was one of my most enjoyable times at the movies (No - it was my all-time most enjoyable film experience). The audience actually sang along to La Marseillaise during the cafe scene. I didn't know the words, so I was filling in with whatever French I could muster: Garcon, Les Miserables! Escargot and Liberte!
At another theater the crowd sang along to An American Tail. There are no cats in America and the streets are paved with cheese.
The lesson here: Casablanca and whatever you can sing along with.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:44 AM on April 19, 2016
At another theater the crowd sang along to An American Tail. There are no cats in America and the streets are paved with cheese.
The lesson here: Casablanca and whatever you can sing along with.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:44 AM on April 19, 2016
The Wizard of Oz
How to Marry a Millionaire
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Roman Holiday
Priceless (hors de prix)
Amelie
posted by domo at 10:09 AM on April 19, 2016
How to Marry a Millionaire
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Roman Holiday
Priceless (hors de prix)
Amelie
posted by domo at 10:09 AM on April 19, 2016
Contact.
posted by erebora at 12:16 PM on April 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by erebora at 12:16 PM on April 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Oddly enough I like to watch 30s and 40s movies, obviously black and white, on the big screen. It's what they were made for. Casablanca looks especially good, lots of velvety shadows.
posted by Miko at 4:15 PM on April 18, 2016 [7 favorites]