A Trip Through the Essence of Cinema

This is an excellent film to start off. While its not perfect, Terrence Malick has created a mighty vision, through the eyes of an adult looking back upon his youth. Malick has a truly unique way of handling the camera, providing us with some of the most memorable shots in cinema. This film is an "experience", that leaves your spine tingling and your head spinning.

'Baraka' is a view on the world which is beautiful in every way, even in its horror. No other film shows ancient temples created centuries ago, and then show a poverty stricken landscape, with orphan's scavenging for scraps of food on a heap of garbage. It's a journey through the beauty of the world, meaning its necessary to watch in HD.

A companion peace to Baraka, looking at the continuous cycle of life, death and reincarnation. Shot in 5 years over 25 countries, its another breathless "experience".

A documentary that looks at the world today, more specifically July 24th 2010. Thousands of people sent their clips in, and this documentary is the result of it all. It shows the many different cultures, and the different lifestyles throughout the world, and it'll leave you speechless.

A look at life through the eyes of a child growing up during the 2000s in modern day America. Filmed over 11 years (2002-2013), you see Ellar Coltrane (who plays Mason) grow up in-front of you over the course of 3 hours. Yes it's been done before, but the film really does have a lasting effect and made me realize the beauty of life.

Nearly everyone's introduction to film as an art form is David Lynch. The guy who nominated Vladimir Putin to do the Ice Bucket Challenge. Here he destroys the stereotypical american neighbourhood, showing a far darker side to the "American Dream" than anyone can imagine.

Cassevettes created independent cinema back in the 1970s, and this is his most primitive, raw film, with the finest performance in cinema history by Gena Rowlands. It takes a good 30 minutes to get going, and once part that point, the raw emotional power of this film doesn't stop.

A companion peace to A Woman Under the Influence. Another film which sent shivers down my spine through the raw emotional acting power.

Cinema at it's most grande. Kubrick is one of the finest directors (if not the finest) who has ever lived. The sets, the vision, the music and the ideas all combine to create something truly incredible. Chances are you've seen it already, so watch it again. It's quite something.

Kubrick's psychological horror is not necissarily a "scary" film, but it is a "hell" of a journey. Its inspired everything from The Simpsons to 30 Seconds of Mars music videos.

Companion piece to The Shining. While it does contain a bunch of loons making ridiculous claims about The Shining, Room 237 does help realize the true brilliance of the film.

Now onto Kubrick's only UK film. A dystopian future where gangs and ultra-violence rule the streets. Alex (Malcolm McDowell) is one of the defining characters in the story of cinema, and the themes the film (juvenile delinquency, youth gangs, psychiatric torture), make this a mandatory cult classic.

Onto British film. This is an easy gateway into the world of Peter Greenaway. The picture perfect, rich colour of the cinematography, with the clashing Nyman score, are standard for Greenaway films. "The Cook" stands out (and is more famous) from his other films, through the creation of one of the most despicable characters in film history, and the startling use of artificial lights and glamorous costumes (the costumes change as they move rooms).

Onto Greenaways hardest film. 3.5 hours of brilliant tedium. It's unlike anything in the whole of cinema (which is why its here), and shows how 92 people who's last name begins with "fall", were affected by the V.U.E. (violent unknown event). The ramblings of a genius, and a gateway into the avant-garde.

Nyman may have gone for a walkabout, but this doesn't stop the film from being Greenaway's best. The film takes place in Rome, and shows the slow demise of American architect Stourley Kracklite. The film is a beauty to behold, and takes time to digest.

Now onto Italian films. The winner of the Foreign Film Oscar 2014, is a film of life, love and loss. This is another film with a grande vision, with gliding camera and wonderful scenery to match. Jep looks back upon his life on his 65th Birthday, the many of possibilities which laid before him in his youth and how the joys in life has faded in age. This is a film where "Rome" (even though its a city), is very much a character in the film. The ancient architecture makes the city magnificent and unlike any other.

The third and final film where Rome is a character. Fellini shows the hectic life of the city, through the magnificent architecture, strict religion, loud obnoxious characters, the vast difference between poverty and upper class and glorious history. Mixing present day footage, with behind the scenes footage, with a story of growing up in 1940s Provinces and Rome. Fellini is very lucky it worked.

One of Fellini's earliest films, it was booed on first screening but is now seen as a classic. It's even in the IMDB Top 250! It shows Fellini's love for clowns and everything circuses, set during post-war Italy.

Films about making films always make critics jizz themselves, and this is the daddy that began it. One of the highlights of cinema itself, it shows a director going slightly insane as he tries to make a film. Marcello Mastroianni is Italy's finest actor, and this is his defining role.

Pasolini's segment. While the other segments are hit and miss, Pasolini's segment is a masterpiece. Orson Welles plays a director making a film about Christ. Pasolini's funniest and best film.

This film takes place outside time and history itself (shot in the exotic location of Morocco), and is filled with Freudian influences. A key part of his career, in-between his neo-realist and explicit comedy stage. It's got bits of both.

This has one of the best endings in cinema, and shows Pasolini at his most trashy, rude and comedic. I live in Canterbury by the way :P

I'm sorry for including this, but it HAS to be seen. It disturbed me so much, I was shaken for days. A really nasty piece of work and the ending result of an excellent and explicitly escalating career. Pasolini was assassinated soon after.

The best result of trashy Italian comedies (that Pasolini was famous for), about a group of old rich men who eat themselves to death. Farting, sex and scoffing hands full of food, may not make this enjoyable. Regardless, its still a landmark in Italian cinema.

Marcello Mastroianni also starred in this Antonioni film. It's about a couple who are going through a rough patch. The action takes place during the course of a night. It's the highlight of Antonioni's rich black and white cinematography, and perhaps, his best film.

Another Antonioni film. This one takes place in a desolate landscape and is about a man aimlessly wandering through barren roads, away from his lover. A highlight of Antonioni's early career.

A film about the hardships of everyday life as a poor family in a farm at the beginning of the century. A hidden gem of world cinema.