Strongest visual

[emjen]

Saw something about Cunningham yesterday, that man who directed some very weird musicvideo's and commercials (Aphex Twin - windowlicker, portishead, the playstation commercial with that alien girl) you might know his work.

Now there was this interview with a guy, and he said "The shot where the monster is screaming in the old woman's face is the strongest shot ever recorded in the history of musicvideo's. Period." (he said something along the lines of that. I also saw the shot (out of context) and I have to admit, it was fucking awesome. Very, well, 'strong'.

What is the best shot, or visual for that matter, in your opinion? Doesn't matter if you prefer mise en scene or the simple cinematography of it. Also bear in mind wether the shot's so strong within the context or not.

I have yet to come up with one.

[twister!]

For me the end of 'All Quiet On The Western Front' has to be up there. Where the soldier reaches for the butterfly.

[GREATwarEAGLE]

Off the top of my head...

An old silent film, Un Chien Andalo, which shows a close-up of a razor blade slicing an eyeball. Looks real (but it's not of course).

Second one would be watching the footage of the WTC employees having to jump out of the burning building. Probably the worst thing I've ever seen in my life.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 19, 2004 11:55 AM: Message edited by: GREATwarEAGLE ]</font>

[Nigel]

Wow......This is making me think. There are so many images that are powerful for a whole range of reasons.

Hiroshima after the bomb. The divers in Olympiad. There are images from things I have seen or places I have been that were/are very powerful in my head.

This question will depend on such an array of varibles it is almost impossible to answer.

Good Luck

[pauldrystonewall]

well, this is probably not what you mean...because it is not powerful in an emotional way....it's just a scene that has stuck in my head, so at the risk of seeming incredibly shallow.... [img]wink.gif[/img]

the last scene in Oceans Eleven (the original) after the funeral, and when it becomes obvious that the money is gone....it's set outside a diner, and begins with one character leaning against a post, lighting a cigarette. then in a series of cuts, 5 other members of the gang appear one by one.

the whole thing lasts just a few seconds and is composed better than a painting by an old master....plus it has fantastic lighting and very sharp suits!

if you want an example of 50s/60s cool...this is it.

[Patriarch]

Off the tp of my head...

Planet of the Apes, ending
Fellowship of the Ring, Intro
American History X, The Arrest of Derek
2001: A space oddysey, From Bone to Starship

[miker]

Difficult question, very difficult.

The intro of Contact stays with me, but the whole sequence not any single image.

I agree that the events of 9/11 will forever mark my mind, being it is the first catastrophe in my lifetime that recieved so much media attention and has had tangible consequences on a global scale.

I think most memorable images are attached to tragedy, cruelty and ugliness. I can't think of anything 'happy'.

[Patriarch]

Ok.. if were not talking films then

- 9/11
- Little Vitnamees girl with napalm
- Vietnamese shot through the head
- Bhudist monks burning themselves
- Hindenburg
- The three people holding on to one of the worlds first airbaloons... letting go too late (nasty shit)
- Saddam with getting an exam
- and "Ladies and Gentleman - We've got him"

[Yammeryammeryammer]

The Columbine security tapes I saw on 60 minutes. And that Bunuel eye slicing thing was pretty good. Maybe we should keep it to artificial images, not the ones that are like news footage...

[GREATwarEAGLE]

The first time I saw double penetration. [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]