David Parkinson

This 1967 Ming Dynasty epic may lack plot complexity and period spectacle. But the stand-off in a remote inn is flecked with tension, wit and slick martial artistry.

Comedy has rarely been so intricate, incisive and inspired.

Both funny and touching, this showcases Chaplin at his best.

It may seem flawed in a number of ways to some people but this is monumental cinema and essential viewing for true film enthusiasts.

The director left France during the German Occupation and, many critics would argue, his work never reached the same heights again. But, even with its immediate contemporary relevance softened, this film alone is enough to seal his reputation, as its playful love games, satirical bite and technical marvels refuse to diminish.

If you can see past the heavy-handed religious overtones you will encounter an inspired and deeply intelligent Bresson classic.

The formula of an innocent thrust into a nightmare would fascinate Hitch for decades to come, but here he packs the tale with strong characters and important details.

Like "The Searchers", this is so brilliant that the only real effect of the other versions is to make you want to watch the original again.

This is Hitchcock's longest film and also his most self-referential. Little jokes abound about art and artifice, role play and reality, duty and duplicity and each viewing reveals something new to enhance the pleasure of watching the Master of Suspense at his most mischievous and assured.

The stinging bon mots occasionally sound handcrafted rather than raspingly spontaneous, but aspiring actress Anne Baxter’s rise to the top over the corpse of her supposed idol, Bette Davis, remains rousing and endlessly amusing.

The mood of the movie reflects the exuberance of youth and the wisdom of experience. New Wave gold.

This study in chaos and calculation not only makes for harrowingly compelling viewing, but it also exposes the apathy of an international community that simply turned the other way.

Timeless classic. Superb performances and the infamous shower scene make this the perfect nightmare.

If you only ever see one silent film, this is the one it should be. A masterpiece.

Nostalgic and charming romance with special moments in the extra-narrative action.

Has a vigour, a commitment and an intelligence that is absent from too much modern cinema.

Moving and atmospheric, this quest tale is among the best of its kind.

Compelling morality tale that works on multiple layers.

Powerful art cinema that challenges political and social unity in Iran.

Avant-garde triumph revolving around the seemingly mundane life of a widow in Brussels.

A typical older male mentore story...told with sensitivity and perceptiveness.

Whether rediscovering La France périphérique or hurtling through the Louvre, Varda and JR make a surprisingly empathetic team and their collaboration is as provocative as it is poetic and poignant.

Orson Welles second tribute to Shakespeare is an often-ignored masterpiece. Check it out.

The spirits of the old masters pervade this disquieting but deeply moving drama. But Kore-eda stands alone as the chronicler of family life in a country facing an identity crisis.

This is intelligent, admirably unsentimental and utterly involving for its full three-hour running time.

Less audacious than A Bout de Souffle, this is, however, one of Godard's most accessible pictures. A good place to learn how much of a debt modern cinema owes him.

Less visceral than the battle scene in Seven Samurai, this is more of a free-for-all, with brute force leaving no room for skill.

Meticulously constructed, beautifully played and poignant.