---
title: "index 38"
description: "This is my collection of essential films - it's a blend of favourite movies and a list of films that must be seen. I'm drawn to drama that makes you think and feel deeply, quality sci-fi that isn't derivative and inspires thought, and martial arts films with compelling storytelling and exceptional choreography."
type: skill
canonical_url: https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/index-38
source: "Claudary"
difficulty: intermediate
author: "Claude Code Knowledge Pack"
date: 2026-07-10T11:25:27.375Z
license: CC-BY-4.0
attribution: "index 38 — Claudary (https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/index-38)"
---

# index 38
This is my collection of essential films - it's a blend of favourite movies and a list of films that must be seen. I'm drawn to drama that makes you think and feel deeply, quality sci-fi that isn't derivative and inspires thought, and martial arts films with compelling storytelling and exceptional choreography.

## Overview

---
title: "Essential Films"
date: 2025-07-07T15:15:00+10:00
draft: false
description: "A curated collection of films that inspire thought, showcase quality craftsmanship, and avoid derivative storytelling."
---

## My Film Philosophy

This is my collection of essential films - it's a blend of favourite movies and a list of films that must be seen. I'm drawn to drama that makes you think and feel deeply, quality sci-fi that isn't derivative and inspires thought, and martial arts films with compelling storytelling and exceptional choreography.

It's very rare that I like a popcorn movie, but if it hits all the right points for a bit of vacuous fun without any groan-inducing moments or preachy, moralistic messaging, I'm in.

## Selection Criteria

- **Drama**: Stories that provoke thought and genuine emotional response
- **Quality Sci-Fi**: Films that explore ideas, challenge assumptions, and avoid tired tropes (e.g., Arrival)
- **Martial Arts**: Compelling narratives with choreography that serves the story (e.g., Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)
- **Occasional Popcorn**: Pure entertainment that doesn't insult intelligence (e.g., Clerks)

---

{{< movie-table >}}

---

*This list continues to evolve as I discover films that meet these criteria. Each entry represents cinema that respects its audience's intelligence while delivering exceptional craft.*

## Data Management

This page is automatically generated from structured data. To update:

1. **Add movies**: Edit `data/movies.yaml` with new entries (just `title`, `imdb_id`, and `why_essential`)
2. **Update all data**: Run `python3 scripts/update_all_movies.py` to fetch current IMDB data for ALL movies
3. **Rebuild**: Run `hugo` to regenerate the table with updated data

The update script fetches year, rating, runtime, genres, and director from IMDB.

---

Source: [Claudary](https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/index-38) · https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com