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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)

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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.