Movies and TV Shows Worth Watching

When sound films first emerged, Charlie Chaplin was quite resistant to the format. He believed that dialogue diluted the purity of cinematic entertainment, so he persisted in making his films funny through physical comedy alone. As the film industry evolved, however, even Chaplin eventually made several talkies, because relying solely on repetitive physical gags could no longer keep audiences satisfied. They craved deeper meaning — films that balanced entertainment with storytelling, that left you feeling something beyond just laughter.

Below is a list of some of my all-time favorite movies and TV series.

Movies

1. Witness for the Prosecution

For most of the film, the audience is led down the garden path. Then in the final 10 minutes, the ending does a double reversal. Agatha Christie’s original story elevates this movie to absurd heights! Charles Laughton is a scene-stealer — absolutely phenomenal acting!

2. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

In an endlessly looping, laugh-out-loud fashion, the protagonists keep escaping impossible situations. Director Guy Ritchie pioneered an unconventional narrative style that later films like Crazy Stone, Chongqing Hot Pot, and Detective Chinatown all borrowed from.

3. Titanic

A film worth savoring slowly. The scene of the dashing Jack waiting for Rose on the grand staircase feels like a tender, watercolor dream. Life is fragile, but love can be magnificent. In the face of death, some cling to survival while others face it with composure — the gentlemen playing music as the ship sinks, their melodies still graceful and unhurried, evoke both the tragedy and resilience of the human spirit.

4. Midnight in Paris

A delightful little story about Paris. Not just Woody Allen — many romantic souls have yearned for that golden age of Paris when it was a haven for brilliant minds, when literature flourished and art ran wild. But Allen ultimately delivers a sobering message to his audience: the present is the best era there is!

5. Life Is Beautiful

Italian director Roberto Benigni not only has a distinctive look (unconventionally handsome), but this self-directed, self-starring film is also thoroughly enjoyable. A sorrowful story told with such optimism that the result is inevitably beautiful — that’s the worldview Benigni wants to pass on. He also appeared in The Little Thief, equally stamped with his personal quirks. Like Woody Allen appearing in his own films, Benigni has his own delightfully eccentric signature.

6. Léon: The Professional

People who tend to plants and flowers usually aren’t all that bad. This cold-blooded hitman may look wooden and awkward, but he harbors a genuinely kind heart.

7. Crazy Stone

Mainstream cinema needs entertainment value. Though this film borrows Guy Ritchie’s formula, it’s packed with humor and fun — absolutely worth a watch.

8. The Pursuit of Happyness

An understated film about happiness, starring Will Smith alongside his real-life son.

9. In the Heat of the Sun

Hazy memories of light and shadow — vibrant summers, a backdrop of historical upheaval, the mimicry of adult language, ever-expanding condoms, dust suspended in sunlight, the body of a girl you fancy. In those hormone-fueled years, we’ve all had dreams like this.

10. A Separation

The greatest significance of this film lies in the fresh perspective it offers for filmmaking under various constraints. And it’s not just this one — Iran has produced many excellent directors and thought-provoking films, like Children of Heaven.

11. Pulp Fiction

Quentin Tarantino’s films have a particular trait: once you’ve been blown away, you rarely need a repeat experience — because the first time leaves an indelible mark. The only one I’ve rewatched multiple times is Pulp Fiction. My favorite scene is the twist contest — the woman’s sultry grace, the man’s quiet thrill, the flamboyant steps, the pulsing rhythm. That was the best of times!

12. The Attorney

Too bad Douban doesn’t allow ten-star ratings. Film shouldn’t be just about entertainment — enlightening the public is equally vital. Hats off to the Korean film system; I’ve watched a handful of their films and all were excellent. In fact, China also has a batch of conscience-bound prisoners behind bars. They may not seem to directly affect us, but they represent the hope for advancing the rule of law.

TV Series

1. Breaking Bad (Seasons 1-5)

An Emmy institution, with god-tier writing! AMC later spun off Better Call Saul from this series — decent, but not quite at the same level.

2. The Brink

An American political comedy. The Secretary of State is played by Tim Robbins — Andy from The Shawshank Redemption. The whole show is packed with satire and parody. Sadly, season two got cancelled.

3. Black Sails

Black Sails really shines in its final one or two episodes. The earlier plot drags a bit. The title sequence, though, is gorgeous.

4. Fargo

5. Hanzawa Naoki

Starring Masato Sakai, Aya Ueto, and Teruyuki Kagawa. The male actors’ performances are delightfully over-the-top — any more intensity and they’d break the fourth wall. The pacing is tight, and once you’re hooked, you can binge it in a single day.