20 Best Looking Movies Since 2000

Chinese language martial arts films are not a genre traditionally associated with stunning imagery - for the most part, the kung fu film industry has been a low budget affair shot efficiently but without any visual flourishes to match the fighting.

All that changed around the time of the release of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, when the wuxia style of kung fu filmmaking came back into vogue. Zhang Yimou's Hero took things to another level in terms of scale and style, staging some of the most immense battles ever committed to film while showcasing Jet Li's versatile fighting. Perhaps most notable of all, however, is Christopher Doyle's highly dynamic cinematography.

Australian-born Doyle is no stranger to working with Chinese directors and here he builds on his experiences working with Wong Kar-wai on Ashes Of Time to construct one of the most lavish kung fu productions in the history of Asian cinema. It's a rare thing indeed when cinematography threatens to distract from a pugilist as talented as Li.