The Camera Refused to Blink

34 films, ranked on my own star ratings by Arwin Edward Bagaslao. Updated 2026-09-06.

Films that hold a shot until it hurts. It does not have to be the whole movie, one great uninterrupted take earns the spot. Birdman, 1917 and The Revenant are the benchmark. Only films I have actually watched. Ranked by my rating, highest f

1. 1
   Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

   ★★★★★

   In my memory, this felt like a fast paced action film, but on rewatch it plays more like a slow burn.

2. 2
   One Battle After Another (2025)

   ★★★★★

   I went in blind here. Kala ko nung una, dahil sa title, puro violence lang ang ibibigay ng film.

3. 3
   Boogie Nights (1997)

   ★★★★½

   Sa una pa lang napaindak na agad ako dahil sa opening music na katunog ng TikTok song na Lil Boo Thang.

4. 4
   Death Proof (2007)

   ★★★★½

   So this is how it feels when Quentin Tarantino directs a Fast and Furious movie?

5. 5
   Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

   ★★★★½
6. 6
   Hardcore Henry (2015)

   ★★★★½

   Opening credits feel like Deadpool’s, playful and self aware, and agad it sets a fun and violent tone.

7. 7
   Heneral Luna (2015)

   ★★★★½
8. 8
   The Revenant (2015)

   ★★★★½
9. 9
   Spectre (2015)

   ★★★★½

   This film looks gorgeous. Hoyte van Hoytema really proves himself as a worthy successor to Roger Deakins.

10. 10
    La La Land (2016)

    ★★★★½

    A visually intoxicating love story about ambition, timing, and the painful trade off between dreams and relationships.

11. 11
    The Northman (2022)

    ★★★★½

    The scale is wide and imposing. The cast performs intensity, relying more on physical presence and expression than dialogue, making every interaction feel heavy and…

12. 12
    Ambulance (2022)

    ★★★★½

    Feels like Heat with its heist and danger vibes but seen through the lens of Michael Bay.

13. 13
    Oldboy (2013)

    ★★★★½
14. 14
    Warfare (2025)

    ★★★★½

    Tahimik ang simula, pero punong puno ng tensyon.

15. 15
    Sinners (2025)

    ★★★★½

    Watched it on HBO Max Good editing, seamless transitions.

16. 16
    Athena (2022)

    ★★★★½

    I am really amazed by how smoothly the long, continuous, uninterrupted takes were staged.

17. 17
    The Raid (2011)

    ★★★★
18. 18
    Creed (2015)

    ★★★★

    <blockquote>You got to believe you can do it.</blockquote>The training montage is one of my favorite parts.

19. 19
    1917 (2019)

    ★★★★
20. 20
    Extraction (2020)

    ★★★★
21. 21
    The Batman (2022)

    ★★★★

    Watched on Sunday March 20, 2022.

22. 22
    John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

    ★★★★
23. 23
    Gravity (2013)

    ★★★½
24. 24
    Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)

    ★★★½
25. 25
    Baby Driver (2017)

    ★★★½
26. 26
    Black Panther (2018)

    ★★★½
27. 27
    Oldboy (2003)

    ★★★

    Knowing the twist going in changes the experience completely.

28. 28
    BuyBust (2018)

    ★★★
29. 29
    Extraction 2 (2023)

    ★★★
30. 30
    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

    ★★★
31. 31
    Magnolia (1999)

    ★★

    High energy prologue agad by PTA. Ramdam mo na from the start na chaotic, ambitious, at very ensemble driven ito.

32. 32
    The Raid 2 (2014)

    ★★
33. 33
    The Shining (1980)

    ★½

    I actually watched this before back in college because I was reading the book and wanted some visuals in my head.

34. 34
    GoodFellas (1990)

    ★½

    A crime rise and fall story told directly from the main character’s perspective.