Battleship Potemkin (1925)

A Russian propaganda film directed by Sergei Eisenstein

I don't think I will ever get bored looking at this film... it's rich in disturbing imagery, particularly the Odessa Steps sequence, and the music works very well to establish the mood and tension. My friend pointed out how, if the Odessa sequence was shot today the use of slow-mo would have been used instead (In the film the many cuts make it seem like the number of people running down the steps keeps increasing. It still works quite well though, to emote the chaos and terror of the massacre (which never happened.)

SPOILER ALERT 

Film Class Summary

 Sailors on board the Battleship Potemkin are disgusted that they are being made to eat rotten meat. Later in defiance, some reject the soup given. The captain orders everyone onto the deck and threatens to shoot those who did not eat the soup.  A squad readies to fire on the group but steps down when Vakulinchuk implores them to see reason. A riot breaks out and the sailors overthrow the officers and captain, and Vakulinchuk is killed in the process.  Potemkin calls at the port of Odessa, and the story of Vakulinchuk spreads. People gather on the steps near the port but are gunned down ruthlessly by  Tsarist troops who appear suddenly. In retaliation the sailors aboard Potemkin shoot back, leaving the harbour. Other battleships close in on Battleship Potemkin but at the last second they give their brothers safe passage, and allow them to pass.