Epics dominated this list of visual artistry, where there's room for black-and-white gems "Citizen Kane" and "Raging Bull." But so many memorable movies didn't make the cut.

Much contemporary fantasy is quite violent, perhaps in an attempt to win the respect of people who assume fantasy is all fairies and fluff; but I doubt if that’s why so much of China Miéville’s work is so in-your-face gruesome. More likely he is meeting the expectations of a readership used to the infinite kill count of sensational films and electronic games, and is bloody-minded enough to enjoy doing so.