MOVIE SFX: Not AS Mindblowing? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Rickenbacker · 03-15-2003, 12:28 PM

Not to say that there aren't many great special fx in films at all. Films like The Perfect Storm & Castaway blew me away fx-wise.

Back in the late 80s/early 90s, all of us were introduced to the new "CGI" (computer-generated Image) used in movies. I remember The Abyss & Terminator 2 being incredible.
But does it seem now our eyes & brains have surpassed the technology & that we're now "hip" to notice inconsistencies in CGI-aided films? (kinda like the way we can spot the fake moving backgrounds in old films during car scenes) I'm not really talking about weather effects, disasters or "cartoons" like Shrek. Those are great today. Moreso when it comes to CG people. I'll use Spiderman (which was amazing!, btw) as an example. It's a given that even the best stuntman could not pull off what Spidey could. So a CGI was necessary...and it was plain to see when it was used. The body movements weren't convincing enough to me. They did'nt have weight to paraphrase Roger Ebert.

I'm just saying that I think the technology hasn't caught up with our brains yet the way Superman, Star Wars, T2, & Jurassic Park did. We can all spot a CGI in a second. It'll be cool when "The Next Big Step" in movie special FX comes.

Lol! I hope this post makes sense!
Anyone agree? Disagree?

TJL · 03-15-2003, 01:10 PM

One of the featurettes on the "Attack Of The Clones" DVD shws them staging a stunt while the effects manager comments that the bulk of the action would be performed by a computer generated stuntman.

I think the next big step will be utilizing computers to replace stuntmen, not just for high flying actrobatic fight scenes that once were done with wires like in "Spiderman," but more standard stunts That a human would perform.
Case in point, in "Attack Of The Clones," a CG generated stuntman performed the shot of Obi Wan being dragged by Jango Fett on the rainy landing platform. That's a pretty run of the mill stunt for a professional, but now they just do it via computers.

Pedantic · 03-16-2003, 05:00 AM

I think that the only reason that we can distinguish CGI from real is because what is happening would be impossible for real life. Otherwise we wouldn't notice, unless is was very poorly done. I'll use AOTC as an example also. In the scene in Dexter's diner, when Obi-Wan hugs Dexter, his body from the neck down became CGI. How many of us would be able to see that without someone telling us?

03-15-2003, 12:28 PM	#1
Rickenbacker Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 15, 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 507	MOVIE SFX: Not AS Mindblowing? Not to say that there aren't many great special fx in films at all. Films like The Perfect Storm & Castaway blew me away fx-wise. Back in the late 80s/early 90s, all of us were introduced to the new "CGI" (computer-generated Image) used in movies. I remember The Abyss & Terminator 2 being incredible. But does it seem now our eyes & brains have surpassed the technology & that we're now "hip" to notice inconsistencies in CGI-aided films? (kinda like the way we can spot the fake moving backgrounds in old films during car scenes) I'm not really talking about weather effects, disasters or "cartoons" like Shrek. Those are great today. Moreso when it comes to CG people. I'll use Spiderman (which was amazing!, btw) as an example. It's a given that even the best stuntman could not pull off what Spidey could. So a CGI was necessary...and it was plain to see when it was used. The body movements weren't convincing enough to me. They did'nt have weight to paraphrase Roger Ebert. I'm just saying that I think the technology hasn't caught up with our brains yet the way Superman, Star Wars, T2, & Jurassic Park did. We can all spot a CGI in a second. It'll be cool when "The Next Big Step" in movie special FX comes. Lol! I hope this post makes sense! Anyone agree? Disagree?

03-15-2003, 01:10 PM	#2
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	One of the featurettes on the "Attack Of The Clones" DVD shws them staging a stunt while the effects manager comments that the bulk of the action would be performed by a computer generated stuntman. I think the next big step will be utilizing computers to replace stuntmen, not just for high flying actrobatic fight scenes that once were done with wires like in "Spiderman," but more standard stunts That a human would perform. Case in point, in "Attack Of The Clones," a CG generated stuntman performed the shot of Obi Wan being dragged by Jango Fett on the rainy landing platform. That's a pretty run of the mill stunt for a professional, but now they just do it via computers.
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03-16-2003, 05:00 AM	#3
Pedantic It is inevitable Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 10, 2003 Location: Nowhere important Posts: 208	I think that the only reason that we can distinguish CGI from real is because what is happening would be impossible for real life. Otherwise we wouldn't notice, unless is was very poorly done. I'll use AOTC as an example also. In the scene in Dexter's diner, when Obi-Wan hugs Dexter, his body from the neck down became CGI. How many of us would be able to see that without someone telling us?
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