Friday, March 28, 2014
The best and most influential special effects in recent film history
sploid.gizmodo.com: You can agree or disagree with the selection of films in this compilation of the most influential special effects since the 1980s, but your brain will be on a sensory overload from beginning to end.
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This was a really cool video! I haven't seen all the movies in here, of course, but I was able to recognize some of the more famous ones. The article said it included clips dating back to the 1980s- I wonder which ones those were? It would have been cool to have movies and years labelled, as well as a longer article with actual information about what makes the movies influential specifically, instead of just really cool effects. It's interesting that most of the special effects seem to be centered around explosions/destruction/horror. This makes sense, since it's not like you can blow up the statue of liberty in real life, but I wonder what we could do if we put this technology to work to make things which aren't centered around violence. Life of Pi is a good example of this- it was an absolutely beautiful movie, with effects that could never have been created in real life.
I am not sure my brain was “on sensory overload from beginning to end” as warned while watching the compilation clips of special effects in films since the 1980s. The selection was most definitely heavy on mass destruction in various forms, and my brain tends to tune out these visuals the way I almost instantaneously tune out car chases. Maybe love of such particular effects (and car chases) is a guy thing? I would intermittently tune in again for the too-brief shots of character animation and to have my nostalgia button pushed for Terminator 2, The Abyss, and The Matrix. Overall, I was surprised at how many shots left me with no idea as to what movie they were from.
I really enjoyed watching this video. I've spent a lot of time this semester making VFX of different types and it's cool to see what some of the most impressive VFX of Hollywood look like. I've seen about 3/4 of the films that were shown in the video. I think that the video did a really great job of showing off different elements of video effects. For example there were many videos of CGI, but there were also a couple of shots of in camera effects. There were a few shots that I saw that I am not sure belonged. Most of the time it was because there was a shot form a film that I know had much better FX shots in that were not shown. I also thought that the last couple of shots were really disappointing as compared to the rest of the video, so it ended on a low note so to speak. I know that effects can cost a lot of money. I wonder how much money was spent on all of the shots in this video combined. This might very well be the most expensive 5 minuet video ever.
Special effects have probably become the most important thing in film, especially lately. A movie with questionable lighting or acting or singing on costumes (see: Les Miserable) is often still appreciated, but as soon as a movie has questionable a special effects, everyone hates it. Good effects are typically not highly important to a movies plot, although, by audience reactions, you'd think it was the most important thing. Some movies rely on characters that are solely computer generated, but still the effect quality doesn't effect the story quality.
This stuff makes me so excited! I actually just went to a session at USITT that spoke about special effects and animation. They were saying how it was difficult to make effects and especially animations look real for movies and how often times they will offset different elements to make the animation and effects real for the world of the film. I can definitely see the variety in styles of these animations as they are put back to back but still thinking back on the world they come from, they still feel real. I especially appreciated the difference in effect from Davy Jones of Pirates of The Caribbean and the robots of Transformers. So different, yet so effective!
I watched the 10 minute video, not realizing there was a shorter one, and was very impressed. Besides the obvious spectacle and wonder of the original effects, It was especially neat to see how the combination of them and the music created an entirely new art-piece. Although it was not story driven, there were clear rises and falls in the video and the music and scenes worked together beautifully to create and heighten emotions throughout the piece.
This video was really inspirational and was kind of uplifting amid the sea of work that we have to do as students. It makes me excited that one day I could be working on movies like this, helping create a timeless piece of art. Its crazy to think how far special effects have come in the recent past and its exciting to think about where they will go in the future. Over spring break Ketih, Sydney, Becki, and I were lucky enough to go visit a CMU alum who works in the art department at Sony Picture. He is currently working on a new Adam Sandler movie called "Pixels". It was amazing getting an inside look at where are CMU alums are after graduation and where we could be in the future. I would love to someday work in film and be able to work with amazing special effects artists who make anything possible.
Special effects are an amazing phenomena and entirely change the way in which we view movies. Theatre is now starting to make the shift and include special effects (media) into productions. Special are their own unique being and can alter how we perceive reality. When we go the movies these days there is no difference between CGI and real footage. The concept is wonderfully executed and creates a strong false prospective. I love the way in which movies mess with your head and turn anything imaginable believable. I remember when special effects use to be easy to spot out and were not well done. I would love to apply costume design to special effects one day. I find the film industry to be fascinating and thrilling.
I love Akiva's question about how much the effects in this clip cost total. This clip really makes it obvious how far movies have come since the beginning of movies. The spectacles that CGI artists have been able to produce is outstanding. This is what CGI is for, producing worlds that simply cannot be done in real life. This video also reminded me about all these films that I had completely forgotten about as well as how impressive they were. Most of these films though didn't really feel that impressive when I watched them because the film tends to build up to or put you in a world where these spectacles are expected. For me it is only when I see these clips out of context that I actually realize how impressive they are.
I think this compilation is generally well edited and actually includes some of my favorite movies. I will say though that I find the title of this article misleading. When it said the best special effects of recent decades, I thought it was going to be more of a list or a ranking of the special effects according to the author, which I am much more interested in reading. Instead it seemed almost like a compilation of just a bunch of movies with special effects. I also dont like the editor's very broad definition of special effects. This ranged all the way from high level makeup design, to live effects, to integrated cgi, to complete cgi and full animation. I would have liked something a bit more focused.
That was one of the most intense and beautiful things I've ever seen. It was really magical to see not only the progress we have made in the technology for special effects, but also, just to see what amazing art and movies that people have created with the technology available. The scale at which we use CGI and other special effect software has become extremely high, and increasingly more complicated, realistic, and spectacular. I can't wait to see what they will come up with next to better the entertainment industry's effects.
Special effects have really changed the movie scene insurmountably. Actors are working with a green screen and x marks instead of real people. Special effects have forced individuals to tap into their imagination which is something we don't do too often. It takes the audience member to a different world and pulls them in. I'm curious as to how movies will be in the next half century. Will there be less human to human interaction?
This is what makes movies so magical. This is why I want to be in movies. People discredit movies for being fluffy or unimportant as far as the arts go, but I see them as a very special art form which should not be compared to theater. It is a visual art! An actor is a small part of what creates an amazing film. Sometimes I would go so far as to say I feel that films look more real than life. Especially animals. The tiger is life of pi is amazing. SO full of life. Special effects are one of the main things that set theater and film apart. That is not to say that you cannot write a film without CGI. You certainly can, but I must say that what people are capable of today makes me so excited for the future of film!
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