So while perusing ebay for a reel to reel recorder (fingers crossed i might have nabbed one), I've been watching Terminator 2 on the telly. I stand firm that the effects hold up against any modern film and cgi peaked here. To my mind the effects in this equal Jason and the Argonauts, especially the skeleton fight, in that no modern remake could touch them for looking so good. Computers and cgi definitely have a place in cinema but I feel they've become lazy.
Discuss?
Discuss?
T2 did use some CGI.
"ILM under special effects supervisor Dennis Muren managed the computer-generated imagery (CGI) effects"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_effects_of_Terminator_2:_Judgment_Day
"ILM under special effects supervisor Dennis Muren managed the computer-generated imagery (CGI) effects"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_effects_of_Terminator_2:_Judgment_Day
It's a good point though. At the time no doubt, time consuming, expensive and not a decision to be taken lightly. Something special, few outfits in the business and looking to make their mark.
These days there could be an assembly line on standby to deal with everything from an actor's tattoo to the destruction of the Earth.
These days there could be an assembly line on standby to deal with everything from an actor's tattoo to the destruction of the Earth.
Yes it is ironic that the resolution and detail of modern CGI is so high and detailed it looks fake.
But if done right, likely plenty of scenes we think is real. Is often CGI
Think we are human so faces and body will always look fake no matter the resolution.
I just dont care for characters completely done in CGI for that reason.
Far as objects like scenery, cars , buildings etc etc.
Easily fooled and can look more than real.
Far as " effects" like flames, smoke ,laser, ambient lighting ,magic or whatever.
CGI is extremely useful.
Far as stop motion like Jason and the Argonauts and numerous classic.
I like it a lot. Prefer old effects like Miniature Models and full costume, make up and prosthetics for characters.
I also prefer elaborate sets of yesterday to create new worlds in film, not a digital set.
Far as expanding that world with Matt Paintings in the past. Digital does not bother me so much.
It is just the modern version
Far as a few modern takes on stop motion, with more frame rate and motion blur.
It is also amazing. But still very traditional.
Even childrens films like Box trolls, and more adult animation like Nightmare before Christmas, or Corpse Bride.
I think modern stop motion is much better and smoother, With modern armatures sets and methods.
If your into actual animation figures should check out Fattel some amazing skeleton character in 1/6 scale (12") for stop motion.
But if done right, likely plenty of scenes we think is real. Is often CGI
Think we are human so faces and body will always look fake no matter the resolution.
I just dont care for characters completely done in CGI for that reason.
Far as objects like scenery, cars , buildings etc etc.
Easily fooled and can look more than real.
Far as " effects" like flames, smoke ,laser, ambient lighting ,magic or whatever.
CGI is extremely useful.
Far as stop motion like Jason and the Argonauts and numerous classic.
I like it a lot. Prefer old effects like Miniature Models and full costume, make up and prosthetics for characters.
I also prefer elaborate sets of yesterday to create new worlds in film, not a digital set.
Far as expanding that world with Matt Paintings in the past. Digital does not bother me so much.
It is just the modern version
Far as a few modern takes on stop motion, with more frame rate and motion blur.
It is also amazing. But still very traditional.
Even childrens films like Box trolls, and more adult animation like Nightmare before Christmas, or Corpse Bride.
I think modern stop motion is much better and smoother, With modern armatures sets and methods.
If your into actual animation figures should check out Fattel some amazing skeleton character in 1/6 scale (12") for stop motion.
Attachments
Much more respect for the manual construction of scenery, maquette work and also stop motion. Like in Blade Runner (1982).
CGI is nice for fast action movies but it has become a cheap actor in the movie itself drawing way too much attention. Often in a paper thin plot of low intellectual challenge.
CGI is nice for fast action movies but it has become a cheap actor in the movie itself drawing way too much attention. Often in a paper thin plot of low intellectual challenge.
In the past, special effects were used to "embellish" the storyline, now they are used as a substitute. A few years ago I watched an old black and white film, before my time, and it was remarkable how it was driven by the characters, and their development through the film; the main character was driven by revenge (murder) but by the end he had realized how pointless that would be. Nowadays, it's explosions and crashes, with a very thin plot to connect one with the other.
I love the old Sinbad Films, (let's face it, we're still talking about the fighting skeletons all these years later), they had a mythic quality to them, that fit the mythical theme of the film.
It's interesting that they wanted to use the rubber shark in Jaws much more, but because it was unreliable, they had to use it the bare minimum - which changed it to an unseen menace, much to the advantage of the final film.
I love the old Sinbad Films, (let's face it, we're still talking about the fighting skeletons all these years later), they had a mythic quality to them, that fit the mythical theme of the film.
It's interesting that they wanted to use the rubber shark in Jaws much more, but because it was unreliable, they had to use it the bare minimum - which changed it to an unseen menace, much to the advantage of the final film.
Good to mention Jaws (1975). It had everybody worldwide scared of sharks in 1 stroke because of that mostly unseen unreliable rubber shark. One of the original actors recently played in one of the worst Jaws ripoffs ever.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28637027/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_1_cdt_c_1
Yeah the story line of many recent films is so challenging that the stop button is popular after 15 minutes. The Gorge (2025) was nice though. Never bothered about the "series phenomenon" or lazy binge watching until recently. Watching series has impact on required patience and attention for story lines I notice (not a good thing to me) which makes the attention span of many even shorter. Except for Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul of course.
It must be challenging to make movies with a story that appeals to smart phone people as watching a movie goes hand in hand with operating the phone. Maybe that is the reason for existence of so many explosions and crashes and interactive playback. Just rewind after you answered that app 🙂
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28637027/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_1_cdt_c_1
Yeah the story line of many recent films is so challenging that the stop button is popular after 15 minutes. The Gorge (2025) was nice though. Never bothered about the "series phenomenon" or lazy binge watching until recently. Watching series has impact on required patience and attention for story lines I notice (not a good thing to me) which makes the attention span of many even shorter. Except for Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul of course.
It must be challenging to make movies with a story that appeals to smart phone people as watching a movie goes hand in hand with operating the phone. Maybe that is the reason for existence of so many explosions and crashes and interactive playback. Just rewind after you answered that app 🙂
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Even more interesting is silent films and how extremely well they tell a story with no sound at all.
Completely different approach and would be a challenge for modern writers.
Rather amazing.
As for comedy, absolutely hilarious and having spent some time with some Buster Keaton Films.
The stunts and amount of energy he must have had is incredible.
Even though very comical. Same thing
Whole different set of talent to even convey the stories with no dialog.
Between the Cameras and equipment used and many of the locations.
I don't think people realize how incredible they are for the time. How exhaustive it must have been to make the films.
Completely different approach and would be a challenge for modern writers.
Rather amazing.
As for comedy, absolutely hilarious and having spent some time with some Buster Keaton Films.
The stunts and amount of energy he must have had is incredible.
Even though very comical. Same thing
Whole different set of talent to even convey the stories with no dialog.
Between the Cameras and equipment used and many of the locations.
I don't think people realize how incredible they are for the time. How exhaustive it must have been to make the films.
I agree that story telling without any dialogue takes it to another level; if you take "Duel" as an example, although there is (very little) dialogue, it's not really necessary; you could understand what's being said with it on mute.
I would consider the slapstick comedy of the early silent films to be the lowest form of entertainment, however to make it look natural is the opposite, it's pure art. The timing of Laurel and Hardy is perfection, to swing a ladder around, and someone to duck at the precise moment (with their back turned), then duck again when the ladder swings the other way - amazing. I have a soft spot for Harold Loyd, but purely because he was on TV when I was a kid.
Whilst I hate remakes of films, a work colleague pointed out they have to change it to make it relevant to another generation.
I would consider the slapstick comedy of the early silent films to be the lowest form of entertainment, however to make it look natural is the opposite, it's pure art. The timing of Laurel and Hardy is perfection, to swing a ladder around, and someone to duck at the precise moment (with their back turned), then duck again when the ladder swings the other way - amazing. I have a soft spot for Harold Loyd, but purely because he was on TV when I was a kid.
Whilst I hate remakes of films, a work colleague pointed out they have to change it to make it relevant to another generation.
Both Top Gun movies 1986 and 2022. I've heard that 2022 has CGI in it but I couldn't tell just from watching it. That must be a sign of well done CGI.