The Sword and Laser discussion

"maybe the flood of big-budget VFX spectacles won't numb our imaginations, but actually make us more curious"

CJA waxes poetic about the impact that big-spectacle visual effect in films might have on the public psyche, and the hard work/many hours that it takes by a small army of individuals to make those images appear believable on the big screen.

Hollywood Is Spending Billions To Turn VFX Into Art, And That's Awesome

CGI is really starting to shine in the last couple of years. I used to hate it with a passion but it has progressed so much in the last 10 years.

Human CGI still hasn't passed that Uncanny Valley hurdle yet though.

The best CGI is the one you don't notice.

I think Avatar and the recent Planet of the Apes films have conclusively proven we've moved out of the Uncanny Valley. Movies made since then have had entire actors built of CGI and no one has noticed.

Human CGI still fails the "close up" test. It's good but still noticeably different.

That is why we are still seeing faces super-imposed onto CGI bodies.

I can see them getting there within 10 years. Movie Studios of the future will be making whole movies with virtual actors.

I like how the technology for simulating visuals is way above and beyond our simulation of audio. But then again our simulation of motion is bad too that's why the CGI tends to be actual people covered in funny suits to record their moves. So perhaps it's not behind we just aren't close to getting the full package yet on either.

Now I really want a perfect robot Morgan Freeman voice I can use on my computer.

I think the best thing, and its what we see more and more nowadays, is when you see stunning CGI alongside very basic, old fashioned film tricks, like the forced-perspective used in Lord of the Rings etc. Get this combination right, and you have brilliant cinema.

Ruth wrote: "I think the best thing, and its what we see more and more nowadays, is when you see stunning CGI alongside very basic, old fashioned film tricks, like the forced-perspective used in Lord of the Rin..."

Totally agree with this. There are some films where it feels like CGI was the only way they were willing to go, but it works best when it's one more tool in the effects toolbox. Some forced perspective here, a sprinkling of green screen there, without them looking like distinct and separate things.