The "Freeola Customer Forum" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menance
To me the very name strikes fear into my bones. The reason? This film is an example of some of the worst CGI and blue screen ever!
When you watch the original Star Wars (1977)the only thing that looks really dated is Luke Skywalker's hair! You can watch these characters and actually believe that they are zooming around the galaxy taking part in a cosmological revoloution.
Episode 1 on the other hand looks like what it is: a load of idiots standing in front of a blue screen with multi-million dollar special effects plastered all over them.
The worst thing about Return of the Jedi for me was the scene where Luke is being chased by Stormtroopers on those flying bike things (I forget what they are actually called) -the blue screen effects are terrible. Well now, with Episode 1, we get a whole film of it!
But Star Wars is far from being the only culprit. I had to stop watching The Mummy because the CGI in those opening scenes was so unrealistic. Hollow Man and Titanic also used unconvincing CGI.
My advice to film makers: Look back to the old days of cinema. Directors had nothing but their imaginations to rely on -and they still managed to astound their audiences. CGI should be used in moderation rather than bandyed about in an attept to attract audiences. Don't studios know that it's vulgar to show off your wealth!
To me the very name strikes fear into my bones. The reason? This film is an example of some of the worst CGI and blue screen ever!
When you watch the original Star Wars (1977)the only thing that looks really dated is Luke Skywalker's hair! You can watch these characters and actually believe that they are zooming around the galaxy taking part in a cosmological revoloution.
Episode 1 on the other hand looks like what it is: a load of idiots standing in front of a blue screen with multi-million dollar special effects plastered all over them.
The worst thing about Return of the Jedi for me was the scene where Luke is being chased by Stormtroopers on those flying bike things (I forget what they are actually called) -the blue screen effects are terrible. Well now, with Episode 1, we get a whole film of it!
But Star Wars is far from being the only culprit. I had to stop watching The Mummy because the CGI in those opening scenes was so unrealistic. Hollow Man and Titanic also used unconvincing CGI.
My advice to film makers: Look back to the old days of cinema. Directors had nothing but their imaginations to rely on -and they still managed to astound their audiences. CGI should be used in moderation rather than bandyed about in an attept to attract audiences. Don't studios know that it's vulgar to show off your wealth!
Blackhole wrote:
> Well, I didn't mean that blue screen and CGI should NEVER be used. I
> just think that they are not of a high enough quality to be used
> extensively throughout a film, ie. Episode 1.
It is important to
> push boundaries but not if it means abandoning believability -the
> audience can only suspend their disbelief so far.
I suggest you check out STARSHIP TROOPERS. The CGI horde that attacks Whisky Outpost is far more impressive than a bunch of Gungun or Ewoks!!!!
> Well, I didn't mean that blue screen and CGI should NEVER be used. I
> just think that they are not of a high enough quality to be used
> extensively throughout a film, ie. Episode 1.
It is important to
> push boundaries but not if it means abandoning believability -the
> audience can only suspend their disbelief so far.
I suggest you check out STARSHIP TROOPERS. The CGI horde that attacks Whisky Outpost is far more impressive than a bunch of Gungun or Ewoks!!!!
Goatboy wrote:
"Titanic, as a movie, sucked the pony, but I have to admit that the effects worked."
Yeah, but they made the effort to actually build half the ship as well, instead of just using the blue screen... or green screen, as they do now.
"Titanic, as a movie, sucked the pony, but I have to admit that the effects worked."
Yeah, but they made the effort to actually build half the ship as well, instead of just using the blue screen... or green screen, as they do now.
Well, I didn't mean that blue screen and CGI should NEVER be used. I just think that they are not of a high enough quality to be used extensively throughout a film, ie. Episode 1.
It is important to push boundaries but not if it means abandoning believability -the audience can only suspend their disbelief so far.
It is important to push boundaries but not if it means abandoning believability -the audience can only suspend their disbelief so far.
That's a tad luddite to suggest we adandon blue screen and CGI isn't it?
I like Star Wars, but some of the effects are a bit ropey.
I like the fact that people use cutting edge technology to improve and push the envelope.
Sure, it can encourage laziness but also produces stunning effects.
Titanic, as a movie, sucked the pony, but I have to admit that the effects worked.
To not use these techniques would make most movies look like episodes of The Muppet Show.
It's not an excuse to use graphics instead of plot, acting and direction, but try to imagine Fellowship of The Rings without CGI and bluescreen.
It would look like Dr Who.
I like Star Wars, but some of the effects are a bit ropey.
I like the fact that people use cutting edge technology to improve and push the envelope.
Sure, it can encourage laziness but also produces stunning effects.
Titanic, as a movie, sucked the pony, but I have to admit that the effects worked.
To not use these techniques would make most movies look like episodes of The Muppet Show.
It's not an excuse to use graphics instead of plot, acting and direction, but try to imagine Fellowship of The Rings without CGI and bluescreen.
It would look like Dr Who.
So perhaps they should have had REAL X-wings and Tie Fighters? ;-)
No, Star wars was blue screen and matt models, as was Superman, but as yuo said Grix, they did take pride in creating the effects back then.
Perhaps its because they were working on the frontiers of special effects back then and nowadays everything that seems to get created artificially is done in CGI. Jurassic Park worked, Jumanji (that used the same CGI engine) didn't, but that's the way it goes.
No, Star wars was blue screen and matt models, as was Superman, but as yuo said Grix, they did take pride in creating the effects back then.
Perhaps its because they were working on the frontiers of special effects back then and nowadays everything that seems to get created artificially is done in CGI. Jurassic Park worked, Jumanji (that used the same CGI engine) didn't, but that's the way it goes.
Well said.
I love special effects of times past. I feel sorry for the great artists involved in it, back in the seventies and eighties, because they were reknown for their talents and genius in which they made things look real... the Death Star was made out of battleship models, and the Millennium Falcon was built in Pembrokeshire.
The best special effects are those that AREN'T special effects though... there is nothing like watching a piece of footage, powerful in imagery, and all the time being utterly real. Like the car chase in The French Connection, Goatboy mentioned... there are loads of others. I'm disapointed I can't think of any to hand.
I love special effects of times past. I feel sorry for the great artists involved in it, back in the seventies and eighties, because they were reknown for their talents and genius in which they made things look real... the Death Star was made out of battleship models, and the Millennium Falcon was built in Pembrokeshire.
The best special effects are those that AREN'T special effects though... there is nothing like watching a piece of footage, powerful in imagery, and all the time being utterly real. Like the car chase in The French Connection, Goatboy mentioned... there are loads of others. I'm disapointed I can't think of any to hand.
Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menance
To me the very name strikes fear into my bones. The reason? This film is an example of some of the worst CGI and blue screen ever!
When you watch the original Star Wars (1977)the only thing that looks really dated is Luke Skywalker's hair! You can watch these characters and actually believe that they are zooming around the galaxy taking part in a cosmological revoloution.
Episode 1 on the other hand looks like what it is: a load of idiots standing in front of a blue screen with multi-million dollar special effects plastered all over them.
The worst thing about Return of the Jedi for me was the scene where Luke is being chased by Stormtroopers on those flying bike things (I forget what they are actually called) -the blue screen effects are terrible. Well now, with Episode 1, we get a whole film of it!
But Star Wars is far from being the only culprit. I had to stop watching The Mummy because the CGI in those opening scenes was so unrealistic. Hollow Man and Titanic also used unconvincing CGI.
My advice to film makers: Look back to the old days of cinema. Directors had nothing but their imaginations to rely on -and they still managed to astound their audiences. CGI should be used in moderation rather than bandyed about in an attept to attract audiences. Don't studios know that it's vulgar to show off your wealth!
To me the very name strikes fear into my bones. The reason? This film is an example of some of the worst CGI and blue screen ever!
When you watch the original Star Wars (1977)the only thing that looks really dated is Luke Skywalker's hair! You can watch these characters and actually believe that they are zooming around the galaxy taking part in a cosmological revoloution.
Episode 1 on the other hand looks like what it is: a load of idiots standing in front of a blue screen with multi-million dollar special effects plastered all over them.
The worst thing about Return of the Jedi for me was the scene where Luke is being chased by Stormtroopers on those flying bike things (I forget what they are actually called) -the blue screen effects are terrible. Well now, with Episode 1, we get a whole film of it!
But Star Wars is far from being the only culprit. I had to stop watching The Mummy because the CGI in those opening scenes was so unrealistic. Hollow Man and Titanic also used unconvincing CGI.
My advice to film makers: Look back to the old days of cinema. Directors had nothing but their imaginations to rely on -and they still managed to astound their audiences. CGI should be used in moderation rather than bandyed about in an attept to attract audiences. Don't studios know that it's vulgar to show off your wealth!