Just a quick agreement

Posted by Michaelson from leospace047.utsi.edu on May 08, 2001 at 18:10:32:

In Reply to: The "CGI Revolution" posted by Austin Powers on May 08, 2001 at 15:08:24:

Totally understand what you're saying here, Austin, and like most new tools that technicians get hold of, a lot of times (heck, MOST of the time) it is believed that it (CGI) can and will solve all ills in a movie. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed Mummy II, warts and all, because it was simply entertainment...bottom line, or "eye candy". Shoot, why not? We need those type of movies as well, what I call bubble gum for the mind. But, as I believe I understand you saying, CGI is believed to be a fix all for things that they don't want to pay union scale for to have a stunt man do, or probably couldn't do simply because of the laws of physics. Well, so be it, but the line should indeed be drawn somewhere. As to the Jurassic Park III info, I'm sure saddened to hear about what you saw in that 3rd installment trailer. I haven't seen anything yet, but I agree 100% with you on the first movie. As far as I'm concerned, that island really exists and they just shot footage of the real animals before being eaten. (grins) Let's just hope the the newness of CGI wears off soon, and the tool is used in a more believeable manner rather than the shotgun scatter effect. They have to know that the public will eventually say enough of this bad work (like they did on the SW movie) and get back to what really works...a good story told with real people, and use CGI for added spice. That's my spin on it. Regards. Michaelson

: After seeing 'The Mummy Returns' and having viewed countless trailers for upcoming movies, I have to agree that the film industry's use of CGI has become alarming. During the '90s computerized effects began slowly, but they steadily became more and more widely used. The first time I remember CGI was back in 'The Abyss' and 'T2'. Most other movies still relied on tradition effects methods. But when 'Jurassic Park' came out, followed by 'Twister' and 'Independence Day', CGI seemingly became the norm. With movies like 'Twister', stories were developed AROUND the CGI. Solid story lines were abandoned for eye candy.

: In the first 'Mummy', computerized graphics were used in abundance, but not too blatantly. At first glance, the city of Thebes in the beginning looked real, and the aging Anubis statue was believable as well. The scarab beetles looked so real they made audiences squirm, and the exploding Cairo and flame-engulfed soldiers were awe inspiring. The only part that was CGI to the naked eye, was the Mummy himself. For the most part, everything else was done so well that you believed it was real. Even the giant sand face and the Pharaoh's guards looked great. To me, it seems the CGI was used to aid in the storytelling, not replace it.

: But in the sequel, Hollywood's insane use of CGI is more apparent. Mummies look faker, the giant water face looks cartoonish, and totally impossible stunts are performed with the use of a computer. Hot-air balloons fly at Mach speed, mummies leap from building to building like Peter Parker, and a ridiculously fake villain dukes it out with a superhuman O'Connell.

: In just 2 years, the Mummy's effects went from story aids to story replacers, and the effects that once looked real and believable now appear phony and cartoon-like.

: I've never seen 'The Phantom Menace', but from what I've heard and seen in previews, CGI was overused there as well. I fear that IF an 'Indy 4' is ever made, it too will be saturated with horribly fake effects that'll leave you urning for the days of stuntmen.

: In my opinion, the ONLY CGI that is worthwhile is the stuff you can't point out, like that used in 'Titanic'. To this day, the BEST CGI I've ever seen are the parts with the Tyrannosaurus in the 1st 'Jurassic Park'. You actually think that thing's real and dangerous. Not like the lame "flocking dinosaurs" or giant "brontosaurs". Over the years it's like instead of getting better, the CGI has gotten worse. And this's evident in the trailer for 'Jurassic Park 3'. The creatures look as hokey as the ones on the 'Lost World' TV show.

: Austin Powers

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: Totally understand what you're saying here, Austin, and like most new tools that technicians get hold of, a lot of times (heck, MOST of the time) it is believed that it (CGI) can and will solve all ills in a movie. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed Mummy II, warts and all, because it was simply entertainment...bottom line, or "eye candy". Shoot, why not? We need those type of movies as well, what I call bubble gum for the mind. But, as I believe I understand you saying, CGI is believed to be a fix all for things that they don't want to pay union scale for to have a stunt man do, or probably couldn't do simply because of the laws of physics. Well, so be it, but the line should indeed be drawn somewhere. As to the Jurassic Park III info, I'm sure saddened to hear about what you saw in that 3rd installment trailer. I haven't seen anything yet, but I agree 100% with you on the first movie. As far as I'm concerned, that island really exists and they just shot footage of the real animals before being eaten. (grins) Let's just hope the the newness of CGI wears off soon, and the tool is used in a more believeable manner rather than the shotgun scatter effect. They have to know that the public will eventually say enough of this bad work (like they did on the SW movie) and get back to what really works...a good story told with real people, and use CGI for added spice. That's my spin on it. Regards. Michaelson

: 
: : After seeing 'The Mummy Returns' and having viewed countless trailers for upcoming movies, I have to agree that the film industry's use of CGI has become alarming. During the '90s computerized effects began slowly, but they steadily became more and more widely used. The first time I remember CGI was back in 'The Abyss' and 'T2'. Most other movies still relied on tradition effects methods. But when 'Jurassic Park' came out, followed by 'Twister' and 'Independence Day', CGI seemingly became the norm. With movies like 'Twister', stories were developed AROUND the CGI. Solid story lines were abandoned for eye candy.

: : In the first 'Mummy', computerized graphics were used in abundance, but not too blatantly. At first glance, the city of Thebes in the beginning looked real, and the aging Anubis statue was believable as well. The scarab beetles looked so real they made audiences squirm, and the exploding Cairo and flame-engulfed soldiers were awe inspiring. The only part that was CGI to the naked eye, was the Mummy himself. For the most part, everything else was done so well that you believed it was real. Even the giant sand face and the Pharaoh's guards looked great. To me, it seems the CGI was used to aid in the storytelling, not replace it.

: : But in the sequel, Hollywood's insane use of CGI is more apparent. Mummies look faker, the giant water face looks cartoonish, and totally impossible stunts are performed with the use of a computer. Hot-air balloons fly at Mach speed, mummies leap from building to building like Peter Parker, and a ridiculously fake villain dukes it out with a superhuman O'Connell.

: : In just 2 years, the Mummy's effects went from story aids to story replacers, and the effects that once looked real and believable now appear phony and cartoon-like.

: : I've never seen 'The Phantom Menace', but from what I've heard and seen in previews, CGI was overused there as well. I fear that IF an 'Indy 4' is ever made, it too will be saturated with horribly fake effects that'll leave you urning for the days of stuntmen.

: : In my opinion, the ONLY CGI that is worthwhile is the stuff you can't point out, like that used in 'Titanic'. To this day, the BEST CGI I've ever seen are the parts with the Tyrannosaurus in the 1st 'Jurassic Park'. You actually think that thing's real and dangerous. Not like the lame "flocking dinosaurs" or giant "brontosaurs". Over the years it's like instead of getting better, the CGI has gotten worse. And this's evident in the trailer for 'Jurassic Park 3'. The creatures look as hokey as the ones on the 'Lost World' TV show.

: : Austin Powers

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