Visual effects and moviemaking have gone hand in hand since the early days of cinema. As computer technology advanced throughout the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, CGI (computer-generated imagery) has grown to become a ubiquitous aspect of the industry. And while a good movie needn’t have to rely on special effects, nor can good CGI truly save a poor movie, it’s true that in certain cases the visual effects can make or break a movie.
Great CGI has the power to immerse its viewers into breathtaking worlds, bring fantasy to life, and enhance storytelling, whereas poorly executed CGI has the potential to pull viewers right out of the experience.Poor CGI doesn’t automatically ruin a movie, however. Here we look at movies that excel so well in all other areas, including stellar scripts and exceptional acting and visual direction, that they were able to rise above their CGI shortcomings and achieve critical or commercial success.
10’Blade' (1998)
Blade (1998)
At the time of its release,Bladewas by far the greatest thing Marvel had put out on the big screen. Wesley Snipes portrayed the titular character with an imposing intensity making him both effortlessly cool and relentlessly ruthless. Combining elements of vampire horror and bloody action, while not the first comic book movie aimed at adults, it was the first one that nailed it.
Poor CGI Was a Recurring Problem Within the Franchise
While the movie was praised for its gritty aesthetics and there were some fantastic CGI moments, not every moment worked so well with some even verging on cartoonish. An example of this is the exploding body of Deacon Frost who looks like something straight out of a Loony Tunes cartoon as his body inflates before its explosion. These moments are all the more noticeable as they contrast so much with the film’s darker tone. While the ambition of the effects team should be praised, the technology just wasn’t always able to keep up with their vision, at the time.
The trilogy as a whole has been praised but has unfortunately been plagued by poor CGI throughout. The most notable example is the infamous use of CGI eyes used for Wesley Snipes when he refused to open his own eyes because of a dispute with the director.
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9’The Irishman' (2019)
The Irishman
Martin Scorsese’sThe Irishmanis an epic retelling of the disappearance of union leader Jimmy Hoffa and the elements of organized crime that surrounded it. The movie received critical acclaim with particular praise being directed at the strong performances from Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci. and Steven Graham, as well as Scorsese’s direction and ability to make the epic and sprawling narrative still feel intimate and character driven.
The Use of De-aging Technology Was Divisive
While the narrative and acting were universally praised,the use of cutting edge de-aging technologyto portray some of the stars at younger stages of their lives was met with mixed reactions. The ambition was commendable, but many found it to be unconvincing and would have preferred the use of younger actors in its place.
8’Jumanji' (1995)
The originalJumanjifocuses on two young children who find a strange and mysterious board game. They soon discover there’s more to the game than meets the eye. With each roll of the dice another terror from the depths of the jungle is taken from the game and brought into the player’s real life, including an old player who’s been stuck in there for 25 years.
The Fun and Chaos Just About Manages to Distract Viewers From Some Questionable CGI
Made at a time when CGI was still very much in its experimental phase, the movie’s ambitious use of CGI (and practical effects) didn’t always pay off. There was some groundbreaking stuff in there but many criticized the movie’s overreliance on CGI over solid storytelling.
There were some very strange and clunky moving monkeys, some utterly absurdly large spiders and the less said about the young boy’s physical transformation into a peculiar hybrid animal, the better. Fortunately, the movie’s thrilling blend of humor and adventure is enough to distract viewers, and it still holds a dear place in the hearts of many who grew up on it.
7’The Mummy Returns' (2001)
The Mummy Returns
The Mummy Returnswas a smash hit at the box office, making $435 million, and was praised for its intense action sequences and Brenden Fraser’s charismatic performance. However, even at the time of release, Dwayne Johnson’s Scorpion King character was subject to some criticism, mainly aimed at the questionable CGI.
The Scorpion King’s Appearance Is Almost Laughable
The Scorpion King is a huge and dangerous human-scorpion hybrid creature who is meant to be a formidable and fearsome antagonist but ultimately evoked more humor than terror for many viewers. This was primarily due to the character’s exaggerated, cartoonish appearance and the unrealistic nature of the CGI, which couldn’t fully capture its menacing tone.
6’Escape from L.A.' (1996)
Escape From L.A.
John Carpenter’s 1981 fan-favoriteEscape from New York, is a wildly imaginative, dystopian action rompstarring Kurt Russelin one of his most iconic and memorable roles to date as Snake Plissken. While not an instant hit, it picked up steam and eventually secured its status as a cult classic.
The Sequel Upped the Absurdity
Escape from New Yorkreveled in its over-the-top antics, and its core audience embraced its blend of action, absurdity, and satire. Over a decade later, Carpenter and Rusell returned with the sequelEscape from L.A. In an attempt to appeal to their cult following, they followed a similar formula to the original, only this time cranking everything up to 11, and on the whole it seemed to work. However, one scene has become infamous for its utter absurdity which is compounded with its outrageous use of ridiculous CGI.
The scene in question sees Plissken surfing a towering wave through the ruins of Los Angeles, casually exchanging dialogue with a fellow surfer mid-ride as they chase Steve Buscemi’s character in his car.
5’Spider-Man' (2002)
Spider-Man
Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man’s first big screen outing was in 2002 with Tobey McGuire donning the Spidey suit andSam Raimi handling direction duties. The movie was an instant hit, shattering multiple box office records, becoming the first film to reach $100 million in a single weekend, as well as the most successful film based on a comic book at the time.
Most of the Visual Effects Were Very Impressive
Generally, the movie was considered a huge success when it came to its use of visual effects and CGI. The web-swinging sequences were considered groundbreaking at the time, and were a “marvel” to experience in the theater. Elsewhere, however, certain scenes and effects came across as janky, demonstrating some seriously unnatural physics. Additionally, at times during close-ups of Spider-Man jumping or landing, the CGI model looks overly smooth and rubbery, lacking realistic weight and texture. Just check the iconic rooftop fight with the Green Goblin for a prime example.
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4’Deep Blue Sea' (1999)
Deep Blue Sea
Ever since the release of Steven Spielberg’s groundbreakingJawsin 1975, studios have been trying to replicate the movie’s success with the next big shark attack movie. 1999’sDeep Blue Seatook a novel approach to the genre, with the film taking place in an underwater lab. After the lab structure buckles in a storm and is flooded, the scientists and other visitors find themselves being hunted by genetically enhanced sharks.
‘Deep Blue Sea’ Has a B-Movie Charm
The story is a bit far-fetched, but the action sequences are fast and frantic and are punctuated by moments of genuine suspense. It also features one of the most shocking deaths ever committed to film, which certainly works in its favor. The movie doesn’t take itself too seriously and has a certain B-movie charm that allows viewers to forgive some of the less than impressive CGI shark effects in certain parts.
3’Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' (2008)
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Indiana Jonesis one of the biggest and most beloved movie franchises of all time. Indy had already raided lost arks and explored temples of doom but nearly 20 years after his “last Crusade,” he was back, and this time he was accompanied by his newfound son played by Shia LaBeouf. Despite becoming the worst-reviewed movie of the franchise, it went on to become the highest-grossing.
Looking back on the original ’80s trilogy, it’s easy to poke fun at much of the outdated visual effects. From rubber snakes to cartoonish face-melting sequences, they were rife with questionable special effects, but it’s largely forgivable due to the technological constraints of the time.
Audiences Deserved Better
Fast-forward to 2008 and audiences had witnessed thesinking of the Titanic,full-scale live-action Transformer battles, andarmies of undead pirates of the Caribbean.
But just one year prior tothe groundbreakingAvatarmovie and we were witnessing Shia LaBeouf swinging through a CGI jungle alongside cartoonish looking monkeys, full-sized adults being devoured by ultra unrealistic swarms of giant ants and Aliens that look less convincing than thoseused by Ripley Scott nearly 30 years earlier. Fortunately for those involved, the Indiana Jones IP brand was strong enough to ensure the film was still a roaring success at the box office.
2’I am Legend' (2007)
I Am Legend
I am Legendis a post-apocalyptic movie in which Will Smith finds himself as the supposed sole survivor, alongside his canine companion, in a world ravaged by nocturnal mutants.
Sometimes, Less is More
I Am Legendis most effective when it builds tension through isolation and unseen threats, rather than relying on the visible presence of the creatures. Unfortunately, much of this is down to the poor and unconvincing CGI design of those deadly mutants, who are almost comical in their appearance. Luckily, the dark and foreboding atmosphere combined with Smith’s natural charisma were enough to carry the movie and help it make a decent profit at the box office.
1’The Polar Express' (2004)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis,The Polar Expressis a computer-animated Christmas fantasy movie that sees a mysterious train conductor, voiced by Tom Hanks, take a selection of children on a North Pole-bound train ride on Christmas Eve in an attempt to increase their Christmas spirit and belief in the holiday.
The Movie Is About as Divisive as They Come
Everything about the movie was divisive. It cost an absolute fortune to make but actually made a solid profit despite being split right down the middle in terms of audience and critical opinion.
One of the most contentious topics surrounding the movies is most certainly the CGI used. It landed in the Guinness World Records as the first all-digital capture film. For many, this ground-breaking technology created a dreamlike and immersive world that resonated with the film’s magical tone. Many others, however, criticized it for its “uncanny valley” effect, where the humans’ lifelike yet stiff expressions made them look emotionally disconnected and made for extremely unsettling viewing.
