Escuche esta historia
--:--
7:14
Movies that changed the cinema for their special effects
The movies that changed cinema for their special effects are an example of how the industry has evolved. In order to offer the viewer what they are looking for and meet expectations, so much progress has been made.
In that sense, it's worth taking a look back in a quick tour of the early days of special effects. Feats that, for that time, were believed to be practically impossible, but they were achieved.
Movies that wrote cinematographic history with their special effects
The computer-generated imagery (CGI) went through a host of extraordinary improvements. From its first application in the early 1900s, to the coolest thing known today.
As is well known, CGI is the backbone of the "Seventh Art", since it allows for fantastic milestones. It is the fundamental complement for the development of the films, helping the plot come to life, bringing endearing characters to the big screen.
The route of this protocol of special effects is extensive. From now on, those films that wrote history in this sense will be known, leaving their mark immortalized.
Star Wars IV: A New Hope (1977)
Star Wars IV: A New Hope is one of George Lucas's greatest masterpieces. It is remembered as an iconic and cult piece that made a difference in the film genre.
Although before her there were other films with a certain application of special effects (Journey to the Moon, Metropolis, King Kong), they do not compare. Lucas did an extraordinary job where he brought together a variety of techniques based primarily on the "blue screen effect".
Likewise, it was complemented in layouts, fictitious and real scenarios to complement the production. The impact was such that, immediately, he created the company ILM (Industrial Light and Magic), a brand with an immense journey in the field.
Alien, the eighth passenger (1979)
The end of the 1970s saw fruitful years for special effects. After Star Wars, director Ridley Scott followed in the footsteps of George Lucas when it came to innovation.
Alien is another production that is classified as a cult, also impregnating an entire generation. The mechanics used consisted of giving life to xenomorphs, the typical creatures that were shown throughout the main plot.
The combination of real movements grounded in sculptures and models, together with the CGI of the time, hit the mark. As if that were not enough, what made the most impression was the controversial way in which the alien was born. An act at the level of Hollywood worth witnessing.
Tron (1982)
With the entry of the 1980s it was clear that the industry would fully exploit the methodology used. Because of this, Tron, in charge of Steven Lisberger, went further than thought when compared to its predecessors.
The structured plot was difficult to operate for the magnitude of the project with so little technology. A young video game programmer is suddenly trapped in one of them, forced to play and win for his life.
The futuristic, luminous, technological and cybernetic scenarios were created from a computer. Tron is the film that has left the most legacy in terms of CGI itself, taking it to a higher level than in the 70s.
It represented quite a challenge for the computer processors of the time. While the computation of the special effects was impressive, much of the scenes performed the actual moves and specific stunts.
Jurassic Park (1993)
10 years waited for another great movie to emerge, this time from the hand of Steven Spielberg. Jurassic Park also built an entire legacy not only with movies, but with a brand to its name.
The injection of capital for the development of technology and CGI was such that the so-called "hyper-realistic movements" were processed. Nothing more and nothing less than dinosaurs with a totally detailed appearance along with precise organic movements.
Another impressive point is that the animatronix was experimented with. Incarnated robots to bring back those prehistoric beings and make them interact with humans in a time other than the one in which they existed.
Matrix (1999)
Without underestimating films that were before like Titanic (1997), Matrix is more transcendental. From the hand of Andy and Lana Wachowski, an entire cyber world was processed that became a successful franchise.
The Matrix was the first film production to christen the highly effective time-freeze photography technique. A maneuver that uses several cameras with programmed "shots" at various angles. Thanks to them, the typical action scenes with the hallmark of the saga is that they saw the green light.
Additionally, he made rational utility with the CGI and other special effects. The implemented VFX comprise 20 to 30 percent of its intrinsic development, complementing the aforementioned recording technique.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Talking about special effects and not emphasizing this magnificent title is a mistake. From director Percy Jackson, it is a masterpiece with the perfect balance between live action and CGI.
The first installment of The Lord of the Rings consisted of more than 500 scenes recorded from computerized scenarios. The investment exerted for such a project promulgated the creation of the "MASSIVE" software.
A computer initiative that captured filler characters to enrich the milestones of the plot. Characters that had unique movements and that were not repeated over time, but rather followed different algorithms.
Of course, how not to forget the first successful steps of motion capture. A strategy that saw the rise of Gollum, played by the legendary actor Andy Serkis.
Avatar (2009)
Last but not least, James Cameron's Avatar is an example to follow in the matter. This is the first film recorded and released in 3D base format for all adapted screens.
From the outset, Cameron commented on the difficulty of filming due to the lack of appropriate technology. That's why it invested in its own camera system, the popular Fusion Camera System.
The scoop tells the story of a disabled soldier who is taken into space to colonize Pandora, an exoplanet similar to Earth. To do this, he must replace his condition by entering and transferring his mind to an artificial body or "Avatar".
As can be seen, the figure of the Avatar was created not only with CGI and Cameron's innovation, but also with motion capture. Special suits for motion detection made hyper-realism possible, even in minute details.
