Enough with the CGI already! - VGF

Bomby · 07-05-2007, 10:42 AM

CGI was exciting back in the days of Jurassic Park and Toy Story. Now it's just annoying. The scenes of Spiderman swinging throughout New York city are no longer exciting - it's all run of the mill. Even though the new Die Hard was a thoroughly entertaining film, it wasn't because of the action, it was because of the intensity of whether or not McClane's job would be done on time. I have not seen, nor do I plan on seeing Transformers, but judging from the commercials, I can already tell it's just the same old **** in a new bucket.

So here is my new plea to Hackywood:

Calm down with the CGI! You let it spoil faster than milk sitting on the porch.

Too see what I mean, compare the aforementioned graphics of Spiderman swinging throughout New York to the stunts in Jackie Chan's Police Story. The former isn't even in the same building as the latter.

MasaFACE · 07-14-2007, 04:28 AM

Well, in some films, CGI is vital, but I do agree real stunts > CGI stunts in Live action films.

Metal Man · 07-14-2007, 05:23 AM

CGI is garbage. Aside from using it to do something impossible, I believe it to destroy artistic integrity in a film by being used. It's especially used to shave off corners in cartoons.. ugh.

**Sean P Kelly** · 07-16-2007, 07:24 PM

CGI has been slowly developing in movies for DECADES (you heard that right).

It will continue to develop and you shouldn't expect filmmakers to throw away all that progress just because you prefer a different method.

I agree that they should keep practical effects and only use CGI for optical effects. However, CGI is here to stay.

Ike · 07-16-2007, 08:04 PM

I think the Lord of the Rings trilogy nailed the right amount of CGI to practical effects ratio.

It's just that some things can't be done without CGI. Yeah, it's a little overdone, but sometimes there's nothing else you can do. I mean, for Tranformers, what else are they gonna do, go back to claymation?

Bomby · 07-16-2007, 10:59 PM

Did I s-s-s-say that CGI should be done away with all together? Please, point it out where I did.

**Sean P Kelly** · 07-17-2007, 07:19 AM

Actually Transformers uses practical effects in addition to CGI (i.e. they actually built the robots for some scenes)

**Sean P Kelly** · 07-17-2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bomby McClane

Did I s-s-s-say that CGI should be done away with all together? Please, point it out where I did.

You didn't say it, but you insinuated it.

Acradius · 07-17-2007, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bomby McClane

I have not seen, nor do I plan on seeing Transformers, but judging from the commercials, I can already tell it's just the same old **** in a new bucket.

First of all, that's equivalent to Geek Blasphemy. It's like saying someone who enjoyed Star Wars as a kid didn't go see any of the new movies, because they're prettier.

Honestly, I see your point about over-CGI-fication. Ever since The Matrix, everyone seems to just expect wicked computer animation in everything. For Transformers to be live action though, they really had to go that route. Otherwise, we'd have to admit that Hollywood has better technology than, say, the military, because they have three-story transforming robots of plasma-cannon doom. Unless they went the old Power Rangers / Godzilla route, with a guy dressed in an Optimus Prime costume (he'd have to be a contortionist too, otherwise he'd break something every time he transformed), but fans would break their kneecaps for not using the technology available to them.

I'd still recommend the movie, even if CGI bothers you. Its charm, to me at least, wasn't the painstakingly detailed transformation sequences, but the great sense of humor it had, and the fun factor they gave it. Spoiler Below

Like seeing a cell phone turn into a pint-sized robot of terror with a minigun, or how when Optimus and Megatron finally get to fighting, Optimus pretty much has the same lines he did back in the old animated movie. Or how Bumblebee is just plain

ing awesome.

Sim Kid · 07-17-2007, 08:21 PM

Some things you can't do with CGI, but what I really wish is for 2D animation to return to America. (It still lives in at least Japan and Argentina)

As impressive as the CGI-imaging in films like Advent Children were, you really can't replicate what can be drawn by hand. Sure, there are some really crappy animations like Shin Chan (Which HAD to have been done with markers and crayons), but a hand-drawn character has as much character behind them as an uber-realistic CGI-model.

Heck, look at what 2D-animation can do...Sephiroth looks manlier in that Final Fantasy 7 Anime than he does in Advent Children.

Prince Phaeral · 07-17-2007, 08:23 PM

^That picture makes me feel like I can die happy.

Demonicus Prime · 07-17-2007, 08:32 PM

I agree partially with Bomby, and partially with Sean. CG can make a movie particularly beautiful, like Transformers. But it can make the overall tone detract from the movie aspect, like in Police Story. I'll admit, some of Live Free or Die Hard's stunts would be impossible without CG, they probably could have done more actual stunting.

**Kargath** · 07-17-2007, 09:35 PM

Sim Kid, that's a choice in artistic direction, rather than the fault of the tools themselves. Just compare face shape between the two versions.

Sim Kid · 07-18-2007, 12:20 AM

Yes, you don't have to put so much detail into the characters to decide to give them Lipstick and Mascara in a cartoon.

I'm not saying that 3D-animation's bad or anything...The characters in Advent Children looked pretty damn close to real actors (Save for Cloud and Reno's hair, which can't occur naturally at all. ;p ), and you can actually make out stitches on Cloud's sweater in some scenes. That's impressive work.

Plus...CGI can do stuff that'd be otherwise un-replicatable in real life. Like in Lord of the Rings or Tron.

07-05-2007, 10:42 AM	#1
Bomby Song 2 : Whoo Hoo Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Mad City, WI Gender: Posts: 14,427 Thanks: 192 Thanked 419 Times in 298 Posts Blog Entries: 4 Points: 1,215.02 Bank: 1,677,553.97 Total Points: 1,678,768.99 Donate	Enough with the CGI already! CGI was exciting back in the days of Jurassic Park and Toy Story. Now it's just annoying. The scenes of Spiderman swinging throughout New York city are no longer exciting - it's all run of the mill. Even though the new Die Hard was a thoroughly entertaining film, it wasn't because of the action, it was because of the intensity of whether or not McClane's job would be done on time. I have not seen, nor do I plan on seeing Transformers, but judging from the commercials, I can already tell it's just the same old **** in a new bucket. So here is my new plea to Hackywood: Calm down with the CGI! You let it spoil faster than milk sitting on the porch. Too see what I mean, compare the aforementioned graphics of Spiderman swinging throughout New York to the stunts in Jackie Chan's Police Story. The former isn't even in the same building as the latter.

07-17-2007, 09:35 PM	#13
Kargath Heat-Seeking Pleasure Machine Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: kargath64.deviantart.com Gender: Posts: 4,228 Thanks: 303 Thanked 80 Times in 70 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Points: 6,921.21 Bank: 156,821.55 Total Points: 163,742.76 Donate	Sim Kid, that's a choice in artistic direction, rather than the fault of the tools themselves. Just compare face shape between the two versions. __________________ Why is it drug addicts and computer afficionados are both called users? -Clifford Stoll

07-14-2007, 04:28 AM	#2
MasaFACE Anime & Cartoon Mod Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: In my pants Gender: Posts: 1,774 Thanks: 540 Thanked 166 Times in 103 Posts Points: 12,261.41 Bank: 5,640.81 Total Points: 17,902.22 Donate	Well, in some films, CGI is vital, but I do agree real stunts > CGI stunts in Live action films.

07-14-2007, 05:23 AM	#3
Metal Man Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Gender: Posts: 6,597 Thanks: 73 Thanked 181 Times in 121 Posts Points: 5,165.71 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 5,165.71 Donate	CGI is garbage. Aside from using it to do something impossible, I believe it to destroy artistic integrity in a film by being used. It's especially used to shave off corners in cartoons.. ugh.

07-16-2007, 07:24 PM	#4
Sean P Kelly SMBHQ Mod Movies Mod Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Gender: Posts: 3,218 Thanks: 9 Thanked 40 Times in 31 Posts Points: 172,642.99 Bank: 55,506.27 Total Points: 228,149.26 Donate	CGI has been slowly developing in movies for DECADES (you heard that right). It will continue to develop and you shouldn't expect filmmakers to throw away all that progress just because you prefer a different method. I agree that they should keep practical effects and only use CGI for optical effects. However, CGI is here to stay.

07-16-2007, 08:04 PM	#5
Ike Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: I don't know. Where do I live? Gender: Posts: 5,612 Thanks: 40 Thanked 152 Times in 108 Posts Points: 2,843.85 Bank: 160,059.82 Total Points: 162,903.67 Donate	I think the Lord of the Rings trilogy nailed the right amount of CGI to practical effects ratio. It's just that some things can't be done without CGI. Yeah, it's a little overdone, but sometimes there's nothing else you can do. I mean, for Tranformers, what else are they gonna do, go back to claymation?

07-16-2007, 10:59 PM	#6
Bomby Song 2 : Whoo Hoo Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Mad City, WI Gender: Posts: 14,427 Thanks: 192 Thanked 419 Times in 298 Posts Blog Entries: 4 Points: 1,215.02 Bank: 1,677,553.97 Total Points: 1,678,768.99 Donate	Did I s-s-s-say that CGI should be done away with all together? Please, point it out where I did.

07-17-2007, 07:19 AM	#7
Sean P Kelly SMBHQ Mod Movies Mod Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Gender: Posts: 3,218 Thanks: 9 Thanked 40 Times in 31 Posts Points: 172,642.99 Bank: 55,506.27 Total Points: 228,149.26 Donate	Actually Transformers uses practical effects in addition to CGI (i.e. they actually built the robots for some scenes)

07-17-2007, 08:21 PM	#10
Sim Kid Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The state of Denial Gender: Posts: 6,869 Thanks: 9 Thanked 54 Times in 29 Posts Points: 31,637.04 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 32,137.04 Donate	Some things you can't do with CGI, but what I really wish is for 2D animation to return to America. (It still lives in at least Japan and Argentina) As impressive as the CGI-imaging in films like Advent Children were, you really can't replicate what can be drawn by hand. Sure, there are some really crappy animations like Shin Chan (Which HAD to have been done with markers and crayons), but a hand-drawn character has as much character behind them as an uber-realistic CGI-model. Heck, look at what 2D-animation can do...Sephiroth looks manlier in that Final Fantasy 7 Anime than he does in Advent Children.

07-17-2007, 08:23 PM	#11
Prince Phaeral Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sephiroth's arms. Gender: Posts: 278 Thanks: 19 Thanked 13 Times in 9 Posts Points: 1,989.68 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 1,989.68 Donate	^That picture makes me feel like I can die happy.

07-17-2007, 08:32 PM	#12
Demonicus Prime Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: I Pity The Fool Who Confuses Me With Someone Other Than YoshiFreak. Gender: Posts: 2,887 Thanks: 553 Thanked 93 Times in 67 Posts Points: 9,797.51 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 9,797.51 Donate	I agree partially with Bomby, and partially with Sean. CG can make a movie particularly beautiful, like Transformers. But it can make the overall tone detract from the movie aspect, like in Police Story. I'll admit, some of Live Free or Die Hard's stunts would be impossible without CG, they probably could have done more actual stunting.

07-18-2007, 12:20 AM	#14
Sim Kid Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The state of Denial Gender: Posts: 6,869 Thanks: 9 Thanked 54 Times in 29 Posts Points: 31,637.04 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 32,137.04 Donate	Yes, you don't have to put so much detail into the characters to decide to give them Lipstick and Mascara in a cartoon. I'm not saying that 3D-animation's bad or anything...The characters in Advent Children looked pretty damn close to real actors (Save for Cloud and Reno's hair, which can't occur naturally at all. ;p ), and you can actually make out stitches on Cloud's sweater in some scenes. That's impressive work. Plus...CGI can do stuff that'd be otherwise un-replicatable in real life. Like in Lord of the Rings or Tron.