We’ve probably all seen the trailers for The Force Awakens. If not here it is…
One of the things I notice about this is it looks real. This might be that CGI has improved significantly since Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith but I suspect practical effects have also been used a lot more.
I’m a big fan of practical effects. Firstly its better of the actors. If an actor is standing in front of nothing it is difficult to know how to react. The battle on Mustafar, for instance, is so overblown. The amount of hours needed, to get the CGI right, is ridiculous. The fight between Westley and Inigo, in The Princess Bride, is far better. Obviously the emotions involved are entirely different but we don’t need so many special effects. If you have good actors you only need a room.
Yes I have very high hopes for The Force Awakens. I think it will be excellent. Although if it’s worse than the prequels that would be an amazing achievement.
CGI has its place of course but it shouldn’t be used all the time. It reminds me of Willow’s addiction to magic in Buffy the Vampire slayer. She gets to the point of not even considering other options. And sometimes that’s how directors seem to use CGI.
Another casualty of CGI is my imagination. When reading a science fiction, or fantasy book, it can be hard to imagine the fantastic things described. Instead of seeing a real alien interacting with the characters I see a scene that doesn’t quite work and a slightly blobby creature.
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I just wanted to say that I have checked this post. I really have. Unfortunately my particular combination of dyslexia and dyspraxia makes it really hard for me to spot typos. Please enjoy and I’ll try not to make too many errors.
Unstable Orbit 