Practical Effects Vs Digital Effects (part 2): Does nostalgia play a role in the practical vs CGI debate?
I did a video a couple years ago talking about my love for practical effects and my general distaste for CGI monsters and creatures but the world of computers and digital effects progresses so quickly that I thought it might be fun to see if the video still holds up today. CGI has been making insanely believable backgrounds, sets and vehicles for years but has creature designs progressed to a level that I can’t tell the difference anymore?.. Let’s take a look at Practical Effects Vs CGI part 2!
My quick summary of the last video for those of you that haven’t seen it, is this.. I love both practical effects and CGI and there is a place for both in movies. My only argument was specifically in horror movies, when CGI is used to create living, breathing characters. For me a CGI monster looks fake and it takes me out of the movie even though it’s technically an impressive achievement. I personally prefer a man in a rubber suit over the uncanny valley look!.. At least you can tell the rubber suit monster is actually on set with the actors and not added in later… But that’s just me!
Ok… I think I should be honest with everyone… A small part of me is making this video because I like discussing the practical vs digital debate but my opinion on that topic was pretty much already made clear on the first video… so this video might take a bit of a nasty turn when I talk about the debate using one of my absolute favorite movies ever that featured a practical monster and the new remake of this film that used a ton of digital creatures (and if you looked at the thumbnail, then it’s not much of a secret but… Please be aware.. I may freak out a bit and rant but hopefully we can all stay professional here… eh hem… here we go…
What the actual FFFF you absolute freaking SHIIIIHEADSSSSS.. What have you done?…. What have you done? OK, maybe not professional but the original movie Predator is absolutely one of my top three favorite movies of all time and it created an iconic movie monster that planted a seed in my mind that grew into a love for horror and sci fi… So when people mess with it, I have a hard time separating my nostalgia from the issue at hand… and the issue at hand is the creature effects done practically in 1987 vs the new predator movie with its heavy use of CGI creatures.
I thought this would be a good comparison because the remake was done fairly recently and it had a big enough budget that the effects could be handled by a competent digital effects company and should be as good as it gets for CGI creatures. We can honestly compare the top of the line digital creature with it’s 1987 practical counterpart…. And it gives me the opportunity to do my arnold impression… (impression)… Ok, my bad arnold impression.
I mentioned in my first video that if everything else in the movie is great like the story and sets and the acting, then I am able to suspend my disbelief and enjoy the movie even if there are some poorly done effects… and I still stand by that.. The 1987 predator movie had everything going for it so I would probably let some crappy effects slide, but I luckily didn’t have to!.. The practical creature was so well done and convincing that I would put it up against any movie creature that has been made since… Just look at it.. There is no uncanny valley feeling for me and it definitely fits seamlessly into the scene and there is no doubt that there is an actual creature interacting with the environment and the other actors. It’s so freaking awesome!.. Now let’s take a look at the new remake done 32 years later with a larger budget and all the power our modern day computers… (cartoon)… (smile at camera.. Hear boos… and frown)… Alright that was a joke obviously.. But look at it… I know it’s just a completely subjective opinion, but I hate it.. I hate everything about it and it’s hard for me to explain why in words… It just doesn’t look or feel right to me and I wish I was better with words so that I could explain why it doesn’t work for me but maybe some of you can help me in the comments… Why do I hate this CGI version of the predator so much and why does it take me out of the movie every time it’s on screen?
OK… I have a theory and although I am way too lazy to actually test it to get actual data, I will pose it here and let one of you do the research and report back… I would bet that there is an age component that comes into play when you ask someone to pick which predator they like best. See I grew up and started my passion for movies in the 80’s when digital creatures didn’t even exist. Now as the medium is changing, I’m struggling to accept it and my brain doesn’t allow me to believe it or enjoy it when it doesn’t look like the movies and creatures that I grew up watching. I would also guess that if you asked a 10 year old their opinion, they would probably love the new CGI predator and think it’s totally badass and super gucci goat … or whatever the hell words the kids are using these days… and I think it may be because they grew up playing video games and watching game footage on youtube and fell in love with the digital monsters that don’t even try to be realistic in any way. They don’t have the same nostalgia for practical effects that some of us old farts do and a digital creature not only looks badass to them, but it’s a completely normal part of their lives and upbringing… and they have no problem suspending their disbelief and enjoying a movie that is heavy on CGI creature effects.
I don’t know… maybe it’s an age thing or maybe it’s completely subjective from person to person no matter their age… again, I’m too lazy to do the research so for now, it’s just a thought.
So let me know your thoughts… Which predator do you prefer and why? Do you prefer old school practical effects or digital effects? Did you grow up watching practical creatures like I did or are you young and completely wrong… lol… just kidding… Let me know your thoughts in the comments… but please keep in mind (big lebowski opinion clip).. So don’t be a dick… oh and if you like horror movies maybe think about subscribing and hanging out here for a bit… (stick around clip)
