Entertainment

Is CGI what makes a Blockbuster?

The answers to the director's quiz are below this posting, but lets get on with the question in hand. Whilst coming back from Ecuador I managed to watch on the plane "Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End". Now I really enjoyed the film, but couldn't help thinking, strip away the special effects and what have you got?? A film that is thinly plotted, and overlong. So do the special effects make the film or does the story??



Have a look at this photo below;

Now would Davey Jones look as good with a mask of rubber like they used to have, with the tentacles only moving when the actor moved his head??? No of course not.

"Sky Captain and the World of Tommorrow" is a film that highlights just where films are going, it was shot almost entirely in front of a green/blue screen, with the only real action being a few of the air scenes. Yet when you see the film, you can't really tell that much, yes granted some of it is a bit ropey, but on the whole it knits together quite well. The storyline isn't too bad either, but the thing is the film didn't do that well. Doe's this mean that special effects aren't everything??

Now look at the new release of "Transformers", that is just one big special effects and CGI ride, and it is a blockbuster, so does this mean that special effects ARE everything?? Difficult to tell isn't it?

One of the all time classic films is "Psycho", and that had zero special effects in, it was good because it played on peoples fears and was one hell of a good storyline, if a little simple. Which may go to prove that special effects aren't everything, but then you take into account all the times you have said, wouldn't it be good if they remade that film with better effects?

Sometimes though that doesn't work, "Star Wars" was way ahead of it's time for special effects, but now they look a bit 'modelly', yet I think that the original trilogy is far in a way better than the new up to date films. So again we are questioning whether or not special effects are the most important thing in a film.

Just how many of the so-called blockbusters would have been blockbusters without special effects and CGI?? Not too many that is for sure! I though have to say that for low CGI related films that have been blockbusters, and that have had that adventure/action/comedy appeal, one comes top of the list in my view and that is "Raiders of the Lost Ark", a great film that relied more on story than effects.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Fun & games

Director Quiz Answers

Only two entries this time around, and Will only managed a couple of rounds, but still ended up with a very respectable 26. So once again the winner was Keith, who just happened to set the theme of the quiz! With an excellent 40! Please don't blame me if there is some dispute with Hitch's fav film, I got it from the official biography!
So here are those all important answers.

Round 1: The Movie Link

1) Stanley Kubrick – The Shining
2) Alfred Hitchcock – Rear Window
3) George Lucas – Star Wars
4) Ridley Scott – GI Jane
5) Spike Lee – Malcolm X

All nominated for but never received a best director oscar


Round 2: Directors cut

1) Clint Eastwood
2) Paul Haggis
3) Steven Soderbergh
4) Stephen Spielberg
5) Martin Scorsese
6) Peter Jackson
7) Robert Zemeckis
8) James Cameron
9) Oliver Stone
10) Sam Mendes

Who are all incidently Best Director Winners!

Round 3: My Direction Music

1) Kim Wilde/Cambodia
2) Ultravox/Vienna
3) J Geils Band/Centrefold
4) Cock Robin/The promise you made
5) Limhal/Never ending story
6) Pet Shop Boys/West End Girls
7) Baltimory/Tarzan Boy
8) Call Me/Blondie
9) Jonah Luis/Stop the Calvary
10) Kelly Marie/Feels like I’m in love

Round 4: Quizzicles – Hitch

1) The lodger
2) An extra in the news room
3) Saint Ignatius College
4) Alma Reville
5) 14th August 1899
6) She was 1 day older
7) Benji!
8) Gave him a letter to take to the local police station where upon reading it the desk sergeant would lock him up for ten minutes!
9) He never drove
10) 7
11) Bowel Movement
12) Eggs
13) Luis Bunuel
14) True
15) Der Mude Tod

Update

Travel and Other Things

Hi folks, haven't been able to get on for ages due to all the travel I have been doing, indeed I am writing this from an internet shop in Riobamba Ecuador!
A LOT has happend since my last post, apart from the travel of course, and I will be putting up the answers to the directors quiz next week I hope. The directors quiz can't be as hard as Will's Silver Screen Goddesses quiz, that's for sure. Go on check it out, using the Hilarity Ensues link.
Anyway where was I, Oh yes a lot has happened in the last week or so, for a start I have handed in my notice, so I now only have 3 weeks to find a job. But 2 of those weeks are taken up with Ecuador, and then my last week they want me to go to Saudi again! I feel a business class trip in the offing.
They are pretty desperate to keep me, even offering contractor rates if I will do some jobs for them should I not have a job to go to. But the firm is not the best to work for, and they do not really look after you, so I would have to think twice on that, unless of course they pay $50 an hour!!!
Funny thing is two guys who I work with told me to register with the same agency, which I did at around 9am in the morning before I left, at midday I had a phone call saying they had the perfect job for me....fast work or what!

So that is that, my next to last trip, and then I am more or less a free agent! Which means I should be able to post a bit more often, until next time then Adios Amigos