Comments on: Open Forum Friday: Do You Ever Watch Movies Just for the Special Effects?

By: Andrew James

Andrew James — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:11:56 +0000

No.

By: Falsk

Falsk — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:38:23 +0000

@RyanM Well, I did see “Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus” …

By: Bugsyoz

Bugsyoz — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:16:56 +0000

Yep, on occasion I do watch a movie for the effects. However I won’t go to the pictures for that reason alone.

Also, if I pop something in the player at home and don’t like what I’m watching I won’t hang in there for the fx hell of it. It must at least have something plot wise, character wise…else end.

By: Ryan M.

Ryan M. — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:46:32 +0000

I think the answer is yes. Would you go see 2012 if the CGI looked sucky in the previews? No. The previews don’t show anything but CGI, so you can’t tell me you’re going to see it for any other reason.

By: greenblade

greenblade — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:44:07 +0000

There was time when when I would not miss a movie with sfx work by greats like Ray Harryhausen, Douglas Trumbull, Rob Bottin, George Pal and certain others. Of course, the films in which their work appears are about subject matter I would have gone to see anyway. The styles of effects artists in those days were singular and were just as much stars of the movies as any actor.
Now, there are only, as far as I’m concerned, faceless computer jockeys and “effects houses.”. Most of them are about the same. Maybe some are better than others at making a movie look like more than a big video game…or maybe they just have bigger budgets.

By: David

David — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:15:53 +0000

Special effects are the main reason I want to see Avatar, just so I can see what all that money can buy.

By: Reed Farrington

Reed Farrington — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:33:01 +0000

I wonder if everyone is as jaded as the Film Junk readers are about special effects films. Is it really because there are so many special effects films nowadays that the people who make them don’t get much respect?

In my day and age, people like George Pal and Ray Harryhausen were venerated by fan boys and critics. Pal produced War of the Worlds (1953) and When Worlds Collide. Harryhausen created the original Clash of the Titans (1981). No one ever watched their films for character development and plot.

I feel sorry for Michael Bay and Roland Emmerich who don’t seem to get much credit for maintaining the spectacle in films.

By: Glendon

Glendon — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:29:30 +0000

Special Effects films make the most money because they’re the type of film that demand to be seen on the biggest screen with the loudest speakers. No wonder studios are making lots of them because that’s what brings people consistently to the theatre. I myself have gone to an OK SFX movie in a theatre over a reportedly great drama/comedy because those movies don’t lose a lot of their magic on my television.

By: Falsk

Falsk — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:48:26 +0000

Yeah– “District 9″.

By: Jurassicalien

Jurassicalien — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:53:26 +0000

It depends, I’ll say I’m seeing 2012 because of the effects and John Cusak. The effects are the major part, but seeing an actor I like (even if it’s in a film that, perhaps, won’t have the best writing) amongst all that spectacle certainly makes the ten dollars a ticket go easier.

By: Napalm

Napalm — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:58:50 +0000

yes i do and so do a lot of people. 2012 is the perfect example of it. i know this movie will not have much substance but that doesn’t mean i can’t enjoy it! i am open minded enough to appreciate the big budget special effects.

By: tom

tom — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:59:31 +0000

Ummm…no.

I pretty much do the opposite. If a movie looks like it has too much special effects I avoid it at all costs. 2012? wont see it. Avatar? looks like a videogame, wont see it.

Special effects were good when they were just being developed. Lucas did a great job in the first few Star Wars but nowadasys when eveything is digial it just looks horrible. I get taken out of it.

My favorite movie to come out next would probably be one that had literally no effects whatsoever. Just give me a straight forward story with smart camera and directorial techniques and you’ve got a good movie. No need for special effects in my opinion.