Special Effects in the Movies?
John Jones
SOUND EFFECTS
No matter what the action is, there's always a generic, heard-it-before,
spatially ambiguous, mechanically unreal whoosh, phsss, or whumpf that
tries to accentuate it.
In the old days of film the sound effects were made to sound physically
REAL. But today's "sound effects" seem to be more of a backdrop, like
music, yet more about shaking the chairs in the cinema - the dramatic
equivalent of banging saucepans while watching a dramatic scene.
VISUAL EFFECTS
Along with the crass "whooshes" and "whumphs" come the
"not-one-thing-or-another" swirling, blazing lights that accompany
various super-hero battles. These variously-coloured lights are pretty
standard fare, from one film to another. Who knows what they are? they
are neither fire nor water, but always swirl unrealistically around
heroes, villains and dragons.
Crap visual effects also include shaking the camera and switching
rapidly from scene to scene before each scene can be taken in. This is
supposed to produce tension. It's the dramatic equivalent of a fidgeter
in a hat obscuring your view of the movie.
More crap special effects include the complete rejection of the theatre
spatial format and the adoption of the perspective of the
flying-dust-particle. Scenes unfold from every possible angle. It's the
dramatic equivalent of enjoying taking a bite from your burger and fries
while falling arse over tit with it.
Zerkon
By 'all movies' you must mean all movies you see. Also you must be aware
that most films, in the US at any rate. are being made for a specific
target demographic which is largely defined by consumer potential so if
you are not inside this target group..
Anyway, the most obvious technical element here is computerization which
introduced a profound shift in production mechanics, at no points more so
than the editing process and sound mixing.
Abrax
"John Jones" <jonesc...@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:hr67fi$v24$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
In my opinion, many movies have very good special effects,
some of the Independence Day, or Asteroid hitting Earth, or
Tornado type special effects are very good.
Often the special effects are considerably better than the
plot! :)
Caesar Romano
Special Effects in the Movies?:
>Also you must be aware
>that most films, in the US at any rate. are being made for a specific
>target demographic which is largely defined by consumer potential
i.e. morons.
--
Work is the curse of the drinking class.
John Jones
They might LOOK and SOUND good, but they don't look or sound realistic.
That's my point. You have to agree with that.
We've just come to accept these alternative, video-game game, artificial
sounds and effects. They NEVER sound or look like the real thing, even
if they are well done.
In years to come we will look back and wonder how we ever thought they
were realistic.
Caesar Romano
<jonesc...@btinternet.com> wrote Re Re: Special Effects in the
Movies?:
>They might LOOK and SOUND good, but they don't look or sound realistic.
>That's my point. You have to agree with that.
Indeed that is very true IMO. This is probably because the *real*
sound does not sound as we imagine it should. Take a gun shot for
example. If you compare a gun-shot played on a news program, it is
very different from a gun-shot sound effect. The real shot is
acoustically much shorter and sharper.
>We've just come to accept these alternative, video-game game, artificial
>sounds and effects. They NEVER sound or look like the real thing, even
>if they are well done.
True. But then we in the West live in a fantasy world, so fantasy
effects are preferable to us.
QT
The latest example of such movie I have seen would be the catastrophic
"2012".
Script, acting, dialogues = atrocious.
Special effects = excellent.
YMMV.
--
qt
family
As can either Clichés or Stereotypes.
A good movie well done is a good story well told.
It is just as important what is left out as what is allowed in.
RVG
> Why do all the movies now have awful special effects?
Because they can't make good, realistic ones.
Check this video, how a *real* torpedo blasts a *warship*:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwWzFSePevw
--
Internet is People
http://rvgmusic.bandcamp.com/
http://www.jamendo.com/fr/user/RVG95
FishFood
In the olden days, the movie was about the idea. They were books
brought to life, or ways to define the group to itself.
These days its about the effect the movie has on us, and so its
about the effects. A thrill ride, with our emotions bouncing
between fear and laughter, an adrenaline rush with very little
for the mind. As long as the movie suspends our disbelief, that's
all that matters.
These days you leave the movie talking about that latest effect
before you talk about the idea. Even those movies with interesting
ideas are promoted for their cinematic effect before there is any
admittance to the central point they may contain. We're almost
reluctant to be seen thinking. If you get the point, you keep it
to yourself.
John Varela
wrote:
> On Tue, 27 Apr 2010 09:13:56 +0000, Zerkon <Z...@erkonx.net> wrote Re Re:
> Special Effects in the Movies?:
>
> >Also you must be aware
> >that most films, in the US at any rate. are being made for a specific
> >target demographic which is largely defined by consumer potential
>
> i.e. morons.
ObAEU: ITYM "the developmentally challenged".
--
John Varela
mm
<jonesc...@btinternet.com> wrote:
>Why do all the movies now have awful special effects?
>
>SOUND EFFECTS
>No matter what the action is, there's always a generic, heard-it-before,
>spatially ambiguous, mechanically unreal whoosh, phsss, or whumpf that
>tries to accentuate it.
I don't go to many movies, and definitely not futuristic adventure
movies, but I would gusss it's because a couple of them were big hits
and the others are imitations. I think there is a movie callled Wars
of Stars, or maybe Star Wars. Each sequal probably got more like you
describe, and each imitator also.
>
>In the old days of film the sound effects were made to sound physically
>REAL.
Absolutely.
>But today's "sound effects" seem to be more of a backdrop, like
>music, yet more about shaking the chairs in the cinema - the dramatic
>equivalent of banging saucepans while watching a dramatic scene.
>
>VISUAL EFFECTS
>Along with the crass "whooshes" and "whumphs" come the
>"not-one-thing-or-another" swirling, blazing lights that accompany
>various super-hero battles. These variously-coloured lights are pretty
>standard fare, from one film to another. Who knows what they are? they
>are neither fire nor water,
Perhaps they are earth, wind, or ice?
>but always swirl unrealistically around
>heroes, villains and dragons.
>
>Crap visual effects also include shaking the camera and switching
>rapidly from scene to scene before each scene can be taken in. This is
>supposed to produce tension. It's the dramatic equivalent of a fidgeter
>in a hat obscuring your view of the movie.
>
>More crap special effects include the complete rejection of the theatre
>spatial format and the adoption of the perspective of the
>flying-dust-particle.
We're not going to be bad-mouthing dust, are we? As the possessor and
guardian of more than the average amount of dust, I would have to
object. Those who agree with my views should send contributions of
any amount to: The DCLU, Box 1776, Murray Hill Station, NY. NY.
>Scenes unfold from every possible angle. It's the
>dramatic equivalent of enjoying taking a bite from your burger and fries
>while falling arse over tit with it.
If you're going to bad-mouth dust, I don't think I can sympathize with
your complaints anymore.
--
Posters should say where they live, and for which area
they are asking questions. I was born and then lived in
Western Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis 7 years
Chicago 6 years
Brooklyn, NY 12 years
Baltimore 26 years
mm
Hatunen
Which, apparently, he is...
--
************* DAVE HATUNEN (hat...@cox.net) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *
bigfl...@gmail.com
Sound effects can have a subtle but powerful impact on ones psyche.
Think of the uplifting effects from listening to a live orchestra
playing and then contemplate the opposite.
Causes a lot of the problems in today's society.
If you think this is an exaggeration, look into 'sound weapons'.
BOfL
Jared
[...]
> True. But then we in the West live in a fantasy world, so fantasy
> effects are preferable to us.
Maybe you feel the world is unreal, and so you claim others live in a
fantasy.