Film will always be an art form responsible for pushing boundaries both technologically and socially. It can be seen throughout Film history that computer generated graphics, technology, and directors film style have been a major parts of the transformation of film over time. We have covered many films throughout this course, however few have stood out for their utilization of on-screen trickery and technology. Films like Avatar, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Seven Samurai all utilize various camera tricks, and other computer generated graphics (when possible) to help make a better, and more marketable film. CGI, special effects, and specific film technique have played an important role in film creation over time, however they have not always been appreciated for what they have been able to help the director achieve on screen. Without certain effects and shots, simply put, we would not have the same films to look back on that we do today.
Seven Samurai stands alone as a massive success in the Kung-Fu genre for many reasons. However when analyzed, it can be found that Kurosawa employs specific movement within the camera, as well as some over-the-top special effects to bring his film to life. Below, is a very good video displaying how Kurosawa uses camera movement and special editing to improve his film overall. It is worth noting that in Roger Ebert’s review of this film, there is no mention of camera technique or of the special effects Kurosawa employs. However, in his review of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, it is much more of a focus. At the point of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragons release however, audiences were already much more accustomed to special effects, editing tricks, and special camera styles. This illustrates an increased appreciation for special filming techniques and CGI, an art-form which would go on to dominate the industry decades later. A rather curious fact about Kurosawa and his style, is that it would go on to influence the creation of A Bug’s Life which would go on to win awards for best animated film. I thought this worth mentioning as it is a small string in the film industry that shows how films build off of each other. More specifically, it shows a link between Kurosawa’s film technique and animation technique used in an award winning film. You cant play butterfly-effect and say that A Bug’s Life would not have been made without Kurosawa’s existence, however its safe to say it would not have been the same film as a whole.
A Short on Akira Kurosawa’s Camera Technique
Looking specifically at Avatar, we see James Cameron gunning for the top-spot of CGI films with his creation. Avatar did have important and relevant themes, however its primary reason for being produced was to utilize the technology available, and propel Cameron’s CGI company to the top. He states he saw the “writing on the wall” and new that CGI was the future. The first few minutes of this video below reveal his true intent in making Avatar.
James Cameron Interview On Avatar/Reasoning Behind Its Creation
With a budget of 237 million, you see Avatar absolutely crush the box office, raking in 2.79 Billion globally with a return on investment of above 10 fold. As Schichen mentions, the film did so well because it was “politically right” and very consumable with the shiny-graphics it portrayed. I do agree with their take on the plot being ultimately less sophisticated than it could be. This illustrates that sometimes, movies are made for other reasons besides being politically or culturally motivating. I think with Avatar, you can see a change in how movies are produced as Cameron ultimately made it for motives driven by money and the urge to be the “top dog” of CGI at the time. You have to wonder if we would ever had gotten Avatar, if Cameron had not had the money available and needed to feed the ego in such a way. That being said, his achievements within the realm of CGI should not be undervalued. Cameron’s work was ground-breaking, and unlike any other film before it barring the films Cameron had a hand in himself. It seems as though many groundbreaking films that use new technology align with our own advancements in tech within our society, as Shichen mentions in their post about King Kong. 2009 was characterized by major advancements by NASA, as well as he release of Windows 7. The new computer platform release is significant as it was undoubtedly used to run the programs needed to create the CGI, edit the film, and process the final video.
Avatar was advantageous due to its set being completely digital, and most filming taking place in front of green screens. Avatar was the pinnacle of CGI for so long, and now entire franchises are based off the technology. What Cameron made was a capstone film, but it also conditioned audiences and paved the way for entire franchises to make money off of the technology. Two major franchises that stick out from recent years are the Marvel and Hobbit franchises which are laden with CGI and special effects, and have raked in billions when you look at their box offices combined. The film was a massive success yes, but that did not stop some from taking pause after seeing the film. Some critics referred to the film as “visually exhausting”, and can they be blamed? I believe this sentiment comes from those who are generally not fans of CGI as a whole, and because Avatar was the first of its kind. Fans were not conditioned for such a ground-breaking film which caused reviews to be more polarized. The legendary Roger Ebert compared it to his viewing of Star Wars, which are some giant shoes to fill when it comes to breaking ground in special effects and CGI. Below is a rather long video filled with behind the scenes footage from Avatar. It is amazing this much footage exists of the production behind the scenes, one can only imagine the hard work and time put into the movie as a whole. You can start to see a change in the 2000s as producers put alot more time into post-production instead of using on-camera trickery to pull off certain shots.
Avatar Behind The Scenes Footage
As time has gone on, we can look back on certain films utilizing the various art forms within production and appreciate them for the boundaries they pushed within what was acceptable on film at the time. Specifically, Tobe Hoopers Texas Chainsaw Massacre stands-alone as an experiment gone right, that is undervalued for what it achieved at the time. Hooper artfully dances around the line that divides Texas Chainsaw Massacre from horror-porn, and his tact in doing so is what allowed it to make it to the big screen. Before we had Black Christmas, or even Halloween, we had Leatherface sawing his way through unknowing teens in a typical Texas farmhouse. Below is a very neat inside look at some of the tricks used to create some of the most graphic scenes in the film. Hooper shows how playing with special effects and technique can take a creative vision from just that, to a bar-setting film within a genre. Its the little things like this that set certain films apart, and although they may not be appreciated specifically, they have been the driving force behind the success for some of the films listed, and and Texas Chainsaw Massacre is no different.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Behind The Scenes/Various Special Effects
Movies will always be a part of an industry. At the end of the day, money makes the world go round, and its movies that draw crowds that bring in the big bucks. CGI, special effects, and the direct work of individual producers may not always be the highlight of the review, or the reason someone goes to see a film, yet they cannot be castaway as unimportant to the films success. Filmmakers who have been able to utilize the technology of the time to capture their ideas have ended up making more successful films, and have gone on to be influential in categories they would not have imagined.If you sat young Kurosawa down and told him his films would go on to influence children’s animation, he might have given you a strange look. We are luck to have producers like Cameron, who are willing to make such big investments into the future of movies as a whole. We should be equally thankful for the Kurosawa’s, Lee’s and Miller’s of the industry as well. In todays world, we see how producers utilize all aspects of production to make a better film, and in turn make more money. Over time you will see how movies have influenced one another and created a large creative pool for future producers to draw from. Ultimately we see producers now spending more time in post production to create a more polished product that will sell better. That work is not always appreciated, however its influence cannot be ignored.