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Why Does CGI In 'The Lost World: Jurassic Park' Look Better Than Modern Movies?
I was ten years old when The Lost World came out. I remember seeing it opening weekend for my birthday, and just being in awe of all the visuals. It felt like the dinosaurs were real, even when they were running around San Diego. Well, it's been a long time since I was ten. But when I turned on JPII this past week, it still looked incredible. And I wanted to know why. That's why I was so excited to see a recent video from Corridor Crew where they broke it all down. - YouTube www.youtube.com The key, according to the video, lies in the integration of practical effects alongside the VFX. Back in the late 90s, CGI wasn't as advanced as it is today, so filmmakers could only use it sparingly. Spielberg found this balance in the first movie and really capitalized on it in the second. We could marvel at the CGI, but when things got visceral, like with a T-Rex tongue, it was a practical effect. This combination is what gives the dinosaurs and the overall visual experience a more realistic and "grounded" feel.Nowadays, they do everything with computers and green screens or volume. So a lot of times it doesn't feel like they're even in an actual environment for the CGI to have anything to blend in to. The temptation to rely heavily on fully digital sets and effects is strong in modern movies because it's seen as easy to do. And it's often driven by budget constraints. While modern CGI is capable of incredible detail, an over-reliance on it can sometimes lead to visuals that feel less tangible or believable.Another idea is that movies with a ton of CGI place a burden on artists, who are working on a deadline and have a lot to get done. That can also lead to a decline in quality since people are spread so thin. The VFX teams on the original Jurassic Park films meticulously planned their shots, ensuring that CGI elements interacted realistically with the environment and practical effects. When you're using it for everything, this planning kind of goes out the window. So, the next time you're watching a movie with CGI that feels a bit "off," remember The Lost World and how it makes CGI look so good by not using it that much. It's a movie that stands the test of time and should serve as a model for Hollywood. Let me know what you think in the comments.
I was ten years old when The Lost World came out. I remember seeing it opening weekend for my birthday, and just being in awe of all the visuals.
It felt like the dinosaurs were real, even when they were running around San Diego.
Well, it's been a long time since I was ten. But when I turned on JPII this past week, it still looked incredible. And I wanted to know why.
That's why I was so excited to see a recent video from Corridor Crew where they broke it all down.
- YouTube www.youtube.com
The key, according to the video, lies in the integration of practical effects alongside the VFX. Back in the late 90s, CGI wasn't as advanced as it is today, so filmmakers could only use it sparingly.
Spielberg found this balance in the first movie and really capitalized on it in the second. We could marvel at the CGI, but when things got visceral, like with a T-Rex tongue, it was a practical effect.
This combination is what gives the dinosaurs and the overall visual experience a more realistic and "grounded" feel.
Nowadays, they do everything with computers and green screens or volume. So a lot of times it doesn't feel like they're even in an actual environment for the CGI to have anything to blend in to.
The temptation to rely heavily on fully digital sets and effects is strong in modern movies because it's seen as easy to do. And it's often driven by budget constraints. While modern CGI is capable of incredible detail, an over-reliance on it can sometimes lead to visuals that feel less tangible or believable.
Another idea is that movies with a ton of CGI place a burden on artists, who are working on a deadline and have a lot to get done. That can also lead to a decline in quality since people are spread so thin.
The VFX teams on the original Jurassic Park films meticulously planned their shots, ensuring that CGI elements interacted realistically with the environment and practical effects. When you're using it for everything, this planning kind of goes out the window.
So, the next time you're watching a movie with CGI that feels a bit "off," remember The Lost World and how it makes CGI look so good by not using it that much.
It's a movie that stands the test of time and should serve as a model for Hollywood.
Let me know what you think in the comments.
