VFX in Films Which Will Inspire You: 2020

2020 has been an especially challenging year for films and television. With the outbreak of COVID-19, so many films have had to halt their release and could not reach the audience it aspired for. In these times, we can reminiscence over some of the most inspiring VFX works we have ever seen.

Cinema has always crossed all demographic and geographical boundaries and become the method of unison. Let’s take a time capsule and check out some of the movies whose creative visual effects (VFX) is ought to inspire us.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

After the success of the 2011 Rise of the Planet of the Apes, this sequel broke all stereotypes and assumptions which spoke about the limitations of Visual Effects. This story is based in a post-apocalyptic near-future timeline. The VFX incorporated throughout the film is nothing less than a technological masterpiece.

Never before have people seen humans and super-intelligent apes battling for survival in such an authentic manner over their silver screens. A lot of VFX courses in Kolkata also spoke about how out of the box and inspiring this film’s VFX was.

There are so many things which really stand-out. The scenes where the backdrop and character’s placement syncs out are just marvelous.

Avatar

James Cameron, the director of Avatar said that he waited for two decades with the script of Avatar until the right VFX technology arrived. He said his vision would not be led by half baked cinematography and VFX. Avatar remains to be one of the most advanced films when it comes to discussing visual effects in movies.

But it’s the intimate moments that really stand out. Those shots in which human actors react to computer-generated species almost make you believe that all of it was shot with a naked camera lens.

With help from a range of VFX studios, Cameron was able to make movie history with Avatar. The use of VFX simulation was not only way ahead of its time but uncompromised to every inch. At no point did we as audiences felt like he had just cheated with us.

The Irishman

If there was an Oscar for De-Ageing in the VFX category then no one even comes close to The Irishman. Those De-Ageing special effects used on Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino were outstanding.

You could almost get tricked that they were all of a sudden 2 years younger than before. The sheer manner in which these three men were aged took all the appreciation sidelining the fact that VFX was also used to manage the aesthetics of the film. It was the first time effects like these had been done at a scale like this

The Irishman has been a treat to the eyes with its almost invisible use of VFX. Experts at VFX course would always tell you that, if no one can tell you are using special effects in the scene, then you have achieved success. The more subtle you are, the greater impact it shall make.

It was nominated for Oscars 2020 in the Best Visual Effects category but lost to ‘1917’. The Irishman is available to stream on Netflix.

Let us know which films’ VFX has inspired you to learn and explore about Visual Effects in cinema.