We’ve been talking today at work about what films really gave us our jobs. That is whether they just simply made us want to do what we do, or even invented all the cool tech we use now a days. So I thought it’d be fun to post my “Top 10 Visual Effects Moments”. And by visual effects, I’m talking about digital effects. Because most don’t remember that Visual Effects is actually a pretty new term. Back in the good old analog days of painted matte paintings on glass, and optical projectors, everything was considered “Special Optical Effects”. And that’s for another list down the road.

So while I wait for renders to get off the farm, I give you in chronological order…

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My Top 10 Visual Effects Moments in Film:

#10 – Tron

Sure it flopped, but it marked the first time a major studio invested in a CGI based film.

#9 – The Abyss

As beautiful as the pseudopod was, that truly amazing thing about this film was that all the actors had to act with was a piece of air duct to match the eye line.

#8 – Terminator 2 – Judgment Day

I’m not afraid to admit that I still get teary eyed when Arnold gives the thumbs up as he gets lowered into the lava at the end.

#7 – Jurassic Park

This was the first time I saw “real” dinosaurs as a kid. I loved this film so much that I actually broke the tape in my VHS cartridge because I watched it so much.

#6 – Toy Story

PIXAR…what else can I say?

#5 – Independence Day

A great mix of practical and digital effects, and the rise of Will Smith alien action movies. Even though I’ve seen this movie more than 2 dozen times, I still get goosebumps after Bill Pullman’s speech.

#4 – Titantic

James Cameron at his best. Do you remember what a big deal this movie was when it came out? It was HUGE. And the visual effects still stand up because Cameron mixed both practical and digital effects. This was the first time they used digital doubles as well. And marked the beginning of my hatred for Celine Dion.

#3 – The Fifth Element

One of those movies that didn’t do great at the time, but became huge on the rental charts. The art design, direction, and mixture of practical miniatures and digital elements is still jaw dropping.

#2 – The Matrix

The invention of “Bullet Time” and the first real hardcore use of photogrammetry in feature films. It was very cool effect, that became very popular. They even used it in that years Super Bowl! Now that’s a bit much, but it shows you what a big impact this film had.

And last but not least…

#1 – Pirates of the Caribbean – Dead Man’s Chest

We haven’t even seen the full impact that IMoCap will have on the visual effects industry, but this film was the first time in a long time that I completely forgot about the visual effects I was seeing, and was just blown away with how great Davey Jones looked.

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Alright, so that’s my list. Now what’s yours? Post your list in the comments section of this post!

Until next time…