[Weekly Update] Let's talk movie effects

I watched Megan. It was fun.

For the most part, I think this kind of movies movies are better campy than self-serious. But there exist a magical golden zone in which a movie is just campy enough to be fun without being too self-aware and losing all tension. Megan is one of those.

When Megan started singing, I was loving ever second of it.

CHANNEL UPDATE

Hope you enjoy our last video on I Love Maria. This is one of those movies that is surprisingly not that well known outside of Hong Kong, but has all the potential to be a big hit these days. I was very happy when the blu-ray was release two years ago. It's still relatively hard to find, but hopefully you get a chance to see the movie!

Next video is being edited and should be up by Thursday or Friday. It'll be about Mahjong and its use in Crazy Rich Asians. It's pretty wild how many Chinese movies have mahjong scenes in it. It's so common, it's like dinner scenes. I can start any movie, and there's a good chance I can find useful clips from it.

Next up will be a video on all the Ip Man movies outside of the main four.

I'll once again be taking a week off March to finish up some personal work. But there's a chance I'll upload two videos regardless. I'll keep you posted on the details.

Finally, for this month's bonus video: How about Knives Out and Glass Onion?

MEDIA TALK

While we are on the topic of special and visual effects, let's talk about some effects that are memorable in recent years.

Let's talk about one that, I think, is amazing but also a wasted potential: BB-8. I don't really like the Star Wars sequels, but BB-8 as a practical effects character is just so good. With minor CG enhancement, BB-8 is one of the most expressive non-humanoid character in any movie.

I remember how much people were fascinated by the fact that it was a real robot and can appear in events alongside the stars. It is both technologically possible and futuristic looking. Even its name is amazing, resembling its own shape.

Too bad the character serves little purpose but to live in the shadow of R2D2.

They did you dirty, my little one.

Now for an effect that I think could've been better: Shin Ultraman. Admittedly, it's a minor gripe. I honestly don't mind if Ultra is mostly a CG creation, I just think it's a bad idea to make a humanoid character to be entirely CG.

Just like the T-rex in Jurassic Park, having that one of two close-up shots being practical would help anchor the visual effect, cementing it into its retro aesthetic.

It's ultimately a fair execution, but not as good as its predecessor: Shin Godzilla, which styles itself after rubber suits rather than photo-realistic creature design. Such a clever decision.

Hopefully, Shin Kamen Rider will be good! The teaser looks pretty dope so far.

For the most part, VFX are never meant to be perceived as VFX, so it's difficult to give an example of a good CG creation that actually wows me. But there's something about the way the VFX is integrated into the cinematography of Dune that makes it feel great.

It's one of the reason why Avatar looks so good, too: The VFX feels like it's filmed with a real camera, on a real rig, operated by real people. Or in Avatar's case, it literally is.

A lot of Dune's composition deliberately obscures its VFX, such as having the main character standing in front of it and blocking part of it. The film leans into the invisibility of VFX, which helps me getting into the film more.

Finally, a simple example: The coffee run in Baby Driver. If you don't know what I'm talking about: There's this sequence in which the main character walks and dances on the street while going for a coffee run. And the graffiti in the shot, which are digital creations, syncs with perfectly with the lyrics.

It is such a charming but incredible use of invisible VFX.

But that's some examples I can think of off the top of my head. What are some effects shot that catch your attention? Let me know!

I'll see you in a few days with a new video!