Will Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) Actors Replace Real Ones in Movies?
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Computer Generated Imagery & Movies: An Introduction
Imagine a world with no live-actors in movies whatsoever...would it impact your decision to go see movies? Would it matter at all?
The impulse response is: of course not. People will always prefer the real thing to substitutions, if they have the choice. That's why the proportion of live-action films dwarfs that of animated ones. Audiences generally resonate better while watching real people, even when the situations are the complete opposite of realistic...right?
The Benefits of Computer Generated Imagery in Movies
Ironically, computer generated imagery (CGI) is used so much in modern movies it is almost impossible to make a good movie without it. The use of CGI allows events that would be too dangerous, or just plain old impossible, to be inserted into films. Explosions, transforming robots, deep space dogfights, that sort of thing.
There have been a few films to be shot entirely using CGI. The Polar Express, Final Fantasy VII Advent Children, and Beowulf all feature casts consisting entirely of computer generated imagery. Most have been generally successful commercially. So its not so much a question of profitability...
In fact, it would probably be cheaper for filmmakers to shoot movies using nothing but CGI. They wouldn't have to pay actors their ridiculous salaries because they would only be paying for their voices. And since you would only be hearing actors and actresses, that would give not-so-famous ones a chance to compete, creating an equal playing field.
The stories that could be told would probably be a lot more grandiose in scale and scope. The only boundary would be the imagination...and maybe the film's budget. There would be no such phrase as: "That's impossible to shoot."
The Verdict on Computer Generated Films
Will I do predict that computer generated films will become more popular in the years to come, I highly doubt they will replace their live-action ancestors.
It's almost scary how realistic some CGI characters have become, and that same realism will prevent CGI films from taking over. One of the reasons why The Polar Express was met with negative reviews was because the people looked terrifying. They looked real, but they also looked lifeless; the "uncanny valley: at work.
If something that isn't real looks too real, it will turn people away. CGI animated cartoons usually do well because the audience realizes the characters and setting are all imaginary. But when computer generated actors look as real, or even more real than the people watching them, that connection viewers experience while watching movies dies.
And so do the movies.
Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) Movies on Amazon
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Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Price: $9.95
List Price: $19.94 |
![The Polar Express [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51sS9%2B3HwwL._SL75_.jpg)
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The Polar Express [Blu-ray]
Price: $17.45
List Price: $28.99 |
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Final Fantasy - The Spirits Within (Special Edition)
Price: $2.90
List Price: $14.94 |
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Beowulf (Unrated Director's Cut)
Price: $9.00
List Price: $19.99 |
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Comments
I truly hope so.
@tony0724, Thanks. Personally I could go either way. I think films with real actors are a lot more personal than animated ones, but I still watch Disney movies religiously, and I'm 22, lol.
@Am I dead, yet; Why is that?
I am a little kid at heart I enjoy Disney movies too !
Their eyes never really truely look real enough. I agree with Tony0724, there's nothing like real people in movies.
It's funny that you mentioned the eyes, because you can tell if someone is lying by watching their eyes.
Sorry I'm a bit behind in answering this one but here's my opinion anyway.
Having watched Final Fantasy, I was stunned by the level of realism, however have to agree with many of the comments above in that there is too much missing and although the expressions are really close, as a friend of mine said, it's too clean. The eyes too, as has been said before betray the characters.
All in all, it does allow for some pretty spectacular cinematography and seamless special effects, which as good as film makers are nowadays, is noticeable in many cases because the real life actors are not always focussed on the scene. In these cases, the real actor's eyes betray them - not looking where and how they're supposed to.
The upshot?
I think both are equally valid, but in the end, I don't think CGI will replace actors at all, but run side-by-side with real ones.
I thought I came back to answer this one! But my reason for my earlier comment is that we can eliminate all of those big budget Hollywood films that only show the same movies--with the same people all the time! Like Jennifer Aniston--she plays the same role, in every movie; same with Keanu Reeves--same (if not in the matrix--then too its the same), Matthew McConaughey--ha! He plays the same role all the time.
I am a gamer, so I much rather see CGI animation movies, hence Avatar: The last air bender movie by James Cameron
http://www.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK//video/imdb
Oh yeah! w00t!
@Nick B: That's a good point, about actors' eyes giving away the fact that the CGI isn't real. It's very ironic too, because in movies made completely of computer generated imagery, its the eyes of the characters that never look quite real.
@Am I dead, yet?: Lol, I agree with you about Keanu Reeves. When I saw Constantine for the first time, all I could think of was "The Matrix with Monsters." I don't care either way, as long as a movie is good, it doesn't matter wheter there's CGI or not.
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tony0724 says:
4 months ago
CGI Is Interesting . But there Is nothing that can replace an early Robert DeNiro or a Humphrey Bogart or a Bette Davis .
I watch alot of Independent films . Beause I gravitate towards stories about the complexities of human relationships .After all Is that not what life Is about ? Anyway some Interesting perspective there !