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13 Movie Visual Effects We Thought Were CGI, But Aren't

Apparently, practical effects are super advanced at this point.

13 Movie Visual Effects We Thought Were CGI, But Aren't

December 23, 2021

Since its origin, cinematography has progressed significantly, particularly in the field of stunning visuals (visual effects). CGI has dominated numerous films in recent decades, from tragedies to blockbusters. The use of CGI, while groundbreaking, has received significant attention in recent years. But what exactly is computer-generated imagery (CGI), what does it entail, and how is it utilized to depict more fanciful yet credible stories?

Since its beginning in the 80’s, computerized special effects in movies have evolved a lot. Many 3d films now rely on special effects companies, including Scientific Light & Magic, as well as Weta, to enrich their storylines with breathtaking visual effects.

Grab some popcorn and join us this week as we take a sequential journey through some of cinema's most memorable visual effects scenes that actually…aren't computer generated at all.

Anything remotely difficult in real life now appears to be CGI to us, but that doesn't mean it is. Consider the following scenario:

13

The Handmaid's Tale

Some of the Chicago War Zone in Season 5 of The Handmaid's Tale wasn't CGI. When June and Janine are trying to run from the planes, and there's an explosion, that was a practical effect-which meant the art department needed to make pre- and post-explosion versions of the street. CRACKED. COM — Source

12

Interstellar

Interstellar used way, way less CGI in its scenes than you'd probably think. For example, instead of using a green screen, some space scenes projected, well, space on a 60-foot background. CRACKED COM — Source

11

The Last Jedi

The stone building blowing up in The Last Jedi didn't use any CGI. It's the moment when Luke realizes Kylo Ren and Rey are communicating using the Force, and it was all done as a practical effect. CRACKED COM — Source

10

Wonder Woman 1984

The scenes with young Diana in Wonder Woman 1984 had little CGI. They only green-screened some fantastical elements, but it's really Lilly Aspell doing all the running, swimming, jumping, and climbing. CRACKED COM — Source

9

The Force Awakens

Rey's bread in the bowl in The Force Awakens was actually a practical effect. It was done with a contraption involving a vacuum dump and an inflatable bladder. CRACKED COM — Source

8

Game of Thrones

When Dany burns the temple in Game of Thrones, that wasn't CGI. Even the exterior was practical-they really built the set and burned it, and the flames went up to some 80 feet in the air. CRACKED COM — Source

7

Wolf of Wall Street

The distortion in Wolf of Wall Street's quaaludes scene was done in-camera. Director of photography Rodrigo Prieto says that to capture his experience, for several moments, we used the Alexa shooting 12 frames per second and using the shutter at 360 degrees. CRACKED COM — Source

6

Baby Driver

The Baby Driver sequence with the red Subaru in an alley used no CGI. It's the one with the red Subaru going back and forward in an alley, moving between different vehicles - The buildings were there, the truck was there, it was all practical, said stunt coordinator Darrin Prescott. CRACKED. COM — Source

5

Solo

The train sequence in Solo involved putting the actors on a real train. Well, sort of-it was a 50-foot train car that was mounted on a rig. CRACKED COM — Source

4

Last Night in Soho

There's no green-screen involved in the mirror scene in Last Night in Soho. Director Edgar Wright said, What's being shot is really there. The sequences with the mirror stuff is not green screen. There are tricks like double sets, mirrors that would slide back within the camera. CRACKED COM — Source

3

The Good Place

When Janet throws up pennies in The Good Place, that was actually real. At least the part where she starts throwing up-they used pennies being fired out of a tube for that, but for later parts, when she turns to the camera, they had to go CG. CRACKED COM — Source

2

First Man

Key aircraft and spacecraft sequences in First Man didn't use green screen. The X-15, Gemini 8, and Apollo 11 sequences were shot with actors in front of gigantic, 60-foot diameter LED screens. CRACKED COM — Source

1

Charlie & The Chocolate Factory

The chocolate river in Charlie & The Chocolate Factory wasn't CGI. CGI wouldn't just cost more, it would really limit what they could do on set, so they went with practical effects. Tim Burton's note was just to Make sure it looks edible. CRACKED COM — Source

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