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Sunday, July 8, 2007
Add ‘Transformers’ to Mr. Smithee’s Top 10 FX movies
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Transformers” has already made gobs of money — $67.6 million over the weekend; $152.5 million in North America since its late-night debut last Monday.
It’s a silly movie. But it works, partly because of lead actor Shia LaBeouf and mostly because of great special effects. The CGI is outstanding.
I remember the summer season four years ago when critics and moviegoers wailed about how computer imagery often didn’t look real enough — the obviously superimposed airborne car flying over Martin Lawrence’s head in “Bad Boys II,” the overly digitized burly brawl in “The Matrix Reloaded.”
Let me say this: the giant robotic scorpion attack in “Transformers” is one of the best FX sequences — ever.
Here’s my top 10 special effects movies of all time (and, yes, I intended to leave off “Titanic”):
1. “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2003). In one word: Gollum. 2. “Star Wars” (1977). Maybe it looks primitive now. But it was light years ahead of its time. 3. “Jurassic Park” (1993). Triceratops, T-rexes and raptors, oh my. 4. “The Matrix” (1999). Monster use of time-freezing photography. 5. “King Kong” (1933). Monster use of stop-motion animation. 6. “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968). To infinity and beyond. 7. “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991). Enter the shape-shifting cyborg. 8. “Aliens” (1986). Triples the fun of the chest-busting original. 9. “Jason and the Argonauts” (1963). Worth seeing for the sword-wielding skeletons alone. 10. “Transformers” (2007). More than meets the eye.
What films do you think have the best special effects?
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