Like it or not, CG is everywhere in modern cinema. Whether it’s poorly done robot fist fights or the city backdrop in a low budget period drama, it comes courtesy of CG. The argument that has persisted in cinephile circles in recent years is that CG is ruining film, taking the beautiful, natural shots designed and captured by Hollywood’s finest and slathering them with dopey visual effects that scream “we’ll do it in post.”
The truth though, as highlighted in this excellent video essay by Rocketjump Film School, is that CG is at its best when the audience can’t even see that it’s there. Odds are that it’s there, filling out the finer details of each shot in all of our favorite films, including the much revered and practically shot “Mad Max: Fury Road.”
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Is CG really sucking the soul out of film making? Or has it been around for longer than we care to notice, adding to the visual flair of so many modern classic films? As the video argues, maybe it’s missing the point to rage against bad CG. Rather, we should rage against bad film making, weak stories and flat character. If the movie’s good enough, we’ll see through the CG to the story before us and find the beauty in the intent.
Or is CG in fact destroying filmmaking? Check out the video below to see for yourself and let us know what you think in the comments.