As a long-time movie buff and avid gamer with a soft spot for practical effects, I can’t help but be in awe of the groundbreaking work done in “Twister” back in 1996. The line between reality and visual effects has always been blurred in cinema, but the way this film brought real-life chaos to the big screen was a game-changer for me.
As a movie enthusiast, I’m always amazed by the wonders of visual effects in modern cinema. Today, it seems almost nothing is off-limits to filmmakers as they bring their creative visions to life through extensive use of Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI). But let me remind you, dear reader, that the world of visual effects is not a newcomer to the silver screen. In fact, its history runs parallel to that of cinema itself. And while we can marvel at the stunning realism of today’s visual effects, it’s essential to remember that not everything on screen is as it appears.
In the blockbuster film “Twister,” released before the advanced CGI technology we have today, the production team had to get inventive to bring the massive disaster sequences to life. Since CGI wasn’t as developed as it is now, the movie needed to find unique ways to create the action. Director Jan de Bont shared with Vulture an intriguing example: the scene where combines plummet from the sky. Despite looking incredibly realistic on screen, this event was even more so in reality.
Instead of “That’s not visual effects; that’s real effects,” consider saying “Those aren’t computer-generated; they’re actual effects.” Or, “The combines you see weren’t added digitally; they were truly dropped.”
From a fan’s perspective, recreating such an spectacular scene as in “Twister” wouldn’t have been overly challenging with visual effects. Simple methods like constructing models had been used effectively in the past for filmmaking to generate unattainable realities. But director Jan de Bont opted for authenticity, dropping tractors from helicopters instead. The scene leaves little room for debate regarding its awe-inspiring impact.
In reality, many films avoid depicting a scene like this due to its complexity, cost, and inherent risks. Nevertheless, cinematic wizardry enters the picture here. The filmmaker explains that through clever camera angles, the combines appear to be much closer to the actors than they actually are, ensuring everyone’s safety during production. He went on to say…
I’m a gamer, and let me tell you, those things don’t just drop from the sky, they plummet down, and not in a small way. Multiple harvesters come raining down, left and right, forcing me to maneuver my vehicle around them. It may look perilous from the ground, but I’ve always found it safe to navigate through. With longer lenses, I make that gap seem even closer, making it feel like they’re just a stone’s throw away from my car. In truth, they were usually around 20 or 30 feet in front of me. It may be a bit snug, but the sight of those harvesters descending is nothing short of breathtaking.
Twisters boasts both realistic and computer-generated effects, the former being more discernible to audiences. With its successful sequel now playing in cinemas, many viewers might be experiencing Twister for the first time. Knowing how special effects are created can sometimes diminish the enchantment; however, in this instance, learning about the real-life basis only enhances the awe-inspiring impact of the scene.
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2024-07-23 22:37