Best Special Effect in a Movie
SFX magazine recently conducted a survey of its readers asking for the best special effects in a film.
1. Star Wars – opening shot (1977)
2. King Kong – climax (1933)
3. The Thing – spider head (1982)
4. Jason and the Argonauts – the skeletons (1963)
5. Terminator 2: Judgment Day – the T-1000 (1991)
6. Forbidden Planet – Krell machinery (1956)
7. The Lord of the Rings trilogy – Gollum (2001-2003)
8. The Matrix – bullet-time (1999)
9. Alien – chest burster (1979)
10. Spider-Man 2 – train fight (2004)
It is good to see Ray Harryhausen still has a few fans.
http://breaking.tcm.ie/2005/01/09/story183842.html
Lunatic Goofballs
04-02-2005, 21:55
Generally speaking, the special effect that still awes me are lightsabers.
Peechland
04-02-2005, 22:01
I think Titanic did a hell of a job and also the plane crash on Cast Away freaked me out for life now as far as flying goes. Now someone has to slip me valium and hold my hand it I fly!
I think Titanic did a hell of a job and also the plane crash on Cast Away freaked me out for life now as far as flying goes. Now someone has to slip me valium and hold my hand it I fly!
Absolutely. Best disaster effects ever.
Jordaxia
04-02-2005, 22:03
Eh, the opening effect in SW, mainly because I'm an incurable SW geek.
Eh, the opening effect in SW, mainly because I'm an incurable SW geek.
Yeah, I think many people vote because they like the movie as opposed to truly judging the effect. I saw Star Wars in 1977 and there is no doubt that it was something different. However, I don't think the models ships, in retrospect, are as impressive as some of the other effects listed.
On the other hand, the work of Ray Harryhausen in Jason and the Argonauts is still visually impressive.
Lascivious Maximus
04-02-2005, 22:18
The pyro effects in Apocolypse Now were incredible. I think they should have been up there.
The pyro effects in Apocolypse Now were incredible. I think they should have been up there.
I just listed the top 10 according to the SFX magazine survey.
It is surprising, with all the advancements made in movie special effects, that a 72 year old film still comes in second according to their readers.
Lascivious Maximus
04-02-2005, 22:30
I just listed the top 10 according to the SFX magazine survey.
It is surprising, with all the advancements made in movie special effects, that a 72 year old film still comes in second according to their readers.
Well, Id imagine its categorical, and relative to the available technology of the time - thats the way I look at it. :)
Drunk commies
04-02-2005, 22:39
I voted for the spider/head monster from "the thing". That was a weird looking little critter.
The Plutonian Empire
04-02-2005, 22:40
Hey! Where's "The Day After Tomorrow"? :D
BackwoodsSquatches
04-02-2005, 22:42
LOTR.
Some of the best movies made in decades.
For those who need a visual reminder:
Star Wars
http://www.starwars-tw.com/story/vehicles/imperial/star_destroyer.jpg
King Kong
http://www.horrorcards.org/images/kingkongtestfront.jpg
The Thing - spiderhead
http://www.outpost31.com/todd/images/silhoette.jpg
Jason and the Argonauts – the skeletons
http://www.geekculture.com/blurbs/reviews/reviewimages/iStopmotion/skeletons.jpg
Terminator 2: Judgment Day – the T-1000
http://www.grudge-match.com/Images/T1000.jpg
Forbidden Planet - Krell
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.umich.edu/~umfandsf/film/img/forbidden-krell-cavern-3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.umich.edu/~umfandsf/film/promise/forbidden-krell-space.html&h=230&w=320&sz=55&tbnid=rsVfZ6s_NcwJ:&tbnh=81&tbnw=113&start=6&prev=/images%3Fq%3DForbidden%2BPlanet%2B%2BKrell%2B%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26rls%3DGGLD,GGLD:2005-01,GGLD:en%26sa%3DG
The Lord of the Rings trilogy – Gollum
http://www.serkis.com/images/9989.jpg
The Matrix - bullet-time
http://www.lyrica.net/matrix/bt3.jpg
Alien – chest burster
http://www.brian-oshaughnessy.com/alien/images/alien-life-1.jpg
Spider-Man 2 - train fight
http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/columbia_pictures/spider_man_2/_group_photos/alfred_molina17.jpg
LOTR.
Some of the best movies made in decades.
Be that as it may.
The poll is about the best special effect.
BackwoodsSquatches
04-02-2005, 22:58
Be that as it may.
The poll is about the best special effect.
Wich is why I chose it.
Keruvalia
04-02-2005, 23:07
Well ... "special effects" come in a wide variety of meanings ...
CGI, sound, lighting, models, animation, etc ...
CGI: I gotta give props to Lucas for basically perfecting the CGI stuntman. Can be seen in the SWEP2, specifically when Obi Wan leaps out the window of the apartment to grab onto the assassin-bot. No human body was used.
Sound: Again, SWEP2. Jango Fett's seismic charges. Best damn theatrical sound effect ever!
Lighting: The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, Her Lover. If you've seen it, you know what I mean.
Models: Full props again to Lucas for SWEP4's amazing Death Star attack scene.
Animation: Who Framed Roger Rabbit. 'nuff said.
From your list, however, the T-1000 from T2. Impressive.
Der Lieben
04-02-2005, 23:28
Wow, Forbidden Planet is on the list.
Talondar
04-02-2005, 23:42
I voted Star Wars. I can watch the original films, and believe the dogfights between fighters were created within the last few years.
It is interesting that there are only three movies on the SFX list made in the last five years, yet two of those are the big vote getters in this forum. I'm guessing many of the younger folks have not seen most of the older films on the list.
For those who need a visual reminder:
Star Wars
http://www.starwars-tw.com/story/vehicles/imperial/star_destroyer.jpg
King Kong
http://www.horrorcards.org/images/kingkongtestfront.jpg
The Thing - spiderhead
http://www.outpost31.com/todd/images/silhoette.jpg
Jason and the Argonauts – the skeletons
http://www.geekculture.com/blurbs/reviews/reviewimages/iStopmotion/skeletons.jpg
Terminator 2: Judgment Day – the T-1000
http://www.grudge-match.com/Images/T1000.jpg
Forbidden Planet - Krell
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.umich.edu/~umfandsf/film/img/forbidden-krell-cavern-3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.umich.edu/~umfandsf/film/promise/forbidden-krell-space.html&h=230&w=320&sz=55&tbnid=rsVfZ6s_NcwJ:&tbnh=81&tbnw=113&start=6&prev=/images%3Fq%3DForbidden%2BPlanet%2B%2BKrell%2B%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26rls%3DGGLD,GGLD:2005-01,GGLD:en%26sa%3DG
The Lord of the Rings trilogy – Gollum
http://www.serkis.com/images/9989.jpg
The Matrix - bullet-time
http://www.lyrica.net/matrix/bt3.jpg
Alien – chest burster
http://www.brian-oshaughnessy.com/alien/images/alien-life-1.jpg
Spider-Man 2 - train fight
http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/columbia_pictures/spider_man_2/_group_photos/alfred_molina17.jpg
Selivaria
05-02-2005, 03:01
I voted for the opening shot of Star Wars. It was a really effective shot. That star destroyer just seemed endless as it lumbered past.
Ashmoria
05-02-2005, 03:46
It is interesting that there are only three movies on the SFX list made in the last five years, yet two of those are the big vote getters in this forum. I'm guessing many of the younger folks have not seen most of the older films on the list.
no im just not able to adjust my judgement for the differences in technology.
gollum is by far the best special effect ever.
Findecano Calaelen
05-02-2005, 07:02
Shelob had better fx then Gollum
Ashmoria
06-02-2005, 19:12
Shelob had better fx then Gollum
i liked the oliphants the best
but gollum had incredible range of emotion and physical movement. he was utterly real to me
ProMonkians
06-02-2005, 19:14
The skellingtons! Still brilliant today
The skellingtons! Still brilliant today
I agree. Ray Harryhausen was brilliant.
Red Sox Fanatics
06-02-2005, 19:59
I voted for the spider in The Thing, but I have to tip my hat to Harryhausen. He work was genius for his time. Kudos to the makers of Monsters Inc. for naming one of the buildings Harryhausen Hall.
LazyHippies
06-02-2005, 20:13
It is interesting that there are only three movies on the SFX list made in the last five years, yet two of those are the big vote getters in this forum. I'm guessing many of the younger folks have not seen most of the older films on the list.
[/url]
The question was what is the best special effect ever. Not what was the best for its time. I dont think anyone can make a convincing argument for why the effects in King Kong or Jason and the Argonauts are still the best today. They have been surpassed many times over.
Conceptualists
06-02-2005, 20:42
The Skeletons.
Probably the only special effect I am amazed at even though I know how it is done.
The question was what is the best special effect ever. Not what was the best for its time. I dont think anyone can make a convincing argument for why the effects in King Kong or Jason and the Argonauts are still the best today. They have been surpassed many times over.
SFX (special effects magazine) list the top 10 special effects of all time as they are listed in the poll.
1. Star Wars – opening shot (1977)
2. King Kong – climax (1933)
3. The Thing – spider head (1982)
4. Jason and the Argonauts – the skeletons (1963)
5. Terminator 2: Judgment Day – the T-1000 (1991)
6. Forbidden Planet – Krell machinery (1956)
7. The Lord of the Rings trilogy – Gollum (2001-2003)
8. The Matrix – bullet-time (1999)
9. Alien – chest burster (1979)
10. Spider-Man 2 – train fight (2004)
It is good to see Ray Harryhausen still has a few fans.
http://breaking.tcm.ie/2005/01/09/story183842.html
According to their readers a 70+ year old stuffed ape beats out modern zippy Matrix bullets.
Pantylvania
07-02-2005, 06:13
I thought the best was from "Amistad" when the main character stabs a captor on the slave ship