A Beautiful Mind

Last night I watched A Beautiful Mind. It's been on my shelf for awhile and it was one of those films that i looked at and thought...mmm, can't really be bothered tonight.

However, last night i decided to watch it...
AND, it was super. Well deserved all the Oscars it won. You can't really say much about the storyline without giving too much away.

I'm not a massive Russell Crowe and Ron Howard fan, but this was exceptional. It was so beautifully written, the acting were fantastic and the cast was really well assembled.

Recently i've been right into my CGI "blockbuster" films, which isn't really like me. I think its all the After Effects developing i've been doing, makes me appreciate it more. I'm a quirky drama film fan and this film brought me right back down to my routes. You don't need big effects to make a good movie, just a strong script. Which, is the backbone to a great film. A good set of actors and the right direction.

Quintessential Tarantino

Over the last few months when i have sometime or can't sleep i've been reading Quintessential Tarantino, i'm about half way through.

It's written by Edwin Page, who seems to love Tarantino a little too much. He breaks down each film written, directed or written and directed by QT. So far it as been an interesting read. He spots things out that you might not have noticed, but he sometimes over analyses parts and over repeats himself.

For aspiring film makers it is a good read, especially if you like QT. It points out the techniques QT has used and why QT re-invented certain film genres.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

POFTC: At World's End, I went to go see this on its first weekend at the cinema and it was one of those rare occasions when the cinema is really FULL.

I try my best to get out and see the big "blockbusters" films at the cinema (because, thats the only way you can see them), and its nice to see it packed. This doesn't happen very often these days. Over the last few years the only films that spring to mind that have pulled the big crowds were Spiderman 3 and Charlie and the chocolate factory.

Anyway, big POFTC fan and I bought the third one the days it came out on DVD (£9 from morrisons, double disc edition). Its been shrink wrapped in my collection for about half a year now. I've been waiting to watch the trilogy back to back, i'm really sad like that. You get a feel for the story much better. BUT, last night i couldn't sleep and wanted to watch something visually spectacular, so i put it on.

AND, WOW, It is really special. The three films as a whole are great, and this is a BOLD statement, but i don't think i've ever seen anything as visually pleasing as these films. Granted, the CGI in the first one looks a little dated now and i could pick faults out that i don't think look as good as others, but why point out the bad when there is SO MUCH good.

I'm not going to go on about all the best parts, because nobody will want to read that much (if anyone besides Mike and Anna Beth does (for none college readers, if any, they are my tutors). BUT, i beg you to stick in the DVD, turn up the volume and embrace one of the modern day classics.

The sound and visuals are perfect, they capture every moment brilliantly.

The Bucket List

As you may know by now I watch a lot of films. I actually watch an incredible amount of films. I LIVE FOR FILMS!

Over the past fortnight i have watched several new films i haven't seen before and many i have seen (from my large DVD collection).

One film that has stood out is The Bucket List. There are many great things about this film before you have even watched it. I am a MASSIVE fan of Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freedman, Two actors i would love to work with, but the chances are slim. Other good reasons are Rob Reiner, very good director and the story line.

The film did deliver and i was very please. Both Jack and Morgan were brilliant.

This film probably couldnt have happened without modern technology. Yes, even a film like the Bucket List, which would seem to have very little effects did have its fair share. A lot of the scenes were (at a guess) green screened and the scene where they are sky diving (again at a guess) there faces were super imposed.

The Incredible Hulk

WOW!
Went to see the new Hulk film the other day and WOW it was really good. I'm not the biggest action fan, but this was really special!

The CGI was fantastic, i commented on the Transformers CGI work not so long back and this is right up, if not better.

I even thought the story was good. The acting was good. I'll also give Louis Leterrier praise for the direction after i have bashed him for years for making the horrible Transporter 2 film.

The lighting and colour on the hulk was spot on. And when the hulk was in the rain it was mind blowing, my jaw was dropped. It really captured the comic book look.

I was a fan of the Ang Lee film, but i think he tried giving a comic action film too much soul. When you watch a film like the hulk you really want to see him smash the place up and thats what this delivers.

Transformers (end fighting scene)

The thing I like to do at the moment when watching films is to try and break down how they have done certain edits, cuts, SFX and etc.

Last night i was watching Transformers, the CGI work in it is amazing. The plot is a bit weak, but you don't watch a film like Transformers for a good script.

Even though Transformers is only about half a year old, i think some of the green screening is already looking dated. Although i can't knock the CGI on the Transformers. Watching them fight surrounded by people, cars and buildings is quite remarkable.



So, i was sat trying to figure out how they did this so well. At first i thought they may have green screened Shia and the rest of the cast, but they can't have because they interact with their surroundings far too much. So that must mean they have green screened the transformers. However, the cast is always running in front of the transformers and various other bits of cars, etc. They must have done a hell of a lot of masking around the cast.

I have just started teaching myself masking and its not the hardest thing in the world, but you do have to key frame it, which could end up being nearly every frame. AND, if the actor is moving their limbs around a lot you are having to change the mask each time aswell.

So that's my analyst of the end fighting scene in Transformers. Hats off to the CGI SFX team, some of the best effects i've ever seen.

Website

I have just started making my new website. check it out www.mystrangeworld.co.uk

Coming to the end of the first year...

Wow, Can't believe the first year is nearly over. It has seemed to fly by, but thinking back to the first day...really strange.

It's been class, i haven't just developed my skills, but i have developed has a person. My opinions are stronger, My tastes have broadend and I have a clear direction of where i want to go.

I will be summing the year up and the projects in an Evaluation, but for now I shall time you about my desirers.

I have been a massive film geek for many years, and my time spent working at blockbusters really helped me grow a pallet for a wide genre of films. I applied for film school over two years ago now, and as you may have guessed i didn't even get an interview. However, looking at myself now i am pleased it went that way, because those two years out helped me build my own techniques and gave me time to grow up.

Having what feels like a real taste of moving imagery with this video-drome horror brief as made me want this future more than ever before, and i don't have a single doubt that i can't make it has a director. I know that his is a bould statement, but hell! you have to start believing in yourself, or who will.

I feel that my enthusiasm to moving imagery can be contagious.