LOTR revisited

[thx1138]

Academy award for sure.

'Us likes to thank the precious,......'

[DorkmanScott]

Um, I agree?

[Hazdaz]

I actually just saw that movie for the 1st time just last week (yea, I know, I know, but I don't watch many movies), and everything about that movie was just amazing.

I was quite disappointed that even in the extended edition DVD all they did was talk about how they did this and that, would have been much cooler if they actually showed you how, with images of that actor in the motion capture suit and stuff like that. They should have been more of a "making of" than a "talking over".

[RobGalanakis]

I actually just saw that movie for the 1st time just last week (yea, I know, I know, but I don't watch many movies), and everything about that movie was just amazing.

I was quite disappointed that even in the extended edition DVD all they did was talk about how they did this and that, would have been much cooler if they actually showed you how, with images of that actor in the motion capture suit and stuff like that. They should have been more of a "making of" than a "talking over".

Err, there's an entire section on The Two Towers DVD about the Golem/Smeagol, Andy Serkis/CG thing (the "go now and never come back" speech). It is more impressive than the one in the pondwater, IMO, its longer and more 'animated.' Since they focused so much on Gollum in TTT Extended Edition, it was only glossed over in the RotK EE. I suggest you buy the TTT EE if you want to know more about gollum's creation, as it is extremely interesting, and even two years + later, the greatest achievement in CG to date.

[seven6ty]

the greatest achievement in CG to date.

During the time period known as PA... Pre-Aslan. :)

[LadyMedusa]

It's Gollum not Golem.
A golem is a big stupid gigant made of something inanimate.

I agree. I love that part :)

[umfridus]

During the time period known as PA... Pre-Aslan. :)
Or PK... Pre-Kong.:D

[Akhtar]

That part is really good, I love Gollum, Good character development and animation.

[Emmanuel]

Nobody would seriously argue with me that it is Jar-Jar Binks how still sets the bar for CG character acting.

[EricLyman]

Nobody would seriously argue with me that it is Jar-Jar Binks how still sets the bar for CG character acting.

You're right, I think the jar jar animations were WAAAY better than anything to date. Especially how they matched it to the live action... seamless! LOL!

[Boone]

Jar-Jar looks more real, but Gollum was a stronger character.

[Hazdaz]

Err, there's an entire section on The Two Towers DVD about the Golem/Smeagol, Andy Serkis/CG thing (the "go now and never come back" speech). It is more impressive than the one in the pondwater, IMO, its longer and more 'animated.' Since they focused so much on Gollum in TTT Extended Edition, it was only glossed over in the RotK EE. I suggest you buy the TTT EE if you want to know more about gollum's creation, as it is extremely interesting, and even two years + later, the greatest achievement in CG to date.

Do you mean a "deleted scene" or do you mean a "behind the scenes" section on the DVD?? I saw the Extended Edition with an edition scene with Gollum, but no behind the scene or "making of" section. I was hoping for somethign showing footage of them working on the scenes themselves at WETA.

[Swizzle]

Jar-Jar looks more real, but Gollum was a stronger character.:surprised Let us agree to disagree on that first part. By the way: "stronger" is a contender for Huge Understatement of the Year.

[RobGalanakis]

Do you mean a "deleted scene" or do you mean a "behind the scenes" section on the DVD?? I saw the Extended Edition with an edition scene with Gollum, but no behind the scene or "making of" section. I was hoping for somethign showing footage of them working on the scenes themselves at WETA.

I checked the contents just to be sure. On Disc 3 (Appendices Disc) of the Two Towers Extended Edition there is an entire section on Gollum. IIRC it shows some footage of Serkis' part in it, the WETA animators, WIP Gollum concepts/models, a TON of stuff. It ends with a comparison between Andy Serkis and Gollum's faces during his pond argument.

BTW, I've yet to see Narnia, and I can understand that Aslan is graphically amazing looking, but how can a talking animal rival the complexity of a human-like, humanoid character that is Gollum? I think the work involved in believable animation in a human face is much greater than a lion's face, but this works both ways I guess. The animators must be creative in their animations in order to express the gamut of emotions, just as the animators must be precise and thorough in making Gollum's expressions believable and recognizable. But I guess I should reserve judgement until/if I see Narnia.

[seven6ty1]

Mmm, I'd agree, the lion does have a much more stoic and solid looking face, not as much of an acting range there. I mean, it does what it's intended to do and is solid in that respect, he doesn't require a great range of silly faces, humiliation, etc... But rather finer and more subtle acting motions. But it is the dynamics work and, what to me, is the first really truely photorealistic character to be created that seperates the lion. Gollum and King Kong are both easily spotted out as CG elements, whereas Aslan could easily be composited into any background or whatever and be completely believeable. Anyways, all terribly great works of art, all the way around and I think each just represent a different spectrum of different character types and acting requirements.

[Boone]

Re: Swizzle.

No - I refuse to let you disagree with me! OBEY NOW! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! :twisted:

For me, I never thought Gollum's actual rendering was anything special - just another CG character. But it was great to see a CG character that for once was treated with respect and given a great performance and character.

Jar-Jar wasn't given as much depth as he needed, and most of his best lines were destroyed by a dialect that was totally lost on the audience. Render wise - I'm almost convinced Jar-Jar is a totally real creature. Shame they couldn't get the other half right... :banghead:

[JeroenDStout]

If he were real we could kill him and prevent offspring. Please, oh, please.

[Capel]

Re: Swizzle.

No - I refuse to let you disagree with me! OBEY NOW! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! :twisted:

For me, I never thought Gollum's actual rendering was anything special - just another CG character. But it was great to see a CG character that for once was treated with respect and given a great performance and character.

Jar-Jar wasn't given as much depth as he needed, and most of his best lines were destroyed by a dialect that was totally lost on the audience. Render wise - I'm almost convinced Jar-Jar is a totally real creature. Shame they couldn't get the other half right... :banghead:

totally disagree. completely and utterly. they got so close to gollums face in some shots and he absolutely held up. you're also discounting the fact the gollum was in way more shots than jar jar. gollum is a superior cg character in every aspect. now gollum vs. kong on the other hand..... man, that's a tough decision.

[EricLyman]

Warehouses full of un-sold Jar Jar toys pretty much killed him already!

Ep1 - Jar Jar is a lead character with tons of dialog and is major influence on the plot...

(at this point Lucas sees that audiences around the world pretty much hate Jar Jar to the point of anger)

Ep2 - Jar jar has dialog, but very little. Also has been reduced from Lead character to supporting.
Ep3 - Jar jar jas no dialog, and is not even a supporting character. He takes up about 200 frames total.

[Boone]

Re: Capel.

I didn't discount anything - Jar-Jar simply held up better for me. :hmm:

[Emmanuel]

I agree, Jar Jar is not so much inferior to Gollum.
The way he interacts with the environment is convincing, and Gollum too
had flaws when interacting (walking on loose ground, jumping into water...).
HULK was pretty good integrated, too.
I never understood why people hated Jar Jar so much, he was the comedy part in the prequels, and I liked him quite a lot, but I liked Wattoo and Sebulba, too.
I think Ep1 was way more natural looking than Ep2 and 3, even with Jar Jar, the Gungans, Boss Nass, Sebulba, Wattoo etc.
They all worked well under the two suns of Tattooine.
More convincing that Mr Hyde in Van Helsing !

[Boone]

Re: Emmanual.

I think Jar-Jar's voice and dialect were what put people off.

"Maxibigdaforce" followed by "datsmellsstinkowith" when they are in the sub are good examples for we have absolutely no idea what he is actually saying. Atleast with Yoda and Gollum you can understand them.

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