Comments on: ALIENS http://contour-at-the-movies.com/2009/09/25/aliens/ What we're watching and how it measures up in Contour Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:58:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: David Goulet http://contour-at-the-movies.com/2009/09/25/aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-403 David Goulet Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:51:11 +0000 http://contour-at-the-movies.com/?p=1693#comment-403 Imagine The Muppets Take Manhatten in CGI! Question, was The Dark Crystal the first movie to have an entire puppet cast? Dave makes a good point though. CGI obviously has opened the doors to filming stories in live action that once were only feasible in fanimation. No need to make this an either/or debate. Perhaps it's nostalgia, but I do feel Hollywood's CGI Godzilla couldn't hold a torch to TOHO's boys in rubber suits. Imagine The Muppets Take Manhatten in CGI!

Question, was The Dark Crystal the first movie to have an entire puppet cast?

Dave makes a good point though. CGI obviously has opened the doors to filming stories in live action that once were only feasible in fanimation. No need to make this an either/or debate.

Perhaps it’s nostalgia, but I do feel Hollywood’s CGI Godzilla couldn’t hold a torch to TOHO’s boys in rubber suits.

]]> By: danpilditch http://contour-at-the-movies.com/2009/09/25/aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-402 danpilditch Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:28:56 +0000 http://contour-at-the-movies.com/?p=1693#comment-402 How about this: puppet Yoda from "Empire Strikes Back"/"ROTJ", or CG yoda from "Revenge Of The Sith"? How about this: puppet Yoda from “Empire Strikes Back”/”ROTJ”, or CG yoda from “Revenge Of The Sith”?

]]> By: totallywrite http://contour-at-the-movies.com/2009/09/25/aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-401 totallywrite Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:26:34 +0000 http://contour-at-the-movies.com/?p=1693#comment-401 The dragon in "Dragonslayer" looked pretty good and that was a combo puppet and stop motion. The dragon in “Dragonslayer” looked pretty good and that was a combo puppet and stop motion.

]]> By: Dave Candage http://contour-at-the-movies.com/2009/09/25/aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-400 Dave Candage Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:10:22 +0000 http://contour-at-the-movies.com/?p=1693#comment-400 Somehow, I don't think Dragonheart would have looked as good with a puppet. Somehow, I don’t think Dragonheart would have looked as good with a puppet.

]]> By: David Goulet http://contour-at-the-movies.com/2009/09/25/aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-398 David Goulet Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:40:58 +0000 http://contour-at-the-movies.com/?p=1693#comment-398 Aliens is one of those films I can watch a zillions times (and have). Great set-ups and pay-offs. Did you know Cameron had the basic story already written as a spec that had no connection to the original Alien. When he was asked to pitch an idea for the sequel, he slyly adapted the existing script and the rest is box office history. I also agree that puppets/animatronics blow CGI off the screen. But they do need to be done by competent people. Nothing worse than badly made and operated puppets. I also believe animatronics provide the actors with more to work from. Ask Sigourney Weaver if having a 'real' alien hissing at you doesn't provide better 'motivation' than a grip holding a marker that will later be a CGI alien. Where the Wild Things Are should be a good test of your theory. Aliens is one of those films I can watch a zillions times (and have). Great set-ups and pay-offs. Did you know Cameron had the basic story already written as a spec that had no connection to the original Alien. When he was asked to pitch an idea for the sequel, he slyly adapted the existing script and the rest is box office history.

I also agree that puppets/animatronics blow CGI off the screen. But they do need to be done by competent people. Nothing worse than badly made and operated puppets. I also believe animatronics provide the actors with more to work from.

Ask Sigourney Weaver if having a ‘real’ alien hissing at you doesn’t provide better ‘motivation’ than a grip holding a marker that will later be a CGI alien.

Where the Wild Things Are should be a good test of your theory.

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