actors are /so/ 20th century

More real than you.
Final Fantasy, the classic video game series (one I never had the patience for myself) is coming to the big screen. Completely computer animated, it makes Toy Story look like a flip-book animation, and Dinosaur like, uh, never mind.

These “photos” of the characters are some of the most amazing computer generated images I have ever seen. If you have QuickTime and some time to waste, watch the trailer to see them in action.

I will be at the theatre, vaguely embarrassed, on opening night.

We aren’t far from losing a clear distinction between real actors and virtual actors. While I can’t see anything inherently wrong with that, this ‘photo’ of the lead character from Final Fantasy gives me the willies.

 

23 thoughts on “actors are /so/ 20th century

  1. This will definitely be a landmark movie in the movie industry, but I get such a cold shallow feeling watching it.

    It just seems boring. Not so much because I’m not interested in the story but because the character doesn’t actually exist. I guess you could say the same for cartoons, but a computer animated feature seems so ……. manufactured.

    Does anyone else feel this way? Can we possibly entertain the idea of computer generated movies replacing real-life features?

    We’ll find out soon enough, for better or for worse.

  2. I half agree with you Vince. I get the manufactured feeling from lots of movies (I’m not a movie buff, so, it’s possible I haven’t seen the greats), so I’ve come to accept it. I find these people look real enough yet there’s still /something/ missing. It’s like gazing into the eyes of a big juicy sea bass. Very fish-like. Or watching somebody sleep with their eyes open.

    As soon as those people-makers isolate what /something/ is, it’d be cool to see them incorporate that into movies. A subtle dead-eyed character could be significant. This technology could have revolutionized “The 6th Sense”.

  3. You think that’s weird? Get this: apparently this character will grace the cover of MAXIM magazine in a bikini.

    Quite a change of pace… first time the entire cover girl was phony, as opposed to just her breasts.

  4. That picture’s up there too. Follow Steve’s link and click [left] instead of right and you’ll see her in her skivvies.

    AOV does not support partial nudity.

  5. The comments about the blank “performances” from the models are right on target. I would argue, though, that ths has little to do with technology and much to do with artists who know nothing about acting. Pixar, for instance, in “Geri’s Game” certainly produced good performances; not the equivalent of flesh and blood, but pretty good.

  6. In an earlier reply Rob stated that: “AOV does not support partial nudity.”

    I would like to, once again, make it clear that Rob’s opinions, though often delightfully expressed, do not necessarily reflect those of other aov members. Some of us believe that partial nudity is one of the fundamental elements of society, and that while contemporary culture may cheapen it somewhat, partial nudity is still a fine, fine thing.

    On a entirely unrelated note:
    Emily, I have lost your email address. Send me a note sometime.

  7. Re: “delightfully expressed”

    You are still a great big slut, Dorrell. And stupid.

    Also: we still have MD’s hat, now covered in cat hair, and dog s_____.

    The price is now down to half a handful of dirt.

    Also: It took two of us to make this post.

  8. Well, our attempt to go see the movie at 9 was thwarted by the huge crowds at the cinema.

    Lesson: Never go out in public.

  9. That movie was great!

    I just got back. It was very pretty. I liked the dudes in the armor and hightech helmets. So were thier parachute gel-alternatives. I liked the toys and things they had. The story was a little strange, and ended prematurely in my opinion. The lip syncing also left to be desired. But, it was still worth my 10 bucks (snacks included).

  10. i feel like a real geek now. i played hookey from work and went to the 2:10pm show opening day… the *very* first. and i was surround by a small number of teenage boys in baseball cap.

    now, granted, i never played the game and was never impressed by the supposed “hyper-realistic” nature of the stills i had seen, but this show sucked.

    in all ways.

    and deeply.

    the animation, such as it was, was dull and unimaginitive. there was nice stuff… like “wow, look at her hair move”. but jeez, it was sooooo boring. and ironically suffered by the Big Name Talent hired on to do the voices. Steve Buscemi, Alec Baldwin, Donald Sutherland…. all these familiar voices coming out of these cheesey video game bodies just heightened the generic look of all the characters.

    stinky.

  11. No.

    I bought my ticket at 6 because I was hardcore.

    Your long punk hair makes up for your lack of Final Fantasy enthusiasm. You still rock.

  12. my thoughts:

    1. At first I couldn’t get past the computer animation (which was astounding). I thought, if this continues to feel like a computer animation and doesn’t start to feel like a story, then it is a failure.
    2. It eventually stopped feeling like a computer animation and began to feel like an actual movie. Not a good movie, mind you, but a movie. In this respect, it is a success.

    Fantastic computer animation. Worth your money only for that. If this had been a live action movie, it would have had Ben Afleck (sp?) in it and it would have sucked.

  13. And just to prove the AOV community believes in equal opportunity CG sexism (sorry girls and boys – he’s wearing pants.):

    Gray

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