Whether people like it or not CGI is here to stay. There is a notion among the masses that it’s inherently better to feature more practical effects than computer-generated imagery. There may be some truth to this sentiment but there are also bad practical effects too. To be fair, FandomWire is going to feature four of the worst and best CGI in movies.
WORST: Die Another Day (2002)
When one thinks James Bond can’t get any more silly there was early 2000’s Agent 007 to prove the world wrong. The audience witnesses the British spy windsurfing down a collapsing glacier. In all its terrible CGI glory it gave Bond fans one of the most memorable scenes in the entire franchise. A great movie for nostalgic reasons and to provide the viewer with abs from all the bellyaching laughter that’ll ensue.
BEST: District 9 (2009)
There is no surprise that the CGI in District 9 looks incredible, especially when it comes to the designs of “prawns”. This is all thanks to the visionary direction of Neill Blomkamp that worked as a special effects artist in movies before directing. If a fan of sci-fi and some political messages then this is the movie for you without a doubt.
WORST: Justice League (2017)
There are no excuses for the monstrosity that is the ghost mustache on Cavill’s Superman. It’s weird, makes people uncomfortable, it looks unnatural on the actor and the audience was better off seeing him with a mustache than without. Folks would at least unintentionally get a live-action Omni-Man if the mustache stayed on!
BEST: Inception (2010)
Inception is a treat for both practical effects and CGI enthusiasts. Both effects are so well blended in that it’s difficult to tell what’s a miniature set or entirely digital. From a city rolling over on itself, spinning hallways, and numerous gravity-defying stunts. This is a movie with great effects and an equally great script. Inception is ranked by many as the best movie of 2010 and ranked within the top 25 greatest movies of all time.
WORST: The Mummy Returns (2001)
The greatest thing that’s going for this movie is the downright awful CGI. Which continues to make waves upon waves of content for YouTubers. People can only assume that the effect team working on this were part-time college students that had little-to-no experience because there was way better CGI in 2001 than this garbage. RIP to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s early 2000s action career when this was released. In the words of Vito Corleone – “Look how they massacred my boy.”
BEST: Interstellar (2014)
Another Christopher Nolan-directed masterpiece that features breathtaking visuals. Filmmakers normally struggle to capture the feeling of being stranded in outer space, but Nolan effortlessly nailed it. Interstellar is a delight to the senses that’ll leave the viewer in a state of awe.
WORST: Food Fight! (2012)
This came out two years before Interstellar and two years after Inception. I don’t know where to begin just watch Nostalgia Critic’s review on this abomination!
BEST: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
The Lord of the Rings trilogy set the standard on how to properly create a fantasy epic that consists of top-notch visual effects. While also opening the doors to what an actor can do while in motion capture. There has yet to be a movie within this genre that done it as good, if not better than LOTR since 2003.
