Week 13: Movies and Computers

After watching the segment from Star Wars in class, what are your thoughts about the use of computers in movies? Feel free to comment about this movie or any other movie that relates to the topic.

Additional questions:
What do you think about the quality of graphics used in Star Wars?
Do you think computers are being overutilized?
How would you compare Star Wars to other movies you have seen as far as graphics go?

Submitted by daggarw on Wed, 2006-11-29 18:40.

Star wars is an amazing movie with even better graphics. Graphics are definitely an important part of a movie and can be their attention getters.
I don't think that computers are being over utilised in movies. They were made to make life more colorful and entertaining ... and using them in movies is just a way.

Submitted by abanta on Fri, 2006-11-17 01:22.

The Star Wars series (Episode III in particular) have some of the best computer generated effects in the business. It would be pretty difficult to make a legitimate and believable film on such a large scale as Star Wars without taking advantage of computer technology. Without realistic explosions, the movie would be much less immersive. I do not think computers are being overutilized in movies. However, computer graphics should not be used to hide the fact that a movie is lacking in plot or substance, as is the case in some films. Graphics can never replace good old-fashioned acting.

Submitted by moellerb on Wed, 2006-11-15 13:43.

The graphics in Star Wars are pretty much amazing, and the movies would not be the same without the use of computer-generated pictures. Other movies that utilize computer graphics, such as Toy Story are also great movies. When comparing Star Wars to other movies i've seen, I would say that Star Wars takes has some of the best, if not the best, graphics in any movies today. (I'm assuming we're talking about the episodes 1-3.)

I saw a little movie clip that someone had made on the internet. It was entitled "If George Lucas had made Lord of the Rings." The main purpose of this article was humor, however it dealt with the fact that if computer generated images were used all the time, then we wouldnt really need actors. At the end of the little clip, they gave a theoretical representation of the film. It was pretty sad. If that happens, then I'd say that computers are being overutilized.

Ben Moeller

Submitted by moellerb on Wed, 2006-11-15 14:35.

Sorry, apparently i tried to post twice. I cant figure out how to delete this, so just ignore it...

Submitted by eraymond on Wed, 2006-11-15 13:29.

I think that Star Wars has amazing graphics, and that is a big part of the reason why everyone goes crazy for the movies. When the original three movies came out, Lucas was fairly revolutionary with his computer graphics. Now looking back on the those movies, the graphics aren't very good but at the time they were. I think computers can be over used (i.e. Sin City), but I think that is part of the charm of Star Wars. With computer graphics in movies, we can be taken to a new world or see amazing things that we can't recreate in real life. I am a fan of computer graphics!