The Magic of Visual Effects

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In this day and age Visual Effects are the make or break aspect of any film that strives to create realistic, awe-inspiring and breathtaking scenes. From creature design to new environments, exciting mechanics to astonishing "natural" landscapes, Visual Effects broadens the horizons of a filmmakers arsenal.
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Sometimes the films are so realistic and believable that the audience don't even bother to question it but could you imagine some of your favourite movies without the assistance of Visual Effects? Here are some clips of some of your favourite movies before and after these talented VFX artists worked their moviemaking magic.
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JURASSIC WORLD (2015) // IMAGE ENGINE
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JURASSIC WORLD BREAKDOWN REEL from Image Engine on Vimeo.

Jurassic Park (1993) redefined the visual effects industry and opened the door for many of the movies we adore today. Jurassic World (2015) followed suit and created some of the best Visual Effects of the year which most likely are the reason for its huge success at the Box Office.

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THE WALK ​(2015) // ATOMIC FICTION
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THE WALK Visual Effects Breakdown Reel from Atomic Fiction on Vimeo.

Part of the magic of VFX is the time bending skills the artists possess. The Walk (2015) takes us back to 1970s New York where the landscape had to be reconstructed, including the recreation of the Twin Towers.

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CHAPPIE (2015) // IMAGE ENGINE
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CHAPPiE BREAKDOWN REEL from Image Engine on Vimeo.

Motion Capture is by far one of the VFX industry's strongest weapons and Chappie (2015) uses it in abundance. Though struggling to receive the critics support, Chappie's amazing Visual Effects established the film as a visual treat worth indulging in.

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CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014) // INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC
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Despite Marvel's already huge fan base, the films under their belt wouldn't be nearly as successful without the time and effort of the VFX department. A superhero movie without the explosions, ambitious technology and superhuman skills would be a total disappointment. Thank god for the VFX wizards who worked on Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014).

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THE GREAT GATSBY (2013) // ANIMAL LOGIC
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The Great Gatsby VFX from Chris Godfrey on Vimeo.

It's a huge task to undertake, making an audience believe something is there that really isn't and believe it or not The Great Gatsby (2013) is heavily reliant on it. This film wouldn't be anywhere near recognisable without the fantastically convincing visuals and extravagant digital sets.

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THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (2013) // BRAINSTORM DIGITAL
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The Wolf of Wall Street VFX Highlights from Brainstorm Digital on Vimeo.

One of the favourite films of 2013, The Wolf of Wall Street was a huge critical and commercial success but to some it may be surprising that so much Visual Effects were present in many of the scenes that seemed so real proving that the VFX artists' attention to detail is like successfully finding a needle in a haystack.

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PACIFC RIM (2013) // RODEO FX
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Pacific Rim - VFX Breakdown from Rodeo FX on Vimeo.

Monsters and giant robots. Without Visual Effects this film would just look like a load of actors behaving like absolute loons. Mixed reviews critically, Pacific Rim (2013) didn't fail to rake in copious Visual Effects nominations during the awards season for its visual feast.

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GRAVITY (2013) // RISING SUN PICTURES
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Gravity (2013) was one of the most groundbreaking Visual Effects pieces in recent years and developed a series of new technologies and methods to achieve the photorealistic and breathtaking effects littered throughout the film. The VFX artists who worked on this masterpiece will go down in history.

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LIFE OF PI (2012) // RHYTHM & HUES STUDIOS
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Full of stunning visuals, Life of Pi (2012) was truly a spectacle to behold on the visual effects front. With hypnotising colours and unbelievably realistic creature animation, it is hard to believe that a film about a boy on a boat could be so visually captivating.

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THE AVENGERS (2012) // INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC
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The majority of this mesmerising film wouldn't exist if it weren't for the Visual Effects department and  their unfathomable talent. These people are the gods of film, able to raise cities to the ground, transform men into monsters and create entirely new worlds. The Avengers (2012) makes use of all these talents to create a truly spectacular movie.

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X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE (2009 // RISING SUN PICTURES
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An unfinished cut of this film was leaked and many people got to see the realities of the Marvel universe. We can confirm, however, that Hugh Jackman's superhuman physique is in fact real.

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GODZILLA (2014) // THE MOVING PICTURE COMPANY
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If you think this film would've worked better with men dressed in latex suits then you're sorely mistaken. Godzilla (2014) directed by former VFX wizard Gareth Edwards is heavily reliant on Visual Effects and Edwards understands the importance of this. Its easy to see why Edwards has been pencilled to direct the next Star Wars film.

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MAZE RUNNER (2014) // METHOD STUDIOS
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What if the sets you see in films aren't really sets? What if they're actually completely created in a computer? Would you still believe it? Of course you would, you do it every time you watch a film nowadays and The Maze Runner (2014) is testament to that. Full of awe-inspiring scenes and settings, this film creates a vision of a world far removed from ours yet we still feel part of it.

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PROMETHEUS (2012) // THE MOVING PICTURE COMPANY
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New worlds, frightening creatures, astonishing landscapes and sensational technology. Prometheus (2012) was a triumph at the box office for its astounding visuals. What better way to evade the troubles of reality than to escape to a beautifully enchanting new world where anything is possible.

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WHITE HOUSE DOWN (2013) // THE CG BROS
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An insight into the horrors of war, White House Down (2013) creates a believable fiction that seems all too real. With terrifying explosions and strikingly realistic landscapes created entirely from scratch, Visual Effects artists truly are the inventors of new worlds.