Worst Special Effects Of All Time

clifton · February 25th, 2004, 07:49 PM

It used to be that cheap, cheesy special effects were the sole province of low-budget horror and sci-fi flicks by the likes of Ed Wood, Roger Corman, and Troma Films. Then along came affordable computer animation and it seemed that any movie, any TV show, no matter how lame, could at least have presentable F/X. But no. Even in the age of CGI, crappy special effects continue to litter both the large and the small screens. So, then, what have been the worst F/X offenders. I'm taking into consideration the size of the film's budget. The 1979 "Meteor", which had an A-list cast (Sean Connery, Natalie Wood) would qualify. Also the 2004 made-for-cable "Curse Of The Komodo", in which a computer-animated giant mutant Komodo dragon looked like it had waddled out of an old "Clutch Cargo" cartoon. Your turn.

Saundra Hummer · February 25th, 2004, 08:35 PM

The best special effect was the one that Sean had on Joey Bishop when he told him to "Shut your damn mouth." It took three times of saying for him to be quiet about Michael Caines wife. He finally got it, and I had to laugh at the fear after so many times of it flying over his head.

Good for Sean by the way! Good for him!

Saundra Hummer · February 25th, 2004, 08:38 PM

Off the subject there Clifton, but couldn't resist.

Rocket #9 · February 26th, 2004, 12:01 AM

I hate CGI. For every time it's used well there are 10 times it looks horrible. To take a couple examples from everyone's favorite hobbitathon, Gollum actually seems very well done, but the wargs (especially in The Two Towers) are awful; standing still, they are barely passable, but when moving and fighting they're a terrible blurry mess. This is in a series which uses CGI much better than the run-of-the-mill, by the way.

It's easier to pick a good example as the bad example field is so crowded, so here goes: Starship Troopers. I know this romp through the future with the Melrose Jugend vs. the bugs isn't to everyone's taste (remember, as a friend pointed out, the bugs are the good guys), but the bug animation is perfect.

For a great example of my beloved guys-wearing-rubber-suits genre, see Dog Soldiers, an outstanding werewolf/guys-trapped-in-farmhouse flick. Great costumes, great flick. Joe Bob says...

Ed

Muskrat Ramble · February 26th, 2004, 02:04 AM

Pre-CGI revolution: Ghost with Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze. You'll laugh your ass off at the super-cheesy ghost effects.

shawn·m · February 26th, 2004, 04:44 AM

No mention of Jar Jar yet?

The made-for-TV Dune sure was a mixed bag. The few outer space POVs were reasonably well done, but Guild Navigators, worms traveling in the desert and the stop-motion mouse were about as bad as it gets. That said, it’s hard to hold it against the producers since, A) A limiting budget impacted more than special effects; B) They made use of some interesting and very successful lighting techniques associated with live theater; C) It far more closely resembled Frank Herbert’s novel than did David Lynch’s version.

Of course, Lynch’s Dune was marred by some downright retarded effects. I wish somebody would go back and do a “Lucas” since there’s so much of David’s vision that did work well.

Enthusiastically agree about Starship Troopers bugs: Flawless.

Muskrat Ramble · February 26th, 2004, 08:26 AM

Agreed on the TV Dune. Effects iffy, but the overall production design, cinematography, and score are excellent, and it certainly is more faithful to the letter and spirit of the novel than Lynch's acid-trip version.

I was watching part of Starship Troopers again recently--definitely a great black humor satire-cum-action flick--and agree that the bugs still look amazingly good.

I didn't mention Jar Jar because that's a bad word in my home

Episode I was such a monumental mistake, but that's fodder for another thread.

***

Not FX per se, but makeup/prosthetics: all the post-original Star Trek series (the original can be forgiven, considering the date and budget). What a bunch of lazy SOBs behind the newer shows, just slapping a different little rubber forehead prosthetic on folks every week and pretending it's a different species. Compare the beautiful, imaginative, convincing work on Babylon 5 and Farscape.

Phil Kelly · February 26th, 2004, 08:35 AM

Frankly , it IS hard to top the early "effects" in putrescent turkeys like "Plan Nine from Outer Space", " Attack of the Killer Tomatos " and "Dark Star"

I really loved the old Flash Gordon serials as well .. where you could SEE the strings supporting the "rocketships" and they used dry ice for the exhaust ( and it always DROPPED outta the rear end ..great stuff!

The film where the guy builds the "interrossiter" from a kit was hilarious as well ..allong with the bulging brained white haired superhumans that co-starred in the picture ..

wish I could recall the name ??

Tenorman · February 26th, 2004, 01:38 PM

The TV Doctor Who series has come in for a lot of stick for their special effects, but with the budget they had, they are amazing. One classic was the Doctor sliding down a shifting gravel slope into boiling mud. The gravel slope was easy. There was a gravel quarry not too far from the studio. The mud was a problem. We don't have much in the way of boiling mud pools in the UK.

Solution: acquire the biggest pot that the kitchen in the studios has. Fill it full of milk, add some chocolate custard and simmer gently. Film the boiling custard and jump cut between the Doctor slipping down a gravel slope and the steaming boiling custard. When finished sell the custard in the canteen as dessert. Simple huh?

Andy D · February 26th, 2004, 02:21 PM

Worst effects could be in the film 'Dark Star', but this was, in my view, one of the best SF films ever.

Regards

Andy D.

Tenorman · February 26th, 2004, 02:26 PM

What about Blake's 7, which being later / parallel, should have been at least as good as Dr Who and patently wasn't

tonym · February 26th, 2004, 02:45 PM

Apart from 'Red Dwarf' the most ridiculous I've seen were on Interview With A Vampire . Dreadful.

clifton · February 26th, 2004, 09:38 PM

Although I didn't enjoy "Starship Troopers", I must admit the effects were great. The film with the "interrossiter" was "This Island Earth", which was gleefully skewered by Mike, Crow, and Servo in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie'. Since make-up/prosthetics are permissible in this thread, I also agree about "Dog Soldiers", pretty good make-up, also good, albeit very gory, effects. In "Meteor", there's a scene where people are trying to escape from a mudslide in the New York City subway system. Unfortunately, the mud looks very much like chocolate milk. And God bless the 1960 flick "The Angry Red Planet", about an expedition to Mars. The scenes n Mars are tinted red. The monsters aren't very convincing, but that redness makes the movie inescapably eerie, and I still enjoy watching it.

Andy D · February 26th, 2004, 10:30 PM

Yep Blake's 7.

But this was great SF, the story, the script and of course the very sexy Servalon

Regards

Andy D.

Rocket #9 · February 26th, 2004, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tonym
Apart from 'Red Dwarf' the most ridiculous I've seen were on Interview With A Vampire . Dreadful.

Hey, don't diss Red Dwarf! Do you know what the skutters cost?

Ed

February 25th, 2004, 07:49 PM	#1
clifton AAJ's Birdologist Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Clifton Hts., Pa Posts: 2,550	Worst Special Effects Of All Time It used to be that cheap, cheesy special effects were the sole province of low-budget horror and sci-fi flicks by the likes of Ed Wood, Roger Corman, and Troma Films. Then along came affordable computer animation and it seemed that any movie, any TV show, no matter how lame, could at least have presentable F/X. But no. Even in the age of CGI, crappy special effects continue to litter both the large and the small screens. So, then, what have been the worst F/X offenders. I'm taking into consideration the size of the film's budget. The 1979 "Meteor", which had an A-list cast (Sean Connery, Natalie Wood) would qualify. Also the 2004 made-for-cable "Curse Of The Komodo", in which a computer-animated giant mutant Komodo dragon looked like it had waddled out of an old "Clutch Cargo" cartoon. Your turn.

February 25th, 2004, 08:35 PM	#2
Saundra Hummer Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West Coast Posts: 15,060	The best special effect was the one that Sean had on Joey Bishop when he told him to "Shut your damn mouth." It took three times of saying for him to be quiet about Michael Caines wife. He finally got it, and I had to laugh at the fear after so many times of it flying over his head. Good for Sean by the way! Good for him! __________________ Sandi from Hermosa Beach

February 25th, 2004, 08:38 PM	#3
Saundra Hummer Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West Coast Posts: 15,060	Off the subject there Clifton, but couldn't resist. __________________ Sandi from Hermosa Beach

February 26th, 2004, 08:35 AM	#8
Phil Kelly Compose /Arranger / Jazz Prod. Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Bellingham WA Posts: 4,011	Frankly , it IS hard to top the early "effects" in putrescent turkeys like "Plan Nine from Outer Space", " Attack of the Killer Tomatos " and "Dark Star" I really loved the old Flash Gordon serials as well .. where you could SEE the strings supporting the "rocketships" and they used dry ice for the exhaust ( and it always DROPPED outta the rear end ..great stuff! The film where the guy builds the "interrossiter" from a kit was hilarious as well ..allong with the bulging brained white haired superhumans that co-starred in the picture .. wish I could recall the name ?? __________________ Swing ..or I'll kill you ( Bill Potts ) RIP

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February 26th, 2004, 12:01 AM	#4
Rocket #9 AAJ's Myth Science Admin Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bangkok Posts: 555	I hate CGI. For every time it's used well there are 10 times it looks horrible. To take a couple examples from everyone's favorite hobbitathon, Gollum actually seems very well done, but the wargs (especially in The Two Towers) are awful; standing still, they are barely passable, but when moving and fighting they're a terrible blurry mess. This is in a series which uses CGI much better than the run-of-the-mill, by the way. It's easier to pick a good example as the bad example field is so crowded, so here goes: Starship Troopers. I know this romp through the future with the Melrose Jugend vs. the bugs isn't to everyone's taste (remember, as a friend pointed out, the bugs are the good guys), but the bug animation is perfect. For a great example of my beloved guys-wearing-rubber-suits genre, see Dog Soldiers, an outstanding werewolf/guys-trapped-in-farmhouse flick. Great costumes, great flick. Joe Bob says... Ed

February 26th, 2004, 02:04 AM	#5
Muskrat Ramble Stand-Up Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 986	Pre-CGI revolution: Ghost with Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze. You'll laugh your ass off at the super-cheesy ghost effects.

February 26th, 2004, 04:44 AM	#6
shawn·m tulip or turnip? Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: woodinville, wa Posts: 1,842	No mention of Jar Jar yet? The made-for-TV Dune sure was a mixed bag. The few outer space POVs were reasonably well done, but Guild Navigators, worms traveling in the desert and the stop-motion mouse were about as bad as it gets. That said, it’s hard to hold it against the producers since, A) A limiting budget impacted more than special effects; B) They made use of some interesting and very successful lighting techniques associated with live theater; C) It far more closely resembled Frank Herbert’s novel than did David Lynch’s version. Of course, Lynch’s Dune was marred by some downright retarded effects. I wish somebody would go back and do a “Lucas” since there’s so much of David’s vision that did work well. Enthusiastically agree about Starship Troopers bugs: Flawless.

February 26th, 2004, 08:26 AM	#7
Muskrat Ramble Stand-Up Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 986	Agreed on the TV Dune. Effects iffy, but the overall production design, cinematography, and score are excellent, and it certainly is more faithful to the letter and spirit of the novel than Lynch's acid-trip version. I was watching part of Starship Troopers again recently--definitely a great black humor satire-cum-action flick--and agree that the bugs still look amazingly good. I didn't mention Jar Jar because that's a bad word in my home Episode I was such a monumental mistake, but that's fodder for another thread. *** Not FX per se, but makeup/prosthetics: all the post-original Star Trek series (the original can be forgiven, considering the date and budget). What a bunch of lazy SOBs behind the newer shows, just slapping a different little rubber forehead prosthetic on folks every week and pretending it's a different species. Compare the beautiful, imaginative, convincing work on Babylon 5 and Farscape.

February 26th, 2004, 01:38 PM	#9
Tenorman AAJ's Spammer Exterminator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: London - expat Scot Posts: 8,588	The TV Doctor Who series has come in for a lot of stick for their special effects, but with the budget they had, they are amazing. One classic was the Doctor sliding down a shifting gravel slope into boiling mud. The gravel slope was easy. There was a gravel quarry not too far from the studio. The mud was a problem. We don't have much in the way of boiling mud pools in the UK. Solution: acquire the biggest pot that the kitchen in the studios has. Fill it full of milk, add some chocolate custard and simmer gently. Film the boiling custard and jump cut between the Doctor slipping down a gravel slope and the steaming boiling custard. When finished sell the custard in the canteen as dessert. Simple huh?

February 26th, 2004, 02:21 PM	#10
Andy D Banned User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 1,294	Worst effects could be in the film 'Dark Star', but this was, in my view, one of the best SF films ever. Regards Andy D.

February 26th, 2004, 02:26 PM	#11
Tenorman AAJ's Spammer Exterminator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: London - expat Scot Posts: 8,588	What about Blake's 7, which being later / parallel, should have been at least as good as Dr Who and patently wasn't

February 26th, 2004, 02:45 PM	#12
tonym Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: north yorkshire, u.k Posts: 134	Apart from 'Red Dwarf' the most ridiculous I've seen were on Interview With A Vampire . Dreadful.

February 26th, 2004, 09:38 PM	#13
clifton AAJ's Birdologist Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Clifton Hts., Pa Posts: 2,550	Although I didn't enjoy "Starship Troopers", I must admit the effects were great. The film with the "interrossiter" was "This Island Earth", which was gleefully skewered by Mike, Crow, and Servo in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie'. Since make-up/prosthetics are permissible in this thread, I also agree about "Dog Soldiers", pretty good make-up, also good, albeit very gory, effects. In "Meteor", there's a scene where people are trying to escape from a mudslide in the New York City subway system. Unfortunately, the mud looks very much like chocolate milk. And God bless the 1960 flick "The Angry Red Planet", about an expedition to Mars. The scenes n Mars are tinted red. The monsters aren't very convincing, but that redness makes the movie inescapably eerie, and I still enjoy watching it.

February 26th, 2004, 10:30 PM	#14
Andy D Banned User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 1,294	Yep Blake's 7. But this was great SF, the story, the script and of course the very sexy Servalon Regards Andy D.