Poll: Movies: CGI or puppets?

[hamster mk 4]

CGI does a better job with characters, but I would take good ole fassion minatures and models for backgrounds and explosions. No matter how sophisticated the computer is, it still can't model shattering brickwork, complex lighting, or a fuel tank exploding as well as a minature.

 

[Samwise137]

I like CGI for some things but some directors need to be restrained and the old-school techniques did a good job providing that restraint. We can all name a few movies where the CGI is over the top and we walk out saying "damn, I'm not buying it." I find myself frequently following that thought with some musing along the lines of "what if they had used puppets instead of CGI?" I'm not saying it's perfect, but sometimes it helps.

 

[Ubermetalhed]

If you are talking horror or monster movies you can't beat old school. For me nothing beats an actor in a xenomorph suit.

Although I admit some stuff does need the CGI treatment although the less the better.

 

[the Dept of Science]

CGI for movies because I think at now we are at a stage when it looks just as good and can acheive so much more.
I think Pixar have proved time and again that CGI can have just as much soul as animation or puppets.

However, I must say, I think it looks awful when I see an old kids show done in CGI. CGI looks horrible without a hollywood budget, so why do they make Noddy in CGI? Surely using puppets is cheaper and has so much more soul than the lifeless CGI.

 

[tomtom94]

CGI always looks slightly too shiny when used against live action.
But then again, puppets aren't always convincing either.

If pressed, CGI.

 

[XJ-0461]

Whatever works best.

If miniatures and models look the most realistic, then go with that. If CGI is the only way to achieve realistic results, then use it. Unreasonable bias towards either method can only be detrimental to films.

 

[Escapefromwhatever]

It really depends on the movie...

 

[psychic psycho]

I like models/costumes/puppets. I know Hellboy and Pan's Labyrinth used some CGI but they used a lot of old school effects. The monsters looked awesome in those movies. Hellboy looked so much better than the completely CGI Incredible Hulk.

So in short. I like old school effects with some CGI touch ups.

 

[SteinFaust]

CGI is good (Avatar) , but too much is a travesty(Sky Captain and the World of Tommorrow).

puppets are good (Team America: World Police), but it would be hard to take a rendition of say, 50 Dead Men Walking, seriously like that.

 

[Furious Styles]

i always liked the old ray harryhausen effects, but CGI is just better

 

[monstersquad]

Both!! Each medium has it drawbacks, and it's strengths. So both. if you have any doubts about this, just look back to the movie version of Doom.

Yeah, yeah it has The Rock in it, but it's still a good movie, and the effects are excellent because they're using both techniques ie. old-school puppets and make-up AND CGI. So both. A good director should use all the tools they have at their disposal, and going 100% one way is always going to be the WRONG choice.

 

[Atmos Duality]

A bit of a loaded question, because my response is "It's circumstantial".
When possible, don't use CGI for environments. Raiders of the Lost Ark, for example, worked largely because of the settings, and exotic locale works best if you can put the real thing on camera.

An example of how CGI can ruin a setting...the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy.
Almost all of that was done in a blue screen lab. Meaning that the setting almost never added flavor or presence to the scene. Dagobah remains creepy, dreary and evil even to this day.
Count Dooku's lair looks like some random level in a fighting game.

 

[The Night Shade]

Puppets with today's tecnology a puppet can look really realistic but CGI will always look a bit plastic,just fake or too shiny

 

[omega247]

Practical effects all the way (maybe with a very small amount of CGI to augment it). Models look so much cooler, and I feel CGI cheapens any creativity from a director.

 

[Eliam_Dar]

Well, this question took me to my childhood and remembered me about Laberinth and Dark Crystal (thx by the way, love those movies) and I should perhaps view them again to make a better judgement, but puppets are better.

 

[Crimson_Dragoon]

I will take my classic Muppet Yoda over a ridiculous CGI ninja Yoda any day of the week.

 

[Choppaduel]

CGI only works for me if it on the level of Avatar, and your watching it in imax. otherwise puppets, like in Labyrinth and Dark Crystal. the are not made worse by watching it on a 480i tv, but cgi is.