Best Visual Effect Of the Prequels

For me most of the best effects remain in The Phantom Menace for the simple fact that so much in that film was taking a giant leap forward from what had ever been done before. By the time we got to 2002 and 2005 for the other prequels it seems like these incredible special effects become almost common place, with not only ILM but also other companies churning out huge effects films right and left.

The Pod Race, Otoh Gunga, Jar Jar, Boss Nass, the list goes on and on....

 

General Grievous

 

I would say the first ten minutes of RotS. As in the space battle where the ships were just broadsiding each other, pouring firing into each other. That was some great work right there. I don' really think we've seen a space battle this comprehensive in a SW movie before (at least in my opinion). I really enjoyed those first few minutes of the ship chases and such. VERY nice!

 

Curiously, the best visual effect of the prequels was not CGI at all.

It was Darth Maul.

 

The clones that confront Bail at the Temple look really good too.

 

I never fully realized this until I watched Yoda's death scene in ROTJ again, and he looks like he does in certain scenes in ROTS.

 

Revenge of the Sith

*In a nod to Seven Samurai, Yoda runs his hand through his hair. Looked very realistic.

*Grievous disrobes, pulls out for lightsabers, and ignites them.

 

I dunno, the shot that really impressed me is when the lava hits the collecting arm that Anakin and Obi-Wan were fighting across not more than 5-10 seconds before. Nice effects moment for me. Music that goes with it was perfect too.

 

General Grevious looks pretty outstanding for GCI as do the clones.

 

How is an actor a visual effect?

 

Uh... is that a serious question????

 

More sarcastic than serious.

But, visual effects usually aren't flesh & blood.

 

The Clones in both Ep.ÍI & Ep. III.

Especially those that confront Bail.

 

I think the static items in all of the prequels are good. The actual movement of characters is good too, but i have a real problem with most of the CGI in the prequel movies. They're certainly entertaining, but they're not good. There are many movies out there with vastly superior. Compare the clone troopers to (yeuch) the mass hords in Lord of the Rings or Saving Private Ryan.

I know star wars is partially about the effects, but they should be part of the picture. Sometimes they get it right, other times it just doesnt look right.

I notice a number have been appreciative of Dooku in battle. To me, it looks wrong.

I did my PhD in cloth modelling years ago (early ninetines, well before my current musical career!!) and it seems the simple gouraud shaded models we were doing havent been improved on! The same problems still seem to be around after all these years and they seem really exposed in the prequels.

There are some excellent elements in the preq's, but watching some other movies its seems almost impossible to spot the join, but it seems very obvious to me in SWP !!

Anyway - they're still great!!

 

Yes in ROTS, the cloth sims and the metalic textures aren't convincing at all, like R2D2's CG dome, and metal walls.

 

I also thought the battle droids were the best visual effect, followed by the Clone Troopers.

 

Not to be vague, but the arena battle in Episode II from the monsters to the rescue - WOW.

 

There's a lot and it's hard to choose, Revenge of the Sith is simple stunning but I'll go for...






















YODA IN REVNEGE OF THE SITH

 

The Clones in AOTC. When I watched them for the first three times, I always wondered why Lucas hadn't used CGI instead of actors.

Oops on my part.

 

The opening sequence of ROTS absolutely blew me away when I saw it the first time (and every time since then). From Anakin and Obi-Wan flying close to the hull of the destroyer to the waterfall shot to the way they wrench themselves under the destroyer and fly into the heart of the battle, deftly avoiding all the crossfire kept my eyes glued to the screen the entire time. There are only three words that can describe that opening sequence: roller coaster ride.

 

The scene in ROTS when Yoda is walking down the halls of the Tantive. He is real in that scene.

 

Same here. One of the most amazing scenes with CGI in all film, if not the most amazing.

 

I'll buy that.

***
I watched "The Duel in Chancellors Office" again last night.
I must say, the sabers in ROTS are absolutely amazing, especially Windu's.

 

If I had to pick one I'd have to say the Battle of Coruscant. I nearly peed my pants first time I saw it on the big screen.

 

General Grievous was pretty amazing looking for a CGI character.

And my favorite visual of the prequel trilogy, while not a computer effect, was Padme's midriff in AOTC.