Is CGI Getting Worse?

The evolution of Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) has revolutionized the film industry, enhancing visual storytelling by leaps and bounds. Despite a common misconception, CGI, when done right, can blend seamlessly with practical effects, blurring the boundary between the real and the computer-generated.

The use of CGI began modestly in 1958 with Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo", utilizing a WWII targeting computer and pendulum for its opening sequence's spiral effects. This laid the foundation for more sophisticated uses of CGI, such as in 1973's "Westworld", where the creators leveraged a technique inspired by Mariner 4's Mars imagery for a robotic perspective.

As technology advanced, films like 1982's "Tron" pushed the limits of visual effects, involving painstaking manual input of values for each animated object. The film failed to garner an Oscar due to the prejudiced view that using computers was 'cheating', highlighting the industry's initial resistance to CGI.

The advent of motion capturing technology in films such as "The Lord of the Rings", involving recording actors' movements via sensors, contributed to enhancing realism in CGI characters. CGI today is a complement rather than a replacement for practical effects, often used in compositing to blend live-action and CG elements for realistic scenes, as seen in 2021's "Dune".
Despite criticism, CGI is an essential filmmaking tool that has enriched modern storytelling, enabling visual effects artists to realistically render a filmmaker's vision on screen. CGI isn't taking away from cinema's magic, but rather adding to it, crafting experiences and stories beyond the limitations of practical effects.

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