what movie made the biggest leap in special affects...

[IndianaJones]

for its time?

Superman III.

[AllegroRondo]

1. the first Star Wars, 1977

either that, or the original 1950's War of the Worlds.

[Dr. Strange]

2. Star Trek V: The Search for a Better Script

A pool table--with water! How cutting edge!

[LeftyMom]

3. Jaws.

Maintaining realistic models in an ocean environment was a technical challenge at the time.

And yet they still had a good script and good acting. Which everybody misses out on with current CGI crapfests.

[edbermac]

4. 2001: A Space Odyssey

[av8rdave]

16. Absolutely...the effects still look great today

[Hand]

26. Hear hear!

And they did it all the hard way, too--no computerized special effects. It was all done on acetate film, one frame at a time and no real idea of what was coming out at the end. The 2001 book had a whole chapter on how they developed the "slit scan" photography that was used to create the Star Gate effects. :hippie: :toast: :applause:

[darkstar]

32. Agree...

Most definitely the biggest single leap. Still looks good to my eye. Giant models casting sharp-ass shadows. Yay!

[Richardo]

37. This is my sentimental favorite

Yes, the models cast sharp shadows. And they have the 'weight' and 'mass' that CG effects never seem to have.

Another thing: the moon 'exteriors' were shot in 1964 - five years before the moon landing.

[ironflange]

36. Especially in Cinerama

You know, the large wide curved screen. I saw it as such several times; for many years the Cinerama in town had a weekend annually when 2001 ran. The scene with the space station on one side, the spaceliner in the opposite corner, slowly turning in sync, curved screen and Blue Danube, was overwhelming.

[Richardo]

38. I saw it at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood whenever it played there

I've seen that movie at least 36 times in a theatrical setting, starting in 1968 when I was 11 years old.

[Burma Jones]

5. Fritz Lang's Metropolis

[jpgray]

11. Hard to beat this choice

[mitchum]

21. I agree

[DS1]

6. The Abyss, perhaps Terminator 2

but of course, Blade mothafuckin Runner

[XemaSab]

29. I saw Blade mothafuckin Runner

for the first time on the big screen yesterday. And yes, it was the mothafuckin shit. :)

[SacredCow]

7. Star Wars is probably the best example....

And the effects still don't look all THAT outdated by current standards, strangely enough. A little cheesy perhaps, but not enough to make you think you're watching a B movie.

[CGowen]

22. Yep, Steven Spielberg was blown away by it at the premiere n/t

[AnneD]

8. The Voyages of Sinbad....

old black and white...but when he fights the skeletons.....amazing. Esp considering it was in the 50's. At least I think that was the title.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

9. I don't know, how a movie specially affects you is quite personal I'd think

[Fire Walk With Me]

10. Plan Nine from Outer Space

Oh, you didn't mean the biggest leap off the deep end?

[Akoto]

12. The Day the Earth Stood Still ...

Or so my father tells me, anyhow. :)

[YankeyMCC]

13. Forbidden Planet

Star Wars would be the only one I would admit is arguably #1 over FP.

[raccoon]

14. American Werewolf in London. nt

[quip]

15. Hands down, it was Jurassic Park.

"effect"?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=7108882

:hi:

[BulletproofLandshark]

17. Star Wars for sure.

It's a testament to the genius of Industrial Light & Magic that most of the effects still stand the test of time.

[MilesColtrane]

18. Has to be "2001".

But, coming a close second is Douglas Trumball again in 1977 (the same year "Star Wars" came out) with his groundbreaking work in "Close Encouters of the Third Kind".

[TrogL]

19. There was an early one about a voyage to the moon

[GoddessOfGuinness]

27. Le Voyage dans la lune...Georges Méliès

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aI0BmQaIIR4

Waaaaaay ahead of its time!

[Deja Q]

20. Technically, 2001. In eye-popping, mass audience drool ways, Star Wars (1977).

[hyphenate]

23. I hate to say it, because I didn't care

for the movie for the most part, but without a doubt it must be "Citizen Kane." Orson Welles invented and brought so many new concepts to filmmaking as a result of that film--things which are still being used today and still garnering praise.

[EstimatedProphet]

24. Are you trying to imply the movies were using affectations?

[trof]

25. Effects

grammar nanny here

[WinkyDink]

28. "Fantastic Voyage". LINK:

http://www.dvddrive-in.com/reviews/e-h/fantasticvoyage66.htm

[mwdem]

30. "Plan 9 From Outer Space"?

Hey, they used a shower curtain! Look it up.

[Alexander]

31. The Great Train Robbery.

Pictures? And they MOVE?

[Rabrrrrrr]

33. Special *a*ffects? I'd say Top Gun.

One of the most affected movies of all time.

[Ivan Sputnik]

34. King Kong

For 1933, pretty astonishing. This movie can still be enjoyed by audiences today, if they give it a chance.

[Dr. Strange]

35. Daredevil...no wait,

that was the biggest leap in special Afflecks.

Never mind.

[Release The Hounds]

39. Star Wars, Tron