When I was young, I did not get to experience the world of sci-fi through the modern day fancy eye-catching technology or CGI magic. My crude experience was looking through the VHS tapes that were worn out to a point where the image almost begun to fade. I remember vividly the feeling I felt watching the original *Star Wars* and *Blade Runner* on those tapes.
Each movie was evidence of the beauty of practical effects, where the heart of storytelling was embedded in real life crafted masterpieces instead of simulations that are produced by a computer nowadays. I can clearly recall my first encounter with *Star Wars.* I did not watch the remastered version but the crude original from my uncle which was in worse shape. The Millennium Falcon space model took a lot of work to make and unlike modern space videos, it didn’t fly smoothly, instead, it looked like it was blocky and charming which was an indication that a lot of effort went into making it.
As I watched it battle with the TIE fighter, I was really fascinated not just by the plot, but also by the fact that real human beings were willing to put in so much work to make these imaginary features a reality. Knowing that every single explosion and every single detail, no matter how minuscule, was a result of careful thinking and craftsmanship was spectacular. It’s this tactile quality that I think makes John Carpenter’s *The Thing* (1982) so hauntingly memorable.
Practical effect artists enabled the realism which captures the creature’s transformation better than CGI ever could. I vividly remember the first time I watched it – the transformation was so grotesque, so “alive”, because it felt as though someone created it with their bare hands. The combination of those raw effects with the empty, cold beauty of the arctic gave off a feeling of terror that I still remember.
For instance, with *Alien* (1979), H.R. Giger’s design for the creature was not just a design; it was a creature that actors had to emote with. Their fear, in reality, was not something automatic to a video but a response to real life, real fear.
Practical effects have a different kind of effect on the audience’s emotions. It invites them to think whether digital monsters can even elicit as much fear as the physical ones do. The more I explore the world of special effects, the more I wish for those times when film makers were forced to think outside the box and not only craft stories, but also build the worlds their characters lived in.
For example, I was recently rewatching *Jason and the Argonauts* (1963) and I still cannot get over how charming Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion animation was. Unlike today’s CGI, these monsters had a distinctly sculptural beauty, were alive and full of emotions. They were a true masterpiece showcasing the beauty of practical art and the boundaries of possibilities at that time.
In Ridley Scott’s *Blade Runner*, the deep worldbuilding was a result of his attention to detail. Every miniature and set piece made was meant to be as real as possible. This level of craftsmanship is something that is neglected by most films today, as they prefer the usage of digital theatrics.
Scott’s vision ensured the city Infrastructure was dense and did feel real, unlike the glossy fake environments many blockbusters use CGI for these days. Those environments bare no resemblance the the reality which is unfortunate. Scott’s vision ensured the city Infrastructure was dense and did feel real, unlike the glossy fake environments many blockbusters use CGI for these days.
Those environments bare no resemblance the the reality which is unfortunate. It’s easy to appreciate the advances in CGI, but as those methods continue to be used, the reality is that a part of us fades away as well. While it is true that CGI has shown us new things that can be done on a screen, the sense of craft that realistic effects give is lost with the switch from practical to digital.
The first movie that comes to my mind is *Jurassic Park* (1993). Special effects blended crafted and digital effects, and the result was spectacular. It was so easy to believe the life-sized animatronics of the dinosaurs with the CGI.
This balance is what needs to be achieved, but sadly can’t be. Most modern films rely too much on CGI backgrounds. The original trilogy *Star Wars* is an excellent example of the impact of practical effects.
While the prequels strayed into the digital world and sacrificed a degree of realism, the original movies constructed tangible models and sets that enriched the universe. I still get goosebumps thinking about the first time I watched a Star Destroyer or TIE fighter zoom across the screen. Knowing these were actual models built by talented craftspeople gives me chills.
The prequels, on the other hand, always felt too artificial, particularly when compared to the originals. The implementation of practical effects is dependent on light and space. A crafted prop or creature always responds to its surroundings unlike a digitally created object.
The way shadows fall a crossed a physical model and how light reflects from a crafted surface is far more realistic than what CGI can offer. While digital effects are often far easier and cheaper, they strip away the beauty of handiwork. Also, the teamwork that goes into practical effects reveals an important facet of filmmaking.
Artists and technicians work together, troubleshooting during shoots in order to fulfill a common goal. Consider Stanley Kubrick’s *2001: A Space Odyssey-* the models and sets in the movie were incredibly detailed, and their scale and realism made them feel immersive. As a child, watching the movie was like being transported to a new reality — a concrete world rather than a pixelated one.
Nevertheless, the last few years have shown a notable shift toward the use of both practical and digital effects in tandem. *Mad Max: Fury Road* is an example of these two styles merging; it employs jaw-dropping visuals and still maintains the touchable quality that comes with practical effects. The clever incorporation of practical effects into CGI ensures that the imagery does not look too far-fetched.
This has been taken a step further by *The Mandalorian* with the stunning “Volume” technology, which utilizes gigantic LED screens to construct sets that function as live-action backgrounds. This fusion proves that practical effects are not outdated by any means; there are still useful tools that enhance the way modern tales are told. In the end, it is not about choosing a winner in the argument of practical vs CGI; it is rather understanding how each has its own role in the storytelling.
CGI has greatly improved and opened up new realms of possibilities for cinema, however, the physical nature of practical effects does add the emotional depth and feeling of the film. To me, there has always been a touch of magic in sci-fi due to the fact that every single prop or miniature is a product of human innovation and creativity and that magic is set to vanish with increased reliance on virtual props. I believe filmmakers of today should seek to bring back the practical effects, not just to re live the past, but alongside the digital imagination.
When they’re brought together, combining the two creates a seamless and captivating cinematic experience. The magic of seeing something actually real on the screen captivates like no other – a reward in itself to the hands and hearts, which poured their toil into making it. One is reminded of the bygone days and with a lot of hope, one can believe that the heritage of practical effects will challenge and motivate the next generations of filmmakers.
The essence as well as the soul of the magic lie in the kindness, creativity, and storytelling which brings people together. I vividly remember those good old days when the combination of practical effects and CGI brought to life incredible stories which were realistic and inventive at the same time. While the movie business will always develop, there is still hope that one day practical effects will find a way back into the heart of cinema, giving hope for the kind of captivating storytelling that will be appreciated for generations to come.
