A victory for forward-looking technology

Brandon 2022-03-19 09:01:04

Robert Zemeckis once again uses the computer technology of Performance Capture to the extreme, which is a complete technical challenge, from the virtual actor Aki, whose hair is finely visible in Final Fantasy: Spirit Within, to the virtual actor Aki in "A" "Scanner Darkly" uses live-action performances and then renders (Interpolated Rotoscoping) into 2D animation effects, until "Beowulf" uses sensors to connect live-action performances and renders into realistic 3D CG animations. Advances in computer technology will eventually have a profound effect on the film industry. It's just the time difference. Robert Zemeckis has always been a tech madman, and this time the challenge is even more thorough. It is not difficult to predict that the days of seeing the full virtual idol in the movie "Simone" will not be too far away.

Of course, from a technical point of view, the action of the characters is still a bit rigid. It is more like a game in terms of scenes and actions than a movie. As far as the current standards are concerned, the limitations of software and hardware technology make the cost of CG movies still very high. The speed of the development of computer technology, but in the next decade and a few decades, all the shots will be able to be called from the established material database combined with motion capture, and the film will be synthesized and recorded. At that time, making a film is like doing it now. It is as easy as a beautiful PPT, and the actor's job is only to perform motion capture for the specialized company that makes the material library. Each scene can also be easily called from the database, and you can add music to yourself. In such a future world, as long as you Think, a person sitting in front of the computer can write, direct, edit, synthesize, and even use the actors he likes at will to perform the movies he wants. What a revolution this is for the film industry, and the ambition of the film "Beowulf" is also evident.

The story of "Beowulf" has been ignored compared to technical attempts, after all, it is also the earliest long narrative poem in Britain, although from a bardic poem celebrating heroic intrepidity, it was adapted by Neil Gaiman into a full-length narrative poem. It is an action blockbuster with a fatalistic cycle, anti-Oedipus complex and even a little sci-fi color, but as a movie with smooth action fighting scenes and full of game sense, plus Ray Winstone and sister Jolie's handsome boys and girls. Starring naked, the movie is still quite visually valuable. Although a bit tacky, it is never the beauty that seduces the hero, but the eternal wealth, power and throne she promises. Human greed is the chasm that can never be filled.

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Extended Reading

Beowulf quotes

  • Unferth: Good night, Beowulf. Watch out for sea monsters. I'm sure your imagination must be teeming with them.

  • Yrsa: They say he ripped the monster's limb off with his bare hands.

    Gitte: [giggles] I wonder if Beowulf's strength is only in his arms, or in his legs as well... all three of them

    [both giggle]

    Wealthow: Well, after the feast tonight I'm sure you can find out, Gitte.

    Gitte: Me? It's not me he wants, my queen.