The best special effects movies to watch during isolation

It would be an understatement to suggest that many people in the country currently have a lot of time on their hands. While plenty struggle to find ways to fill their time, others are starting new hobbies or working on bettering themselves. For our Film FX students, watching films and admiring incredible forms of special effects is a great way to spend time and become inspired. Here are some of the best special effects movies that we’ll be watching during the lockdown.

Life of Pi

In what can be seen as an incredibly simplistic film, Life of Pi is a film that is largely filled with one scene. A man on a boat, standard after an accident at sea, hallucinating and desperately trying to keep himself alive, all while he has a tiger in the boat with him.

Although the scenes do not vary much, and there are very few characters, the incredible special effects bring this film from an unrealistic and wild scenario as something to be believed for the duration of the film. You only have to look at the tiger to see the talent that has been involved in this, as every single strand of hair catches the light and emulates reality perfectly.

The Curios Case of Benjamin Button

In what can only be described as one of the most bizarre and unique story lines of the last 20 years, this film depicts the timeline of a life in reverse. Born as an elderly man and growing into a youthful baby, Benjamin Button played by Brad Pitt is thrown into the special effect make up chair time and time again, as we see him change during a lifetime.

Director David Fincher really pushed the boat out with this one, there’s nothing quite like seeing a toddler sizes man, with Brad Pitt’s faced warped into an elderly man near his end of life. When you think about all the effort it took to pull this one off, it’s quite incredible!

Avatar

Arguably one of the best special effect films of all time. The depiction of a fantasy world, filled with creatures unbeknown to humanity is one thing, but to then combine it with the world as we know it also, is a work of art.

In this film we see every type of special effects hard at play. It is said that the director waited 15 years to create this film, in a bid to wait for technology to catch up and do the storyline justice, by producing such an incredible cinematic experience.

If you’re interested in getting into the wonderful world of Film FX, check out the courses available at the University of Bolton here.