Top 10 WORST CGI In Action Movies
#10: De-Aging Technology
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“Tron: Legacy” (2010) Despite all of the commendable technical work in Joseph Kosinski’s “Tron: Legacy,” this particular effect doesn’t hold up well. A youthful, CGI version of Jeff Bridges makes up antagonist Clu’s face, and it feels more distracting than effective. The stark contrast between the older and younger versions of the actor is rather unsettling, and it’s all we can focus on when they face off. Sure, the virtual world of "Tron: Legacy" holds up despite this particular prototype of de-aging technology. But while the light cycle races and action scenes continue to inspire, this element of the film only slows it down.
#9: Computer Snake
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“Anaconda” (1997) “Anaconda” is a fun and flawed action movie with a terrifying snake as the main villain. While some shots include a practical version of the creature, there’s also cases where the filmmakers opt for a computerized copy. They also employ a sketchy digital model for an underwater shot to show off the snake after it’s eaten Owen Wilson’s character. On the cusp of more realistic CGI in Hollywood, the film might have benefited from more research into snake technology. One sequence in particular utilizes the fake version as the main cast attempts to survive its killer instincts. When Jon Voight’s character climbs a ladder, his slithering nemesis gets him down before wrapping around him in a less-than-stellar effect.
#8: The Plane Crash
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“Air Force One” (1997) President James Marshall, played by Harrison Ford, narrowly escapes the titular plane at the end of “Air Force One'' before a treacherous staff member catches him. Unfortunately for the villain, the gigantic aircraft plunges into the ocean not long after the hero gets away. A particular low point comes just before the crash, as the antagonist appears in the open doorway. Then, the plane topples over into the ocean in a visual straight out of an old flight simulator game. Both the water and crash effects feel stiff and unrealistic for this kind of pivotal moment. Wolfgang Petersen’s movie might be an enjoyable thrill ride, but it’s not without its technical drawbacks.
#7: Princess Leia
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“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (2016) The late Carrie Fisher’s turn as Princess Leia is one of the essential elements of the original “Star Wars” series. For the prequel film “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” her likeness receives a dubious re-creation. In the final minutes of the movie, the Death Star plans make it aboard her spaceship and into Princess Leia’s hands. Fisher's digital double is an example of an impressive effort that still comes across as hugely artificial in a close-up. This character and the depiction of Moff Tarkin show the progress made with 3D models, but there’s still an uncanny valley effect in their faces. The experience could have done without an extended shot of Fisher’s computerized image.
#6: 3-D Technology
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“Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over” (2003) Robert Rodriguez's third entry in the "Spy Kids" series was an attempt to bring 3D technology to the early 2000s. Taking the cast into the virtual world, the film needed a number of computer-generated backgrounds and enhancements. With the contestants diving deeper into a VR competition, the various action scenes rely on excessive CGI. This gives the story a shaky foundation that distracts viewers for the entire runtime. There was potential for this kind of idea in a kid's movie, but the final product doesn't quite match the ambitious premise. Even for the time, the effects failed to hold up.
#5: Monster Brawl
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“The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” (2003) "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" marked Sean Connery’s last live-action appearance on film. But as evidenced by this project's lackluster critical reception, the subpar effects didn’t do the cast any favors. For instance, one of the scenes involves the henchman Dante turning into a gigantic creature and fighting Mr. Hyde. We don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that this CGI monster should have stayed on the cutting room floor. After all, the computerized antagonist doesn’t make much sense during the climactic brawl. The visual effects weren’t the only reason people took issue with this film, but they definitely didn’t help.
#4: Meeting the Aliens
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“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” (2008) With everything from explosions to run-ins with otherworldly creatures, "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" tested the limits of many loyal "Indiana Jones" fans. When the archaeologist and his team reach a kingdom called Akator, they come face-to-face with crystal aliens. With Steven Spielberg being such a great director, it's a shame that the characters or the practical action stunts that made the series a classic weren’t spotlighted here. Instead, we get extra CGI sequences that provide a hollow representation of an alien civilization. Thus, the moment when things begin unraveling just doesn’t quite work. A more seamless use of real and digital aspects would’ve been far more convincing.
#3: The Scorpion King
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“The Mummy Returns” (2001) The "Mummy" series features a number of entertaining action set-pieces and a dose of Egyptian myth for good measure. The Rock's full transformation into Scorpion King comes near the movie's climax, but his reveal doesn't make for a positive memory. He battles the main heroes in a cheesy fight with fire and slow-motion shots. His body and facial animations fall flat, as he comes off looking like anything but a lifelike film creation. There had to have been a better way to do this. Nonetheless, there’s still a spin-off entitled "The Scorpion King" that came out featuring Dwayne Johnson in the same role.
#2: The Agent Smith Fight Scene
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“The Matrix Reloaded” (2003) Neo confronts Agent Smith in this scene from “The Matrix Reloaded.” Given the villain’s ability to clone himself, the lead character must fight against a multitude of deadly suits. The massive battle features some cool moves, but the computer-generated doubles don’t look legitimate in the slightest. A couple moments, such as the swinging kick move from Neo, feel noticeably artificial, to put it mildly. With false movements from both figures, the so-called action doesn't hold up throughout the bout. The Wachowskis’ vision of the virtual world has plenty of highlights, but this scene illustrates a major limitation that came with the technology of the time.
#1: James Bond Surfs a Tsunami
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“Die Another Day” (2002) In Pierce Brosnan’s final and wildest outing as James Bond, he becomes… a surfer? When a satellite is activated to break open a glacier, the secret agent is forced to improvise with a parachute and a makeshift board. If you think any of that sounds reasonable, the end result will definitely change your mind. Bond rides a massive wave in a stunt that no amount of CGI work could make realistic. While Brosnan attempts to sell it, the only thing that could save this sequence would be a substantial rewrite or another pass at the VFX. It’s easy to see why the series got a more grounded reboot after “Die Another Day.”
