# How the FUCK **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 27, 2000, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542 "2000-03-27T03:45:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Babar714](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Babar714](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babar714)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/1 "2000-03-27T03:45:00Z")
…does The Matrix beat out Star Wars for SPECIAL EFFECTS??? I swore last year I wouldn’t watch this crap this year, so why the hell did I do it? Star Wars! Star Wars INVENTED special effects! Such bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/2 "2000-03-27T03:57:00Z")
Yeah, and Og invented the wheel, but you’re not gonna see him on the cover of _Car And Driver_, are ya? * * * Eagles may soar free and proud, but weasels never get sucked into jet engines. ---
**Author:** ![Babar714](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Babar714](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babar714)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/3 "2000-03-27T04:22:00Z")
Still, the special effects in Phantom Menace were just plain better and way more extensive than The Matrix. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/4 "2000-03-27T04:25:00Z")
No, the special effects were more numerous, but not better. Matrix showed innovation where Star Wars showed overabundance. IMHO * * * Eagles may soar free and proud, but weasels never get sucked into jet engines. ---
**Author:** ![Babar714](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Babar714](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babar714)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/5 "2000-03-27T04:27:00Z")
Sleepy Hallow got an award, and not TPM! ---
**Author:** ![Surgoshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Surgoshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surgoshan)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/6 "2000-03-27T04:53:00Z")
IMHO, there’s no such thing as a humble opinion. * * * I sold my soul to Satan for a dollar. I got it in the mail. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/7 "2000-03-27T04:59:00Z")
_The Matrix_ invented a system of hooking cameras in series that allowed the filmmakers to rotate the action PLUS slide forward and/or back at any speed, pause at any point, arrange the cameras in any configuration, and resume regular film anywhere along the line. _The Phantom Menace_ had tons of eye candy, none significantly better than that done years ago in _Jurassic Park_, drawn in ILM’s basement. Which deserves the effects Oscar? ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/8 "2000-03-27T05:03:00Z")
And this matters in the world’s scheme of things because??? Who gives a rat’s ass? It’s a freakin movie, it’s entertainment, which obviously takes precidence over more important things with you and others. :rolleyes: Why don’t you focus on more important shit, sheesh! \< thinks that entertainment stars and sports stars get too much money for the extremelly small part they have in our lives…sides, two days from now if the media has let up on it, no one is going to care \> ---
**Author:** ![Kepi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kepi/32/7251_2.png) [@Kepi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kepi)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/9 "2000-03-27T20:02:00Z")
techchick - Could you please provide me with a “techchick approved” list of topics about which I _ **should** _ give a rat’s ass? You know, the ones that really matter in the world’s scheme of things. I mean, after all, _ **you** _ apparently are in the know about these things. I certainly don’t want to waste my time by focusing on shit that isn’t really important to _ **you** _. Even if it happens to be something that interests me or, God forbid, might interest someone else. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Milossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/10 "2000-03-27T20:05:00Z")
And caaaaaan you feeeeel the looooooove toniiiiight (tonigh-hhht) … It is where we arrrrrreeee… * * * “Nothing is so firmly believed as what is least known” - Michel Gyquem de Montaigne ---
**Author:** ![aha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/11 "2000-03-27T20:06:00Z")
pulling up lawn chair poppin the top on a cool glass of water… * * * Yours truly, aha ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Armageddon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@Mister\_Armageddon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Armageddon)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/12 "2000-03-27T20:07:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by MaxTorque: > \*\*_The Matrix_ invented a system of hooking cameras in series that allowed the filmmakers to rotate the action PLUS slide forward and/or back at any speed, pause at any point, arrange the cameras in any configuration, and resume regular film anywhere along the line. Uh, Max? They didn’t invent that. In fact, I remember several commercials that used that technique way before The Matrix came out, and another movie (Wing Commander) also made extensive use of similar shots before the release of The Matrix. The “invention” of the so called time bullet technique is, well, a lie perpetrated by the movie’s creators, who apparently want people to believe that they’re creative and stuff. OK, sarcasm over…I do think it earned the Visual Effects Oscar last night, but don’t let them fool you into believing they invented that technique. * * * Mr. Armageddon “Just when you thought you had all the answers, I went and changed the questions!”–Roddy Piper ---
**Author:** ![Bucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Bucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bucky)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/13 "2000-03-27T21:15:00Z")
Star Wars used their FX to create Jar Jar Binks. I think that that, in itself, is a reason to deny it any Oscar consideration in the category. Also, I thought that their computer-generated crap was, well, just that (even without JJB). Bucky * * * Oh, well. We can always make more killbots. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/14 "2000-03-27T21:19:00Z")
It’s the PIT, get used to it Kepi. I don’t give a rat’s ass and never claimed that all should follow, you wimp. (gotta make this flame material) God forbid someone has a view that is not considered popular to the OP. I shudder to think the thought. So there. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/15 "2000-03-27T21:32:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by **techchick68** : > > Who gives a rat’s ass? Obviously you don’t, so get the fuck out of this thread. Esprix, who only used the word “fuck” because he’s in the Pit, and actually apologizes for doing so, his point being that if you don’t like a thread, you simply shouldn’t read it, that’s all * * * [Ask the Gay Guy!](http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum7/HTML/001376.html) ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/16 "2000-03-27T22:25:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Uh, Max? They didn’t invent that. In fact, I remember several commercials that used that technique way before The Matrix came out, and another movie (Wing Commander) also made extensive use of similar shots before the release of The Matrix. The “invention” of the so called time bullet technique is, well, a lie perpetrated by the movie’s creators, who apparently want people to believe that they’re creative and stuff. > > OK, sarcasm over…I do think it earned the Visual Effects Oscar last night, but don’t let them fool you into believing they invented that technique. I’m well aware that they didn’t invent the ‘cameras-in-series’ technique. As I recall, the first major use of such an effect occurred in a British commercial in the 80s, using a truckload of cameras strapped to a board that all fired simultaneously. This produced a funky ‘sliding to the left in frozen time’ effect. The effect was toyed with for years, and it was used in freakin’ Rolling Stones videos before _The Matrix_ even hit the screen. What the effects people in _The Matrix_ DID invent was a method of hooking the usual truckload of cameras in series and computer-controlling them in any way they saw fit. That includes firing them all at once, sliding forward and back at any speed, and stopping to run film at any single point on the line. THAT is why they won. Which, I believe, I mentioned in my original post. Know what I hate most about this? I have to defend the special effects in a profoundly mediocre movie. _The Matrix_ was, at best, an average sci-fi story, made worse by the fact that you had to sit through 1.5 hours of the writers’ theories of ‘what is reality’ and watch Keanu stare at a fuckin’ spoon before you get to watch some kick-ass combat. Without the effects, the movie is embarrassingly weak. The effects, though are very strong. _The Phantom Menace_ had a better storyline, but had no truly innovative effects other than the extensive, suffocating use of CGI. Sure, it had the first all-CGI character interacting with live performers, but so what? All-CGI characters have existed in major motion pictures since _Toy Story_, and animated characters have interacted with live performers almost since the beginning of film (the first major movie I can think of with human/animated interaction is _Mary Poppins_; anyone think of an earlier one?) So, the effects in _Phantom Menace_, though plentiful, just weren’t as ground-breaking. In closing: neener neener neener. ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/17 "2000-03-27T22:46:00Z")
Max, [url = [Alice’s"][http://us.imdb.com/Details?0013823](http://us.imdb.com/Details?0013823)]Alice’s]([http://us.imdb.com/Details?0013823](http://us.imdb.com/Details?0013823)) Wonderland is one of the first movies to have live action and animated characters together. This one wasn’t first, but it was early, a little different than the other one that was popular at the time in that, Alice was a live action character inside of the cartoon. (I believe the other one popular at the time came from Fleishman studios and involved a clown playing on a live action desk) Anyway, Ub Iwerks and Disney created Alice’s Wonderland, and Iwerks was one of the innovators with Mary Poppins as well, a good 40 years later. I jsut thought I would share that useless knowledge with the masses, I learned it from an interesting documentary called _Hands Behind The Mouse:The Ub Iwerks story_. Check it out if you get a chance. pat ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/18 "2000-03-27T23:56:00Z")
Oh Esprix, gimme a break… \< showing my white butt for Exprix to kiss \> I have every right to post in this thread that you do. I made it clear that the topic is not to my liking, so shoot me – handing Exprix my non-existant-gun. You know, I can display my distaste. I am sure you have done the same so get off my back you panty waisted wuss. \< gotta keep flame material you know \> Wuss ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/19 "2000-03-27T23:59:00Z")
Oh and BTW Esprix, If the OP wanted a debate that equates to serious discussion, then why wasn’t it posted in GD? If it’s in The Pit, to me is a free for all, in GD, if the topic doesn’t interest me then I let it be and go on about my merry way. Sheesh! ---
**Author:** ![Kepi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kepi/32/7251_2.png) [@Kepi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kepi)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2000, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542/20 "2000-03-28T00:12:00Z")
techchick - How is the OP any different than your fucking whine about Windows 98? It’s just a freakin’ operating system. Why don’t you focus on more important shit, sheesh! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-fuck/5542.md?page=2)