The 11 worst examples of the Uncanny Valley effect in movies

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The 11 worst examples of the Uncanny Valley effect in movies

While CGI and visual effects have seen countless amazing advancements over the years for filmmakers, the issue of the “uncanny valley” in films has been a challenge to overcome. In terms of cinema, The uncanny valley refers to a certain stage in the advancement of animation that imparts a frightening or unsettling quality to human characters in films. The idea is that the animation capability would reach a very realistic level to look more like a cartoon, but not realistic enough to look completely human, thus falling into the uncanny valley.

The effect has been lampooned and criticized among critics and film fans for years, with some films relying on the relatively new motion capture technology, making the uncanny valley even harder to ignore. However, the uncanny valley is simply the result of advances in technology facing some increasing difficulties. There are great films that feature examples of the uncanny valley, and while the effect may not be enough to ruin a film, it certainly doesn’t help.

11

The Hulk

Hulk (2003)


Hulk (Eric Bana) appears placid in Ang Lee's Hulk (2003)

Years before the MCU, Oscar-winning filmmaker Ang Lee brought Hulk to the big screen. Although the film was a box office disappointment and received mixed reactions from fans, in recent years, Hulk was praised for its inventive take on the superhero genre. However, one thing that hasn’t aged well is the graphics of the Hulk himself in certain sequences. The film stars Eric Bana as Bruce Banner, the mild-mannered scientist whose exposure to gamma radiation transforms him into a powerful beast.

Hulk was released at a time when superhero movies were just starting to become popular and the visual effects weren’t yet to the point of being believable. This can best be seen in the sequences where Hulk is rampaging through the city streets. The effects make the character look more like a stop-motion creation, like the original 1933 King Kong in that he looks out of place in his environment, has jerky movements, and the people around him don’t interact with him in a believable way.

Hulk is a 2003 superhero film directed by Ang Lee, starring Eric Bana as the titular character. Predating the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hulk ended up being a critical failure despite being based on a popular superhero. However, the film still made a huge profit at the box office upon release.

Director

Ang Lee

Release date

June 19, 2003

Execution time

138 minutes

10

Photorealistic talking animals

The Lion King (2019)


Nala, Simba and Zazu look to the right of the camera in The Lion King 2019

Although the uncanny valley was initially identified thanks to the graphics behind the human characters, The Lion King The remake proved that animal characters can be just as off-putting when brought to life. Continuing Disney’s trend of remaking its classic animated films into live-action, The Lion King retells the story of young Simba who loses his father and must accept his destiny to become king of Pride Rock.

The effects on The Lion King They’re impressive because they animate photorealistic animals, from lions to baboons to wild boars. However, Real animals don’t talk and sing, so adding these qualities to the realistic-looking animals is what gave the characters their uncanny valley look.. The effect did not discourage audiences, as the film was a huge box office success and the upcoming prequel Mufasa: The Lion King continues to use the same effects.

9

Little Tim

A Christmas Carol (2009)


Tiny Tim sitting on Ebeneezer Scrooge's shoulder in A Christmas Carol

Robert Zemeckis is a filmmaker who has stumbled into the uncanny valley more than most, and although A Christmas carol Its most effective use of motion capture filmmaking is not without its problems. This recount of A Christmas carol uses the transformative power of motion capture to transform Jim Carrey into old Ebeneezer Scrooge, a self-centered businessman who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve in an attempt to change his ways.

Scrooge is the most effective character in the film because he seems the least realistic. All the work done to liven up Carrey when he’s older gives him a more cartoonish appearance. However, problems arise with other human characters, such as Tiny Tim. Especially seeing him alongside Carrey’s Scrooge, the contrast highlights the uncanny valley effect more vividly..

A Christmas Carol (2009) is an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic novel, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Jim Carrey in several roles. The film employs motion capture technology to bring to life the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an old miser who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve. Through these supernatural encounters, Scrooge is forced to reevaluate his life and change his habits.

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Release date

November 4, 2009

Execution time

94 minutes

8

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s cameo

Terminator: Salvation (2009)


A digital Arnold Schwarzenegger as a T-800 in Terminator: Salvation

Terminator: Salvation was the first film Terminator franchise that did not feature Arnold Schwarzenegger as the protagonist. However, even though Oscar winner Christian Bale appeared as an exciting lead, the film couldn’t avoid referencing the iconic original actor. Bale plays John Connor in the film, which is set in the future as humanity continues to fight for its survival.

Although Sam Worthington is the main character in Terminator, there is a sequence in the climax where John encounters an early version of the famous T-800. However, Schwarzenegger does not return for this cameo and his younger self is rendered in CGI. What was supposed to be a crowd-pleasing moment is more likely to pull audiences out of the film as it feels like a video game depiction of the classic character. The film seems to acknowledge that the effect doesn’t work, as the T-800’s skin quickly melts away, leaving only the robot’s skeleton.

In post-apocalyptic 2018, John Connor is one of the leaders of the human resistance who fights against the growing army of machines that intend to exterminate humanity. After young Kyle Reese befriends Marcus Wright, a former death row inmate, John Connor discovers Skynet’s plan to fire Reese before he can travel back in time. The military leader is forced to scour the war-torn desert to find his teenage father and ensure his own survival.

Director

McG

Release date

May 21, 2009

Execution time

115 minutes

7

Grand Moff Tarkin

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)


Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin looking to one side in Rogue One

With advances in technology, one of the most controversial uses in cinema has been the recreation of deceased actors to bring back some of their iconic characters. One of the first major films to achieve this was Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which brought back Grand Moff Tarkin decades after Peter Cushing’s death. The film is a prequel to Star Wars: A New Hopedetailing the mission to steal the Death Star plans so the Rebels can take away the Empire’s greatest weapon.

Although Tarkin only appeared in the first Star Wars movie, he is an iconic villain from Star Wars franchise and it makes sense that he would be involved in this story. However, using Cushing’s image becomes a huge distraction in these scenes. Unlike most characters created using CGI, Tarkin is intended to be a human character who interacts with other real actors, making his digital face difficult to ignore..

Set in the weeks leading up to Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story provides additional context for the Rebellion’s plan to destroy the Death Star. Rogue One follows Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) as she enlists the help of rebel Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) to locate her father, Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen), after the Empire kidnaps him.

Director

Gareth Edwards

Release date

December 13, 2016

Execution time

134 minutes

6

The final form of the Scorpion King

The Mummy Returns (2001)


The Scorpion King in The Mummy Returns

Dwayne Johnson landed his first leading role in Hollywood in The Scorpion Kingbut he originated the character in The mummy returns. Johnson appears in the sequel’s prologue as this fearsome, ancient warrior. The mummy returns sees the heroes of the original film trying to stop the villain Imhotep, who seeks to resurrect the Scorpion King and use his army to conquer the world.

The film’s climax sees the return of the Scorpion King, but as a monster that is part giant scorpion and part CGI Dwayne Johnson. The reveals everything, but destroys the big climax, as the character looks like something out of a video game. While Brendan Fraser defended The mummy returns‘ effect, they would have been much better off by simply bringing Johnson back without CGI or having him be a fully CGI scorpion monster without the human face.

A sequel to The Mummy, The Mummy Returns stars Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz as Rick and Evelyn O’Connell. Now married, the O’Connells are once again drawn into a sinister plot surrounding the evil mummy Imhotep, now trying to gain power over Anubis’ army by killing the legendary Scorpion King. John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo and Oded Fehr also star, and the film marks Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s film debut as The Scorpion King.

Director

Stephen Sommers

Release date

May 4, 2001

Execution time

130 minutes

5

The main characters

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)


A woman surrounded by CGI creatures from Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within It had the distinction of being the first feature film to use motion capture technology to create its characters. In this sense, he became a guinea pig to find out what works and what doesn’t with the new technology. The film brought together a star-studded cast including Alec Baldwin, Donald Sutherland, Ming-Na Wen and Steve Buscemi in the story of Earth’s fight for survival after it is taken over by alien ghosts.

When the film was released, it was a momentary thrill to see this new approach to animation. However, which could not sustain an entire film, as the characters have lifeless and emotionless faceswhich makes it difficult to connect with the story. The ambitious attempt to bring this technology to conventional cinema led to Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within becoming one of the biggest box office bombs of all time.

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within is a 2001 animated science fiction film directed by Hironobu Sakaguchi and Motonori Sakakibara. The film centers on Dr. Aki Ross and her team as they seek to save Earth from mysterious alien entities known as Ghosts. Notably, it features a mix of realism and computer-generated imagery, complemented by voice acting from actors like Ming-Na Wen and Alec Baldwin.

Director

Hironobu Sakaguchi

Release date

July 11, 2001

Execution time

106 minutes

4

The feline characters

Cats (2019)

While The Lion King ran into the uncanny valley by having realistic animal faces, unable to emote like humans, they at least avoided the mistake that Cats done. The adaptation of the famous Broadway musical follows a group of stray cats who come together for an important celebration where one of them will be selected to ascend to a new level of being and return to another life.

Cats It was a notorious failure among audiences and critics, being considered by many one of the worst films of all time. Most of the complaints were focused on the wrong decision on how to bring the feline characters to life. The creatures were CGI characters with the actors’ human faces superimposed on them. At the end, They didn’t look like cats or humans.

An adaptation of the stage musical of the same name, Cats features a star-studded cast playing the Jellicles, a tribe of stray cats who once a year choose which of them will ascend to what they call the Heavenside Layer and be reborn into a new life. The original musical is based on a book by famous poet TS Eliot and remains one of the longest-running shows on Broadway.

Director

Tom Hooper

Release date

December 20, 2019

Cast

Rebel Wilson, Jennifer Hudson, Robbie Fairchild, Idris Elba, Taylor Swift, Laurie Davidson, Zizi Strallen, Ray Winstone, Ian McKellen, Jason DeRulo, Judi Dench, James Corden, Mette Towley

Execution time

110 minutes

3

Ray Winstone’s Viking hero

Beowulf (2007)

Robert Zemeckis returned to the world of motion capture with a decidedly less familiar story. Beowulf is an adaptation of the classic epic poem about the titular Viking hero who is called upon by a kingdom in need to face a cruel beast known as Grendel, who has killed several people in the land. However, in taking on the task, Beowulf must confront his own legendary legacy.

The animation makes for an epic and brutal Viking film that can be quite exciting during the action sequences. However, the human characters are once again unconvincing creations that show the limitations of motion capture technology at the time. The most damaging example of this is the main character himself, as Ray Winston’s voice delivers a powerful, imposing performance that is betrayed by the animated, lifeless face the character is stuck with..

Directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary, Beowulf is a 2007 3D-animated fantasy film based on the Old English poem of the same name. The plot follows a Geatese warrior named Beowulf who must travel to Denmark to help kill a powerful creature known as Grendel.

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Release date

November 5, 2007

Execution time

115 minutes

2

Young Kevin Flynn

Tron: Legacy (2010)


Jeff Bridges as Clu looking at the camera in Tron: Legacy

It has become common for films to use modern technology to age actors and make them look younger. The MCU has used it on several of its stars, from Robert Downey Jr. to Michael Douglas and Samuel L. Jackson. These effective examples show how far this technique has come since Tron: Legacy. The long-awaited sequel follows Kevin Flynn’s son Ray, who receives a message from his long-lost father that takes him to the virtual reality world of The Grid.

In addition to reprising his role as Kevin Flynn, Jeff Bridges also aged to play the villain Clu. Given that Clu is a digital recreation of Flynn, the fact that he isn’t entirely convincing isn’t a big deal in the virtual world of The Grid. However, the film makes the mistake of using the same approach to show a younger Flynn in a real-world flashback, where the character’s appearance in the video game immediately feels wrong.

Tron: Legacy is the sequel to the 1982 cult classic Tron, in which Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) receives a sign from his long-lost father, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges). His search leads him to the Grid, a virtual reality created by his father, who is trapped inside. Father and son must work together with the help of Quorra (Olivia Wilde) to stop Clu, an evil program, from escaping the Grid and invading the real world.

Director

José Kosinski

Release date

December 7, 2010

1

The entire cast

The Polar Express (2004)

Robert Zemeckis first used motion capture in a feature film for the animated Christmas film, The Polar Express. Based on a children’s book of the same name The Polar Express follows a boy who is starting to lose faith in the magic of Christmas. But when a train arrives at his house on Christmas Eve, he is taken on an incredible journey to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus.

Although the film features some breathtaking animated sequences, such as the single scene following a floating ticket through a winter wonderland, the human characters don’t work at all. All the children have the dead stare that was a constant problem in these early motion capture films.giving them expressionless faces even when surrounded by so much magic. Tom Hanks plays several roles in the film, but his natural charm is lost in the uncanny valley of his characters.

Based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express is an animated holiday fantasy film from director Robert Zemeckis. A boy is taken on Christmas Eve aboard the magical Polar Express, where he meets new friends on a journey to rediscover his belief in Christmas.

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Cast

Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, Nona Gaye, Jimmy Bennett, Eddie Deezen, Peter Scolari, Michael Jeter

Execution time

100 minutes

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