Movies that are forever visually restricted by the tech used to create them

[Roonan]

Originally Posted by levcore

or Attack of the Clones being digitally softened in post to offset how sharp the digital photography was and now the movie is stuck looking that way?

Looking how its supposed to?

In theory, any movie with a large amount of composited elements is "stuck" in that sense, unless the entire movie is reassembled from its original elements (which in most cases won't happen due to cost and technology).

[larsknudsen]

Originally Posted by levcore

Apologies for the wordy title but what movies were either really trying to push the envelope by using brand new camera systems or technology in their creation that have now forever restricted the visuals on them? I'm talking about movies like Captain America: The First Avenger being (mostly?) shot at 1080p or Superman Returns being shot on those awful looking digital cameras or Attack of the Clones being digitally softened in post to offset how sharp the digital photography was and now the movie is stuck looking that way?

These movies are stuck looking a certain way and can never really look any better due to it and actually end up looking worse than much older movies due to the tech used. Any good examples of this?

Every movie is limited by the technology available when it was made.

Originally Posted by BluCollector13

Michael Mann movies starting with "Collateral".

Mann is an oddity. He actually wants his movies to look like they were shot on analog video for some odd reason. Public Enemies in particular looks like it was shot on VHS.

[Lee A Stewart]

The Hurt Locker
El Mariachi
The Last King of Scotland

All shot on 16mm film

[ps3bd_owner]

Originally Posted by levcore

How about 28 Days Later, great movie but it looks horrible (apart from the last scene).

I heard great things about this movie and so I figured I'd watch it, I did and I was kind of disappointed. Mainly, because it felt like a generic zombie movie and the picture quality in itself didn't help either.

The only way they could somehow improve the PQ is if they use AI Upscaler-like technology and the likes, etc.

[Monterey Jack]

Dog Soldiers will apparently always look like shit due to the film stock used.

[lobo81865]

Ralph Bakshi's animated Lord of the Rings (rotoscoping)

[buck135]

The Phantom Menace.

[jess1581]

Originally Posted by Synchg

superman returns looked great

Ugh, if there was ever a movie in need of renovation, it's that one. It's an ok movie, but i can't stand watching it... it looks so fugly the way the current master looks.

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by jess1581

Ugh, if there was ever a movie in need of renovation, it's that one. It's an ok movie, but i can't stand watching it... it looks so fugly the way the current master looks.

Yeah, the Blu-ray does not do any favors to Siegel's photography. It did not look like that projected onto 35mm in theaters. It looked vibrant and alive, not dingy like the Blu-ray.

[Aclea]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

Dog Soldiers will apparently always look like shit due to the film stock used.

No, it was believed it would always look like shit because the negative was lost. Apparently it's since been found.

[Damon1281]

All of them?

[psychomugs]

Originally Posted by Damon1281

All of them?

Best answer.
Every film has, is, and will be a product of the technology available in their time.