Film is a magic medium. It has such power that it can retain interest as it conveys emotions and moods. 

Recently, filmmakers have turned to the use of special effects, particularly computer-generated imagery (CGI) and digital effects, in their work. For the purpose of this essay, special effects are defined as the visual tricks used to simulate events in a film, while storytelling is the way in which a filmmaker presents a story to the audience. This includes camera angles, overall mise-en-scène, dialogue and editing. 

But as films began featuring special effects, the audience’s demand for them soared to unprecedented levels. Many filmmakers began to neglect the use of good storytelling in exchange for bigger, better special effects—causing a decline of critically “good” films. The idea of sacrificing vital elements of a narrative for explosions and the green screen is worrying; therefore, films should focus more on storytelling than special effects. 

(Read more: Indonesian movies still lack commercial aspect: producer)

The negative impacts of overusing special effects can be found in the Star Wars universe. Since its release in the late 1970s, Star Wars has mesmerized the hearts of millions and millions across the globe. From the moment viewers sat on their seats to the end credits, George Lucas launched them on a voyage through space—making them fall in love with its characters and its then revolutionary special effects. Thousands walked out the theater feeling captivated by the explosions, the time-warps and Luke’s use of the Force. Star Wars went from a film for geeks to a worldwide phenomenon. But years later, when George Lucas produced another Star Wars trilogy—this time a prequel to the adventures of Luke Skywalker, the response was lackluster at best. 

Lucas was under the impression that his movies received the acclaim it did due to one thing, and one thing only: special effects. And despite receiving strong disapproval from his colleagues, his vision for the second trilogy revolved around that ideology. The result was a disaster. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace went down as one of the most hyped movies in history—with a painfully disappointing outcome. 

The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and the Revenge of the Sith all have something in common. They have failed to provide the audience with a crucial element of a good film: a good story. George Lucas, a man who brought Indiana Jones to life, was unable to appreciate the complex plot, the well-crafted characters, the humor, the intricate layers of story—all weaved perfectly into the original Saga. He missed the underlying reason why thousands of girls fell for Han Solo, thousands of boys fell for Princess Leia, or why thousands of toddlers dressed up as Luke on Halloween. And when he substituted Luke for Jar-Jar Binks and real-life sets for green screens, he was not aware of his mistake.

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Sadly, this is a blinding aspect many filmmakers experience today. Their primary aim is to show the coolest effects, not tell the coolest story. All of this would eventually lead to a surplus of Michael Bay-esque films—the kind that showcases an hour-long montage of explosions and aerial shots without a strong backbone of a story. Unlike their predecessors, any of today’s filmmakers have trouble conveying their vision without the use of special effects, Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, Vertigo, Dial M for Murder and North by Northwest are considered as quintessential films of the 20th century. All of them have minimal visual illusions, but place a larger emphasis on the story instead. 

However, a large amount of special-effects-heavy films have had their share of critical acclaim. Take The Matrix, Gravity (2013) and Avatar (2009), for example. All three feature an extensive amount of green screen and special effects which are visually compelling and attractive. All three are great eye candy in their unique ways. But if we strip these films off their visual tricks and illusions, we’ll find: a thought-provoking story about a simulated world, a tear-jerker about a woman’s will to survive and a beautiful love story that transcends the barriers of race and culture, or in Avatar’s case, species. A great story is arguably the single, most powerful building block of a great film.   

There are a lot of ways to include special effects, both digitally and practically, in movies. With digital technology becoming a norm in the film industry, filmmakers are able to use this as a means to improving the quality of their films. However, trite and languid execution of special effects is destined to come across as appalling. 

A filmmaker should always aim to tell the perfect story. Special effects should only be mere tools used to attend to the story itself. It is disheartening to see that in recent years that aim has been distorted significantly.

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As a 16 year old kid from Jakarta, Timothy is more of a 90s kid than a millennial. He runs and writes short stories whenever he's not rocking to Pink Floyd or Guns n' Roses. His hobbies include running, not failing Chemistry and watching films. Reach Timothy through Instagram account: @timothysamwijaya.

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