In a year in which the quality of special effects from blockbuster movies – especially superheroes – have been under fire, every movie that favors the use of real locations and practical effects is welcomed with open arms by audiences. Since DC’s track recordhasn’t been the bestlately, it’s a good thing that their new superheroBlue Beetlefavors a more realistic approach whenever possible, as directorÁngel Manuel Sototold Collider.
In an interview with our Editor-in-ChiefSteve Weintraub, Soto commented that, in a way, having a limited budget allowed him to get creative with what he was going to do in terms of action sequences. SinceBlue Beetlewas originally slated todebut directly on Max, the movie didn’t get amassive budget, which translates to less money for expensive special effects. That’s why the team had to find ways around it:
“[W]e were able to be smart about how we handled our budget. That’s why we went practical, and that’s why we went to real locations. And oddly enough, that also makes it feel bigger and more immersed because even the third act takes place in a real fortress that’s 500 years old in Puerto Rico. That’s not like a green screen set, you know? So, being able to do that and see the magnificence of this building, how imposing it is, and being able to capture that and have fun with this adventure in it, it was a way for us to be able to stretch our budget in a way that kind of delivers on it, I guess.”
Superheroes and VFX: A Toxic Relationship
Even thoughBlue Beetleis obviously the kind of movie that needs a good number of special effects to be brought to life – the story centers around a boy who comes across abiotechnological relicthat acts as a powerful and deadly suit –audiences can appreciatewhen a movie uses special effects to enhance how a scene looks or just for things that can’t be done practically, rather than just doing it all with computers.
A better look is something that fans are in dire need of lately. However, the decrease in the quality of visual effects has very serious roots: VFX professionals have beensystematically overworked by the movie industry, and their horrible working conditions have pushed a great number of them topush for the creation of a unionthat represents them.
The cast ofBlue BeetlefeaturesXolo Maridueña,Bruna Marquezine,Susan Sarandon,Harvey Guillén,George Lopez,Adriana BarrazaandDamian Alcázar.
Blue Beetleis now in theaters. For more watch out interview with Soto below.
