Actually the budgets paled in comparison to modern day blockbusters.


Which I never understood. Wasn't the whole point of CGI was that it was cheaper?

The problem with CG is that it's demands increased way beyond the capabilities of the technology of the time. So, in order to get the super quality ILM type stuff requires way more technical staff and rendering times sometimes bordering on the insane which equates to more money.

But, even with all that, CGI is still largely cheaper than old-school stunts and special effects. What drove the costs into the stratosphere on most productions was actors and people involved with the production asking for more money since the films were being made slightly cheaper. So, basically, CG is cheaper in a technical sense for most things, but the costs are made up somewhere else so the cost of making movies hasn't really gone down much. Everyone thought the move to digital would also dramatically reduce filmmaking costs too, and that didn't happen. (well, to be fair, it did for low budget, indie type stuff)

Hollywood needs more evil Lithgow. He was wasted on that sitcom where he and French Stewart were gay lovers from mars or whatever that was.

Did you miss Buckaroo Bonzai?

I never saw this movie, but the goggles that let you see people inside mountains indicates it's a work of art.

"I have chiseled your gravestone, sleep well!"

Raising Caine?

Blow Out

Santa Claus: The Movie

and if we break away from film, then season 4 of Dexter.