Quote from: Mikey on Jun 08, 2022, 10:40:55 PMI mean, rarely do you ever say it is any of the directors fault most times. The blame is mostly thrown at ADI. And if you do say it is director, or even producer choices, I can't recall it.
To be fair, perhaps you can't recall it because you haven't been as active maybe? Meaning, if we compare activity, I have 3x the posts of you in only 1/4 the time.
And there's a flipside to that coin. Rarely does - a few select people here - say any of it is ADI's fault, and are staunch defenders after three bodies of work and four directors visions pointing fingers every which way. After three films, it's fair when you see problems carried over from film to film to recognize a common denominator. (If we had three mediocre Predator films by the same writer where problems would reoccur, I'd be questioning the writer being right for the job right now). I already have major concerns with Mr. Davis.
But, I have acknowledged directors influences in these threads. But it's also fair that every director in every Predator film has influenced the work as well. Budget, time, factors in too. But none of that fully erases culpability or the ability to manage such difficulties an FX house faces to overcome such obstacles with levels of ingenuity, starting with the limited time and budget Stan Winston had to create the first Predator.
QuoteWe hear your frustrations and complaints, many of us share those, even while being friends with the ADI guys.
Who's we?
QuoteBut often we've heard that some of these issues are caused by a directors ask; like the mandibles in AvP being wider thanks to Anderson wanting them to go bigger, being one example.
We also never seem to talk about the time they don't have to work on the films. Often they have to scramble because they've been given little time, or are asked to completely redesign last minute like the Predalien because of some comment a producers kid made. The time factor is a huge part of the situation and it rarely feels acknowledged when you or some others are speaking about ADI. It's a nightmare having to change work that was good until someone unrelated comes around and changes the situation.
Personally, I hate the look of the unmasked Predators in PREDATORS, but I understand a lot of that is due to things like lack of time or budget, which is why Crucified's mouth and jaw just stick hung open. But I still would have faith in them as creature designers and wouldn't make it almost my own life mission, or base my personality around it, to call out their work at any chance I get.
I get that it usually is only involving the Predator and it's face when it comes to the criticisms, but it almost seems like a lot of people hear the name ADI and immediately lose their faith. I feel that if you have to point out that you've praised them in the past, it means that people might be used to hearing the complaints over the praise.
Having worked with Mike Dougherty, I'd talked to him about his favorite sfx companies he's worked with. ADI was his first and most talked about, he also almost had them on Krampus but they lost the bid. He said he's always got them as a first choice. ADI is highly respected and loved in the industry. They are absolutely not above critique, and I don't love all of their Predator work myself. But let's maybe wait and see before we get our panties in a bunch? While I want Stan designs too, he's gone, and his art along with it. I understand that. But what happens if ADI makes something different with the Predator, and it's f**king amazing? Will the tune change?
Not trying to be a huge defender here, just maybe giving a different perspective on how to view the films and their designs. Context helps me view the final product sometimes, but not always.
"But let's maybe wait and see before we get our panties in a bunch?"
"But I still would have faith in them as creature designers and wouldn't make it almost my own life mission, or base my personality around it, to call out their work at any chance I get."Yeah, I thought I was getting into a nice discussion about this, but to see it's littered with pretentious passive aggressiveness, you lose all respect with me brother. It's the same delivery method you guys gave me when I broke the news that Prey (Skulls) would be a streaming release on Hulu. Not going to play into it no more.
