10 Amazing Movie Practical Effects And How They Did It
8. The Fellowship Of The Ring - The Pits Of Isengard
Even two decades later The Lord Of The Rings is still one of the most visually stunning films ever made. From the barren plains of Morder to the lush farmlands of The Shire, the films transported us on a majestic adventure through Middle-Earth. It is well known among fans that Peter Jackson created the Hobbits small size using forced perspective and body doubles, but it is less well known just how much of the rest of the effects were practical too.
In the Fellowship of the Ring we see Saruman's flock of Crebain returning to the pit beneath Isengard, dug to birth and arm Saruman's Uruk-hai army. They fly between rocks, machines and cliffs in such a manner that it seems impossible that it is not CGI.
Weta Workshops built 3 different miniatures and flew cameras between them to simulate the bird's flight. By using multiple shots taken with and without added smoke, they were able to create the entire scene practically (minus a digitally added orc). In fact the first time in this scene CGI is used in a major way is when Saruman appears on screen, the image of the birds flying behind him being added via green screen.