10 Most Ridiculous Uses Of CGI In Movie History
5. De-Ageing Orlando Bloom (Sort Of) - The Hobbit Trilogy
Digital de-ageing can be a marvellous tool when used effectively. Just look at Martin Scorsese's latest gangster epic The Irishman (2019) and the various uses of the effect in MCU films as a few examples of how to successfully apply the ground-breaking CGI to feature films.
However, one fairly recent piece of computer assisted de-ageing which didn't feel quite as effective, or indeed necessary, as it did in those other flicks came during Peter Jackson's severely bloated Hobbit series.
The director opted to bring iconic elven archer Legolas (Orlando Bloom) back to the series - for some reason. Yet, The Desolation of Smaug (2013) and Battle of the Five Armies (2014) both took place some time before we were introduced to the character in J.R.R. Tolkein's The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Thus, Jackson decided that Bloom needed to be drastically de-aged for his return.
This made sense initially, as it had been around a decade since Bloom last played the role, but once fans caught a glimpse of this younger Legolas it quickly became apparent that the digital effects team may have gotten a little carried away.
On top of Bloom's face looking unrealistically polished - even for an elf - the character was given additional unnatural looking blue eyes in post which quickly became quite distracting. Had Bloom really aged that much in the ten years since Return of the King (2003) hit cinemas?
This entire scenario screamed of just using technology for the sake of it and a more convincing look could have likely been achieved through strategically placed make-up.