Pivitol Movies In Film History

Every once in a while a film comes along that shakes up the film industry.

These watershed moments are rare; but when they happen the entire industry perks their collective ears and does their best to catch up to a new standard. Once a bar has been raised studios either follow suit, or they drift off the radar and struggle until they eventually die.

So let's get started.

Birth of A Nation: This was the first [acknowledged] full-length feature film. DW Griffiths' ambitious project was popular in its day; but looking back, it was nothing more than a hate-filled propaganda piece meant to espouse the goodness and benevolence of the Ku Klux Klan. However, it led to the downfall of the nickelodeons and established a standard of actual storytelling in the medium.

The Jazz Singer: This movie was the first 'talkie' to show in movie houses. Up until this time, actual dialogue was limited to filmed placards inserted in scenes and local piano or organ players supplied the dramatic music that accompanied most films.

Citizen Kane: Whether you enjoy this movie or not, Orson Welles' directorial effort brought about a revolution in scene staging, dialogue interaction, set design and photographic techniques.

Bullitt: This 1968 crime drama starring Steve McQueen established a new standard in film making. It basically re-wrote the book on car chase scenes. This movie is the standard by which car chase scenes are filmed to this day.

Star Wars: Prior to this film, SciFi flicks were generally dialogue oriented with relatively few action shots, and had completely unbelievable mock-ups for sets, ship designs and exterior shots. Star Wars revolutionized the genre with camera wizardry, location shoots, and an introduction to early CGI. There was a reason this film had fan lines going literally around the block as they waited sometimes days to see it.

Toy Story: This movie set a very high standard in the emerging CGI arena. It did things that no one had done up to that point. It was dazzling, fresh, believable, and filled with humor for parents and kids. Even watching it 18 years later, you cannot help but be struck by the artistry involved in its production.

Lord of The Rings: The WETA Digital Studios raised the CGI bar even higher through their creation and use of computer programs that looked like, and mimicked, real-life characters; whether individually, or in masses. Particularly, in the character Gollum. Actor Andy Serkis, dressed in a special suit, was filmed alongside other actors in order to create realism. Then in post production, the final look of Gollum was added thereby making him appear as real as you and I.

Avatar: Avatar was a technical, and a technological masterpiece. New cameras were developed for this shoot, and CGI was pushed even further. Plus, the integration of live action with CGI was nothing short of spectacular.


*I realize that some films you might have chosen for this list were not included. My focus is technical developments/innovations. If you have other possible watershed movies, please leave me your comments.