“[They] Look Really Dope”: Chris Pratt’s $133M True War Thriller and the VFX Artists Behind Its Key Military Technology

Chris Pratt’s journey from comedic television to action-packed films has been remarkable. Initially gaining fame in the sitcom Parks & Recreation, he skyrocketed to stardom with his portrayal of Star-Lord in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, most recently appearing in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in 2023. In addition to his Marvel credentials, Pratt has undertaken significant roles across other prominent franchises that highlight his versatility as an actor.

In the Jurassic World series, Pratt embodied Owen Grady, concluding his involvement with Jurassic World Dominion in 2022. Recently, he showcased his skills in the sci-fi action film The Tomorrow War (2021), which is set to receive a sequel. Furthermore, Pratt has expanded his repertoire by taking on more serious military roles, notably starring in Prime Video’s The Terminal List. His foray into intense narratives began in 2012 with a political thriller based on real events.

The Creation of Zero Dark Thirty’s Stealth Helicopter

Corridor Crew’s Insight on VFX Challenges

The visual effects team from Corridor Crew recently dissected scenes from Zero Dark Thirty (2012), exploring the intricate process behind recreating a covert military helicopter. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, following her Academy Award-winning film The Hurt Locker, this political thriller chronicles the CIA’s relentless pursuit of Osama bin Laden in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. While the narrative predominantly follows Jessica Chastain as Maya, a determined CIA analyst, Pratt’s character, Justin, plays a crucial role as a member of the SEAL Team Six squad executing the dramatic raid.

In a recent episode of their “VFX Artists React”series, the Corridor Crew’s VFX professionals elaborated on the techniques used to depict the stealth helicopters during the film’s climactic raid on the bin Laden compound. Wren Weichman, one of the artists, pointed out that these helicopters remain classified, with only a single photograph hinting at their design. This image allegedly shows the tail rotor of the aircraft involved in the raid, serving as the primary reference for the film’s design:

The design is primarily inspired by the one photo of the tail rotor, and they fabricated everything else. The helicopters depicted in this film have an impressive stealth aesthetic. If you were the visual effects supervisor tasked with creating these fictional helicopters, you might draw from your experiences with films like Elysium. They filmed authentic Black Hawk helicopters and later replaced them with Stealth Hawks in post-production. All the environmental effects, like smoke and dust, were generated during filming, and they composited the Stealth Hawks over those sequences, ensuring the helicopters appeared authentic in movement.

While CGI played a significant role in animating the flight sequences of the Stealth Hawks, Wren noted that the production did construct practical helicopter models for certain scenes to enhance realism:

A full-scale model of the Stealth Hawk was actually built. The scenes where characters board the helicopter are genuine, featuring a physical Stealth Hawk on a crane. Although they planned to depict a crashing sequence with this model, they eventually deemed the physical effects too slow and opted for CGI replacements.

Watch the VFX breakdown here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcmqS_pj53I

VFX Artists React to Bad & Great CGi 160 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcmqS_pj53I)

Evaluating the Stealth Helicopter Design in Zero Dark Thirty

The Design’s Effectiveness

Stealth Hawk helicopter in Zero Dark Thirty

Upon release, Zero Dark Thirty garnered positive feedback, particularly for Jessica Chastain’s compelling performance and Bigelow’s unflinching representation of gritty real-life events. The film’s highlight is the nighttime raid, which is recreated with impressive realism. While the actual accuracy of the Stealth Hawk’s design remains ambiguous, its realistic portrayal is paramount and effectively captures audience engagement.

The angles and aesthetics of the helicopter draw parallels to the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter, thereby enhancing the film’s authenticity. The film’s dark tone worked in favor of the Stealth Hawk design, obscuring potential flaws in visibility and execution. Some may argue that the extreme darkness complicates the viewer’s ability to follow the action, yet Zero Dark Thirty stands as a notable cinematic feat, with its Stealth Hawk design being a commendable aspect.

For more insights, you can explore this video from Corridor Crew.

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