In response to the natural passage of time, Hollywood has embraced the utilization of de-aging effects, enabling older actors to portray younger iterations of their characters. This practice has been employed for renowned actors such as Robert DeNiro, Samuel L. Jackson, and most recently, Harrison Ford in "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny."
These "de-aging" effects quite frankly look creepy and it would be wise to reconsider using them until the technology is further refined and perfected.
From Variety:
These effects really can be quite distracting.
A primary concern is that while these effects are visually impressive, they fall short of replicating the natural appearance of a younger self. In addition, it can affect how viewers react to the film, as they become distracted by the uncanny effects that lack the subtle nuances and authenticity that create human expressions.
James Mangold’s take on the famous archeologist received a tepid response following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where critics and attendees were divided on this fifth installment of the franchise. But hardcore Indy fans may find redemption in this final chapter of Ford’s beloved hero, following the insufferable “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” (2008).
For the first 25 minutes, encompassing a large action set piece featuring the professor fighting Nazis on a high-speed train during World War II, Ford is digitally transformed back to his prime, which began with Steven Spielberg’s 1981 classic “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” After a bag is removed from the actor’s head, digitized eyes fail to harness the realism of a young Indiana, instead emulating what looks like a video game story break in between gameplay before the user takes over the character to take on the next mission or quest.
While the action beats and movements are impressive, the effects in the scene only work because, for most of it, it’s shrouded in darkness, featuring both Ford and co-star Toby Jones (not de-aged?) running on the rooftops of the train ducking and dodging the worst-aiming soldiers depicted in modern cinema.
There is an undeniable sense of something being "off," and once your attention is drawn to it, the enjoyment of the film diminishes significantly.
It seems that we can now include these peculiar de-aging effects in the ever-growing list of reasons why Hollywood's reputation is declining.
