My theory on why Clark is not using his powers that often...

[jesustlife]

THE ABILITY TO MAKE GOOD SPECIAL EFFECTS = CLARK USING HIS POWERS MORE OFTEN

I 've noticed, as many of you have noticed too, that special effects on Smallville are kind of looking cheaper as the series goes on. In this last episode, the x-ray Clark did to check on the kid in the closet looked ...less than perfect, comparing to previous seasons. Even the super speed shadow has suffered. They almost never show Clark running at super speed anymore, just the "whoosh". I miss the slow motion effect as Clark runs to save someone. I believe that special effects budget is getting shorter, the producers don't want to be showing a lot of bad special effects so they keep Clark's powers at bay. Money is more powerful than kryptonite it appears.

[MidgardDragon]

The special effects budget is being saved up for Justice and the second half of the season. As for the X-Ray looking bad, I don't see how, it looked exactly the same as it always has.

[tiger13]

I keep hearing that midgard but I don't know if I should believe it or not. Zod had terrific special effects; since then, I haven't seen ANYTHING good. "Sneeze" is a good example of bad effects ruining an already campy episode.

Unless Justice turns out to be totally and absolutely phenomenal with movie-like effects, I'm going to be disappointed. There has been NO action in a show centered around the greatest action hero of modern times. That, my friends, is ironic in a bad way.

[MidgardDragon]

Originally posted by RedKRules
I couldn`t agree more with you guys !! the special effects are lame !! hope that the Justice episode changes that for good!

For the record, you're not agreeing with both of us, because I don't agree with that. I think that the effects they are using are still good (seriously, there was *nothing* different about the X-Ray Vision effects) but that they are using less of them to save up for the big payoff in Justice and later in the season.

As for Zod, tiger, of course they're going to put money into their big premiere. It's the filler ep's that won't have a big effects budget. BTW, except for not getting to see Clark actually use the breath to put out the fire, and instead just seeing it put out, the effects in Sneeze weren't bad at all. Heck, that clouds scene was a good enough payoff for me.

[Billy Jor-El]

Unfortunately, much of this season has been filler to me. Sure, there's moments, but I'm not banging off the walls like usual (much to the delight of my neighbor and my cats :) ). It's not like I would ever give up on this show (unless, dare I say, they do something dire to the adorable Chloe); I would just like more action that advances the ultimate storyline. Looking forward to the next part of the season, though....

Hello, I'm Billy Jor-El, and I'm a Smallville addict.....

[Ireallylikethisshow]

Originally posted by jesustlife
THE ABILITY TO MAKE GOOD SPECIAL EFFECTS = CLARK USING HIS POWERS MORE OFTEN

I 've noticed, as many of you have noticed too, that special effects on Smallville are kind of looking cheaper as the series goes on. In this last episode, the x-ray Clark did to check on the kid in the closet looked ...less than perfect, comparing to previous seasons. Even the super speed shadow has suffered. They almost never show Clark running at super speed anymore, just the "whoosh". I miss the slow motion effect as Clark runs to save someone. I believe that special effects budget is getting shorter, the producers don't want to be showing a lot of bad special effects so they keep Clark's powers at bay. Money is more powerful than kryptonite it appears.


[SPOILER] I think that the lack of effects could be, because of the flying in "Crimson", the major effects in "Justice" ect. [SPOILER]

But! SV should still do these fights better even w/ lack of budget. They could throw in some punches, and a little bit of collar-lifting, and maybe a kick or two.

Specifically in this case... Clark could have come out of the dirt and he and McNally could have fought a little more.

The "Static" downwards jump was pretty cool though. :)