The Matrix
In the 1990s, CGI was an emerging technology, and The Matrix utilized it in a way that was far more involved than anything audiences had seen before. The film combined traditional props and effects with what was then considered state-of-the-art digital technology. It is best known for popularizing a visual effect known as "bullet time," which allows a shot to progress in slow-motion while the camera moves through the scene at what appears to be real-time speed.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest increased the bar for visual effects. Each shot of Bill Nighy as Dave Jones involved months of work, noodling every movement and expression to perfection. CGI veteran Hal Hickel, who worked on the original Toy Story, led the animation team—and needless to say, they went above and beyod.