In Honor of the Blu-ray and DVD release of X-Men: First Class...
Five Memorable Movie Transformations
X-Men: First Class is now available on Blu-ray and DVD. In one of the film's most memorable moments, Hank McCoy (Nicholas Hoult) joins the team hoping to find a cure for his large and odd-looking feet. To his surprise and dismay, he completely transforms into the hairy character Beast. Movies have shown us weird and wonderful metamorphoses over the years, so we've taken a look back at just a few of the many unforgettable big screen transformations.
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
The thirtieth film from Walt Disney Animation brought the French fairy tale La Belle et la B๊te to a new generation. In it, a handsome prince is cursed to live as a hideous Beast until his spell is broken. At the end of the film, Belle declares her love for him and he is finally able to transform back into his human form so the two can live happily ever after.
Beast's joy at breaking through years-long entrapment brings an emotional intensity to the scene that makes it one of Disney's most memorable moments, as well as one of cinema's best transformations.
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Hank McCoy isn't the only Marvel character to undergo a transformation indeed, most of them do but one other stands out rather more prominently than the rest: The Incredible Hulk! This green giant has featured in many a movie since the comic book series came to life in 1962 but one of his more recent incarnations is particularly memorable. Edward Norton took on the role of the infamous monster in this 2008 film. What stunned audiences about this version was the moment Bruce Banner undergoes his transformation into Hulk. Filmmakers made the most of their budget by using some incredible special effects to wow audiences with Banner's destructive but unforgettably impressive metamorphosis!
The Fly (1986)
In 1986, Brookfilms remade a horror classic of the '50s: The Fly! Jeff Goldblum was the man destined for alteration as his character Seth Brundle unwittingly blends his DNA with a housefly after trying to teleport himself. Seth's transformation takes place over stages throughout the film and features some impressive make up and special effects. Not only are the moments where Seth's fingernails and teeth fall out made to look vividly realistic, but viewers were also treated to seeing his skin peel off and watch him vomit over his food! Definitely one of the more gruesome transformations of '80s horror cinema, The Fly highlighted just how far special effects had come since its predecessor in 1958.
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Possibly the most famous transformation of them all however can be seen in John Landis' classic An American Werewolf in London. The transformation takes over two minutes of screen time and depicts an excruciatingly slow and painful change in protagonist David Kessler. Limbs elongate, joints detach and canines emerge in an alteration that makes even the strongest stomach turn! The scene made such a strong impact on the cinematic community that the Academy Awards created a whole new award entitled 'Outstanding Achievement in Make-up'. The man behind this revolution in horror special effects was prosthetics and make-up specialist Rick Baker who went on to work on Planet of the Apes, Hellboy, X-Men: the Last Stand and The Wolfman.
Black Swan (2010)
Darren Aronofsky's psychological thriller made quite a stir upon its release last year for a whole host of reasons, not least of which was Natalie Portman's stunning portrayal of troubled protagonist Nina. Portman underwent her own transformation for the role, losing twenty pounds and undergoing ballet training for a year before filming began in order to play her role more convincingly. But the story itself also tells the tale of Nina's transformation as she moves away from her na๏ve and sheltered existent to become a dark and dangerous force. Several scenes in the film show Nina 'transforming' as she pulls feathers from underneath her skin, has her legs viciously broken and eventually, with the aid of some superb CGI, evolves into a full-fledged black swan. The line between fantasy and reality is continually blurred, making her metamorphosis a psychological as well as a physical one and which culminates in one of the most unsettling transformations in recent cinema history.
X-Men: First Class 3D Mapping
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and IGN celebrate the highly anticipated
Blu-ray and DVD release of the fan favorite X-Men: First Class at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles on September 8th:
