Sci Fi Science

Top 10 Movie Special Effects
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No. 1 - The Matrix: Bullet Time

OK, here's the deal: We'll pretend we don't know you've spent hours trying to reenact this technique, if you sit back and listen to the watered-down science of "Bullet Time." Deal?

Imagine, if you will, a semicircle of still-image cameras that all take the same picture, just from a different angle. Throw in some frame interpolation (extra frames to smooth out the picture) and computer graphics (like the bullet you see in The Matrix), and you've got yourself what is now officially called "Bullet Time." It's like "Hammer Time," but way cooler. And a little more violent.

As most of you remember, The Matrix totally revolutionized this effect, giving our Top 10 List Bouncer the ability to unlatch the velvet rope to let this special effects sequence in. However, given the extreme nature of this special effect, we feel compelled to warn you: do not try this at home. Unless you can somehow pull off "Bullet Time" without a bullet.