Desert Island DVDs – CG Supervisor Rommel Calderon

Today we’re speaking to CG Supervisor Rommel Calderon who's packed his bag with his three favourite DVDs.

DISCLAIMER: The following opinions have been approved for all audiences to critique, celebrate or debate. No VFX Artists were harmed in the making of this article.

Selecting three movies to take to a deserted island is a common exercise for me, and I must admit, my picks changes with regularity. However, having been through the pandemic, the conversation has come up quite a lot, and I may have narrowed it down. These aren't necessarily what I consider the best movies, but they're certainly favorites, and movies I can watch repeatedly. So, here it goes.

Spaceballs – Mel Brooks

This is a comedy classic. It fits my comedic sensibilities and also scratches that sci-fi itch. It's never not funny, it's always inappropriate and always entertaining. I can’t not watch this if it’s playing on TV or in the cinema.

Star Trek (2009) – J.J. Abrams

I am a massive Star Trek fan. My knowledge is encyclopedic, and I can be finicky when it comes to established Trek history. But at the same time, I’m open to just being entertained. That’s where J.J. Abrams’ take on Trek succeeds. It’s fast paced, pretty to look at, and hits all of the right beats.

It’s not perfect, but I saw it three times on opening day and I’ve watched it countless times since. It’s not as deep as Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, or even Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. But in the end, if I need something to watch, I never really get tired of it – it’s bubble gum Star Trek at its best.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters – Michael Dougherty

When it comes to fandom, Godzilla is second to Star Trek for me, and King of the Monsters (KOM) is easily the one I would like to have with me on the desert island. I’ve seen just about every Godzilla movie multiple times, and KOM is the one that pulls me in completely, every time. I think it’s the music. Bear McCreary’s score is perfect. It does a proper homage to the classic theme by Akira Ifukube whilst making it work for the Legendary Monsterverse.

Granted the visuals, as great as they are, are a bit dark, which will make it a challenge for viewing on said island during the day, but I can just play it the background and be satisfied with the soundtrack on its own.