Two alien invasions of Los Angeles movies have come out this year. One was the $70 million blockbuster Battle: Los Angeles and the other was Skyline 
Both movies lacked in plot and I’m sure the military tactics used by the Marines in Battle: Los Angeles had GaijinAss seeing red but the special effects in Skyline were incredible and blew away Battle: LA even though the later cost way X times more money to make. What is even more impressive about Skyline is that all filming was done for about a paltry $500,000 (paltry in Hollywood) the rest of the budget was special effects of which there were an incredible amount, more than most blockbusters.
The directors of the Skyline, Colin and Greg Strause, were special effects guru’s and this was their first movie to direct. Yet, this small budget allowed the famous duo to finance and direct Skyline without the assistance of any major studio. This is great for sci/fi lovers like me as small independent movies with blockbuster style effects are now not only proven to be possible but immensely profitable (Skyline made $65 million worldwide).
Now if only we can get some decent story-lines we’ll be gravy!
Gaijinass 
Aranofsky’s “The Fountain” had some amazing visuals done by some old guy and his son in a garage in a London suburb (read about it in WIRED magazine)
Really amazing shit can be done on shoestring budgets if people use their imagination.
Man I love Aranofsky. I mean PI is great and Requiem for a Dream is one of my favorite movies. But Fountain, WTF, was that? Sure the special effects were good but god knows if anyone could understand it. Supposedly he’s remaking/re-editing the film into a new story but I don’t where he’s trying to go with that one.
The Wrestler is thus far the only film from him that I have enjoyed or thought worthy of praise. Black Swan would have been a total waste if not for Vincent Cassel who essentially carried the film on his shoulders. PI was OK but nothing to get too excited about. Anyway. It’s all about The Wrestler.
I thought the movie was a borderline mess but the visuals were awesome considering how they did it. The WIRED magazine article was a great read.