Since the movie Star Wars was released, there has been an ever-increasing increase in the use and development of special effects. From the highly detailed models of the Star Wars films, the trend has been towards more realistic special effects as a whole. In the mid-1990s, computer technology reached a point where complex visual effects could be rendered so realistically that the special effect in question looked incredibly real. Taking advantage of this awareness, the films Twister and Independence Day were released which used the latest computer graphics effects that looked so realistic that it was actually very difficult for audiences to determine where the CGI ended and the models began. As a result, disaster films became very successful, leading to films like Volcano and Dante's Peak, as well as a number of other films with disaster as their central theme. Many of these films were so popular that they went on to become some of the greatest films of the decade and some of the greatest films ever. Furthermore, audience participation showed a desire not only to be entertained, but also to participate in the disaster itself. The result of this catharsis was to allow disaster preparedness officials the opportunity to communicate generally about the dangers that we as a nation, as well as a world, can reasonably expect to face in our lifetimes. With the Development of Special Effects In the cinematography of the early 1900s, best represented by George Millie's “A Trip to the Moon,” there was a constant effort to take viewers to exotic locations. The effect is to immerse the viewer in the world they are visiting. From the early days, it has always been a kind of support....... middle of paper ......005) Chapter: "Catastrophilia" Glenn D. Walters, Ph.D "Understanding the Popular Appeal of Cinema horror: an integrated-interactive model” Journal of Media Psychology, volume 9, no. 2, spring, 2004: Honeycutt, James et al. “Individual differences in catharsis, emotional valence, trauma anxiety, and social networks among victims of Hurricane Katrina and Rita" Southern Communication Journal Volume 73, number 3, 2008 Lavik, Erlend. “Battle for the blockbuster” New Review of Film and Television Studies Volume 6 number 2 (2008) .Brotman, Barbera. "In which direction do emotions run when Do films reflect current events?" Chicago Tribune, March 21, 2011 Lyn Topinka. USGS CVO Menu “Volcanoes in Historical and Popular Culture” May 21, 2008