Stan Winston R.I.P.

I'm sure most of you have heard the news by now. How do we show appreciation for someone who could make our imaginations a reality with a seam to be seen? I still ponder this question years after Henson had died. That was the first and only time I cried over a celebrity death. The effect he had on me was tremendous. Stan's death has been the closest to come to that for me.

Remember the first time you saw an alien and almost pissed yourself while living the rest of the week afraid of the dark? How about pumpkinhead? I know that gave me nightmares because it looked like something that could realistically walk out of the woods, not an obvious puppet like many other horror movies of the time. Then I know we all love terminator and predator. For me the pinnacle of his craft was shown in Jurassic park. For the first time ever we all could believe dinosaurs were alive.

There are just so many movies he's touched, many of which we never knew we were watching. He was also very forward thinking and never a defeatist. Numerous times when asked about CGI taking over practical special effects he logically said what it was,a new tool. He embraced computers and melded them in with practical effects.

Aside from this special effects master we must also remember he was a tremendously gifted painter, drawer and sculptor.

There isn't anyone like him to take his place. He'll be missed.