New NV Tech or Hollywood SFX ???

[sheepherder]

I was watching the movie Sicario on DVD and there is a night raid on a smugglers' tunnel. The FBI twosome wear 'conventional' NVG, the "Starlight" style light amplification devices (green/white) while the Delta troops wear something the character called 'thermal imaging' (grays).

My very slight use of a Starlight scope in ITR was 48 years ago; I haven't kept up with the technology. Does any newer member have experience with this 'thermal imaging'???

It could very well be special effects, like the alien's NVG aids in Predator 2, but I am curious. Is this the 'new' night vision technology???