Sorry James Cameron

But Avatar just wasn't blue-cool enough!

But "Hurt Locker" was anything but a sure thing. In a historical context, its win is surprising. After all, it is the lowest-grossing best picture winner of all time; it was never on more than 535 screens; and it beat the highest-grossing movie in modern history, one that has been playing on thousands of screens for nearly three months. In the era of blockbusters, "Locker" cost a mere $11 million to make compared with the more than $230 million cost of "Avatar."

To earn its gold, "Hurt Locker" had to break what producer Greg Shapiro called "The Iraq War Curse," referring to all the movies touching on that conflict that had failed to find an audience. It had to weather attacks in the media and from some in the military who questioned the realism of how it portrayed the bomb-removal unit. The film also drew censure for the illicit campaign methods of one of its producers, the first to be banned from attending the Academy Awards. And it had to win with backing from Summit Entertainment, a relatively new and small distributor that had never before won an Oscar.

There also is the parallel question of whether "Avatar" and distributor Fox contributed to their own demise in the best-picture race. The sci-fi epic had been critically acclaimed, far more widely seen and was widely heralded for its breakthrough technology. And it boasted the deep-pocket backing of a major Hollywood studio. Could it be explained as the ultimate example of the split personality in Hollywood, where movie choices are mostly driven by the need to make large amounts of money but where the people behind the camera still want to be seen as making art? And was it hurt by attacks from the political right on the movie's plot, which was seen as a dig on America's Iraq incursion?

Yes yes, all very interesting as the article goes on.

I haven't seen it so I cannot share an opinion on The Hurt Locker, however....

it basically boils down to James Cameron's ex-wife mopping the Oscar floor with him. And, she's still prettier than his current wife, former Titanic actress who looks incredibly old now...

Why, if you have that much money, can your wife not take a monthly trip to the salon for some hair coloring services? James - please.

Avatar, just another action movie

Avatar wasn't all that special, I didn't think. But some critics are losing it over a fictional movie.

First a Chicago Alderman attacks Avatar for being anti-military and anti-American, and now the Vatican criticizes it for worshipping nature over God - well, the article said religion but I'll let that go.

Simply stated? It was a fictional movie in a fictional world, billions of light-years away. A different society, of yes, blue people worship a god called Eywa and fly around on pterodactyl-looking creatures. If James Cameron was trying to make an anti-American statement or disavowing a God of all things, I didn't leave the theater up in arms, and I'm one of the most patriotic Jesus-freaks out there.

I was actually somewhat entertained, and I hate science-fiction.

That said, it was a disappointment. Action scenes gallore, sure. But the color felt muted in the 3-D theatre, and the characters were beyond stereotypical. The writing was severely lacking in my opinion (see quote: "well then I guess we better win!"), and all of that from some "dream"?

If the Vatican wants to waste it's time slamming the latest blockbuster, it's a Da Vinci Code/Angels and Demons all over again. And Chicago Alderman...um, there has GOT to be something more important worth your time.

Avatar is not going to be responsible for the denouncing of any religion or anti-American discourse. Let Hollywood say what they want. They're not at home with our kids after the movie, explaining what is real and what is not to impressionable young minds. And lock these people up:

James Cameron's completely immersive spectacle "Avatar" may have been a little too real for some fans who say they have experienced depression and suicidal thoughts after seeing the film because they long to enjoy the beauty of the alien world Pandora.

Freakshows!

The world isn't ending in 2012. It's just a movie.