# Which of the Visual Effects Oscar-nominees would you vote for? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 24, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-visual-effects-oscar-nominees-would-you-vote-for/530272 "2010-02-24T17:05:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-visual-effects-oscar-nominees-would-you-vote-for/530272/1 "2010-02-24T17:05:59Z")
Two of the _Avatar_ nominees were previous winners for _King Kong, Forrest Gump_ and _The Lord of the Rings_ films. The _Star Trek_ nominees consist of people who were previously nominated for _Transformers, Harry Potter_ and the winning _Benjamin Button_. All of the _District 9_ nominees are being recognized for the first time. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-visual-effects-oscar-nominees-would-you-vote-for/530272/2 "2010-02-24T17:27:52Z")
Avatar. I don’t even think this award is really in contention, Avatar is such a lock. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-visual-effects-oscar-nominees-would-you-vote-for/530272/3 "2010-02-24T18:00:13Z")
Gotta be _Avatar_. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-visual-effects-oscar-nominees-would-you-vote-for/530272/4 "2010-02-24T18:34:40Z")
District 9 had good effects, and I didn’t see Star Trek, but I imagine it did, too. But Avatar had phenomenal, game-changing effects. I can’t see any comparison. ---
**Author:** ![HookerChemical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@HookerChemical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HookerChemical)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-visual-effects-oscar-nominees-would-you-vote-for/530272/5 "2010-02-24T19:51:17Z")
District 9 did amazing things for far less money than Avatar, but Avatar changed the game with effects that were even more amazing. In most other years, I’d vote District 9, but not this year. ---
**Author:** ![Endymion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3da27b/32.png) [@Endymion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Endymion)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-visual-effects-oscar-nominees-would-you-vote-for/530272/6 "2010-02-24T20:14:15Z")
Avatar, hands down. I agree with HookerChemical - Avatar was a game-changer ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-visual-effects-oscar-nominees-would-you-vote-for/530272/7 "2010-02-24T20:47:17Z")
**Avatar,** duh. Those votes for the other movies are just “Avatar will win anyway, so I’m going to support this movie I love” votes. I voted for Avatar, but I almost went for **District 9** just for that reason. I absolutely LOVE that D9 got in over movies like Transformers and 2012. That nomination is the highest honor of any of the Oscar nominations, in any category. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-visual-effects-oscar-nominees-would-you-vote-for/530272/8 "2010-02-24T21:02:28Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > **Avatar,** duh. Those votes for the other movies are just “Avatar will win anyway, so I’m going to support this movie I love” votes. Not true at all. While there were undoubtedly some impressive things about _Avatar_, there were also huge swaths of it that felt like I was watching one big cartoon. No doubt, a very expensive and meticulously rendered cartoon, but a cartoon none-the-less. This was particularly true of most of the middle third of the film. So while much of it was pretty or visually striking, it never completely felt “real”. And while the 3D may be “revolutionary”, the best thing I can say about it is that I was very gratified I didn’t walk out with a splitting headache. For my money, the 3D in _Coraline_ was used more artfully and to better story-telling and thematic effect. No doubt, the biggest thing on its side was the performance-capture component, but none of the characters, as lovingly crafted as they were, had the emotional impact or complexity of Gollum. _District 9_, on the other hand, had to maintain an impeccable sense of photo-realism throughout, especially as to not undermine the handheld verite style that was a vital aspect of that film’s effectiveness. And it did it seamlessly and masterfully, and for a fraction of the cost. For my money, as impressive an achievement. There’s always a temptation in these categories (which the Academy often succumbs to) to equate Biggest with Best. And there’s no doubt that _Avatar_ had the Biggest effects and the Most as well. But Quantity doesn’t always equal Quality. And for the record, I certainly don’t think it’s undeserving in its inevitability in this category (though this Biggest/Most tendency will probably also win it Oscars in other categories that I don’t think it deserves at all). But if you had to ask me which film was most effective in impressing me with creating an environment so convincing that I forgot I was watching visual effects in the first place, I’d have to go with _District 9_. On its merits, not just my sympathy. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-visual-effects-oscar-nominees-would-you-vote-for/530272/9 "2010-02-24T21:54:04Z")
Got to agree with **Archive Guy**. _Avatar_ was eye candy but I still never bought it as a real place. Very artificial, cartoony, and too perfect. For a jungle I never saw anyone get dirty. _District 9_ though blended the F/X with real people and places so seamlessly I couldn’t guess what was props, models, puppets, CGI. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-visual-effects-oscar-nominees-would-you-vote-for/530272/10 "2010-02-24T22:42:20Z")
District 9 has suburb VFX. Avatar is on a whole 'nuther level. Avatar will take it… no question. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-visual-effects-oscar-nominees-would-you-vote-for/530272/11 "2010-02-25T00:16:31Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Got to agree with **Archive Guy**. > _Avatar_ was eye candy but I still never bought it as a real place. Very artificial, cartoony, and too perfect. For a jungle I never saw anyone get dirty. > _District 9_ though blended the F/X with real people and places so seamlessly I couldn’t guess what was props, models, puppets, CGI. Teh special effect that did bug me in District 9, however, was when they sot people with those alien guns and the people disintigrated. I dunno what there was about it, but it didn’t seem the highest quality. Jjust my opinion of course. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-visual-effects-oscar-nominees-would-you-vote-for/530272/12 "2010-02-25T00:28:07Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > _Avatar_ was eye candy but I still never bought it as a real place. I did buy it as a real place, but only because of the 3D / spectacle combination. I’d still vote for _Avatar_, even though _District 9_ impressed me a lot. In terms of what I think is deserving of an award, _Avatar_ is ahead. What they did is game-changing and therefore award-winning. In terms of who is deserving of more work, please please please, it’s _District 9_. What they achieved is accessibility to what is sometimes thought of as an arcane and tricky art, and therefore will encourage low budget filmmakers. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-visual-effects-oscar-nominees-would-you-vote-for/530272/13 "2010-03-07T01:52:59Z")
bump ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-visual-effects-oscar-nominees-would-you-vote-for/530272/14 "2010-03-07T06:36:50Z")
Still Avatar. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-visual-effects-oscar-nominees-would-you-vote-for/530272/15 "2010-03-07T08:08:09Z")
This is one of my favorite categories, because it’s one that films which normally wouldn’t be caught dead on the best picture nominee list (this year being an exception) can actually get legit praise in. I just wish that this category (and other similar categories) got more respect from the general public. I’ve heard people say that winning the oscar for best visual effects does not count as being an Oscar winning movie. Yes, Pirate of the Caribbean won an Oscar! So did The Matrix. Also, bear in mind that the criteria being judged in this category is something (scenery, characters, etc) within the film which DOES NOT EXIST IN REAL LIFE being created for a film. Part of the magic of seeing certain films is new worlds which you could not visit in ours, but which feel real when watching, or characters like the newest King Kong or the dinosaurs from Jurassic Park being protrayed as real life beings. This is a huge part of the reason that movies are made, and this category definitely deserves more respect. I was beyond amazed when I first watched Lord of the Rings actually seeing Middle Earth being properly brought to life, in a way so close to how I pictured it in my head when I read the books, and sure enough, it won this award for all 3 parts. Anyway, Avatar is a shoe-in. This is one award it unquestionably deserves. The best thing about that film, and what is probably the most memorable aspect, is the Planet Pandora, and the smurf species with the USB-port braids. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-visual-effects-oscar-nominees-would-you-vote-for/530272/16 "2010-03-07T10:01:44Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > All of the _District 9_ nominees are being recognized for the first time. Really? I thought Weta had a hand in it? Anyway, If \*Avatar \*didn’t exist, \*D9 \*would definitely get my vote - lovely look & feel to it, plus, you know, South Africa. But \*Avatar \*was just that much better than anything before it. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-visual-effects-oscar-nominees-would-you-vote-for/530272/17 "2010-03-07T10:09:30Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > Not true at all. While there were undoubtedly some impressive things about _Avatar_, there were also huge swaths of it that felt like I was watching one big cartoon. No doubt, a very expensive and meticulously rendered cartoon, but a cartoon none-the-less. This was particularly true of most of the middle third of the film. So while much of it was pretty or visually striking, it never completely felt “real”. …for you. Some Academy voters may be like you, others may be like me - I’m well aware of uncanny valley effects, I look out for things like bad CGI, and I found the film immersive. > [@](#): > > And while the 3D may be “revolutionary”, the best thing I can say about it is that I was very gratified I didn’t walk out with a splitting headache. For my money, the 3D in _Coraline_ was used more artfully and to better story-telling and thematic effect. Once again, others may disagree - I found the 3D was artfully used to increase immersion, not create spectacle. Which is as it should be. \*District 9 \*is certainly deserving of recognition - it’s a wonderful achievement, I hope it does win a slew of awards - but like I said, for this one, _Avatar_ is more of a landmark. There’s nothing new about _integrating_ live and CGI the way D9 does it. But the way \*Avatar \*does it? It’s new, in a way the \*LOTR \*films were.