Avatar, the computer-generated Sci-Fi movie which combines live action with digitally-enhanced performances and state-of-the-art visual effects in 3D, won three technical awards at the 2010 Academy Awards Ceremony. The spectacular movie, directed by James Cameron, is the most expensive and successful film of all time with over $2bn (£1.32bn) in box office takings.
Avatar and Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker” had been nominated in nine categories, but Avatar only won three awards – art direction, cinematography and visual effects. The Hurt Locker won the other three technical awards – film editing, sound editing and sound mixing, in addition to, best picture, best original screenplay, and best director. 3D film Up won the best animated feature film and the best original score.
Full List of Winners for the 2010 Academy Awards
- BEST PICTURE – The Hurt Locker
- BEST DIRECTOR – Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)
- BEST ACTOR – Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)
- BEST ACTRESS – Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side)
- BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)
- BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – Mo’Nique (Precious)
- BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM – El Secreto de Sus Ojos – The Secret of Their Eyes (Argentina)
- BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY – Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker)
- BEST ANIMATION – Up
- BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY – Geoffrey Fletcher (Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire)
- BEST ART DIRECTION – Avatar
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – Avatar
- BEST SOUND MIXING – The Hurt Locker
- BEST SOUND EDITING – The Hurt Locker
- BEST ORIGINAL SONG – The Weary Kind (theme from Crazy Heart) from Crazy Heart by Ryan Bingham, T Bone Burnett
- BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – Up (Michael Giacchino)
- BEST VISUAL EFFECTS – Avatar
- BEST FILM EDITING – The Hurt Locker
- BEST MAKE-UP – Star Trek
- BEST COSTUMES – The Young Victoria
- BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE – The Cove
- BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT – Music by Prudence
- BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM – Logorama
- BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM – The New Tenants
Isn’t it funny that Bigelow has beaten her ex? For me Avatar is far more a winner anyway.
Thanks great! Avatar has broke another box-office record…
Hurt Locker is good, but I was really blown away by the cool special effects and CGI of Avatar. Oh, and Cristoph Waltz is really awesome. He truly deserves the award 😀
Avatar is by far the greatest movie I have ever seen. Not so strange when I am a true Sci-fi fan. I simply love it. Have watched about 5 times already, and if I am right, I will watch several times more before I put it away..For a while:-) – Ray J.
Avatar is for me the best Sci-fi movie ever ! I went to the cinema to watch it and it has truly exceeded my imagination !
Even though, the others nominees are great too but for me Avatar should have won some more … Too bad !
Has anyone tried the avatar your face service on the web. I tries, and my face looks like it was taken from the movie. So cool:-)
Avatar was build to win this Oscar, and it’s a great movie anyway
I have seen Avatar once but when I saw it the second time, the thrill was totally gone. This is not a movie that I will watch many times. First I thought I would, but now I don’t. I believe this has something to do with the shifting between the spaceship with humans, to the world of Pandora. I like that things are stable 🙂
I have seen Avatar and I can really say that its visual effects are fantastic. I am definitely amazed with it.
My cousin recommended this blog and she was totally right keep up the fantastic work!
Well deserved I think, it was pretty stunning (a bit long though)
I loved both Avatar and the Hurt Locker, but they are in many ways two completely different movies. It would be very difficult to rate them against each other in my opinion. I’m looking forward to Cameron’s new 3D release Sanctum. I think it will do very well at the box office because it is 3D but with live action instead of the bulk of the action being CG. Carly Shea
Avatar is the greatest movie ever!
I love the Avatar for visual effects!
If you’ve seen Avatar in Imax 3D, it’s hard to imagine another film that was more visually breathtaking. The “best picture” is a matter of opinion, but Avatar was a superior technical achievement worthy of its Academy Awards.
It would have been interesting to see James Cameron accept the “Best Picture” award for Avatar. After his “King of the world!” acceptance speech for Titanic, would he scream “I see you!” if he won?
While the special effects were amazing, I must admit that I stopped watching half way through the film. Just not my cup of tea.
Special effects were incredible and the reason for my purchase of a blu-ray player! Now seriously considering the purchase of a 3D TV!
Now that James Cameron has set the bar for mind-blowing technical achievements, you know who will outdo Avatar? James Cameron, for the Avatar sequel. It’s is supposed to be even more advanced, and entertaining.
While Avatar was recognized for its technical aspects at the Academy Awards, it didn’t make a mark in any performance or story categories. I personally did enjoy the concept of the film, but it is yet another example of a visually stunning film that doesn’t tug at the heartstrings.
@ Immigration Montreal:
To truly appreciate what Cameron achieved, you have to see it in IMAX 3D – it is the perfect example of feeling like you’re in the worlds that he created. I can’t wait for the sequel for the underwater sequences!
I’ll tell ya one of the reasons why Avatar was so groundbreaking: there was little to no blur with the CG motion! It always takes me out of the story of the movie when I’m hyper aware of the effects.
I feel like now that Avatar has raised the bar so high, every film that wins a visual effects Oscar will be in that film’s shadow. Although, I would love to be proven wrong…
Thanks to Avatar, I did very well in my Oscar pool. Thanks to The Hurt Locker, I did not win.
Interesting that Avatar was both the most successful and the most expensive film ever. I know it’s not always the case (Waterworld, anyone?) but it reminds me of the Yankees… throw a lot of money at something, and it should produce a popular result.
To all the winners and candidates congratulation, you did your part and you did a good job. Be proud of yourself.
They deserved it, Avatar was a hell of a film and in terms of visual effects, pretty mind blowing to say the least!
When everything is CG in a film like Avatar, other films enjoy competing in the old school categories, like “Best Make-Up”
You mean those guys in the Avatar movie weren’t wearing makeup? 😀
I saw Avatar 3 times in the 3D IMAX theater. I knew that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, that would not feel the same in a home theater.
I just watched Avatar again. At first it was all about the eye candy, but I have to admit, the performances (in particular, the newcomers) were quite admirable, considering they were practically drowning in CGI…
With all the CGI going on it’s easy to forget that there’s an actual storyline going on behind it all. I didn’t even realize the main point of the movie until the 2nd time I watched it which wasn’t in 3D so I wasn’t so distracted that I couldn’t follow the story.
I have to admit that I never thought I would ever see Avatar if it wasn’t in 3D, so I guess that just goes to show that I am less interested in the story. At the same time, I thought the story was uplifting, if not simple…
I love this movie. The graphics are really amazing. It brought entertainment into the next level. I can’t wait to see Avart 2. I heard it will be released on 2014. It’s still a long way but it’s worth the wait! Cheers!
This movie was so revolutionary and single-handedly changed the movie going experience. Ever since the Avatar – now almost all, Sci-Fi, Action or Animated movie, that is newly released, has a 3D option. Great post.
Yes it really did change the movie going experience, and for the better too! A lot of movies that don’t even fall into this category are now done in 3D also just because of how great it looks.
Avatar was an OK movie, but I have not seen it more than two times. I really would like a number two soon. There is more to do with this story. 🙂 _ Abel C.