Avatar a spectacle for the eyes but that's all

Finally. three months after Avatar was released in theaters and became the top grossing film of all-time (not including inflation) I got down to see the film.

Even after all this time, the theater was still quite full but luckily got good seats.

What is Avatar about? Here is the plot summary from Wikipedia:
The film is set in the year 2154, when humans are mining a precious mineral called unobtanium on Pandora, a lush moon of a gas giant in the Alpha Centauri star system.^[5][6][7] The expansion of the mining colony threatens the continued existence of a local tribe of Na'vi—a sentient humanoid species indigenous to Pandora. The film's title refers to the genetically engineered Na'vi and human hybrid bodies used by a team of researchers to interact with the natives of Pandora.

So first off, you can't help but marvel what director James Cameron has done with Avatar. The visual effects are amazing -very colorful and visually stunning -that were enhanced by 3D technology but like Up last year, felt I could have seen this movie even in 2D. There were some moments that were really awesome in 3D like when Jake is first exploring the flora and fauna of Pandora but moments like those were few and far between.

The story or plot line itself is very basic, predictable and simple but was it wrong for me not to really care about the Na'vi people when they are about the annihilated by the Sky People. The dialogue is just as cheesy and stilted as Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and sometimes even Cameron's Titanic (the former #1 movie of all time) had some bad dialogue.

And I felt that Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) had no chemistry even if they are CGI characters and that "love scene" was very uncomfortable to even look at. But I did like Worthington, he was very easy on the eyes and you do get to see his character develop from a Marine following orders to someone that has bonded with the Na'vi and wants to what is right.

With all sci-fi movies, I can't help but compare some scenes to Star Wars like those Rhino-type animals coming to (spoiler alert) to the rescue in the final battle scene reminiscent of the Ewoks. Same with the village that Neytiri and her clan live at reminded me of the Ewok village. And one more thing, during the final battle, one of the ships goes down like the Super Star Destroyer did in Return of the Jedi.

But one thing that Avatar has over Star Wars is the special effects and that is what made an okay movie, spectacular.

Live Blogging the 82nd Annual Academy Awards

Okay, I've said this many times before so I will say it again. The Oscars is my Super Bowl. I look forward to this every year. This year I'm at a good friend's place catching all the action. Of course, this year, we have my annual bet with my brother. At stake for me: All You Can Eat Sushi. For my brother: Pho.

I am looking forward to seeing what Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin does as co-hosts. I've read that the opening is supposed to be good. Let's hope it doesn't disappoint.

5pm The Red Carpet is on now. Sherri Shepherd is doing this?!?@ and Kathy Ireland WTF?@#%

5:02pm I can't believe I am just complementing these women's dresses but I love Penelope Cruz's red dress. Anna Kendrick has a nice dress. Vera Farmiga's dress looks like one of those twirly things you see on people's balconies.

No more blogging about the red carpet until the actual show starts.

4 minutes to the Oscars!!!!!

5:30pm It's Oscar time. It's starting. Introducing the Best Actor and Actress in a leading world.
Very intereting. Weird how the actors got arm candy to lead them off the stage.

5:32pm Neil Patrick Harris!!!! He's singing. Singing about duos in Hollywood. Vegas-Style Dancers on stage with NPH!!! Big old-style Hollywood musical production number. "Two hosts to split the fee."

5:34pm That was actually a pretty good opening number. Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin floating in.

5:35pm. Introducing themselves and their monologue is funny so far.

5:37pm Was a bit stilted for a bit but recovered with a nice joke.

5:40pm An Avatar joke.

5:42pm I felt that Matt Damon joke fell flat.

5:43pm Recovered again with a good Taylor Lautner and Zac Efron. Alec and Steve were both funny and stilted at times but overall they were good.

5:44pm First presenter up: Penelope Cruz. Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Me: Christoph Waltz. Justin: Christoph Waltz.

5:45pm These are long clips for the actors.

5:47pm The Winner is: Christoph Waltz. No surprise there at all. Me: 1 Justin: 1

5:50pm Ryan Reynolds is introducing The Blind Side. Go Canadian content.

5:55pm Steve Carrell and Cameron Diaz presenting Animated Featured Film. Me: Up. Justin: Up. I love the bit of interviewing the animated characters about their nomination. The Winner is Up. Me: 2. Justin: 2

6pm Amanda Seyfried and Miley Cyrus presenting Original Song. Me: The Weary Kind Justin: The Weary Kind. It's early this year because no one is singing it live.

Me: 3 Justin: 3

6:05pm Chris Pine introducing District 9.

6:11pm Robert Downey Jr. and Tina Fey doing the screenwriting category. Both are so funny. Original Screenplay. Me: Inglorious Basterds. Justin: The Hurt Locker. Winner: The Hurt Locker.

Me: 3 Justin: 4

6:17pm Molly Ringwald and Matthew Broderick doing a John Hughes tribute.

6:23pm Samuel L. Jackson is introducing Up. A great film.

6:27pm Carey Mulligan (love her) and Zoe Saldana to a Gigi song. Short Films. Live or animated? Ok it's animated. Me: A Matter of Loaf and Death Justin: Matter of Loaf and Death. It's Wallace and Gromit and I love Wallace and Gromit. Winner: Logorama. I had a feeling it was going to be an upset.

We are still status quo.

Doc short. Me: Music by Prudence. Justin: Music by Prudence. Winner: Music by Prudence. I thought that so weird of that woman to interrupt the dude. EW said it was like Kanye West in drag crashing the Oscars.

Me: 4 Justin: 5

Live Action short. Me and Justin: Abracadabra. The Winner: The New Tenants.

We are status quo.

6:37pm. Ben Stiller doing make-up for sure. This bit is going on for too long. Me and Justin: Star Trek. The Winner: Star Trek

Me: 5 Justin: 6

6:43pm Jeff Bridges is introducing A Serious Man

6:47pm Rachel McAdams (Can Con) and Jake Gyllenhaal. Adapted Screenplay. Me and Justin: Up in the Air. The Winner: Precious. This is an upset.

Status quo.

6:52pm. Queen Latifah presenting the Governor Awards, which is the lifetime achievement award etc...like Lauren Bacall

6:55pm Robin Williams is doing supporting actress since Heath Ledger can't do it. Me and Justin: Mo'nique. The winner: Mo'nique.

7:01pm Colin Firth introducing An Education. A great movie with a great cast like Carey Mulligan and Emma Thompson.

7:06pm Sigourney Weaver is doing art direction. Me and Justin: Avatar. Winner: Avatar.

7:08pm Costume design. Tom Ford and Sarah Jessica Parker. Why does Tom Ford looks like he wants to sleep. Me and Justin: The Young Victoria. The Winner: The Young Victoria. What I love about the film was the love story between Victoria and Albert.

What she said in her speech is so true though.

Me: 6. Justin: 7

7:12pm Charlize Theron is doing Precious.

7:16pm Harold Wheeler? The Dancing with the Stars dude.

7:17pm A Horror tribute -great my least favourite genre. The Paranormal Activity spoof was funny.

7:18pm Twilight's Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner doing the horror genre tribute. With the score New Moon playing underneath them. I am not even watching this. I am looking away from the screen. I just ate people. Totally unnecessary.

7:22pm Zac Efron and Anna Kendrick doing Sound Editing and Mixing. First up: Editing. Me and Justin: Avatar. The winner: The Hurt Locker.

Status quo.

Mixing: Me and Justin: Avatar. I am sorry the crap that was Transformers was nominated. The Winner: The Hurt Locker. Hmm. I sense that maybe the Hurt Locker is going to win Best Picture.

Status quo

7:28pm Elizabeth Banks doing the Science awards. Boring. Your boobies Elizabeth Banks.

7:29pm John Travolta doing Inglorious Basterds.

7:34pm Sandra Bullock. Loved Steve Martin's intro for her. Me: The Hurt Locker. Justin: Avatar. I think I might win here. The Winner: Avatar.

Me: 6 Justin: 8

7:37pm Demi Moore is doing the dead person's montage. James Taylor singing along as we look at the pictures of those that died last year. I didn't like it when they did it last year.

7:45pm Jennifer Lopez (who didn't trip) and Sam Worthington. Me and Justin: Up. They are dancing to the Best Score. I loved when they did this back in 1993. Why is the guy doing the robot for Up. Now we are getting somwhere with the ballet stuff for Up. Interesting to see who wins. The Avatar score wasn't bad. The Winner: Up Michael is wearing the Ellie badge just like Peter Doctor did.

Me: 7 Justin: 9

7:54pm Gerard Butler and Bradley Cooper doing visual effects. Me and Justin: Avatar.

Me: 8 Justin: 10. 30 minutes before the show is supposed to end.

7:56pm Jason Bateman is doing Up in the Air.

8:01pm Matt Damon is presenting Documentary Feature. Me and Justin: The Cove. A film about dolphin killing has got to win. The Winner: The Cove. Fisher Stevens -the Short Circuit dude. Nice going Fisher, hog the dudes acceptance speech.

Me: 9 Justin: 11

8:05pm: Tyler Perry is doing film editing. Me: The Hurt Locker. Justin: Avatar. Loved Alec and Steve in the Snuggie. The winner: The Hurt Locker.

Me: 10 Justin: 11 At least I am in double digits.

8:08pm Keanu Reeves is doing the Hurt Locker.

8:14pm Pedro Almadovar and Quentin Taratino. Best Foreign Language Film. Me: The White Ribbon. Justin: El Secreto de Sus Ojos. The Winner: El Secreto de Sus Ojos

Me: 10 Justin: 12 I officially lost even if I get Best Actress right, I still lose. Enjoy your Pho Justin.

8:18pm Kathy Bates is introducing Avatar.

8:23pm It is Best Actor. Tim Robbins, Colin Farrell, Michelle Pfeiffer, Julianne Moore and Vera Farmiga are introducing the nominees. They are doing what they did last year for this category. Me and Justin: Jeff Bridges. It looks like Colin Firth is going to cry after all the complimentary things that Julianne Moore is saying about him. Each of these people co-starred with the nominees in either the film they are nominated in or a previous film.

8:31pm Kate Winslet is doing the winner. Love her, so glad that she won last year. The Winner: Jeff Bridges.

Me: 11 Justin: 13

8:39pm Best Actress. Me: Meryl Streep. Justin: Sandra Bullock. Michael Sheen, Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Stanley Tucci and Peter Saarsgard are honouring each of the nominees. Gabby Sidibe is crying. What was the hand gesture that Tucci just did to Meryl?

8:47pm Sean Penn announcing the winner. Here we go. Let's who wins. The winner: Sandra Bullock. Enjoy this moment Sandra as it's going to be your last.

Me: 11 Justin: 14

8:52pm Best Director Me and Justin: Kathryn Bigelow. Barbra Streisand is presenting almost banking that Kathryn is going to win. I think it's about time that a woman wins this. The winner: Kathryn Bigelow. About time. Well deserved.

Me: 12 Justin: 15

The last category. Best Picture. Me and Justin: Avatar. Tom Hanks is introducing the last category of the night. The winner: The Hurt Locker. Well blow me away.

Status quo

Final tally Me: 12 Justin: 15

I thought it was a good show. Unpredictable at times. Thought Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were funny and non-obtrusive.

Well that's another Oscars. See you next year.