Tag Archive for: avatar

Oscar trade-off needs student interest to pay off


This Sunday’s annual Academy Awards wants you to tune in. After suffering lagging ratings in the last three ceremonies, they’ve decided to nominate 10 films for the best picture category in an effort to let more popular movies slip in, unlike the more esoteric films of past Oscar seasons. This move, however, encourages a disturbing […]

Additional nominees a welcome change


For the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the idea of awarding a single film the coveted title of best picture of the year has always been complicated. Sometimes the right film wins, sometimes the wrong film wins and sometimes the wrong film wins a record number of Oscars. No matter which film eventually […]

Science of “Avatar” looks legitimate


Imagine looking into the eyes of your significant other.  You’re about to tell her you love her, but she beats you to it — except she misspeaks or something.  “I see you,” she says, sweetly and meaningfully. Unless your girlfriend was formerly blind, you probably wouldn’t be impressed.  More likely you would wonder why the […]

Does Avatar deserve its Titanic appeal?


In 1997, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave a certain film 11 Oscars — Best Picture included — because it broke box office records, presented dazzling special effects and broke just about everyone’s heart with its true-to-life tragedy. In reality, however, it was a bad film that has not withstood the test […]