Yes Candy Eaters, tragedy struck last night. The event that will surely make people look back and shake their heads in sorrow and shock occurred in Hollywood at the Golden Globe Awards. The award for Best Motion Picture Drama was given to AVATAR. Go ahead. Take a minute to absorb the shock...
I know what you're thinking: "Why was AVATAR even nominated in that category?" Well it shouldn't have been. It's not a drama. It is an action / adventure kids movie. If you go to McDonald's and buy a Happy Meal, an AVATAR toy will come with it. Large portions of the film (probably most of the film) are completely animated, why was it nominated against live action dramas? Would Polar Express be nominated against The Hours? AVATAR should have been put in the Best Animated Film category against Up where it belongs (although it would not have won - Up was much better than AVATAR).
AVATAR is already the second highest grossing film of all time, and could ultimately beat Titanic for that title. It is an exciting adventure with imaginative art direction. The story is old and recycled, yet still entertaining. The biggest pull of the film (and the main reason it worked so well) was the life-like 3D. It's a story that relies too heavily on a gimmick. Up was a 3D movie, but if you saw it in 2D, it was still amazing. That's because it had a good script, a lot of heart and good performances. AVATAR doesn't have any of those things, which is why everyone says that you have to see it in 3D. Does that mean it is a bad film? Certainly not. Does it mean it has the merits to deserve an artistic award for Best Motion Picture Drama? Certainly not. The only awards it deserves are People's Choice and technical awards.
What is the winning this award going to do for AVATAR? Nothing. What is awarding AVATAR going to do for the Golden Globes? Everything. Last year both the Globes and the Oscars received major backlash for not honoring The Dark Knight as Best Picture (not even nominating it). With viewership dwindling every year, awards shows are going out of style. By nominating and awarding the most popular movie of the year, they get people interested in watching so they can charge more money for ads, etc. Who suffers? The films that actually deserve the award. Four stellar films were nominated against AVATAR: Precious, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, and Up in the Air. A win for any of these films would have been a major boost in sales, and a potential expansion to markets that would not otherwise get to see it. It would definitely put the film in the limelight and stir up interest. They all lost out on that opportunity.
Ultimately, this was just the Golden Globes. No awards show can compare to the Oscars. But many times the Oscars follow Globe trending, and if that is the case this year, the movie industry may never be the same. You make some pictures for global appeal. They are not made for artistic merit. They are made to make money and have cool shots of flying animals. Then you make some movies to go the long haul. You put time and energy and thought into the script. You cast actors who can handle the emotional terrain of the story. You have a director who can handle guiding a movie through it's intense journey. And ultimately, you may be rewarded with critical acclaim and awards which could translate to higher sales and future opportunities.
Dear Academy voters, NOT for your consideration: AVATAR
See the full list of winners from last night's Golden Globes ceremony after the jump...
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