The National Academy of Boring Old Farts just released their shortlist of seven films (which they’ll eventually whittle down to three) in contention for an Oscar in Visual Effects. The list includes:
- Avatar
- District 9
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Star Trek
- Terminator Salvation
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
- 2012
Yep, Transformers 2. Because I guess it’s not part of a visual effects supervisor’s job to, you know, MAKE SURE YOU CAN TELL THE EFFING ROBOTS APART. I’m not asking for high art here, I just want to be able to tell which giant robot is getting punched. Is that so much to ask? Now, I realize, I’m not a visual effects artist. If you asked me to draw a turkey, I’d start by tracing my hand. When my computer breaks down, I throw rocks at it and pee my pants. That said, it seems to me that you could just make the robots different colors. But maybe I just don’t understand these newfangled visual effects and their indistinguishable masses of shiny pieces of metal. Oh my God, bra, this is so gnarly I don’t even know what the hell’s happening!
Additional Facts: Every morning, Michael Bay’s visual effects team meets to blow dry his hair.
[source = THR]


Doesn’t matter… Oscars about to get Avatard, Yo!
That said, it seems to me that you could just make the robots different colors.
They tried that in the first one and everybody got all up in arms when Megatron ripped the black one in half.
When everyone else’s computer breaks down they ask me to fix it.
FML
I just hope ‘Star Trek’ wins. I really enjoy counting lens flares.
Did You Hear About the Morgans? should win the Oscar for Visual Effects because of, you know, Sarah Jessica Parker
MAKE SURE YOU CAN TELL THE EFFING ROBOTS APART
Just like Thai lady-boys.
It really is down to either Avatar, with its White/American guilt or District 9 with its anti-apartheid stance. I hate how “politically correct” the VFX category has become. It used to be about the art, or at least the explosions.
Michael Bay’s toilets don’t flush, they incinerate.
Is there really an argument between Avatar and any of these other films that doesn’t involve budget? They might as well put ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ in there for how close this competition is going to be.
@Donk, not to mention the kind of backlash we can expect from James Cameron if Avatar doesn’t win…
BTW, Morty, great blogpost.
Thanks, Fek. I aim to please.
Lince, I think you accidentally posted the Best Screenplay nominees instead.
What does “FOUR L’S” mean?
Serious question:
I’ve had Transformers 2 sitting next to my TV for a while and can’t decide if I should bother. Is it so bad/culturally relevant that I should watch it, or is it just plain bad and I should skip it. Secondly, should I see the first movie again, as I don’t remember jack about the plot/characters?
Also, Megan Fox Lesbian Encounter Exclusive Nip-Slip Felch.
I really enjoy counting lens flares.
I got the dvd for Xmas. In the bonus features, there is actually this entire segment dedicated to JJ being hyperactively gay about lens flares. Like, for real.
“I liked ze part where ze robot punched ze otha one.” – Georges Méliès
I nominate the make-up artists behind “I Hate Valentine’s Day” for making Nia Vardalos look like a female. A human one.
Morty, don’t re-watch the first, but get drunk and watch the 2nd.
*note: this is advice from a guy who watched ‘You Don’t Mess with the Zohan’ the other night just to see how bad it was, also, because it was on TV. I didn’t Netflix the fucking thing or anything*
The Mighty Feklahr still hasn’t watched TF1. Somehow, He is opposed to the idea of TF movies sucking ass.
rtonSa, I don’t really think you need to watch Transformers 2. But if you do, there’s really no need to watch the other movie to “understand” it.
I saw that it was on TV too, Donk. But I didn’t mess with it.
Thanks Donk. I’ll use your method. I also caught Zohan on TV, and was surprised that I enjoyed it. It felt like old Sandler to me -the dream sequence from Happy Gilmore, for example, or the musical number from Billy Madison.
I only saw Transformers 2 because Donk’s wife felt the need to see it on opening night. We could have gone to see I Love you, Man at the dollar theater, but nooooooooooooo.
And I didn’t get to watch it drunk, because I had to drive!
Morty in transformers 2 we get to see transformer heaven, so if you ever wanted to see where good transformers go to when they die, check that movie out
I’d like to change my answer:
Yes Morton, you need to watch it. And you should see it sober. Because if I had to, then you have to.
Transformer Heaven is Jay’s Auto Salvage Yard.
The wife offered to drive, Jack. You didn’t want to drink because you didn’t want to drive four hours the next morning with a hangover.
Also, the opening night crowd added to the ridiculous experience. It was like being wrapped in a warm cocoon of stupid. I wouldn’t have enjoyed it half as much without all the clapping for Optimus Prime.
Transformer Hell is watching Transformers 2 sober.
2012?? Really???
There is a spelling mistake in the headline. It should say “shartlisted”.