We've already gone over the winners and losers of this year's Golden Globe Awards, but perhaps the most talked-about win was for Avatar in the Best Picture (Drama) category. It's no secret that the foreign press went wild for Avatar when they first saw it, and that the film itself has made a killing with international audiences. In fact, I even picked Avatar to win Best Picture at the Globes in my yearly round of predictions for the LA Times Buzzmeter site. I just thought the film would fare better at this ceremony and with the foreign press, since they usually like the spectacle.
But did the film deserve to win? Obviously the special effects alone were worth the price of admission, and you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who didn't enjoy "watching" the film (especially in 3D). That said, many have criticized the story as being too clichéd, and if there's anything that's hurt the film, it's been that. Moviegoers, however, have been falling over each other to go watch this movie – and by the time the Oscars roll around, there's a very good chance Avatar will be the highest grossing film of all time. So, in the grand scheme of things, that's gotta count for something, right?
Then again, shouldn't the best picture of the year be well-rounded and entertaining on all levels? Shouldn't a best picture feature a story that isn't reminiscent of dozens of films? Shouldn't the best picture be about a little more than moviegoing experience?
What do you think? Did Avatar deserve to win Best Picture? If so, why? Or, alternatively, why not?
