<p>re how to see the foreign films, that’s why I got netflix. I wanted to rent foreign films and older movies that none of the regular video stores carried.</p>
<p>I want to see the short films and the documentaries. I boycott Netflix because it is the only ad that can squeeze through any popup blocker. I’ll see if Scarecrow can be of any help…</p>
<p>Avatar hated on America. The Hurt Locker did not.</p>
<p>Didn’t see either- but from what I could tell Avatar was an environmental movie- don’t see how paying attention to taking care of your own house, is anti- US, and from what I hear from recent vets, the Hurt Locker was trying to pass itself off as an accurate depiction of this war and it is far off the mark.</p>
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<p>Avatar was a fantasy film that imagined a world in which Native Americans (the blue people) prevailed against European settlers who eventually took over the United States. Not subtle in the least, and hated upon our heritage.</p>
<p>The Hurt Locker was a fairly realistic representation of a year in Iraq. And, unlike Avatar, The Hurt Locker did not encourage people to cheer when the “Americans/invaders” were killed.</p>
<p>Well, that better-paced than in many years and pretty enjoyable. Lots of very pretty dresses (NOT referring to you, Sarah Jessica). </p>
<p>Best moment: The Academy poking James Cameron in the eye. A hackneyed story and terrible dialogue don’t add up to an Oscar, no matter how nifty the special effects and how many tickets get sold. I enjoyed both The Hurt Locker and Up in the Air, but I’m not sure either reached a level of greatness. Maybe there just was no greatness to be had in last year’s movies.</p>
<p>I didn’t see The Blind Side (too “Lifetime channel TV movie” for my taste), but this afternoon I took a look back at some of the reviews to see how Sandra Bullock’s performance was received when the movie was released, since her nomination had puzzled me. None of the critics gushed about her performance, so I have to conclude there just wasn’t much competition for nominations this year. The Academy is averse to giving its highest acting award to young’uns like Sidibe and Mulligan, and I’m sure many members felt Mirren and Streep had already had their share–leaving Sandra Bullock winning for a performance no one seemed too excited about. I did like her speech, though, and I thought her makeup and ultra shiny hair were gorgeous–best she’s ever looked.</p>
<p>I thought Mo’nique’s speech was obnoxiously self-congratulatory, and I have no idea what she was going on about.</p>
<p>Worst moment: James Taylor not being in good voice at all. Uh oh. I just spent a fortune for tickets to see him and Carole King in June!</p>
<p>Pet peeve: There’s never an easy way to see all the nominated short movies. Wish they were put on a compilation DVD each year.</p>
<p>MommaJ, I’m glad that I’m not the only one who thought that James Taylor was terrible.</p>
<p>Hating on America and our heritage? First, the “bad guy” in Avatar was a corporate entity, not the US government. But even if you think that was just a thin disguise, surely you must agree that country’s heritage has been soiled by many events in our history, including our treatment of the native population. We’ve gone astray a number of times, and it’s not unpatriotic to say so.</p>
<p>Here is my DH’s vote for the best dress at the Oscars :eek: :</p>
<p>[2010</a> Red Carpet: Arrivals photos Vera Farmiga’s dress](<a href=“http://oscars.movies.yahoo.com/photos/112-2010-red-carpet-arrivals#OmgPhoid=17]2010”>http://oscars.movies.yahoo.com/photos/112-2010-red-carpet-arrivals#OmgPhoid=17)</p>
<p>I thought james taylors voice was fine- but the phrasing for the song was off- but they may have been at him to speed it up.
I wouldnt worry about the concert. :)</p>
<p>I am so sad- I hardly ever watch the oscars- cause they start so early I am usually doing something else- but I wanted to this evening cause my mom is not around anymore to watch them and it was one of her favorite things. She had seen most of the movies and followed the journey through E.T and People magazine. ;)</p>
<p>Ack- watch me to see if I start wearing Birkenstocks.</p>
<p>That was some dress Sandra had on though, usually most of the clothes are either outrageous or boring.
not very much jewelry though and some could have used a little.</p>
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<p>Really short too. Kathy Ireland towered over him. She’s tall for a woman, but not a giant who towers over lots of men.</p>
<p>Re: Monique’s acceptance speech. I had heard that she received quite a bit of criticism from some in the African-American community for even wanting to portray her character - let alone do a good job at it. The character was ugly and evil - I assume detractors thought Monique was promoting a certain stereotype.</p>
<p>I fell asleep before it was all over (east coast) so missed the big awards at the end. I just watched all the late acceptance speeches online.</p>
<p>I enjoyed Avatar but was really glad to see The Hurt Locker win. Our S is a Spec Ops Officer- EOD guy (the subject of the movie …Explosive Ordnance Disposal) so the movie really touched DH and me. </p>
<p>Loved Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart. It was a really good movie. I don’t think it got nearly enough publicity. Most people I know had never even heard of it. Loved the song too but you’d prob. have to see the movie to really appreciate the song.</p>
<p>Yah, for Sandra Bullock. My family really enjoyed The Blind Side (both our boys were h.s. football players).
Her acceptance speech was funny and touching. The part about her mother was so sweet. Also Sandra Bullock is a grad of my college. She was a couple of years behind me, living proof that going to a directional state u. does not doom you to mediocrity,LOL.</p>
<p>I couldn’t understand Mo’Nique’s speech either regarding politics, until this morning, when they said that comment was aimed at the Oscar board and how political it has become. Precious supposedly did not play that game. If I am correct it got so bad somebody from the Hurt Locker was banned from attending because they emailed voters to vote for them.</p>
<p>I’m generally not a Sandra Bullock fan, but did like her in that movie. Her dress was my favorite, tho make-up too pale (that vampire look). I love Meryl Streep; her performances consistently good.</p>
<p>I fell asleep thru the Oscars, but watching now.</p>
<p>Packmom-</p>
<p>3 dreaded letters for service selection</p>
<p>EOD- ESPECIALLY after seeing hurt locker. Told son NO NO NO. His response “marine ground?”…</p>
<p>Scary, great movie. As an adoptive mom Blind Side was also special for me, since my 3 boys ALL played football. However my NCAA D1 athlete daughter was beyond upset about the NCAA angle…leave it to her to pick apart the details.</p>
<p>enjoyed watching</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>Finally watched the show after taping (to fast forward thru the awkwardness). Re Moniques speech and the politics she referred to: the distributors and money people involved in Precious wanted her to stump for an Oscar (ala Sandra Bullock, going from talk show to talk show pushing her nomination). She refused since she was neither being payed for this activity and in principle it should be about the performance itself. She mentioned and thanked her lawyers in her speech since she was threatened with legal action by the executives who wanted her to campaign for the award.</p>
<p>I usually watch the Oscars “gavel to gavel” but this year I found the show to be boring and turned it off.</p>
<p>Wait are you saying Oprah threatened her with legal action?</p>
<p>I have to ask, and I mean this politely, but do you think they had a special seat for Gabby from Precious. Everytime they showed her it seemed like the seating look awkward.</p>
<p>Also on that note, I was offended by her actions at the beginning, re: her little dance. I understand she is young and how life changing this was for her, but I felt she really did not understand the gravity of the Oscars. Look at Jeff Bridges it took him close to 40 yrs to win, to some it is something they have worked long and hard for, and the dance was just off putting.</p>
<p>No one has mentioned how horrible Macaulay Culkin looked. I assume it’s drugs, rather than a terminal illness.</p>
<p>I thought that the show was good from a hosting standpoint (loved Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin) but bad technically - random people in shots, bad sound, horrible camera angles.</p>
<p>I was really looking forward to seeing the *So You Think You Can Dance *winners. It was easy to pick out Russell because of his hair…we saw a few girls who could have been Kathryn, but couldn’t really tell.</p>
<p>Sarah Jessica Parker is getting too old to be that thin.</p>