Seven Features Still in Running for VFX Oscar Race

Are there really six other movies this year that can compete with the visuals of Avatar, which is clearly on a mission for world domination? According to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, apparently so.  The Academy has announced these seven films remain in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 82nd Academy Awards: Avatar, District 9, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Star Trek, Terminator Salvation, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, 2012.

Thursday, Jan. 21, all members of the academy’s Visual Effects Branch will be invited to view 15-minute excerpts from each of the seven shortlisted films, and then pick the three they think should make it to the final round on Oscar night. The Oscar nominations will be announced Tuesday, Feb, 2, at 5:30 a.m. PT.
Having seen all of these except 2012 (I just couldn’t bring myself to do it), if I were a betting man, I’d put my money on Avatar, District 9 and Star Trek being the final three, with Avatar being the big winner. What do you think?