IMO, Avatar should have won it. $2 billion plus can't be wrong. And it wasn't because of promotion, at least not paid promotion. It got all that attention because of not just the 3D aspect ( there's been lots of 3D movies already), but because it was a huge, expensive, exceptionally well done blockbuster that obviously entertained people ... lots and lots of people ... many several times. As far as it being another Pocahontas story...no doubt about it. So was Dances With Wolves, and it won 7 Oscars. Let's face it, practically every movie made these days, if not a direct remake of an older movie, is simply a slightly different angle on an existing theme. Every cop movie has an angry Captain, etc.
I think Hurt Locker was very good, but nothing that really stood out. There's been several war movies over the years equally as tense and gritty. I'm guessing that various factors led to it being chosen. For example, the fact that it reflects the current conflict in the Middle East .... had it been about Vietnam, I don't think it would have had as much impact on people. The fact that the director was James Cameron's ex, and the fact that it gave the liberal academy a chance to give the world a new liberal first ... a winning female director, IMO also quite likely played a role. Also, it wouldn't surprise me if it had a David & Golieth underdog appeal to it as well, especially since Cameron often comes across as pompous and gloating.
I haven't seen it yet, but from what I've heard from friends who have, and from what I've seen in previews and clips, I'm betting that " Precious " was a better film from a story-line and possibly acting perspective, than both Avatar and Hurt Locker. But at the end of the day, Avatar, for several reasons, won the viewing public's vote and wallet...by a long shot. Hard to argue with that.
