2004 Oscars

[Cirdan]

I meant to include something about sliding scales since obviously while one can select a dividing line it is not a black and white but grey areas (no, not technicolor, just a bit subjective). LotR is still a big budget film but it does relie more heavily on content onviously displayed by the choice of source material, hardly pulp fiction or even (sorry IP) comic books. That doesn't preclude an inspired adaptation of less inspired material but the priciple is sound.

LotR is somewhat more film than The Matrix (although both employ strong thematic content, relatively more complex relationships, abstract concept, etc) yet both are quite saturated with special effects, a high percentage of action sequences, marginally developed character relationships (Legolas and Gimli are reduced to the sort of Lethal Weapon buddy movie interaction), physical humor, so I don't see them as being in a different category, just different quantitatively.

Gangs of New York could arguably (though pointlessly) be something near to being wedged between the two. I found the Star Wars prequel trilogy to be more toward the Spiderman/Gladiator end of the spectrum. Braveheart was (still just IMO) better in the areas of character development than any of the aforementioned, but this is likely due to a more focused approach on central characters.

This difference has no affect on Academy awards candidacy, so sorry for the way OT diatribe. I did want to point out that the academy is prone, on occasion, to be just a bit political and image conscious (just a bit ), so they tend to compensate for the past year's criticisms of being to elitist, too populist, racist, provincial, too pandering, favoritist, and some other big words.

Pictures that are first at something, and not neccesarily best, get special consideration.

Pictures by people who are overdue get special consideration. (Opie)

Pictures with heavy themes (The Piano) get special consideration.

Pictures with box office reciepts too huge too ignore get more attention than they may deserve (Titanic).

Besides, it's a school assembly for grownups, with awards for best penmanship. The only thing that should really matter to you is do YOU think it's the best picture. The award is mostly for promotional use only.