Chinese Upset ‘Avatar’ Lost Oscars To ‘The Hurt Locker’

'The Hurt Locker' wins six Oscars, beating James Cameron's Avatar

Many Chinese people really liked James Cameron’s “Avatar“. In January, we translated many Chinese netizen reactions to “Avatar” and shared many photographs of Chinese people lining up overnight every day to buy tickets to see the movie. So when “Avatar” lost big awards such as Best Picture and Best Director to “The Hurt Locker” last night during the 82nd Annual Academy Awards [Oscars], many Chinese were very disappointed. For example, on Tianya, one post topic title is: “‘The Hurt Locker’ disposed of ‘Avatar’: The year’s greatest cups.”

'The Hurt Locker' movie poster.

From KDS:

Really did not think “The Hurt Locker” was that good, Oscars this year was a mess.

I am not American, so I think it was very average, far from “Black Hawk Down“, not even as good as “Saving Private Ryan“.

I wanted to fall asleep after watching some of it.

Of the six awards, which one was it not worthy of?

I think of the 10 films, this one could be placed last.

Comments from KDS:

油凳子:

The Academy awards movies that contribute to the film industry, not films that contribute to entertainment. All the ones you are talking about are all very strongly entertainment films.emoticon

加州的大雕:

Avatar did not contribute to the film industry? What a joke.

Which movie jump-started IMAX? Which movie jump-started 3D? Plus a not bad story and musical score, it should’ve been considered a very ideal film.

But “The Hurt Locker”? Leaving aside Best Picture and Best Director,
this movie is able to win Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing?

走过路过:

The Hurt Locker is indeed not good, a very strange movie, more like a documentary.

HiDe&#8482:

I also think The Hurt Locker was just average. I didn’t even finish it before I deleted it. emoticon

cyb:

A giant amongst dwarfs, plus this movie belongs to America’s “war” films, so what is so strange about it winning, whereas Avatar winning Best Picture would have been strange.

奥特MAN:

Americans’ movie awards, Americans’ movies, so if the Americans think it is good, what is the problem?

clank:

Already winning Best Director, and also giving it Best Picture is indeed a little going too far. I reckon normally [James] Cameron has offended quite a few people, so he was harmonized.

招财:

Haven’t seen it, but the film is for those who pay to watch, not for selection committees who do not pay to watch, so as long as those who pay think it is not good to watch, then it fucking isn’t a good film.

yoyo:

War movie, understand? China has war movies. Americans also have them. If China had Oscars, the winner would be: The Founding of a Republic, The Founding of a Republic, The Founding of a Republic, The Founding of a Republic, The Founding of a Republic, The Founding of a Republic, The Founding of a Republic, The Founding of a Republic, The Founding of a Republic, The Founding of a Republic, The Founding of a Republic, The Founding of a Republic.

'Jian Guo Da Ye' (The Founding of a Republic) movie poster

"The Founding of a Republic", Chinese stars celebrate the 60th anniversary of the PRC.

ben:

“The Hurt Locker”, a very realistic war film~!! The details were very fine, and it also have a very strong writing team. Those that get it would naturally get it~!! A movie’s review does not just look at the visuals, it must be reviewed from comprehensive angles as well~!! A well-filmed, extremely detailed realistic film will of course be favored~!!

waley:

Only after watching “Avatar” did I understand that the person with the bigger dick between their legs is whoever is listened to;

Only after watching the Oscars did I understand that no matter how big your dick is, it is no match for 《拆“蛋”部队》 [chāi dàn bù duì, a pun of the Chinese name for "The Hurt Locker" 《拆弹部队》 chāi tán bù duì which means "ball/testicle disposal unit"]emoticon

albin:

This is the so-called emperor’s new clothes. Those saying this movie is good are actually just IB‘ing.

非鱼:

A very realistic film, after watching it, it is like having personally experienced being an American soldier in Iraq.
Every day hovering on the line between life and death, just when will this war end, and is there an end?

加州的大雕:

A very realistic war film?
Of those who saw the movie, just how many have actually go on the battlefield to fight a battle?
How important is pursuing these details?
What does this movie telling/teaching us?
The brutality of war? That war not only traumatizes our bodies but also our minds? The effects of war on the next generation?
Amongst anti-war films, this one is definitely nothing special.emoticon

鬼塚:

The Hurt Locker,
I think is better than Avatar.
I saw it 4 times.
LZ is one of those who like watching entertainment films…
while that is a historical film…

伐告诉侬:

If one does not have higher expectations than normal people, how can one be an expert? It is the same domestically and abroad.emoticon

罗伯斯庇尔:

A lot of people watching this film as an action movie will definitely be disappointed in the end. The director is only showing the lives of American soldiers in Iraq, their internal world.

This is more difficult to film than explosions, and even more emotionally stimulating.

堪察加半岛:

According to certain people,

why is it necessary to select [winners]?

Why not just distribute prizes according to box office results?

堪察加半岛:

Were Avatar to have gotten the Oscar

then wouldn’t that have been hilarious

that the dignified Academy Award was given to this kind of film.emoticon

老油条:

American culture is the “American Dream”. Actually, their aesthetic/taste is also pretty lousy.
I just like big films/blockbusters.

Avatar movie, Na'vi Jake Scully & Neytiri

"It's okay...don't be angry..."

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I did not know that Kathryn Bigelow was James Cameron’s ex-wife…how funny.

James Cameron choking ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow at the 82nd Academy Awards.James Cameron hugging ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow after 'The Hurt Locker' wins another Oscar.

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  1. Let’s hope that these people will stop spanking it with a thumb up their asses when watching Avatar. Sofa time!!!!!!!

    • well, they are not the only one complaining…

      • Well, “Hurt Locker” won best picture because a pretty decent movie overall, but Avatar mostly contributed to the new technology of seeing movies and better ways of making movies. when hurt locker tells a story of a man serving his country in the from lines. to say the least this movie saids ” freedom is not always free.” “hurt locker” also convays a great story of both side of the war, when clearly the enemy does not want us there in the first place. but in good nature the soilders are people too, they still have feelings for the country they are fighting in too. like the self attachment of him and the local boy. …. overall, great original writing. plus james cameran makes like one film in a lifetime. it is only good because it is well thought out.

  2. am telling you all,

    Red Dawn 2010,

    that will be EPIC!

  3. Let’s put it this way.

    Even just 12 months from now, how many people will still remember The Hurt Locker? Not damned many.

    But 12 years from now, how many people will still remember Avatar? A hell of a lot.

    Okay, there you go.

    • Memorable ≠ Good

      Just because more people can hum the tunes to Barbie girl from Aqua than the piano pieces of Stravinski does not mean the latter has less artistic merit.

      The academy have been noticeably turning away from big blockbusters the last couple of years in favor of more independent/artistic films. Big deal. People have different tastes in movies, nobody said the Academy Awards are going to reflect the popular vote of average movie goers.

      Hey I’m still annoyed Pulp Fiction didn’t win in ’94, but Forrest Gump is a damn good film and so are Avatar and The Hurt Locker.

      • And so was Crash in 2006 and Slumdog Millionaire last year. Even the complete retreads on the committees at the Oscars and the Grammys get it right once in a while. Personally, both were great films, and trying to judge who “should have won” best picture or best anything has become a complete waste of time given how many travesties have been committed at these awards since their inception. For example, I could say that the kid from “WHere the Wild Things Are” should have totally been nominated and perhaps even won best actor, but in the end what does it really matter – he did an awesome job in a near-perfect movie.
        See the movies, decide for yourself, who cares what the academy thinks?

      • The Hurt Locker blew dog.

    • A lot of people still remember Starship Troopers and Alien 3. Would you give them an Academy Award?

  4. I haven’t had a chance to see The Hurt Locker yet, but really, with the general quality of subtitling in China (especially on pirated releases, though there are some exceptions), people’s chance to enjoy (or even, sometimes, really properly understand) foreign films that aren’t all about spectacle are limited. I’ve seen some TV shows where it was obvious that the subtitler was way out of his depth and just making half of it up, trying to integrate the few words he could catch into what he assumed was being discussed.

  5. Chinese people don’t know what good cinema is. If it’s got lots of colour and flashy special effects, they’ll eat it up.

    Otherwise, they are easily bored, they have no patience so I’m not surprised they don’t like The Hurt Locker.

    Nothing against Avatar, I liked the film.

    • That comment took you from hero to zero. Art is totally subjective, and I could easily make those exact same comments about most people in any single country on the planet, as could anyone else.

      • He is right that Avatar is no more than entertainment and playing with tech toys, with a predictable plot. Art is something different. Not that being entertained, even loving kitsch, were anything bad – it’s human, after all.

    • fuck you man, no need for name basing a whole culture. we have fucking amazing films too. fuck the oscars anyway, it is fucking American film awards. the movie was made for an audience for American so they feel connected to the war, and half of the fucking populations can’t even comprehend what are we doing over there. but “hurt locker” still proves a good point in the movie.

  6. The academy just didnt want to jump on the Avatar bandwagon. Plus, the story is so cliché – i found it ok to watch, but, hey, how could you speak of a masterpiece of a story? I liked Princess Mononoke better :D

  7. avatar can win the 2010 best entertainment film….
    i had a good time in these 3 hours, that’s it….
    lost is very normal, for the art, idealism, industrial standard, nothing special…

  8. I’ve defended Avatar before, and I’ll do it again. There are almost no original plots for movies anymore, so using that as the sole criteria for lambasting a movie is a little ingenuine. A movie that has a plot that can appeal to an entire world of people, and that everyone on the planet can get something out of, deserves at least a little credit.
    Besides, convoluted plots with “surprise endings” and “final twists” that “you’ll never believe!” are becoming just as cliche and repetitive as “good vs evil” storylines.
    Was Avatar the best picture this year? Beats me, I haven’t even come close to seeing all the movies put out in 2009, and I’d wager none of you has either. Did I like it? Yeah. Just my opinion.

  9. Why nobody mention “District 9″. I have seen all the film in nomination. And by far “District 9″ say more and in the most fantastic way.

    I guess the reason is like Avatar – the Academy committee is made up with 60% of actors – so they don’t like computer generated characters.

  10. Neither one of them movies should get an Oscar
    Hurt Locker was nothing special. I felt that Jarhead, Over There, Stop Loss, and Three Kings were all better movies. As for Avatar, the story lacked any creativity whatsoever. Whoever wins or loses at the Oscars means nothing anyway. Its all Hollywood politics. I dont know why this is even on Chinasmack. Stupid Post.

  11. I do not like the headline “Chinese upset “Avatar” lost Oscars to the “hurt locker”". It gives the false impression and I also think it is a good example how media (I know chinasmack is a blog) is often misguiding.

    1. Most Chinese do not really care
    2. Those who care, just care that much that the write one or two postings in one of the many internet forums.
    3. There is no difference to e.g. Germans. In Germany you can find as well many discussions about this topic. A lot of people did not see hurt locker and many people did not even now that it existed until know, or felt little connection to this movie. For most of them it was just another american war movie. Not a bad one, but definitely not oscar worthy. Even some newspaper (diewelt) wrote articles about it in favor for avatar. So you might as well say “Germans are upset….” or even “Americans are upset…”

    And my 5 Cent. Neither “the hurt locker” nor “avatar” earned their nomination for best picture. I know the oscar is all about entertainment- and pseudointellectual movies, but there were many mainstream movies who have been far superior to these two. e.g. “District 9″ or “Inglourious Basterds”

  12. Well, everything is very easy.
    The meaning of Avatar is struggle of natives with people, who think they can make everything what they want. Come to your homeland, kill, rob. So first time, movie producer has balls to show how USA is treating with such countries like Aphganistan, Iraq, Iran. Always claim they are terrorists, but then feel free to use oil.
    Hurt locker is just useful propaganda. Do you think US goverment will give reward to movie, which shows the real bloody face of “american democracy”?

    • You really think that Avatar, the most expensive and highest grossing film of all time is some kind of underground, anti-American movie? You think a cliched, high-budget blockbuster “shows the real bloody face of ‘American democracy?’” Is Avatar the first movie you’ve ever seen?

      “Come to your homeland, kill, rob. So first time, movie producer has balls to show how USA is treating… blah blah”

      Aside from Dances with Wolves? A movie which literally told the same story as Avatar and won the Best Picture award?

      There are plenty of movie’s out there that show a bad picture of the US and American culture, but if you think that Avatar is the best of them you are either very simple, or 12 years old.

  13. both of em is a great movie. well, if the jury decide hurt locker better, well done !!

  14. american hero movies are always win.

    because oscar is a Americans’ movie awards.

    • “American culture is the “American Dream”.”

      wow so insightful, you must be a real expert, not only on movies but on also on America.

      Keep talking about 建国大业, I mean if China had a nationally recognized award show it would be so exciting to watch 建国大业 go up against all the other diverse and exciting movies that came out of China this year.

      I would think with Hurt Locker being the “老百姓“ of movies, the Chinese would support it. On the other hand it does go against the ancient Chinese tradition of money being the only deciding factor in a society.

      • in the real world.

        the fact in iraq is american soldier used robot to do the job with the bomb.

        and the first man who face with the bomb is an iraq police and iraq citizen.

        ask pantagon.

        • I ask pantagon, a paragon, a pentagram…ahhh pentagon! Me think you fail english even though you think unpossible!

          Every POS commenter spousing some bat shiat insane commentary should try to spell and use proper grammar in order to at least attempt to sway the readers mind. Sweet Sassy Malassy!

    • Like that American hero movie Slumdog Millionaire, or There Will be Blood, or Crash, or Lord of the Rings, or Chicago, or Gladiator, or Braveheart. Do you even listen to what you say or do you just hope that by writing the thought down that makes it true?

  15. Because there are a bunch of fuc#*@g nerds here in China.

  16. dongshizhang, go f*ck yourself according to your link. haha

  17. Political undertones are pretty obvious.

    Avatar: Western imperialists try to conquer Red Indians. Red Indians win. Chinese people cheer.

    Hurt Locker: Western imperialists try to conquer Iraqis. Western imperialists win. Chinese people boo.

  18. I want to see Hurt Locker because of the award but I see that it is not as highly rated online as I would expect (like on IMDB.com it is 8/10). Makes me wonder.

    I can totally see why Avatar did not win. I enjoyed it but when someone asked me to recommend it I was struck by how I felt I would have to recommend it different ways to dofferent people. For the average movie goer it is fun and exciting but for someone that takes film a bit more seriously I felt they might think the story a bit trite.

  19. nevermind if avatar is better then hurt locker or not, I think 2012 should have won!
    I for one welcome are new Chinese masters!

    (PS. i think 2012 should be shown in every chinese school)

  20. District 9 shouldve won, the concept and the subtle message is as good as Avatars’.

  21. BAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

    AVATAR DIDN’T WIN

    BAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

    Average movie with excellent special effects. Hurt Locker AT THE VERY LEAST beats Avatar.

  22. American won’t promote and award a movie that remind them and inform the world of American’s shameful past of genociding and robbing the Red Indians of there land.

    The only “White men’s burden…” I see is the burden of guilts.

  23. Oscars is mostly about politics and money. Winning an Oscar means $$$, so the investors behind good but unprofitable films make deal with the “judges” to push for these films.

    Storywise Avatar is pretty shitty, but it is certainly a lot more enjoyable in a dumb way. The whole Hurt Locker vs Avatar thing was just hype which the Oscar people made to get people to watch it. I was hoping that Precious would win the best picture just to piss everyone off. In the end it did win something but it wasn’t the highlight.

  24. “The Hurt Chinese” – hahahahhaha!!!

  25. The Chinese Avatar-crush is cute and all, but I would like to read about what Chinese netizens are saying about this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/7374701/Chinese-granny-buried-alive-by-property-developers.html.

    It seems like a story that would engage a lot of people, and it speaks of a very common problem/situation in modern China.

    • Lame thread hijack attempt?

      Or just providing yet another example of free market in action?

      • I don’t think it’s any of those two. I’m just being too lazy to write an email to the site contributors.

        This story made headlines all over the world (e.g. front page in Sweden), so it would be interesting to hear if there’s been a reaction to it over here. Seems to me it’s a pretty common phenomenon, but in this case taken to the extreme.

        The only thing less interesting than reading that Avatar is more popular than The Hurt Locker in China (it’s like stating that the majority prefers pop music to avant-garde jazz) is reading obnoxious waiguoren’s opinions about this fact.

  26. Are people in China so narrow minded to the point where films with intentions handed to you on a silver platter are considered good? I might be able to understand the cultural difference between American and Chinese and there might be some misunderstanding within the translation, but thats not an excuse to say The Hurt Locker is a bad film. I think a good film needs originality and a good in depth use of metaphor to portray its meaning. Therefore, I think The Hurt Locker wins hands down.

    BTW for those who still thinks Avatar deserves to win:
    http://cdn.fd.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/James-Camerons-Pocahontas.gif

    James Cameron pretty much ripped of Walt Disney Cartoon “Pocahontas” storyline. Read the above link and you’ll know what I mean.

    • More like Mr.Gurnsee is too narrow minded and stupid to believe anything on the internet. The cultural difference between America and China, is that Americans love to take the smallest sample of information from any shit source which would support their own pre-existing views, and then claim to know it all.

      Okay, so lots of Chinese are ignorant because their government censors them, but what’s the excuse of those in the “free” world making idiotic comments like this guy?

    • LOLZ is a sensible man/ women(although with less chance coz sensibility is not a feminine word). But I guess most of time people dont really think for themselves, but just take in whatever they are preached.
      I personally think there are much more discussable subjects than the meaningless (sorry I am just being honest) ones in this forum.
      Example:
      Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden

  27. To LOLZ,

    I am not American either, but mainstream movies does NOT equal to a good movie that will win Oscar. I dont believe America is great either. As a matter of fact, I think Americans are just as stupid as you said! I hope you realize the more defensive you are, the more my point is proven correct. Then again, arguing on the internet is just plain stupid. Therefore, I am just humbly replying to your impolite post about me.

    Thank you.

    • Why American people can defend America, German can defend Germany, it is all fine; but when I defend China, people call me [full of hate or whatever you point you are trying to make]. Why we can not be defensive???
      I was told many times not to argue with stupid people coz that only make myself look stupid, but what I am supposed to do then? Just agree with whatever **** they put on Chinese people?

  28. I’m with the Chinese on this one. The Academy is not at all in tune with America or viewers around the world. Avatar was 10x more popular with Americans than was Hurt Locker. Avatar was a work of art. I can’t understand what the Academy was thinking.

    I also don’t understand why there are so many people making idiotic, nationalistic comments here.

  29. Who cares about silly grammy award. Avatar has the highest sales of all movies in history. That fact alone overrides any other considerations. Those moron judges should just quit

  30. Avatar is the biggest money maker in terms of action film. To not win any award doesn’t mean people won’t buy the DVD or watch the film. Nobody really cares about awards, its just another fancy party for the rich and famous to get pissed drunk.

  31. i think the fact that Hurt Locker won is a legit thing. Avatar was technologically impressive but the story and the acting and most have already been done. Hurt Locker brings a fresh perspective to movie goers.

  32. Hurt locker was great. First, it kept you in suspense. Second, the plot had an interesting premise: some men may be addicted to the adrenaline of war. I loved this movie but no one else I know has seen it on the big screen. The effect was awesome. I don’t usually like Cameron’s movies, and I know enough about avatar to know I won’t see it. My dimwit friends like it, my friends who have a brain don’t.

  33. Canadian Director with the 2 highest grossing films of all time. SUCK IT BITCHES SUCK IT!!!!!! (adds fuel to fire)

  34. Sad to say the local Chinese are lagging far behind their US counterparts in many things. I cannot blame the local Chinese for lacking the knowledge on what constitute a good movie. “The Hurt Locker” clearly is a class above all in many ways and deserves winning the many awards.

    • No need for name calling, I agree that “Hurt Locker” was a great choice for winning at the ocsars. for the story line and original writing.

  35. who cares!!! what does “Chinese” have to do in any of these ….. people in other countries are not upset that the hurt locker won? Of course this blog have to add a “Chinese” in front of it, everything is a “China” thing

  36. The story and dialog of Avatar is not new to Americans and is somewhat played out.Avatar is a simplistic story line.Many children movies have similar stories.In fact many Americans were bored with the story but only liked the visuals.Most viewers were families because adults took their children to see the film.Most movies in U.S. are catering to World audiences and more Americans are turning to t.v. mini series and video games for entertainment.The movie industry is turning into a children industry because it gives kids something to do.American Adults like more Adult dialog in films,and entertainment.

  37. I think giving an Oscar to an open propaganda war film like Hurt Locker written by an embedded (euphemism for propaganda orientated) journalist Mark Boal is the final nail in the coffin for the credibility of the Oscars. The box office figures for this film say it all. It is a load of US hype propaganda that does not even deserve to be on a DVD shelf. Bigelow is a joke!

  38. IF you fucking poster can not say anything nice don’t say it at all.

  39. “hurt locker” won most of the awards because of the story line not because of contribution to better film making technology, and that is a totally different award and different night. “hurt locker” very intense story line, conveying the story of why we are there and why the enemies want us out of there. the longer we are in that nation the long the war is going to be happening and more bombing and unrest for the locals. the movie makes you think, unlike the amazing effects. we have seen too many movie like “avatar” the story line and plots all can be guessed, but it was fucking amazing watching the movie high. also james carman makes one movie in a life time, his movies are just well planned out.

  40. The storyline behind “Avatar” is too over-rated. Nothing original there. Like a book that is wrapped prettily but lacking substance and depth. It’s the 2010 of “Pocahontas” w/ 3D. wow.

    I never seen “the hurt locker” though but i suspect it actually affects the audience.. rather than just the oos and aahs from watching the technology..not the movie.

  41. What can I say? There aren’t a lot of us, but Bigelow’s do great things. Look it up on the internet ;)

  42. AVATAR & UP In the Air were my favorites(I loved Crazy Heart too). All of those four, I enjoyed watching, in Hurt Locker, I dozed off.

  43. yup, very well put indeed

  44. to pug,
    Some of Chinese dont read book often, i agree, after culture revolution we had a huge gap for the young generation authors…. the translated oversea books are also very limit. there is a long way to catch up for china.
    Backstreet Boys + avatar, it is the taste of young generation people in china or even in most countries, we all need time to grow up,
    also you may need to change your friends circle in china, find some sophisticated chinese friends, it may help you to see thing differently…
    peace & respect!

  45. Your comment suggests you are no more educated than those people.

  46. You, are a dumbass. If you want to be terse just type SB. See? SB. B-Real=韩国傻屄.

  47. I seriously think Avatar is a combination of Mononoke, Castle in the Sky and Nausicaa (Guess Cameron is also a big Mayazaki fan). The storyline and background is just so similar.
    If you dont believe that, should watch the films and you will see.

  48. “What the hell is a terse? Is that english?”

    Terse is indeed a word in English. Now go back to playing with your dollhouse, adults are trying to have a conversation here.

  49. Another POV. Remember the saying “believe half of what you see and none what you read”? If a citizen knows that majority of published works are BS / propaganda then I can understand the comment they made to PUG. If PUG was reading a book in another language then they probably assumed that all foreign books are just propaganda as well.

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