UNDERRATED/OVERRATED

‘The Hurt Locker’ cameos: We won’t spoil who shows up in Kathryn Bigelow’s war zone, but we appreciated each familiar face, not only for the performances but also their occasionally cruel brevity. It reminded us that amid fear and chaos people we care about can disappear in a flash, often by violent means.

The ambiguity of ‘A Serious Man’: The Coen brothers’ return to the best picture field may not have the cachet of Javier Bardem’s boogeyman, but in ways this film’s quiet open-endedness makes it more watchable. How does that dybbuk opening tie in? What happens after that final shot? And don’t you want somebody to love?

‘Avatar’s’ depth: James Cameron and his magical elves seriously changed the game with the 3-D effects of “Avatar” and its CG fairyland. But let’s remember that apart from its jaw-dropping looks, ‘Avatar’ wasn’t exactly the greatest (or newest) story ever told. To all you Oscar voters wowed by spectacle: “We see you.”

The expanded best picture field: We’re proud that “District 9,” “An Education” and “Up” got to slap a new blurb onto their posters and DVD packages this year, but let’s not kid ourselves: Anyone who thinks more than five movies have a shot at winning this category deserves a special statue of their own.