Wow, I really wouldn't know which to pick. Putting my preference aside, I think The Dark Knight has the best chance at making it based on the same reasoning you presented.

Dark Knight should beat out Wall-E. Wall-E's a wonderful 2/3 of a story, unfortunately it falls apart in the third act. The actions becomes thoughtless and the writing, preachy. Worst of all, the animation degrades into Pixar pre-Incredibles quality. Which, oddly enough, is the exact same way I feel about I Am Legend.
Dark Knight, on the other hand, is quality film making. For me, it gets better with each subsequent viewing. Also, I think it's worth noting that Dark Knight will, probably, be remembered as the movie that changed how the industry utilizes IMAX. Similar to how Beauty and the Beast altered views on the use of CGI.

I get the irony that I'm preaching Dark Knight while complaining about Wall-E's blunt force message. But hey, this is a post to a comment section and not a movie people paid to see.

While I personally find Wall-E overrated, it is a good movie and seems to be getting stronger in the race. However, I do think that the Academy will probably see it as a movie that will already win Best Animated Feature, and leave it at that. Last year, wasn't Ratatouille the best reviewed film of 2007? I thought that was a better film than Wall-E by about a mile and a half. It also won a slew of awards and made a lot of top 10 lists, a lot of them placing it in the top 5 of the year like Wall-E has been. Still, Ratatouille didn't get a Best Picture nomination, so I can't see Wall-E being any more special. So overall, I think The Dark Knight will end up in the final five. I have a pretty good feeling that's what will happen.

Honestly, I would prefer seeing both WALL-E and The Dark Knight end up with a Best Picture nomination (surprise! Six nominees!). I don't think I could choose between the two movies. I enjoyed them both very much and think that both have their merits as well as their faults.

I realize that by posting this, I'm just being wishy-washy and not contributing much of anything by way of a solid opinion, but oh well.

Look, I loved WALL-E as much as anyone else. I thought it was a phenominal film. But I think Dark Knight has a better chance at getting the nomination. It is filled with great performances, it's a great looking film with a great score. Plus, you can't overlook the unfortunate "Ledger" factor.

But in my honest opinion, I liked Dark Knight more than WALL-E. That said, I have been a Batman fan my whole life. But still, it's hard not to see it as a tragic masterpiece.

But WALL-E is sure to win "Best Animated Feature," though. That is without question.

Is Slumdog Millionaire an American film? I didn't think it was. Therefore, by Douglas' logic, it shouldn't be nominated for Best Picture, because there's a category for foreign films. Notice how no one's pressing that point.

I think that both films had their weaknesses, but on the whole I'd say that Dark Knight was stronger, while WALL-E was more innovative. On the whole, I'd prefer to see WALL-E up there, but especially given the re-release of Dark Knight in January to put it back in everyone's mind, I'd say that's where the votes are going to go.

Personally I think The Dark Knight will win the battle, simply because the academy is famous because of their discrimination to animated films. Also I think that Wall – E is a little bit overated, I loved the movie but it wasn't that much of a movie as the critics says.

Austin and Utah Critics gave The Dark Knight the Best Picture Award, so it has two at least. Sure, it's only Austin and Utah, while Wall*E has LA and Chicago and one more. But TDK is in just as many Top 10's. It's a shame that both can't be nominated and Frost/Nixon gets the boot, since I don't think that one belongs in best picture.

Oh and TDK won with African American Critics.

I prefer Dark Knight over Wall-E. I'm not into annoying happy-to-lucky Disney stuff. I'm mostly a fan of serious action adventure comic book movies and the intensity and the performances in Dark Knight beats some flick about a boring robot doing "self-discovery" type stuff. I'm not into that.

The Dark Knight is THE best picture of 2008. Hands down. And I'm not really a Pixar fan anyways (more Dreamworks, actually). I think Chris Nolan, Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger is going all the way. Batman and The Joker RULES!

@aerinpegadrak: Very nice! Didn't even think of that, just another example of how flawed his logic on this one is.

@William: Hmmmm, missed Austin and just added Utah. Didn't see the African American Critic list… gonna have to search it out. Thanks!

As many other people have said, I love both films, they are both masterful pieces of work that evoke emotion and are at the top of their individual genres. That being said… The Dark Knight is the better film, by far.

I truly love Wall-E (and Burn-E as well) but The Dark Knight defined the year for me.

Any other film would have buckled under the pressure forced upon it and yet it exceeded those expectations by leaps and bounds, with a cast that was phenomenal in every single aspect. The cast should win best ensemble, how many movies do you see 6-8 huge names that all fit their character perfectly without seeming out of place. While Ledgers performance was nothing short of legendary, the movie would have crumbled without the amazing talent turned in by the rest of the cast, specifically, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart and Gary Oldman. Caine's speech that ends with "some men just want to watch the world burn" would have sounded foolish from anyone else and instead left the viewer with an immense feeling of dread.

Unfortunately, animated films are not the only film type prejudiced against. Films whose origins lie in comic books and graphic novels are felt to be sub-par in comparison to those whose origins lie elsewhere.

Both The Dark Knight and Wall-E should be nominees for best picture, and TDK should walk away with the statue, hands down, no questions asked. I love the works of both David Fincher (who should've won twice already for Fight Club and Seven) and Danny Boyle, but TDK is the best movie in years and deserves the associated title of best film of the year.

Even though I have the obvious bias for TDK, it really is looking like Wall*E will sneak in and steal its thunder. Plus, the show will be airing on Disney's ABC. Finally, I can truly see the fifth slot coming down to these two blockbuster films, and the Academy voters thinking that Wall*E is the safer bet; or at least higher in most of the voters lists. What a travesty if TDK doesn't get in; but if Ledger still wins, then I guess it would even it out….a little.

I believe that The Dark Knight will get the nomination. Wall-E was a great movie and also deserves a spot in the Top5 as well. However, the animation v/s real logic will come into consideration and for that reason Wall-E would surely lose out.
But the reason why i choose TDK is because i have this strong feeling that it wont just be a "good on yah" nom. Instead i think this year again the academy would go the LOTR:Return of the King way, and TDK might actually end up winning a lot(incl. Best Picture and Director)

I'm going to agree completely with what John Lasseter, president of Pixar Animation Studios, said earlier this year when asked about animated films vying for Best Picture.

"That's the reason we're doing a best picture campaign. I think it's a great movie. Look, they nominated 'Life Is Beautiful' for best picture and best foreign film, why not do the same for a deserving animated film? The studio has always believed in 'WALL-E' and with the enormous public reaction to the movie we feel it deserves this recognition."

A movie is a movie, people. And while I think 'The Dark Knight' was an amazing movie, I think 'WALL-E' was better. In my opinion, it deserves that fifth slot.

I think Wall-E is the one who should get picked because its something special. The old Batman story still works but i´m not quite sure if the movie deserves such big hornor.

Ack. Both of these movies DESERVE Best in their categories (I mean, really, they are THE movies this year!) but if there's only one spot, who knows? Here's what I think: Putting up 4 "artsy" (read: non-mainstream) films and one audience fave is an okay way to bring the Oscars some life, but the REAL way to bring up the Award's sagging TV ratings is to put both audience favorites up for the honor. I mean, records will be broken (second and last-to-date animated film nominated for Best Picture, first CGI film nominated for best picture, possibly first comic book-based film nominated for Best Picture) and people will watch just to see who wins! But, I think that if it comes to one spot, the AA's will fall back to tradition and pick TDK. I really wish they would nominate 6 films, but that is unlikely. :(

…Oh, and @Dangerman_1973 : Really, Dreamworks? …I pity you.
*waits for the hate mail*

As much as I loved TDK, I want Wall-E to get that 5th spot. In a perfect world, both would be nominated but that's not gonna happen. Wall-E would've been a shoo-in if not for the animated category, but even with that, the Academy will once again prove their ignorance and deny Wall-E a spot at the big table because in their minds, IT IS A CARTOON! We will never see another animated film that will come this damn close to a nomination.

Wall-E left a lasting impression on me, more so than other films I've seen this year (and past years), Slumdog, Milk, and yes, even TDK. I loved those films too, but Wall-E was the RISKIEST film of the year considering that it is not the kind of content we expect to see in animated films. On paper, a Sci-Fi silent CG animated love story about 2 robots set on post apocalyptic earth ravaged by consumerism ran amock is not supposed to work. The fact that it worked magnificently is a gargantuan accomplishment. You may have liked other Pixar films more, but Wall-E is their crowning achievement.

I left seeing Wall-E last summer with the widest smile and the warmest feeling of all films I've seen in recent memory.

I'm calling it here right now. TDK will not get that nomination but Wall-E will. Look at the awards that are being handed out right now. Wall-E is in the top 10 of EVERYTHING, same as TDK, however, Look at the top prizes it has received, LA, boston, Chicago. The fact that TDK did NOT get a best ensemble nomination (their equivalent of best picture) at the SAG's is a bad omen, considering actors are the largest voting block in the academy. I loved both films, but setting aside my fanboyism and taking an objective look at this, I would give the nod to Wall-E if it was my decision.

These are the Oscar Nominees, I'm calling it.
(the nominees are announce alphabetically, so if you don't hear TDK called after Benjamin Button, start flaming TDK fans)

The curious case of Benjamin Button
Doubt
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E

Dreamworks films are fun but they do not belong in the same ring with Pixar.

Dreamworks is Oscar Dela Hoya (pretty films that the masses love), but Pixar is Manny Pacquiao ( they may not be pretty, they pack a hell of a lot more substance and wallop).

@Kevin: Uh, you might want to reconsider Doubt. I mean, if you're trying to play it safe and precise, should you really be going with Doubt? Even with it's SAG nomination for Best Ensemble (we all saw it coming), it hasn't picked up any buzz except for Amy Adams and the usual three. Did I mention the lukewarm reviews? Frost/Nixon is the real lock here. After getting Best Picture and Best Director nods from the Golden Globes, along with Best Ensemble at the SAGs and 90% critical praise on RottenTomatoes, I'd say it isn't going anywhere. I'd also be skeptical about calling WALL-E a lock at this point. Revolutionary Road and The Dark Knight are fighting for that fifth spot as well, and I suspect one of those two to make it over WALL-E.

I stand by my predictions. Well all see once the nominations are announced

If wall-e does not get a nod for best pic, then that will be up there along with Oscar's worst calls, ie..Shakespeare in love over Saving Private Ryan, Spacey winning best actor for American Beauty, and so on.

A film is a film. Just because it's animated shouldn't automatically DQ it for best picture. Sadly, I believe there are still that prevailing thought among many members of AMPAS. If it merits a best picture nom-which I strongly believe it does-it should get a nom. That disgustingly cute and adorable robot film puts to shame many live action films in recent memory, with real LIVE actors who can't act and convey emotion even if their lives depended on it.

@Ryan: Kevin Spacey totally deserved the Oscar for American Beauty. Just saying.

And while Shakespeare in Love should not have won over Saving Private Ryan, it was still one of the best films of 1998.

It'll be:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E (if Academy members can see it as FILM period, not an "animated" film)

Also, I can't believe that the majority of the Academy is purposely omitting WALL-E just because it's an animated film. I mean, if the voters really thought it deserved a Best Picture spot, they'd give it one. Foreign Films make the cut even though they have their own category. Beauty and the Beast made the cut in 1991. I like to think that voters do consider WALL-E the masterpiece that we all think it is, but perhaps there were just other movies that year that they liked better. We can't fault them for that, nor can we accuse them of bias against animation without having anything real to back it up. If WALL-E doesn't make the cut, it was probably a close 6th or 7th.

Wall-E will be nominated in:

1.Animated film (Win: no contest)
2.Best Song (Win: peter gabriel)
3.Score
4.Sound
5.Sound-Editing
(If there's any justice, it would win a couple of these score/sound awards since with the abscence of dialogue, the sound and score took on an even greater role in it's shoulders than on most films)
6.Original Screenplay
potentially, 7.Best Picture (Shawn's post above emphatically hit the nail right on the head)

Unfortunately and Unfairly to some extent, it won't get recognized for Visual FX and Cinematography. I don't see why it shouldn't contend for Visual FX, I mean, TDK, Iron Man, IndyIV and the rest are all done via CG as well through Green/Bluescreen work.

Nice to see a couple of uplifting films making a run this year, unlike last year when all is dark, gloomy, depressing, and stuff. Slumdog Millionaire and Wall-E are my faves. I'll celebrate like hell if Wall-E crosses over and gets a seat in the big table with the big boys.

I guess if the academy doesn't nominate Wall-E for best picture, they'll secretly hand it an IOU and tell them they'll make up for it in a couple of years when they release another film that is good but does not quite measure up to Wall-E. It's sad because another animated film will benefit from the road Wall-E paved this year.

@Shawn: I dunno about the song part you've got there. From the looks of things, I think Bruce Springsteen will probably win for The Wrestler. I do love Peter Gabriel and it is a good song, though.

@Roger: Pardon my naivety, Roger, but you make it sound as if animated films have some sort of wall to brake down when it comes to the Oscars. An animated film was already nominated for Best Picture in 1991. Even more surprising, a few Pixar films have even managed to get nominations for their writing. WALL-E wouldn't be the first in it's class to do these things, and while I consider it one of my favorite films of 2008, I personally find it nowhere near the level of Beauty and the Beast.

Roger is right, Should Wall-E barely miss out on a best picture nomination, They will make amends to Pixar by nominating a future work of theirs even if it doesn't actually match the depth, audacity, and overall quality of Wall-E. Maybe, Toy Story 3?

The Oscars will hit a 50 nielsen if both Wall-E and TDK garner a best pic nod-which I'm vehemently rooting for.

That's ridiculous that some voters are actually leaving Wall-e completely off their ballots just because it's animated. I guess it shouldn't be a surprise in today's world, there were Heisman trophy voters that actually left Tim Tebow completely off their ballots (sorry for sticking that college football thing, G8r alumni here hehe)

@Garrett:

I did't explain myself right on that post. Tyler put what I really meant into words much better than I did. I am aware that Beauty and the Beast already tore down that wall, and that Ratatouille and Nemo did garner screenplay nods. What I meant to say in that post was should Wall-E miss out, The academy will probably make amends (which they have been accused of doing over the years) to Pixar by nominating a future film of theirs for best picture. Like that one guy said, maybe Toy Story 3 which I believe is due up 2010, or Newt which comes the year before that or after I'm not sure.

@Roger: Ah, this I agree with you on.

I just want to say quickly that I'm sick of the massive amounts of Dark Knight fanboys saying it should get a nom for best picture. THIS MOVIE HAS SIGNIFICANT FLAWS, flaws that are over looked because 1) Heath Ledger kicks so much ass as the joker 2)Its an incredibly epic batman movie and 3) because it was so well received all over the place, not just by critics but by the public as well. Wall-E is flawless, giving homage to classic cinema while creating a completely original story that trumps the dark knight. Plus, The Dark Knight is a PG13 movie which aspires to be rated R, but then none of the little kiddies would be able to see it and It wouldn't be making a billion dollars.

@tim:
you're sick of dark knight fanboys, and then turn around and call wall-e "flawless?" man, arguing on the internet is easy! it's okay to have different opinions, because at the end of the day that's all any argument about a movie is: a subjective opinion about what you liked or didn't like in a film. you apparently thought wall-e was flawless; i happen to think it's the most overrated film of the year (more than TDK) and while i appreciate the risks pixar took in making it, i don't give brownie points for intentions. wall-e was one of the most boring films i've seen all year (however, the day the earth stood still holds that honor with ease). but that's just my opinion. the facts are that critics loved both movies, and apparently audiences loved TDK just a little bit more. trying to assert anything else as fact (like wall-e's story trumping TDK's) is purely opinion, friendo.

I would love for Wall-E to get a best pic nomination. I can see why some would be "bored" with it, because the film is not your usual animated film wherein you have cute animals bouncing off the wall screaming out joke after joke and whacking others jackie chan style and stuff. I've seen kids and adults riveted and engrossed watching Wall-E and some that were "bored". If you want your animation to be the typical fare without any attempt to "rock the boat", you will not get Wall-E. Pixar aimed high and succeeded on a film whose premise if you read on paper, is not supposed to work.

The fact that Wall-E is in the game this late against the "anointed" best picture contenders is a tremendous triumph in itself. It's resume as we speak is superb, top 10 on every major group (AFI, Broadcast Film Critics…), it has swept every animated award, and actually won best picture with a couple of critics groups in major cities which I don't think has ever happened before (LA, Chi, Boston). This film is actually picking up steam and momentum at this point which I didn't expect, given the stigma of animated films being dismissed by many as not belonging in the same ring as live action films.

Should Wall-E miss out on a best picture nomination, I'm confident it will do so by the slimmest of margins. With this, Like a couple of posts above already stated, AMPAS will pay back Pixar and nominate a future Pixar film for best picture-even if pales a little bit to Wall-E's excellence. Pixar will get one of their films nominated for best picture, it's ony a question of when. They have as good a shot as any this year as only 3 spots are guaranteed right now from my point of view (Button, Milk, Slumdog). The other 2 are up for grabs with a handful of films-including Wall-E-with very very strong cases for a nomination.

I adored Wall-E, this is as close as any animated film is getting to a best picture nomination in recent memory and I hope it pulls if off. It helps that it is being recognized by critics and other film bodies. Here's hoping I wake up that morning with the headline across TV and the net, "for only the 2nd time in Oscar History, an animated movie lands a best picture nom"

You guys can take this to the bank. Wall-E will be a presenter at the Oscars, and Buzz and Woody will come out and introduce Wall-E as a best picture nominee. Wall-E was awesome, got me around to finally buy a blu-ray player

While finding Nemo is still my favorite, Wall-E is Pixars best work. I hope it does land a nomination, the film from top to bottom makes as emphatic an argument as any film vying for awards.

@Marvin: I think you just hit the nail on the head as to why animated films should not be relegated to their own category. Very nice.

Given that WALL-E will obviously get the animation nomination — and win that category — of the two listed, Dark Knight has the best chance of getting a best picture nomination. But since I'm still cynical enough (about how things really work in Hollywood — and since I think Jackson's win for Best Picture was a fluke, earned by incredible achievment of filming three Tolkien movies back-tobacktoback) I still think TDK wont be on the list of best picture nominees. That's me: Steadfastly downbeat.

I call baloney on the "spreading the love" argument as to why WALL-E should be relegated to the Animated Feature category. "Spreading the love" didn't stop the academy from letting two films (genre blockbusters, nonetheless) sweep 11 oscars within a span of 6 years. Personally, I say that both WALL-E and The Dark Knight have legit chances of making it to the BP nods list, with Frost/Nixon falling out of contention. That film has not been receiving much percursor love, with the two very big exceptions, of course, being the Globes and SAG. On the preferential ballot, though, I simply don't think it'll get as many #1's as WALL-E or TDK.

I seem to recall an interesting piece in Entertainment Weekly chalking up the Shakespeare in Love win over Saving Private Ryan to the increasing number of Academy voters who view the films as DVD screeners rather than in theatres. They argued that Shakespeare in Love, as an intimate character piece, played better on the smaller screen, while part of Saving Private Ryan's brilliance was in its scale, which was lost in translation. I thought it was a very interesting point.

Personally, I'm just glad that there are two summer movies in serious contention. Some years it seems like Academy voters don't set foot in a theatre until October, and the backloading of the other big contenders this year, even more pronounced than in years past, makes it difficult for an average moviegoer to see them all, even living in LA.

I hope WALL-E ends up on the Best Picture Nod. If it doesn't, I will not watch the oscars. Unlike Ratatouille and the Incredibles, WALL-E had a wonderful allegorial story.

If you complained that WALL-E was preachy, that shows how ignorant you are. Good movies are also here to give lessons out, not just to entertain. We can't expect entertainment all the time. WALL-E shows reality. To not accept the movie's message, is not accepting reality. To not accept reality means that you cannot accept reality.

WALL-E costed 180,000,000 to make, just as much as the Dark Knight. So many people worked so hard on it. Ben Burtt did amazing voice design, Stanton wrote his most daring script, the computer graphics were realistic (with the exception of the human characters), Newman did a beautiful themed score (WHY DID HE NOT GET A NOD FOR BEST MUSIC AT THE ANNIES?!), etc.,etc.

WALL-E is not one of the bloated romance films like the great, but overrated Titanic. Titanic did nothing but circled around Jack and Rose romance. There were many things going on beside WALL-E's and EVE's romance- There was a lethargic society, a polluted Earth, and machines discovering life. And WALL-E romance with EVE affected humanity.

WALL-E is certainly better than Kung Fu Panda. Kung Fu Panda only took 130 million to make. Kung Fu Panda is certainly funnier, but comedy is not enough to define a good movie. Kung Fu Panda had a excellent storyline, but it is what it is, it was only meant to make children laugh and enjoy it. Kung Fu Panda is not of the universal. Young children will love the cuteness of WALL-E, and teens and adults will love the allegorical story.

Dreamworks may be funnier, but Pixar succeeds in mixed comedy with out-of-this world storylines. Storylines matter more than comedy.

If you think comedy defines how good a movie is, you are one of those inconsiderate people who give no damn toward the hard effort.

What use is an Annie Award to WALL-E? WALL-E is no animated movie, it's a romance made by animation. Saying that WALL-E is an animated movie is discriminating.

If WALL-E doesn't show up on the Best Picture category, I will never watch the Oscars again. Mark my words.

I will also boycott the Oscars if the Dark Knight doesn't show up in the Best Picture nomination. Like WALL-E it has an allegorial story.

To bring myself back down to earth for once (I can be very unreasonable when it comes to films). I think that both Wall E and The Dark Knight are great movies. Personally I feel that the Dark Knight had more flaws than Wall E did. Even though I think Wall E is the better movie overall, I also think that neither of these films deserve Oscar nominations. Wall E has a great dystopian plot line, I fall for any movie that takes place AFTER the world has ended. The Dark Knight has more effort put into it on a physical level, the movie has some excellent camera work, Character designs are great, and there are a couple of big action sequences. But what about all the other contenders out there? There are plenty of other Oscar worthy movies that are out or coming out right now. I feel this argument is a bit biased towards what I believe is one great movie (Wall E) and one good movie (The Dark Knight). The boat ending should've been saved for the dvd, a 2 and a half hour batman movie is too much to take in.

I'm as big a TDK fan there is, but im not one of those rabid fanboys who wear their TDK tinted glasses 24/7. Wall-E is every bit as deserving of a best pic nomination as TDK, it's a magnificent film.

Why do I get the feeling that had Wall-E been a live action film, it would be a no question shoo-in for a best picture nomination. The fact that it's animated should not be held against it. If voters believe in their hearts that Revolutionary Road, Doubt, or The Wrestler etc. is more worthy of that 5th slot, then by all means they should vote them in. However, if they are going to give any of those films that 5th slot just to deny Wall-E that spot, then that is messed up. Those voters need their skulls introduced to a pencil via the "disappearing pencil trick".

Wall-E is far from boring. It's only boring if you're one of those typical present day video game generation lazy moviegoer, you know, the one who wants all flash and all kaboom in their movies. The type of moviegoer that just sits there with their mouths wide open expecting to be spoonfed will definitely be lost in Wall-E.

Wall-E was awesome. It ran the gamut of emotions which I never expected and it succeeded in emphatically driving those emotions home to an engaged viewer, which is a tremendous accomplishment given the fact that there was no Dialogue. It was a simple love story told in the most complex way that puts to shame many live action love stories I've seen.

Wall-E for best picture, I'll drink to that! It and Slumdog are my top movies of the year.

My predictions for the 5 Picture nominees (in no particular order):

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Slumdog Millionaire
Milk
Doubt
The Dark Knight

I'm sorry, I don't see "Frost/Nixon" on the list. Nor "Revolutionary Road" (though I'm eager to watch the latter). However, "The Wrestler" may take "Doubt's" spot. And "Wall-E" just might possibly slip on (in which case it'd knock out either Milk or Benjamin). But I'm predicting it'll grab the Animated Oscar with a unanimous vote ("unanimous" here meaning 90% or more). And it'll get sound, music, and writing nominations as well.

If Wall-E doesn't get a nomination for best picture then starting 2010 they should change that award to "Best LIVE ACTION picture" instead of simply calling it Best Picture

If Wall-E misses out this year (which is a travesty imho), I can see what will happen 3 years from now. Toy Story 3 will be nominated for best picture, it will be the Academy saying "ok, we messed up, sorry for the Wall-E snub, hope this makes up for it"

I loved Wall-E and at first I thought it's chances for an academy nomination is remote, but now I'm actually thinking it's really really close. The only impediment in my view, is the bias of many voters considering it's an animated film. I'm rooting for that little robot, I mean, it's resume is impressive as we speak. It has won every single animation award, top10 in AFI, Critics Choice, and other film organizations, and it actually won best picture from 3 major critics group in major cities. It would've landed a Globes nomination for best pic comedy/musical if not for their ridiculous rule prohibiting it from competing in other categories ever since they added the animated film category. It's picking up momentum which I hope carries it to a spot at the best picture table

I will be mad as hell if Wall-E is left off from the best picture nominees. And no, the Animated oscar is not enough to placate me. Wall-E winning Song, Score, and a couple of Sound awards would be good, but that too will not be enough to quell my anger.

wouldn't it be funny if Wall-E misses out on Best picture but Andrew Stanton gets a directing nod? It's high time animated film directors get recognized, I could only imagine that their work is equally as hard as those directing live action films.

I desperately want to see Wall-E (and TDK ) to get a best picture nomination. Button, Slumdog, and Milk and then followed by those two films. The Oscar ratings will shoot through the moon from the deep bowels where it is right now as a result of last years Oscars. I've read various sources with I'm guessing varying degrees of credibility, and they all say that Wall-E does have passionate support from members of the academy (even those older ones). Whether that passion is strong that they could find it in them to put it in the Best picture table remains to be seen. It will be sad if it was left in the crib named animated films.

"The Dark Knight" was every bit as dark, edgy, disturbing and provocotive as "The Darparted" was. If not more. Simply because it's Batman it's somehow different? Not anymore. The Departed could have been a "comic" book movie as well if someone had written a comic first. I see no difference.

Still … I believe Wall-E is better as far as the craft of filmaking goes. But here is the problem. How can a picture be best picture if it is not the sum of the other catagories as well? I'm talking acting and directing. A large amount of technical awards means little compared to the major catagories that are directly part of the "story telling" part. Thats why STAR WARS or Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs are not on the list of best pictures.

A movie can't really be "best" unless its also the best in a majority of other catagories. This is what proves it is "best". This is why I feel that TDK may win over Wall-E if they go head to head. I do believe that part of the Oscars is show business and ratings oriented, so I do believe that one of these two does actually have good shot of winning it. I hope one of them does. Hollywood's ultimate goal is to make the average american want to go to the movies and pay that $10.50 a ticket. Thats how they get paid.

@Rob: And one other thing … Fellowship was better than Return of the King in every way but the big CGI way. The academy does reward patterns sometimes when they get the chance too. If PIXAR is not demonstrating a patern of near perfection in filmmaking… I don't know who is. Maybe they should create a catagory for "Production Company of the decade" award or something. Wall-E is like best picture of the last 20 best pictures. Dark Knight? The last 10 or so.

Wall-E was the best film of the year imho. Best picture is Best picture, they should not dismiss Wall-E because it's animated. That film is far better than many many films released not just this year, but in past years. I actually cared about the characters which suffice to say I don't normally do in many of the films I see.

Wall-E deserves a best pic nomination. I'm happy that it's actually making waves and earning best picture wins in several critics groups from major cities. An animated Oscar-which is pretty much a given-along with a couple of technical awards is nice, but will not quite do this film justice that a best picture nomination will. Pixar is deviating from the typical animated fare, mainstream audiences have come to expect. While I do enjoy the flashy and more "kiddie friendly" animation from other studios, I salute Pixar for actually giving audiences credit that we are capable of animation with complexity and depth that is only reserved for live action fare.

If Pixar works with other studios rather than be Disney's… and worked on more serious adult-oriented fare like Japanese Anime rather than the same old family-friendly fare, they would be much better a company.

I'm hoping Wall-E does break into the best picture category. It was a splendid film.

@Shawn: Agreed.

I was hoping for Iron Man.

If TDK gets a best pic nomination, I'll down a 6-pack to that. However, if Wall-E gets one, the cork is coming off this 20year old scotch in rapturous celebration.