You'd expect AVATAR (the front runner in a class by itself), 2012, STAR TREK and DISTRICT 9 to be vying for the VFX Oscar. But CORALINE and A CHRISTMAS CAROL? Yet these are among the fabulous 15 selected as semifinalists by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Achievement in Visual Effects for the 82nd Academy Awards

Other pleasant surprises include WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, SHERLOCK HOLMES and WATCHMEN from Warner Bros.

The films are listed below in alphabetical order:
•    ANGELS & DEMONS
•    AVATAR
•    CORALINE
•    DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL
•    DISTRICT 9
•    G-FORCE
•    G.I. JOE: RISE OF COBRA
•    HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
•    SHERLOCK HOLMES
•    STAR TREK
•    TERMINATOR SALVATION
•    TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN
•    2012
•    WATCHMEN
•    WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

On Jan. 5, the members of the Academy’s Visual Effects branch executive committee, who selected the semifinalists, will narrow the list to seven.

All members of the Visual Effects Branch will be invited to view 15-minute excerpts from each of the seven shortlisted films at the annual Bakeoff on Jan. 21. Following the screenings, the members will vote to nominate three films for final Oscar consideration.

The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Feb. 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.