This year's Academy Award nominations sparked the usual celebrations and controversies, which is half the fun. But if you're going to have a winning hand when arguing with friends about who should or shouldn't win, it helps to be informed. With that in mind, and taking a look at the Best Visual Effects category, we have assembled explanatory videos for each of the nominated films, to give you a better idea how they made that movie magic. Watch this, and marvel at the geniuses up for this prize...
Nominees: Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk and Neil Corbould
Nominees: Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and Eric Reynolds
Nominees: Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash and Dan Sudick
Nominees: Tim Alexander, Gary Brozenich, Edson Williams and John Frazier
Nominees: Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Ben Grossmann and Burt Dalton