The nominations for the 82nd annual Academy Awards are out and there are a few surprises, but perhaps none more surprising than the nod for Animated Feature Film that went to The Secret of Kells, an Irish/Belgian/French co-production that will not see wide release in the states until March.

The film tells the story of 12-year-old Brendan "who must fight Vikings and a serpent god to find a crystal and complete the legendary Book of Kells". Those few bibliographical nerds in attendance will know that the Book of Kells is a famous Irish illuminated manuscript of the four gospels, arguably the most famous illuminated manuscript in the world. In short it is really, really pretty.

The buzz on the film is good (OBVIOUSLY), and the like the Book of Kells the imagery is gorgeous. So much so that we are in the odd position of wanting to see a film that has been nominated for an Oscar that we have to wait over a month to see.

[Tip of the hat to Movieline, wag of the finger to The Academy for that The Blind Side nomination. Really?]