WETA: Best of the Decade?

There seems to me to be a lot of debate over exactly what was the premium example of the 2000's decade. What defines it, exemplifies it, and in many respects owns it. After much personal debate I've decided one what I deem to be the only possible choice: WETA Workshop. Prior to the 2000's WETA was an unknown effects shop that only done 3 feature films, and one made for TV movie. Throughout the decade WETA would define, and redefine, the use, and creation of visual effects in a way few of us will ever truly be able to explain.

Kicking off the decade WETA handled the monster effort that was Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Raking up award after award, WETA's work would be at the forefront of the modern effects move. From Lord of the Rings WETA went on to work on the visual treat that is Jackson's King Kong, X-Men: The Last Stand, I Robot, Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, 30 Days of Night, and District 9.

They obviously had their bad films as well: Eragon, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Jumper, but it was never the effects that were bad, so I don't blame WETA. Of course it could be the last film they did for the aughts that will in all likelihood turn out to be their defining moment. Not only did they have to create a world, they had to create an entire new way of watching movies. Extremely realistic effects, straight to the bone humanism, and capturing of world beauty WETA rounded out the decade with none other than James Cameron's Avatar.

It's hard to imagine the influence WETA's work from this past decade will have on the future of cinema. They're movies while massive and expensive, may very well be building blocks upon which all future visual effects styles are created from. Sure they may not be the best choice, but if you asked me what company best defined their decade, and will most likely influence many more, I'm going with WETA Workshop every day of the week.


So, what do you think? What do you think best exemplifies the 2000s?