(Post edited with correct attribution.  I got so used to seeing McNary's by-line on breaking news this week that I gave him this one, too.  Oops!)

Variety's David S. Cohen has the scoop on the Visual Effects Society nominations, which were dominated by "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End."  The third installment in the trilogy took down six nods, while "Transformers" and "I Am Legend" weren't far behind with five.

"I Am Legend?"  Really?  For video game villains?

Anyway, those three vote hogs are each competing with "The Golden Compass" and "Spider-Man 3" in the Society's top award category, Best Visual Effects in a Visual Effects Driven Motion Picture.

Other nominations of interest included "Zodiac" finding room in the Best Supporting Visual Effects in a Motion Picture category.  Well deserved.  If you've ever investigated the work that went into recreating the era, you'd agree.  The film received one other nomination, for Best Created Environment in a Live Action Motion Picture (where "Sweeney Todd" surprisingly finds its only mention).

The biggest surprise might be the fact that AMPAS visual effects bake-off contender "300" managed only one nomination, for Best Single Visual Effect, while other bake-off contenders "The Bourne Ultimatum" and "Evan Almighty" turned up a goose egg.

Here are the full nominees.