10 Oscar winners the Academy wish they could take back
Would they ever admit it?
Best Visual Effects - 80th Academy Awards
Year: 2008
Nominees: "The Golden Compass," "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," "Transformers"
Who won: "The Golden Compass"
Who should have: "Transformers"
Why: One of the biggest upsets in Oscar history, the fine, but certainly not spectacular "Compass" won as the Academy clearly rejected Michael Bay's monster hit. There were two theories of why "Compass" took the prize. First, "Transformers" became that year's poster child for bloated summer blockbusters which paid little attention to story or performance (by the human cast members at least). Second, the older Academy membership were suckered by the cute images of digital polar bears over the B-movie giant robots battling each other (warning: "Pacific Rim" fans). Of course, the robots were an absolute Marvel created by ILM. Weeks later, even New Line executives were still shocked that "Compass" (which never made enough at the box office worldwide to justify a sequel) took the honor.
- Gregory Ellwood
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February 21, 2013 at 11:51PM EST Reply to CommentThe Golden Compass didn't make enough domestically to have the sequels made. It performed well internationally, and was a much better movie than Transformers or anything Michael Bay ever touched. He sucks.
edlover Michael Bay movies are very predictable. However, having said that, Golden Compass couldn't even get 1 sequel even though when it was made, it was done with having 2 sequels in mind & on the docket. Transformers is still putting out sequels. Just because u don't like Bay doesn't make Comass deserving of the Oscar. Most people have forgotten about the existence of Compass, while many others are waiting with great anticipation on the 4th installment of the Transformers franchise.
March 9, 2013 at 2:49PM ESTdonkeypunch Post a comment...
March 10, 2013 at 8:28PM ESTdonkeypunch Yeah and people still eat at McDonalds despite it not being food. they also believe faux news though its not fair or balanced. Ad they like like bay films even though they lack plot or acting
March 10, 2013 at 8:33PM ESTSean
February 26, 2013 at 8:40AM EST Reply to CommentLife is Beutiful is a masterpiece! It's hilarious, dramatic, sad, and one of those movies that stick with you! He may be a comedian but he created an amazing film! Director/writer/star of the film!
Golden Compass did suck, but transformers was waaaay worse.
Jared Agreed.
April 2, 2013 at 5:52PM ESTEtaoin Shrdlu
February 28, 2013 at 5:08PM EST Reply to CommentExactly who, in the "Academy", are you quoting? Looks more like personal opinion to me...
Killjoy How could anyone overlook that "Shakespeare In Love" won over "Saving Private Ryan" for best picture???? This was the greatest mistake ever made.
February 28, 2013 at 8:25PM ESTMedic729 Shakespeare In Love winning over Saving Private Ryan is by far the worst choice the academy ever made. A sleepy fictional love story winning over the greatest war movie ever made, that honored the greatest generation in the greatest battle of the greatest war is a complete travesty.
March 2, 2013 at 2:17AM ESTMario Thank you. My thoughts exactly! I was kinda with him/her on e.t being snubbed (just because its an instant classic) but the other stuff he/she chose is obvious personal preferences that got snubbed by proffesionals for a reason.
March 28, 2013 at 2:44PM ESTRobert
March 1, 2013 at 1:22AM EST Reply to CommentI think you forgot Three 6 Mafia
H
March 2, 2013 at 7:18PM EST Reply to CommentSaving Private Ryan not winning best picture was a travesty and I'm still not over the fact that The Dark Knight wasn't even NOMINATED!
Jane
March 2, 2013 at 9:22PM EST Reply to CommentA space odessey was ahead of its time. Stanley Kubrick will for ever be a name no one forgets.
Holla8283
March 3, 2013 at 12:04PM EST Reply to Comment1) the biggest embarrassment was dances with wolves over goodfellas and I'm shocked this wasn't at least top 3 mistakes
2) saving private Ryan not winning. Whoever wrote this has zero clue about movies
Shaving Ryan's privates!
March 3, 2013 at 5:13PM ESTShaving Ryan's privates!
March 3, 2013 at 5:13PM ESTPost a comment...
March 8, 2013 at 5:39PM ESTSteve Hernandez
March 7, 2013 at 11:21PM EST Reply to Comment1942? Really? A complaint about a movie that came out decades before most of the readers were born? I want the last 15 mins of my life back please.
It really took u 15 minutes to read that, how sad
March 17, 2013 at 9:34AM ESTAnts
March 10, 2013 at 3:09AM EST Reply to CommentWhat drives me nuts? Supposed movie sites,magazines,critics,movie buffs complain about everything that has to do with movies! Ive been watching movies since I've been 2yrs old & luv everything about the process, respect the people involved in making them! Let's celebrate instead of nit pick? Critics like people have opinions which are fine but just that , opinions! It's like saying just because I luv the color blue & not fond of green people must wear blue & not green? Oh its because I'm an expert on color that's why?
DangerDas
March 13, 2013 at 10:22PM EST Reply to CommentHmmmmmmm...what have we learned? Good is good no matter who won what. The academy sucks, so who cares how they vote? It's just entertainment.
Scott
March 24, 2013 at 1:10PM EST Reply to CommentYou forgot about The Artist. I think a lot of academy members thought they could seem smart and artsy voting for a silent, black and white movie that really wasn't any good.
Also Jennifer Hudson and Anne Hathaway. You don't win the most prestigious acting award for singing one song well.
Jared I guess you're wrong, it seems.
April 2, 2013 at 5:56PM ESTTosh er
March 29, 2013 at 2:54PM EST Reply to CommentGandhi is my favorite movie of all-time. I don't know what you're talking about. To give the Oscar to et or tootsie over a legendary film like Gandhi would have been a travesty. Never heard anyone complain about Gandhi getting that Oscar.
Chazz
March 31, 2013 at 1:51AM EST Reply to CommentMcdonalds not food? 6 billion cant be wrong ya twatlet. I lay down the gauntlet and defy u2 make a better fry u pompous blowhard film phuck. Double cheeseburgers and mcrib. Two culinary masterpieces worthy of bacchus and dionysis no doubt ya merlot swilling frou frou fuckbag.
Waldo Could you repeat that... Except in English?
April 8, 2013 at 8:42PM ESTTom
April 3, 2013 at 4:44PM EST Reply to CommentAgreed on Private Ryan. What about Duke Wayne for "True Grit" over Dustin Hoffman in "Midnight Cowboy"? Yikes! That was the moment when, as a kid, I realized the Oscar Awards are more about Hollywood politics than excellence. And thats fine--self congratulatory strokes as entertainment. I still watch!