Let's Be Honest The Oscars Hate Star Wars

The truth is, no Star Wars movie has won an Academy Award since 1981!

From The LA Times

Mark Hamill, Kelly Marie Tran, Oscar Isaac and BB-8 took the stage at the 2018 Oscars to present the awards for animated short and animated feature.

But their film, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” ended the night winless, extending the franchise’s Oscars drought.

It’s been 40 years since George Lucas and his galactic fairy tale made their debut at the Academy Awards, and “Star Wars” has made itself at home in the years since.

But while the franchise has racked up a respectable 33 nominations, spread over nine films (including 2016’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”), the series hasn’t brought an Oscar home since 1981.

The galaxy far, far away had by far its most successful showing at the 1978 ceremony, where “Star Wars: A New Hope” won six categories, including film editing, score and visual effects.

(Fun fact: George Lucas has never won an Oscar for the “Star Wars” franchise. His ex-wife, Marcia Lucas, has won an Oscar for the films, thanks for her part in editing the original film.)

“A New Hope” garnered the most nominations among “Star Wars” films at the Oscars, with 10 nominations. At the 1981 awards, heat for the series was already fading, with “The Empire Strikes Back” earning three nominations but only one win.

“Empire’s” win for best sound is the last Oscar the franchise has earned, special achievement awards notwithstanding.

But Oscar nominations continue to roll in for the “Star Wars” universe. Here’s a look at how nominations break down by picture.

“Star Wars: A New Hope” — 6 wins, 10 nominations

“Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” – 1 win, 3 nominations

“Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” – 4 nominations

“Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” — 3 nominations

“Star Wars: Attack of the Clones” — 1 nomination

“Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith” — 1 nomination

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” — 5 nominations

“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” — 2 nominations

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” — 4 nominations

We’ll see how the next “Star Wars” film fares next year.

Source

5 Sci-Fi Movies That Deserved to Win Best Picture

From Popular Mechanics

Barring some unforeseen break in character, the Academy will not bestow Best Picture honors upon Gravity or Her (And as we know ... they didn't). Most likely, the critics have agreed, the Academy's preference for straight dramas and period pieces will hold true once again. American Hustle or 12 Years a Slave will take home the statue, making the remaining seven films token nominees.

That's nothing new for sci-fi movies, which have always been in the happy-to-be-nominated pool as more typical Oscar bait takes home the award. The expansion of nominees from five to 10 in 2009 at least opened the door for more geeky films to get nominated. Still, nothing that you'd ID as true sci-fi has ever won the big award. But these should have:

2001: A Space Odyssey

The clearest choice. Number 1 on PopMech's list of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time wasn't even nominated for Best Picture in 1968. No offense to the movie musical Oliver!,, which won that year, but one of the most innovative films ever made deserved the selection here.

Blade Runner

Number 2 on our list wasn't nominated either. The sprawling epic Gandhi won the award, because of course it did. But if any year should have been sci-fi's breakthrough, it was 1982. Besides Blade Runner, Ridley Scott's brilliant, rain-soaked, blue-gray interpretation of a Philip K. Dick dystopia, there was the much happier E.T., which actually earned a Best Picture nomination. The best Trek movie, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, also came out this year.

The Empire Strikes Back

Although Empire is the critical darling of the original Star Wars trilogy, I'd be open to the argument that the 1977 original deserved the statuette. But even now it's hard argue against Annie Hall, which won the award that year. So let's talk about the trilogy's marvelous and dark middle child. While Star Wars grabbed a nomination, The Empire Strikes Back got no Oscar love despite weaker competition. Ordinary People infamously took home the 1980 Best Picture Oscar. It should have been Empire, or if not that, Raging Bull.

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Monster Island News Is Certified "Geek"!

Written By: Ken Hulsey

Hey, check this out! Monster Island News has just received it's first accolade, it's just been named 'Certifiably Geek' by the Certifiably Geek Blog.

I'm truly touched...and very, very honoured.

I certainly am a huge 'geek', and I certainly try to post stuff that other geeks will enjoy.

I can't accept this honor without mentioning all the other, 'little people' who help make Monster Island News so socially awkward:

Armand Vaquer
Rachel Grubb
Avery Guerra

There are more people I should thank...but with all this excitement....I can't remember any of them...

Oh, and before I forget, MIN was nominated for this special honour by The Acrobatic Flea in the UK, who runs a really randy blog called, "Hero Press".

If you are into comic books, role playing games, Doctor Who and other UK related sci fi, or just pop culture in general, The Flea is all over it.

Now as a new recipient of this honor, I have to nominate two other sites for the award.

I hereby nominate:

The Good, the Bad, and Godzilla 続・夕陽の呉爾羅

August Ragone's blog is every Japanese monster fans dream come true. Honestly, now one knows as much about the world of Japanese cinema as August does.

August has written what may be the best book ever about the life of legendary special effects artist, Eiji Tsuburaya, called, EIJI TSUBURAYA:MASTER OF MONSTERS

It's a real gem

Undead Brainspasm

If you think the crap I write about is off center...wow....you really need to check out Robert Hood's blog, "Undead Brainspasm."

Robert is the top name when it comes to 'alternative' cinema. If there's an indie horror or monster film being made, Robert knows all about it.

Congratulations, you've just been nominated!

You like me.....you really like me!

God Bless You All!

For Your Oscar Consideration - Star Trek

Written By: Ken Hulsey

To many of us who follow the entertainment industry, it would seem almost impossible to believe that a sci fi film could ever win an Oscar for best picture of the year.

Way back in 1977, sci fi had what was probably it's best shot, when "Star Wars" was nominated for the coveted award. Unfortunately, the often misunderstood, and often written off as "B" entertainment, genre took yet another shot to the groin, when the film lost to the Woody Allen comedy "Annie Hall."

Do you remember "Annie Hall?".......Do you remember "Star Wars?".........I rest my case.

I what is certain to be an Oscar preview, earlier this month The Producers Guild of America announced their nominees for the top motion picture of the year, and to the surprise of many, three sci fi films maneged to make the cut. Those being "Avatar," "District 9" and, of course, "Star Trek," which to me, was the best movie out of the bunch.

Now here is the question, does "Star Trek" have what it takes to win against such dramas, (normally Academy favorites) as "An Education," "The Hurt Locker" and "Precious?"

Common sense would say, 'no', but there is a growing consensus out there that believes "Trek" has a legit chance.

There are even some conspiracy types who believe that the Academy may give "Star Trek" the prize simply as another way to raise a middle finger at George Lucas, who they seem to despise.

Though, normally the sci fi genre doesn't carry much weight with critics and movie business types, films of a fanciful nature generally make the most money.

In preparation for the upcoming Oscar push, Paramount has created a wonderful new website for those Academy voters to find out more about "Trek".

The site contains the usual studio verbiage plus information on the cast, effects, costume & production design, awards, crew and even screenplay, which you can request a 'hard' copy of.

You can check that out at - For Your Consideration: Star Trek

True, fantasy films can win an Oscar, like "Lord of the Rings" did, but wouldn't it be cool to see a pure sci fi film win?

Just once.....

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