When we reported that Terminator: Dark Fate could potentially go on to win an Oscar for Visual Effects (VFX), most fans were quick to share their opinions that in their eyes the movie doesn’t deserve an Oscar and that the VFX were not on par with some of the other contenders in running for the award. Fans pointed out that other movies, in the previous list of 20 possible oscar winners, have superior VFX.
We would have preferred a practical FX movie but the minute Tim Miller was involved we knew it would be heavy in CGI and of course it was a given that Terminator: Dark Fate would want to replicate the award winning success of T2 in the way that the T-1000 VFX stunned audiences in 1991.
*Note to Hollywood: we’re not in 1991 anymore.
Other fan opinions stated that if the movie deserved a VFX Oscar it would only be for the opening scenes / de-aging of characters.
Though the opening scene of Dark Fate (the killing of Terminator staple, John Connor) was controversial and divided an already fractured fanbase even more, much like Terminator Genisys, the scene is considered the best part of the movie in the way that Arnold Vs Arnold was considered Genisys’ strong point before the rest of the movie unfolded into a mess.
In a previous video we stated that we believed Dark Fate could only justify an award for either the opening sequence (de-aged characters) or the C-5 Plane crash sequence – and even those would be pushing it in a movie that went overkill with such lacklustre CG effects. Yes, we could look to REV-9 FX, or the blend of practical and digital for Arnold’s T-800 (Carl) but it very much feels like Skydance may just be playing with de-aged characters in their movies *cough* Gemini Man *cough* with the sole intention of getting an Oscar…
Whether T:DF will win an Oscar is another question altogether but the initial list of 20 nominated movies has now been whittled down to a shortlist of 10 movies in the VFX category and Terminator: Dark Fate did make the list.
Ten films remain in the running in the Visual Effects category for Oscars® 2020. Determined by the Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee, all members of the Visual Effects Branch will be invited to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the shortlisted films online or attend satellite bake-off screenings in January 2020.
oscar.go.com
OSCARS 2020 VFX Shortlist
ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL
AVENGERS: ENDGAME
CAPTAIN MARVEL
CATS
GEMINI MAN
THE IRISHMAN
THE LION KING
1917
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER
TERMINATOR: DARK FATE
Below is the list of 10 movies that Terminator: Dark Fate has beaten to the shortlist…
Ad Astra
The Aeronauts
Aladdin
Dumbo
Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
Ford v. Ferrari
Jumanji: The Next Level
Men in Black: International
Midway
Spider-Man: Far From Home
When will we find out if Terminator: Dark Fate was successful in winning an Oscar?
The 92nd Oscars® will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscars also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
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So, what do you think?
Does Terminator: Dark Fate deserve an Oscar for VFX? Do you think any of the movies that didn’t make the shortlist are more deserving, or, do you think Dark Fate deserves its place? Alita: Battle Angel is also in the running for an Oscar, would that be a more deserving title – or would it seem political if a James Cameron project won out in this list of movies?
Let us know in the comments below.
Source: Oscars
UPDATE – The Oscar Winner:
Terminator: Dark Fate didn’t make the final shortlist in the end. The winner of the Oscar was 1917.
Winner listed on the official Oscars website on Feb 10th, 2020:
Achievement in visual effects nominees:
AVENGERS: ENDGAME
Dan DeLeeuw, Russell Earl, Matt Aitken and Dan SudickTHE IRISHMAN
Pablo Helman, Leandro Estebecorena, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser and Stephane GrabliTHE LION KING
Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones and Elliot Newman1917 – WINNER
Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler and Dominic TuohySTAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER
Roger Guyett, Neal Scanlan, Patrick Tubach and Dominic Tuohy
2 Comments
An Oscar???….Aaaahhhhhahahahhahhaaaahahahhahahahhahahahahahaahaha!
Non faut dire la vérité ce film mérite pas ce qu’il mérite ! Tim Miller c’est moqué de nous ou plutôt le studio Hollywoodien ! mise à part la scène d’ouverture effectivement le reste reste trop numérique et on veut juste du rééel comme dans T2 !