MovieChat Forums > Stranger: Mukô hadan (2009) Discussion > Oscars

Oscars

posted 15 years ago by Jag85
10 replies | jump to latest

I'm not sure how many here might be aware of this, but Sword of the Stranger (as well as The Sky Crawler which I have not seen yet) was Japan's entry for Best Animated Film at the Oscars. It was shortlisted as one of the nine candidates for the category, but didn't make it as one of the final three nominations. So what were nominated instead of it? WALL-E, Kung Fu Panda, and Bolt!

I think WALL-E deserves the nomination, but Sword of the Stranger is clearly a far superior movie to Bolt and Kung Fu Panda (although I personally enjoyed that movie), so why were they nominated instead? Is it because the Oscar jury is biased towards Hollywood productions, or because they are biased towards big-budget CGI animations, or simply because Sword of the Stranger was too mature and violent for an animated movie by Hollywood standards? The only Japanese anime that did win the Oscar was the more family-friendly Spirited Away, so I'm more inclined to believe it was because of the latter reason. I think it's a real shame though how a brilliant movie like Sword of the Stranger could have been overlooked like that.

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[–] SonicMozart 15 years ago

Honestly, what is it with people and the Academy awards (oscars)? The Oscars have long lost their original importance and representativeness (yes, that is a word lol) in the film industry. Besides, it's mainly an award for and to the American film industry, of course american films have a priority over foreign ones.
Also, it's funny how people always mention that Sen to Chihiro got an academy award, but seem to forget it won, above all, a friggin Golden Berlin Bear! Do you have any idea of what that means? AT ALL?
And regarding this movie, it didn't win any award for a reason.
I personally find it a nice action flick but dragged on for too long and hated the rotoscoped fight scenes.

[–] Jag85 15 years ago

Yes, I know what the Golden Berlin Bear is. That's the top prize at the Berlin Film Festival, one of the three most prestigious film festivals in the world, alongside the Cannes and Venice film festivals. And I'm already aware that the Cannes, Berlin and Venice film festivals are more prestigious internationally than the Oscars.

By the way, Sword of the Samurai did win a few awards at several film festivals, while The Sky Crawlers even won an award at the Venice Film Festival, and yet they were not even nominated in the Animated Film category at the Oscars.

"WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM???!!!!!"

[–] SonicMozart 15 years ago

All in all, an enjoyable film.

[–] iamomeed 15 years ago

I didnt see Bolt or PAnda, but wall E was great.....this movie was OK. I liked this movie alot, I dont think it won bc the plot was Choppy and a bit confusing. Also I dont think they did anything signifigantly new with the animation style.
The CGI stuff like Wall-E seem to get more nods. The Oscars doesnt seem to be much of a blood and guts type of crowd either.

[–] Lord-Bigglesworth 15 years ago

What the...??? Man, they really need to open that category up, as it stands now, it's almost a joke.

You'd feel cocky too if you were full of myself.

[–] Matt345 14 years ago

"or simply because Sword of the Stranger was too mature and violent for an animated movie by Hollywood standards?"

I haven't seen it yet, and don't doubt it's a great movie, but what you describe as mature qualities, is probably seen rather as immature, juvenile properties by those who don't care for something like this (and often enough the "mature violence = juvenile" tag is quite accurate).

[–] Symarip 14 years ago

So I guess movies like Saving Private Ryan, Mongol, Apocalypse Now, etc, are juvenile then?

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[–] Matt345 14 years ago

How about no? Or did I miss the scenes with hordes of animated samurai, fountains of blood and lots of characters that are supposed to appear all supercool in how harcore they are? Because that's where many animated samurai movies end up at. And even if this one is more complex, serious, mature, others might still associate it with more gratuitous animations.

[–] guaili 13 years ago

Perhaps you should watch this one before further stating opinions on it. There is plenty of blood in this movie but it never feels gory and gratuitous like, say, Ninja Scroll. It feels realistic, in fact this was sort of filmed like you would a live action movie. So, in that respect, it IS more serious and mature.

I think that the Oscars didn't consider it because the plot is so weak. Great action/adventure movies don't usually win those awards.

[–] jjoxx 11 years ago

Dude, a Chinese guy impales a soldier through the top of his head with a chain-sickle and swings his limp body around like a wrecking ball at one point. The action's definitely not what you could call "realistic."

Definitely a step down from all the magic and fantasy of Ninja Scroll, but still adherent to the grand tradition of blood geysers and hot-knife-through-butter decapitation and dismemberment of all great animated period pieces.