10 Least Deserving Oscar Winners Ever

This deeply disappointing adaptation of Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy was likely meant to replicate the success of the Lord of the Rings franchise for New Line Cinema. That might've worked had it not been for the poorly adapted storyline, less-than-stellar acting, anaemic character development and unconvincing special effects.

It is the special effects in particular that prove egregious here, inexplicably bagging an Oscar (and a BAFTA earlier that year) against the more impressive nominees Transformers and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Both runner-ups had far more interesting, fully-realised visual palettes than the victor. The fact that director Chris Weitz considers the special effects as the main strength of his film is more of a testament to how bad everything else.

Rhythm and Hues Studios, Framestore CFC and Cinesite all played a hand in bringing the film's dæmons, bears, airships and icy landscapes to life. The bears in particular have not aged well. Lead creature feature character Iorek Byrnisson looks especially glaring around the live action characters, redeemed only by the fact the great Ian McKellen agreed to voice him.