The venerable Star Wars saga will face some serious black-clad competition from The Matrix for Academy awards this year.
Both Matrix and Phantom Menace are in the running for the sound, sound effects and visual effects statuettes. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also nominated The Matrix for achievement in film editing.
Beyond the two genre heavyweights, only Stuart Little, with its computer-generated protagonist, received a visual effects nomination. Fight Club is up for sound effects and The Insider, The Green Mile and The Mummy will bring the battle for the sound Oscar back to Earth.
The only other science fiction film the Academy recognized was Bicentennial Man, which was nominated for a
The Lucasfilm trophy case
In total, the Academy has nominated the four installments of the Star Wars saga for 23 Oscars.
The original film brought home six statuettes plus a "special achievement" award for the creation of its various alien and robot voices.
The Empire Strikes Back won a single award -- for sound -- and garnered another special achievement nod for effects. Return of the Jedi received only a special achievement award, again for visual effects.
Black-tied presenters will hand out the 2000 Oscars on Sunday, March 26.
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