Quote Originally Posted by SPACE GLIDER View Post
Ghandi really was boring. It wasn't even inspiring. Ghandi was a great man who, in my opinion, deserved a better movie than THAT one. That one came off like a slogging, long TV movie.

E.T. at the time was just unbelievable. It took you on an emotional rollercoaster and had you laughing and (sometimes) crying. It was the BEST there was at the time and I'm not sure how anyone could deny it.
The Academy LOVES to honor "important" films. If there's a message involved--or if it is about someone important like Ghandi--chances are it will win over science fiction or comedy for sure.