The 5th Bernel Zone Awards for Big Screen & Small Screen

It’s Oscar season once again, and – wow, it’s already the 5^th year that I’m doing this?!  Anyway, this is once again the annual “awards show” of this blog with regards to film and TV.  For this installment, it may be a tad shorter (not sure though, didn’t check) than usual because there are no “moment” categories here, since I’ve already made posts dedicated to memorable film and TV moments of 2016.

Here goes…

Best Movie Hero: Desmond Doss (Hacksaw Ridge)

What’s most impressive about this character is he’s based from a real-life person; whatever remarkable display of courage and resolve that his movie version (played fantastically by Andrew Garfield) has shown is more or less corroborated from verifiable sources.  I personally find Desmond Doss an inspiring movie character.

Runners-up: Christian Wolff (The Accountant), Doctor Stephen Strange (Doctor Strange), Sang-hwa (Train to Busan)

Best TV Hero: Lee Jae-han (Signal)

In my review for Signal, I called that he would be my choice in this category.  And I’ve not encountered another small screen hero since then that has truly overtaken the charming combination of badassery, heart, vulnerability, and goofiness that Lee Jae-han has.

Runner-up: Luke Cage (Luke Cage)

Best Movie Heroine: Wonder Woman (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice)

For all the bad things about BvS, the inclusion of Wonder Woman to the movie is not one of them.  Second to Batfleck, she was what I enjoyed the most in that movie.  With her limited screen time, she nonetheless managed to imprint her awesomeness on everybody’s mind.

Runners-up: Nancy Adams (The Shallows)

Best TV Heroine: Lyanna Mormont

This character just debuted in the recent season of Game of Thrones, and she wasn’t around much, but she arguably stole the show.  Despite her young age and minuscule army, she has much spunk, pride, wisdom, and wit.

She’s the kind of girl that Tywin Lannister might wish is his daughter.  If she had Daenery’s dragons, she would have probably conquered, not only Westeros, but the entire world.  Legend has it, that the Wall was actually built to protect the White Walkers from Lyanna Mormont!

Okay, those may be hyperboles, but you get the point: Lyanna is an awesome badass.

Her best moment in the show so far is when she berated the Northern Lords, telling them that they were wimps for turning their backs from their obligations to House Star, and basically bringing about Jon Snow’s crowning as King in the North.

Runner-up: Eleven (Stranger Things)

Best Movie Anti-Hero: Deadpool (Deadpool)

He was actually my first choice for “Best Movie Hero.”  But that just doesn’t seem right.  So I used this category for him.

Runner-up: Deadshot (Suicide Squad)

Best Movie Anti-Heroine: Harley Quinn (Suicide Squad)

Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn is a pop culture treasure.

Best Movie Villain: Shere Khan (The Jungle Book)

Idris Elba’s glorious, alpha voice combined with the flawless CGI work resulted into a genuinely menacing, spine-tingling villain.

Runner-up: Norman Nordstrom (Don’t Breathe)

Best TV Villain: Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes (Luke Cage)

Continuing Netflix/Marvel’s tradition of compelling villains (after Wilson Fisk and Killgrave, last year’s winner in this category), Mahershala Ali’s deeply charismatic performance as Cottonmouth was magnetic to watch.  But in a totally unexpected twist, he was killed off midway in the series – setting up the unimpressive Diamondback to be the ultimate “big bad” of the season (bummer).  It was one of my problems with Luke Cage; I preferred Cottonmouth as main villain.

Runners-up: Man in Black (Westworld), Richard Onslow Roper (The Night Manager)

Best Movie Villainess: Kuramu and Yukami a.k.a. the Sisters (Kubo and the Two Strings)

Gorgeously creepy character design ensures their win in this category (as well as the unfortunate lack of compelling female movie villains in 2016).

Best TV Villainess: Rachel Duncan

I really thought Rachel was gonna have her heel-face turn last season after undergoing a tough road to recovery.  But, no.  She ultimately went to betray her LEDA sisters after it seemed she was gradually integrating into the Clone Club.  It turns out her lust for power is something that will probably never fade.

Best Movie Duo: Jackson Healy and Holland March (The Nice Guys)

They are arguably the best “buddy” movie duo since Riggs and Murtaugh.  I had tons of fun with their immense chemistry that they’re already become part of my all-time favorite duos.  Man, I wish Shane Black will be able to make a few more movies centered on them.

Runners-up: Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde (Zootopia), Batman and Robin (Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders), Newt Scamander and Jacob Kowalski (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them)

Best TV Duo: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson (Sherlock: The Abominable Bride)

Coz Sherlock was around this year.  But I really tried my best to pick a “Best TV Hero” aside from Sherlock Holmes.  Well, that I did.  But it just won’t do with this category.  No other duo came close.

Best Movie Couple: Taki Tachibana and Mitsuha Miyamazu (Your Name)

I never expected that I would be very invested to their love story, which has proven to be a riveting emotional roller coaster ride with such emphatic culmination.

Best TV Couple: Jung Nan- hee and Kim Bok-ju (Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju)

Their relationship resulted into as much delightful comedy as sweet romance.

Most Adorable Movie Character: Baby Moana (Moana)

I dare you to watch the opening eight minutes of Moana without melting from sheer cuteness.

Runner-up: Baby Dory (Finding Dory)

Most Adorable TV Character: Kara Danvers a.k.a. Kara Zor-El a.k.a. Supergirl (Supergirl)

Yep, her show might be lacking, but she’s still the most adorable thing to watch on TV.

Runner-up: Bok-gil (Imaginary Cat)

Best Movie Dance: The dance part in “Someone in the Crowd” sequence in La La Land

Not the scene between Gosling and Stone (they’re no Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers), but the brief sequence featuring Stone’s character and her roommates before going to a party in Hollywood Hills.

Runner-up: Moana teaching some village kids how to hula (Moana)

Best TV Dance: The happy ramen dance scene in The K2

Never imagined that ramen can bring about such adorable dance.

Best Movie Fight Scene: Airport battle between Team Cap and Team Iron Man (Captain America: Civil War)

Also, the year’s best movie moment from the year’s best movie.

Best TV Fight Scene: Battle of the Bastards (Game of Thrones)

This is easily the most epic battle scene in Game of Thrones to date.

Runners-up: Superman vs. Batman, arcade fighting game-style (Justice League Action)

Best Movie Ensemble: The Magnificent Seven (The Magnificent Seven)

Honestly, I think they’re even more enjoyable than the original incarnation of the Seven.

Runners-up: The Four (Five?) Horsemen (Now You See Me 2)

Best TV Ensemble: Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Eleven (Stranger Things)

An authentic 80’s-style kid-ensemble in an authentic 80’s-style horror-adventure.  So much win.

Most Entertaining and Funny Movie Dumbass: Heihei (Moana)

Whoever thought that an idiotic rooster could be so delightfully hilarious?  The concept to this character seems so… simple.  Yet, it really worked magnificently in bringing the laughs.

Most Entertaining and Funny TV Dumbass: Shim Cheong (Legend of the Blue Sea)

Technically, she’s not really a dumbass.  Being a mermaid, she’s just naïve and ignorant of human ways.  Nevertheless, she does act like one during the series’ early episodes, and actress Jun Ji-hyun’s performance sells it to hilarious and adorable results.

Worst Movie I’ve Seen: Max Steel

What in the blue earth was that?!

Best “So Bad, It’s Good” Movie: The Huntsman: Winter’s War

Jessica Chastain’s erratic Scottish accent alone is reason enough to watch and enjoy this nonsensical, hammy movie.

Most Underrated Movie: Gods of Egypt

I’m not saying this is an overlooked masterpiece.  But, seriously, it’s not that terrible.  It’s not without its share of redeemable, entertaining parts.  It’s perfectly fine, serviceable pop corn movie.  And I had a genuine fun time from watching it.

Most Overrated Movie: La La Land

I’m not implying that La La Land is a bad movie, or it’s worse than Gods of Egypt.  I just think it’s overrated.  I don’t get the acclaim it’s receiving, as if it’s the best movie of 2016.  I don’t think it should win the Oscar for Best Picture (but will probably do).

Runner-up: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Movie I Wish the Most Had More Success: The Nice Guys

The Nice Guy is one of the best films of 2016.  And yet, it failed in the box office.   It’s a pity since it’s original, clever, and funny.  I wish it could have made much more profit to ensure another outing for Jackson Healy and Holland March.

Movie I Wish the Most Will Have a Sequel: The Nice Guys

Can’t stress this enough.

Best Anime: Erased

A time travel and a murder mystery that effectively brought both thrills and the feels.  A sure-fire classic.

Best Koreanovela: Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo

I started watching K-dramas in an attempt to find my next I Hear Your Voice experience.  This was it.  Now, I will be looking for my next Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo experience.

Most Surprising News/Development: Season 3 of Young Justice

YEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!

Runner-up: a Code Geass followup is on the works.

Best Plot Twist: Flashbacks were actually flashforwards in Arrival

Westworld had some nice plot twists, but I never enjoyed them as I should since fans were able to predict almost all of them.  Mr. Robot’s plot twist annoyed me, as the narrative was just making plot twists just for the sake of having them, and hiding the fact that the overall storytelling was getting pretentious, convoluted, and unrewarding.

As for movies, I was honestly able to guess all the plot twists coming.  Except for Arrival’s.  Thus, I was quite blown away when it was revealed that the understanding of the aliens’ language would allow someone to simultaneously see the past, present, and future – leading to the realization that the presumed flashbacks during the movie were actually glimpses of the future.

Runner-up: The origin of Hodor (Game of Thrones)

Best TV Smile: Dustin (Stranger Things)

Ah, that toothless charm.

Best Movie Smile: Flash (Zootopia)

Also, one of the most hilarious scenes of the year.

Hottest Screen Actress: Maisie Richardson-Sellers (Legends of Tomorrow)

Oh...

...my...

...GODDESS!

Best Music: Wonder Woman’s theme

Both Superman and Batman have their iconic themes already, thanks to their classic movies.  It took all this time before the third member of DC’s so-called Trinity got her big screen debut, but the upside is it also came with a kickass theme that has the makings of being as iconic as those of Superman and Batman.

Runners-up: “I Am Moana” and “You’re Welcome” (Moana)

Best Vindication: Batfleck

When comedian Michael Keaton was cast in the 1989 Batman film and when Heath Ledger was cast as Joker for The Dark Knight, there were massive fan outcries both times.  Both also ended up being terrific, iconic performances.  So when Ben Afleck was cast as the new Batman, did the fans decide to give him the benefit of doubt, learning the lesson from the past that unlikely castings may turned out being great?  No!  The outrage was toxic.  I personally was on wait-and-see mode; thus, great was my satisfaction when Batfleck turned out being awesome – arguably the best thing about BvS.  Now, if only DC/WB could figure out a way to make a solo Batman movie that would make its star (who is reportedly wanting out of it, meaning its script or the studio interference, or both, is just intolerable) and fans happy.

Best Expression: “Swag.”