The 6th Bernel Zone Awards for Big Screen & Small Screen

As usual, it’s late again.  But this is probably the latest it has ever been.  Lol.  Anyway, with the Academy Awards now done, it’s now this blog’s turn to hand out its awards for 2017’s film and TV.

Best Movie Hero: Logan a.k.a. James Howlett a.k.a. Wolverine (Logan)

Through a thoughtful Oscar-nominated script and masterful direction from James Mangold, Hugh Jackman’s most iconic role is given a powerful, poignant swan song.

Runners-up: K (Blade Runner 2049), Caesar (War for the Planet of the Apes), Kwoon Yoo (The Fabricated City), Baby (Baby Driver), Peter Parker a.k.a. Spider-Man (Spider-Man: Homecoming), Hercule Poirot (Murder on the Orient Express)

Best TV Hero: The Doctor (Doctor Who)

Let me pay tribute to Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor, who is now probably my most favorite incarnation.  The next time the Doctor wins a Bernel, it won’t be as “Best TV Hero” anymore.

Best Movie Heroine:  Wonder Woman (Wonder Woman, Justice League)

Yup.  For the second straight year.  Seriously, there was no one else that could challenge her for this spot.  Her solo movie was the first real triumph for the DCEU, and she was one of the best things about Justice League.

Best TV Heroine: Jessica Jones (The Defenders)

For her delightful snarkiness in The Defenders, I’ll give the nod to Jessica Jones for the second time in three years.

Runners-up: Helga (Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie), Yumeko Jabami (Kakegurui: Compulsive Gambler), Yoo Seol-ok (Queen of Mystery)

Best Movie Villain: Pennywise (It)

There were a couple of notable movie villains in 2017, but the terrifying clown demon that feasts on fears and children had made a lasting impression.

Runners-up: Adiran Toomes a.k.a. The Vulture (Spider-Man: Homecoming), The Colonel (War for the Planet of the Apes), Kevin Wendell Crumb a.k.a. The Horde (Split), Gaston (Beauty and the Beast), Kylo Ren (Star Wars: The Last Jedi)

Best TV Villain: Count Olaf (A Series of Unfortunate Events)

Neil Patrick Harris was relishing the role.  And it showed.

Best Movie Villainess: Hela (Thor: Ragnarok)

The fearsome Goddess of Death is definitely one of MCU’s most compelling antagonists.  And with Cate Blanchett being as stunning as ever, it’s as if she’s as ageless as Galadriel.

Runner-up: Cypher (The Fate of the Furious)

Best TV Villainess: Eurus Holmes (Sherlock)

Her uber-competent scheming, superior intellect, and manipulative skill were written as if they were super powers.  Thus, she was Sherlock’s most difficult opponent yet.

Runner-up: Overgirl (Crisis on Earth-X)

Best Movie Anti-Hero: Barry Seal (American Made)

The character is an utter rogue.  Yet due to Tom Cruise’s charm, he comes off as anti-hero-ish.

Best TV Anti-Hero: Rick Sanchez (Rick and Morty)

Forget Batman.  Here’s a new axiom for you: No matter the odds – with his immense intelligence, ruthlessness, and nigh-nihilistic worldview – Rick Sanchez will always figure out a way to win.

Runner-up: Frank Castle a.k.a. The Punisher (The Punisher)

Best Movie Anti-Heroine: Tonya Harding (I, Tonya)

Hey, it’s a Margot Robbie character winning this category for the second straight year!

Best TV Anti-Heroine: Killer Frost (The Flash)

Probably the most complex character in the show right now.

Best Movie Duo: Michael Bryce and Darius Kincaid (The Hitman’s Bodyguard)

The Ryan Reynolds-Samuel L. Jackson pairing turned out being as brilliantly hilarious as it was on paper.

Runner-up: Daryl Ward and Nick Jacoby (Bright)

Best TV Duo: Rick and Morty

Their toxic yet close and formidable dynamic is incredibly fascinating.

Runner-up: Yoo Seol-Ok and Ha Wan-seung (Queen of Mystery), Bughead (Riverdale)

Best Movie Couple: K and Joi (Blade Runner 2049)

In a very thoughtful science fiction film, the romance between K and Joi managed to be one of its most thought-provoking aspects.

Runners-up: Steve Trevor and Diana (Wonder Woman)

Best TV Couple: Bughead (Riverdale)

The crux that holds that delightful, insane show together.

Most Adorable Movie Character: Porgs (Star Wars: The Last Jedi)

I don’t care if they were primarily put there to sell merchandise.  They were disarmingly cute. 

Runners-up: Baby Groot (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2), Okja (Okja), Coco (Coco)

Most Adorable TV Character: Lockjaw (Inhumans)

The only character I liked in that godawful show.

Best Movie Ensemble: The Losers’ Club (It)

Perfectly cast.  Impeccable chemistry.

Best TV Ensemble: Superhero Ensemble in Crisis in Earth-X

The greatest gathering of superheroes in 2017, both on TV and film.

Runners-up: The Defenders (The Defenders), March Sisters (Little Women), the USS Orville crew (The Orville)

Worst Movie I Saw: The Space Between Us

I described the experience of watching this movie as “having to eat a pile of cheese drenched in syrup while a dull, tedious, monotonic audio book of Moby Dick is playing in the background, lulling you to a coma-like slumber.”

Runner-up: The Emoji Movie

Worst TV Show I Saw: Inhumans

The MCU’s first epic fail.

Runner-up: Sleepy Hollow

Best Movie Smile: Wonder Woman (Justice League)

Best TV Smile: Betty Cooper (Riverdale)

Best Movie Fight Scene: Resurrected Superman vs. Justice League (Justice League)

Best TV Fight Scene: Hallway Rumble (The Defenders)

Best Movie Dance: Pennywise’s Dance (It)

Runner-up: Hedwig’s dance (Split)

Best TV Dance: Hopper’s Dance (Stranger Things 2)

Runner-up: Veronica vs. Cheryl dance showdown (Riverdale)

Best "So Bad, It’s Good" Movie: The Guardians

It was an enjoyably bonkers mess, highlighted by a werebear with a Gatling gun.

Most Disappointing Movie: The Dark Tower

Considering the complexity of the books, maybe a film adaptation was a bad idea in the first place.  A high-budget TV series like Game of Thrones or Westworld would have been more likely to work.

Most Underrated Movie: The Book of Henry

For many, this was one of the year’s worst films.  I honestly don’t understand the sentiment as I thought it was bold, unique, and charming.

Best Song: “Take Me Home, Country Roads” By John Denver

It was perfectly used for vital, emotional moments in Kingsman 2 and Logan Lucky.  And it was featured in Alien: Covenant as well.  (On a side note, John Denver songs were also in a couple of 2017 films, like “Annie Song” in Free Fire and Okja.)

Best Track: “Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin (Thor: Ragnarok)

An inspired choice.  It truly made the action scenes utterly glorious.

Best Original Song: “This Is Me” (The Greatest Showman)

My original choice was “Remember Me.”  But after watching The Greatest Showman, I found out that this was actually more impactful.

Best Anime Series: My Hero Academia

There were a couple of terrific anime series that debuted in 2017.  But what I found to be most rewarding was My Hero Academia, whose season 2 significantly upped the ante as exciting shonen romp.

Best K-Drama Series: Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju

Well, since it was technically still ongoing early in 2017, it still qualifies for this category.  So just like last year, it gets the win.

Runner-up: While You Were Sleeping

Best IP Cameo: Villains (The Lego Batman Movie)

Not only does the movie showed almost everyone in Batman’s rogue gallery, but it also featured villains from other properties like Doctor Who, The Matrix, Wizard of Oz, Gremlins, Harry Potter, Jurassic World, King Kong, and Lord of the Rings.

Best Actor Cameo: Sam Neil (Thor: Ragnarok)

With Jeff Goldblum also in the movie as Grandmaster, it was sort of a Jurassic Park reunion.

Best Movie Poster: Thor: Ragnarok

Best Plot Twist: Split is a secret sequel to Unbreakable

Best Shyamalan plot twist ever!

Biggest Development: Disney Acquires Fox

The House of Mouse moves another step closer to world domination.  Hail, Emperor Mickey!