Serenity
Serenity won the Hugo for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form, in 2006 and also the 2005 Nebula for Best Script. There was only one other finalist for the Nebula, the Battlstar Galactica episodes "Act of Contrition"/"You Can't Go Home Again"; the Hugo field was more crowded; but Serenity was well ahead at nominations and needed only one round of transfers to win the award.
I think I have seen all of the other finalists, but the fact that I'm not completely sure about any of them except Batman Begins suggests that the voters got it right. Serenity ranks a modest 20th and 24th on the two IMDB ratings systems, behind several of its rivals for the Hugo.
Colin Patrick Lynch is credited as one of the Black Room soldiers here, and was also in a bit part in Terminator 2: Judgement Day. I haven't found a decent shot of him in either role. Apart from him, none of the cast had previously appeared in Oscar, Hugo or Nebula winning films, or in Doctor Who.
I remember actually going to the cinema with Anne to see this when it came out, a rare event for us, and we loved it even though a couple of beloved characters are callously killed off. Part of the context, of course, is that Buffy, Angel and Firefly were very popular among Hugo voters (and in our household), yet two Firefly episodes bizarrely lost out to Gollum's acceptance speech for the 2004 Hugo. I think it's a genuinely good film, true to the spirit of the TV series, at the same time not too impenetrable to the newcomer. And the script really crackles.Mal: Jayne, how many weapons you plan on bringing? You only got the two arms.
Jayne: I just get excitable as to choice- like to have my options open.
Mal: I don't plan on any shooting taking place during this job.
Jayne: Well, what you plan and what takes place ain't ever exactly been similar.
Mal: No grenades.
[Jayne groans]
Mal: No grenades!
Kaylee: Everything's shiny, Cap'n. Not to fret.
Mal: You told me those entry couplings would hold for another week!
Kaylee: That was six months ago, Cap'n.
Shepherd Book: I wasn't born a shepherd, Mal.
Mal: You have to tell me about that sometime.
Shepherd Book: [pause] No, I don't.
Kaylee: Goin' on a year now I ain't had nothin' twixt my nethers weren't run on batteries!
Mal: Oh, God! I can't *know* that!
Jayne: I could stand to hear a little more.
It’s not an ambitious film, just providing closure for the series, a bit of adventure against the oppressive state, some good action and credible effects. And it ticks all of those boxes. And wow, Summer Glau!
It’s a shame that Joss Whedon turns out to be a deeply problematic individual, but I think we’re still allowed to enjoy some of the stuff he produced.
Next up is Howl’s Moving Castle, which won the following year’s Nebula.
I think I have seen all of the other finalists, but the fact that I'm not completely sure about any of them except Batman Begins suggests that the voters got it right. Serenity ranks a modest 20th and 24th on the two IMDB ratings systems, behind several of its rivals for the Hugo.
Colin Patrick Lynch is credited as one of the Black Room soldiers here, and was also in a bit part in Terminator 2: Judgement Day. I haven't found a decent shot of him in either role. Apart from him, none of the cast had previously appeared in Oscar, Hugo or Nebula winning films, or in Doctor Who.
I remember actually going to the cinema with Anne to see this when it came out, a rare event for us, and we loved it even though a couple of beloved characters are callously killed off. Part of the context, of course, is that Buffy, Angel and Firefly were very popular among Hugo voters (and in our household), yet two Firefly episodes bizarrely lost out to Gollum's acceptance speech for the 2004 Hugo. I think it's a genuinely good film, true to the spirit of the TV series, at the same time not too impenetrable to the newcomer. And the script really crackles.Mal: Jayne, how many weapons you plan on bringing? You only got the two arms.
Jayne: I just get excitable as to choice- like to have my options open.
Mal: I don't plan on any shooting taking place during this job.
Jayne: Well, what you plan and what takes place ain't ever exactly been similar.
Mal: No grenades.
[Jayne groans]
Mal: No grenades!
Kaylee: Everything's shiny, Cap'n. Not to fret.
Mal: You told me those entry couplings would hold for another week!
Kaylee: That was six months ago, Cap'n.
Shepherd Book: I wasn't born a shepherd, Mal.
Mal: You have to tell me about that sometime.
Shepherd Book: [pause] No, I don't.
Kaylee: Goin' on a year now I ain't had nothin' twixt my nethers weren't run on batteries!
Mal: Oh, God! I can't *know* that!
Jayne: I could stand to hear a little more.
It’s not an ambitious film, just providing closure for the series, a bit of adventure against the oppressive state, some good action and credible effects. And it ticks all of those boxes. And wow, Summer Glau!
It’s a shame that Joss Whedon turns out to be a deeply problematic individual, but I think we’re still allowed to enjoy some of the stuff he produced.
Next up is Howl’s Moving Castle, which won the following year’s Nebula.