Wall-E Wins Hugo Award as Best Science-Fiction Film of 2008
The 2009 Hugo Awards were announced earlier this week, which, for those who don’t know, are probably the highest-profile awards to honour creative works that fall strictly within the realm of science-fiction and fantasy. The categories includes novels, short stories, graphic novels, film and TV, among others, and I was a little bit surprised to learn that the winner for the past year in “Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form” was Pixar’s animated film Wall-E. Upon hearing this my first thought was, sure it’s a good movie, but is it really the best science-fiction film to be released in 2008?
The more I think about it though, it just makes me realize that 2008 was a pretty weak year for science-fiction movies in general. The other nominees were The Dark Knight, Iron Man, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, and METAtropolis (an audiobook anthology). I guess looking at those choices, I might be more inclined to vote for Wall-E. Plus, if anything, Brad Bird’s The Incredibles seemed even more out of place when it won the same category back in 2005. The real upset this year, in my opinion, was Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog beating out the Lost episode “The Constant” for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form! Maybe I just don’t understand the criteria though. What do you think, was Wall-E the best science-fiction flick of 2008, and is 2009 already shaping up to be a better year for sci-fi? Check out the full list of winners via the link below.
» Related Link: 2009 Hugo Award Winners
Comments (11)
Of the nominees Wall E is definitely the most inclined towards “real” scifi. I love Dark Knight but it’s not a scifi movie. It’s a pulp crime movie.
Wall E tackles some great scifi concepts. Not just robots and post-apocalyptic worlds. But also the direction in which human beings are headed.
Posted by Rusty James on August 13th, 2009I just watched Visioneers and I think that would’ve been a good nominee as well.
What about Time Crimes? Was that last year?
Posted by Rusty James on August 13th, 2009The awards typically are based on when they are released in the US, so I would guess Time Crimes will be up for consideration for next year’s awards.
Posted by Matt Gamble on August 13th, 2009What about Synechode, NY? Do you think that counts?
Posted by Rusty James on August 13th, 2009I think Synecdoche should count, and I’m not sure if Sleep Dealer is 2008 or 2009, but it deserves consideration as well (although I haven’t seen it).
This is the full list of nominations… nice to see Benjamin Button on there:
WALL-E Pixar 285
Posted by Sean on August 13th, 2009Iron Man Marvel 212
The Dark Knight Warner Bros. 166
METAtropolis J. Scalzi editor 45
Hellboy II: Dark Horse 43
The Golden Army
Cloverfield Bad Robot 40
Let the Right One In 32
The Curious Case of 25
Benjamin Button
Indiana Jones and the Paramount 18
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
The Colour of Magic RHI Entertainment 16
The Chronicles of 15
Narnia: Prince Caspian
The Incredible Hulk Marvel Enterprises 12
Kung Fu Panda 12
Speed Racer Warner Brothers 11
City of Ember Playtone 11
Hancock Sony 9
Bolt Disney 8
Wanted Universal Pictures 8
The Orphanage New Line Cinema 7
The Fall Absolute Entertainment 7
Stargate: Continuum MGM 7
The Forbidden Kingdom Casey Silver Productions 6
Jumper 6
Twilight Maverick Films 6
Repo! The Genetic Opera Lion’s Gate 5
hey look what just went up:
http://chud.com/articles/articles/20455/1/CHUD-QUICK-LIST-10-GREAT-NON-BLOCKBUSTER-SCIENCE-FICTION-FILMS-OF-THE-21ST-CENTURY/Page1.html
Posted by Rusty James on August 13th, 2009No matter which other Sci-Fi films should’ve got nominated over action films like TDK and Iron Man, WALL-E was still by far the best Sci-Fi film last year, so congrats to Pixar and the WALL-E team!
Posted by Matt on August 13th, 2009Wall-E didn’t impress me very much with the way that humans were portrayed as opposed to robots. I thought this was another “save the Earth and stop global warming now” propaganda movie. Iron Man was a better adaptation of a comic into a movie. Guess the award was based on box office earnings. Go figure.
Posted by Sharon E. Dreyer on August 14th, 2009Wait a second – you mean to tell me that ultra-lib Hollywood has been recycling the same old “save the Earth and stop global warming now” propaganda theme over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over?
That is too crazy to be true! Next you’re going to tell me that Hollywood has been intentionally portraying the US military and any corporation as inherently evil over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over!
Preposterous!
Why, it’s not as if Americans have been so beaten down and brainwashed by liberal elites that we would prefer illiterate, child-molesting, Nazi death camp guards as our protagonists!
I mean, come on!
Posted by Shut-Up Ed on August 14th, 2009You’re an idiot. WALL-E *was* the best Sci-Fi film of the year and it’s because it was a BRILLIANT film. One of the best Sci-Fi films in years, in fact. What would’ve been disappointing? If The Overraated Knight won. No, WALL-E winning was justified and simple truth, period.
Posted by Matt on August 15th, 2009By the way, did I mention that anyone who hates on WALL-E is a soulless moron? Nope? Okay, I will now. Which I guess makes Shut-Up Ed King of the Morons.
Posted by Matt on August 15th, 2009Leave a Reply