Henry posted the latest Saturn Award nominations earlier today, and I have to say, it strikes that special part of me usually reserved for bogus “parent groups” and pretentious lists (hehe). See, I was under the impression that the Saturn Awards were for SciFi/Fantasy/Horror, with an emphasis on the first two. I was also under the impression that Awards in general were reserved for, well, good things.
Apparently these are wild misconceptions, and instead, the Saturn Awards are in place to reward just about anyone who makes moving pictures, no matter the subject or the quality, and it’s a damn shame.
There are already plenty of awards out there for the general movie/tv industry: Golden Globes, SGA, WGA, DGA, Oscars, BAFTA, etc. The idea of a dedicated Genre award is a great one, but clearly the Saturns have lost their way. Examples, you say? Let’s take a look here.
Eagle Eye is included in the “Science Fiction Film” category. Granted, a group that can follow you everywhere and communicate through any electronics is technically some level of Science Fiction, but I don’t see how it contributes to the greater tapestry of SciFi. If Eagle Eye is a SciFi movie, then the CSIs are SciFi TV shows. Even if you accurately argue that it belongs in the category, the movie held a 27% on Rotten Tomatoes! The Day The Earth Stood Still, also sharing a nomination in the category, had a 20%. Was there such a dearth of quality SciFi last year that two such films need be included here?
Hancock and Wanted stretch the traditional definition of Fantasy, and Hancock stretches the definition of nomination-quality, as well. I somehow doubt many people found The Mummy 3 very horrific, but at least it is undoubtedly genre. Then we get to the most baffling category: “Action/Adventure/Thriller Film.”
Gran Torino, Quantum of Solace, Valkyrie. These are not genre films. They are not SciFi, they are not Fantasy, they are not Horror. They should NOT be honored by the Saturn Awards. This category is mind-boggling in its inclusion. It just doesn’t need to be there! This also opens up all the acting/directing categories to nominate people from these and similar films, completely destroying the “SciFi/Fantasy/Horror” basis of the Saturn Awards.
The horrors of the nomination list extend into TV as well. Heroes, of which the second season and the majority of the first half of season 3 (2008′s episodes) were nearly universally derided, is nominated for best network show. Leverage, which is one of my favorite shows on TV, and easily my favorite new show this year, is not “SciFi/Fantasy/Horror,” and neither is The Closer, 24, or Breaking Bad.
The distinction that I’d like the Saturn Awards to draw here, is that having an element or two of SciFi/Fantasy/Horror does not necessarily make a movie or TV show fall into that genre. Also, just because something is recognizable and also SciFi/Fantasy/Horror, it does not mean it has to be recognized with an award or even a nomination. The list of nominations of any awards should give me an indication of the best things in those categories, so I can see what I may have missed. This ridiculous list gives me one indication and one indication only: The Saturn Awards, if they ever were, should no longer be held as relevant to the SciFi/Fantasy/Horror community. It’s a shame, but hey, there’s always the far superior Hugo Awards.
That’s my opinion, and it’s right.
March 11th, 2009 at 10:59 am
The best horror film of 2008 was “Let the Right One In”. Period. Yes, it was a Swedish import, but even David Ansen of Newsweek listed it as his absolute #1 film of the year.
March 11th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
The Saturn Awards have been accepted by Hollywood but, if the Academy of SciFi/Fantasy/Horror really wanted to step up their game, they would find a way to act more like an authority and less as a fan.
March 11th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
It sounds like they’re going the same way as the Annie Awards: embracing pop culture slop to score Oscar/Emmy publicity scraps. Example numero uno: guess who won the Annie for best voice over actor for an animated TV short form (TV cartoon) this year. Ahmed Best for his Jar Jar Binks in the Robot Chicken Star Wars parody. Seriously.
March 11th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Now here’s the thing… If you’re going to say that Wanted and Hancock stretch the definition of “fantasy,” aren’t you opening yourself to people saying the same thing about The Dark Knight? That’s especially true considering the more “realistic” approach Nolan has taken with the Bat-films.
Believe me, I love TDK and I’m hoping the Saturns show it the love that Oscar didn’t (and I’m guessing TDK will pretty much sweep the show anyhow), but here’s an example of not having it both ways I think.
March 11th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
You know what, Shaun? You’re not wrong. I think I’d prefer to see all three in Science Fiction, as none of them give magical explanations for their amazing happenings, if I had to see them at all. maybe this would be an instance where a “Superhero” category would make more sense. It also opens up a lot of debate on just how “genre” most superhero comics are or aren’t, and under which of those “big three” of SciFi, Fantasy, and Horror they should fall into, if any. It’s not hard to classify Iron Man as SciFi, since Tony Stark is actively creating, building, and using technology that is beyond what science can currently produce, and that’s central to the character. Sure, some of Batman’s toys are SciFi, but is that the core of the character, or is the idea of duality, fear, and justice (or vengeance) the core?
March 13th, 2009 at 9:00 am
I personally think we’re in an era where genre (SciFi/Fantasy/Horror) properties (movies,tv etc) are becoming more mainstream. So we have two types: the watered down made for the basic non genre fan who only likes genre in a strictly cosmetic way, not wanting to see any depth and we have genre properties that are actually what made this genre in the first place, which is deep, metaphysical and multi-layered which only us “diehards” enjoy sifting through and most “norms” just look at it, throw up their hands and say “that’s weird” and walk away. It’s “manufactured/pop” genre vs. “hardcore” genre.
March 13th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Oh and those nominees are a joke for this type of Award I 100% agree
January 17th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
Man if i ever saw two racoons fighting over a blogs itd be this one, nicely done my friend. Keep it up.