The 2023 Scottscars
For the film industry, 2023 was a year of soaring highs, particularly in animation, as well as crippling strains- see the SAG-AFTA strike or the state of Marvel and DC. So grab yourself a Venti Iced Skinny Hazelnut Macchiato, with sugar free syrup and enjoy the 2023 Scottscars- the awards they all want to win, they just don't know it yet.
The running order as always:
The 2023 Scottsars Awards
Last years predictions
2024 movie predictions
My 2023 Stats
Because the Scottscars are 100% my personal opinion, here’s what we’re working with! I had a very busy year doing the festival circuit across the world for my own short animated film, Candlelight, so I didn't see as much as usual in terms of feature films- although I have watched 75,348 short films this year.
Movies watched: 72
Cinema : 29 times, 11 Imax
Most watched actor/actress: Jackie Chan
Most Watched Director: Brett Ratner (oh dear 💀)
Notable films I haven’t seen this year:
Tar
Maestro
The Boy and the Heron
Wish
Ferrari
Next Goal Wins
Poor Things (2024 UK release)
Saltburn
Aquaman 2
Heart of Stone
Dumb Money
And now on to the main event!
2023 Scottscars Awards
Remember this is going by UK release dates!
1) Cinema Experience of the Year
Sponsored by my Cineworld Unlimited Pass
🏆Winner🏆 Wonka
Wonka had the potential to be another lazy, low effort, formulaic, cash grab prequel, but instead Paul King, the director of Paddington, has it bursting at the seams with joy, energy and charm. With a soundtrack of uplifting earworms, snappy editing, half the cast of the Peep Show and what feels like a much tighter draft of the script from the Greatest Showman, experiencing Wonka in IMAX was the ultimate reminder that cinema is the best form of escapism.
Runners Up:
-Gran Turismo in 4DX- experience the same whiplash as the drivers!
-Spider-verse in IMAX
-Having my own short film Candlelight play at the QFT in Belfast in front of my family (This was my real winner, but trying to stay somewhat objective here!)
2) Shock of the year Award
Presented by GI Jane
😱Winner😱 Kang and his downfall
Kang the Conqueror had been lined up to usher in the next era of the post-Thanos MCU and to be the biggest, most terrifying, multiversal threat that would result in the next big Avengers Climax.
However over the course of this year, Kang has went from mysterious and all-knowing, all-powerful, to being pitifully taken down by ants in Quantumania, outmanoeuvred by Loki and of course, off screen, actor Jonathan Majors has been a literal shit. So much so that he's been fired and it appears that due to all of the above, Marvel may be planning on moving away from the character and Kang roadmap altogether.
At this point, they need something bigger than Kang to draw interest to the MCU and a break back to the drawing board may be just what the doctor ordered.
Runners Up:
- CGI -ing dead actors into The Flash for no reason other than 2 second cameos
-The Flash putting babies into a microwave scene
- Ant Man's leaked, parody, big head Modok design/CGI actually being the real thing
-How bad the dialogue/delivery is in the Madame Web trailer
3) Comic Book Movie of the Year
Sponsored by .... ah who cares. Thanks Ant-Man and Disney Plus
💀Winner?💀: No one
Just watch Spider-verse 2, Guardians 3 or Loki Season 2 finale if you're invested in any of those franchises. They're all great.
4) Animated Film of the Year
Sponsored by pen and paper
🏆Winner🏆 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
When Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse came out in 2018 it was a tangible indicator that mass audiences are willing to embrace new things, even with well established franchises and this signal was picked up on by Paramount and the TMNT crew. Where Spider-verse was praised as bringing a radical, extreme animation style to mainstream Hollywood cinema, several films after took this particular animation style as the new blueprint, with many clones started popping up. All of a sudden the phrase 'spider-verse style animation' was born- choppy frame rates, lack of depth of field, hand drawn textures on 2D models and yet this was not the full lesson that Spider-verse's success should have taught.
The lesson the TMNT crew correctly picked up on was that it's not about copying the technical animation techniques, but having the confidence to create a unique identity, and not being afraid to bring a new identity to an established franchise. Mutant Mayhem's aesthetic in every pixel and every audio cue is like the gross-out, grungy 'adorable ugly' style of the 90s, like rough and vibrant concept art, breaking every rule of anatomy in service to edgy visuals with the added uniqueness of having actual teenagers in the cast (and the type of energy that brings along with it).
Mutant Mayhem's reinvention won't suit everyone, but that's the point- it's not meant to. By trying to please everyone, you please no one and this it stands out as one of the most unique takes on the 40 year old franchise, as well as a welcome reminder that some studios are still willing to take risks in the pursuit of artistic expression.
Runners Up:
-Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
-Spider-man: Across the Spider-Verse
- Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Giberitia
- Elemental
5) The 'In Case you Missed It' Award
Sponsored by this blog
🏆Winner🏆 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
You would be forgiven for ignoring Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, being a sequel to a solid, but largely unremarkable spinoff of a franchise that has been meme'd to death However, if you watch one film from this entire blog, I implore you to make it this one. A plot revolving around an aged character who, for the first time in his nine lives, has to deal with the reality of death and the struggle of trying to fully engage in life while being aware of the ticking clock. Not to mention he is literally trying to outrun Death, a genuinely terrifying, stalking wolf character. Throw in excellent side characters and action scenes heavily 'inspired' by Spider-verse and you've got an emotionally impactful, visually stunning film that isn't afraid to ask us 'are we living life to the full?'
In a Shrek spin off.
Runners Up:
-Godzilla Minus One
Genuinely impactful character piece about a conflicted kamikaze pilot and Japan's post World War 2 depression, with a giant lizard dinosaur that shoots heat blasts from its mouth.
-Dungeons and Dragons
This is so much better than the trailer made it out to be. Very solid, funny, rip-roaring adventure that's not afraid to poke fun at itself or source material.
-Tetris
About the shifting attitudes towards capitalism within communist Russia as it come to terms with the impending collapse of the Soviet Union- disguised as a Tetris movie
- Gran Turismo
Solid and uplifting sports drama with some surprising stakes. Based on True story.
-Wonka
See above
6) Turd of the Year
Sponsored by the Last Episode of She-Hulk
🏆Winner🏆 Ant Man and the Wasp in Quantumania
Our first meeting with Kang, the new big bad of the MCU! The unlimited possibilities of the multiverse/Quantum Realm! The trailer teasing the stakes are so high that our heroes might not make it out alive! What could go wrong?!
Everything, to the point where I think even the last die hard MCU fans have decided that everything post-Endgame could have all been leading to nowhere worthwhile. Cringe-level dialogue, shocking CG/design (see MODOK picture above), no impact on the overall Marvel story and an ending so mismatched and obviously recut to hell and back leaves Quantumania with little to offer but a bad aftertaste.
Runners Up:
- Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
This was 3 movies crammed into one movie that felt 5 movies long.
- Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Not a dreadful movie, but so much wasted potential. No Michael Bay this time around, but nothing of style or substance to replace the Bayhem. Virtually no beasts in it either. Disappointing as it's based on what was my favourite TV show as a kid- Beast Wars.
- Fast X
They should have just went with time travel. Nothing unique or exciting about this one.
7) 2023 Film of the Year
Presented by Nicolas Cage... one day.... I hope....
🏆Winner🏆 Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
"My name is Marcel and I am partially a shell but I also have shoes and a face"
This mockumentary about a little shell and his grandma who live in an airbnb will have you laughing, crying and feeling warm inside by the end. The whimsical and fragile nature of the main character's design and stop motion animation style will have you charmed and sharing Marcel's sense of wonder as he discovers the big wide world. However, that cutesy design will catch you off guard when the film tackles heavier themes such as dementia and a feeling of isolation from your community.
Truly original and uplifting, as well as being a technical masterclass, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is my pick for 2023.
Runners Up:
-Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
-Wonka
-Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
-Past Lives
On to the predictions!
💭Last year’s Predictions💭
WRONG: HA! It came out and people did not like it.
YES: 96% on rotten tomatoes
3. Henry Cavill signs for Marvel
NO: lol
4. Avatar 3: The Seed Bearer (due 2024) is given a delay
YES: Delayed a year to December 2025
NO: not yet
6. Fast and Furious 10 at least HINTS towards time travel of some kind
NO: it should have though
NO
8. Sony announce a Sinister 6 film
NO
9. Turd of the year is Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
NO: Glad to say I was miles out here. Trailer was rubbish, film was excellent fun.
10. Film of the year is Marcel The Shell With Shoes On
YES:)
Score: 3/10 💀
Why do you read this, I clearly have no idea what I'm talking about. Surely we can't do any worse next year?
💫Predictions for 2024💫
1. Fast and Furious 10, part 2 is shelved indefinitely.
2. Deadpool 3 is the highest grossing film of the year
3. Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is a huge critical success
4. Probably due to critical and commercial disappointments in Madam Web and Kraven the Hunter, Sony get cold feet and don't move forward with any more crossovers/team ups with the Spider-man villain universe
5. Chris Nolan is announced to direct the next Bond movie. Bonus point- it's a 2-parter
6. A new live action Astro Boy movie is announced
7. Kevin Feige stands down from the Marvel machine in some capacity
8. Hayao Miyazaki comes out of retirement again
9. Turd of the year is Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire
10. My film of the year is Mickey 17
That's it! Took me a whole year to write this, so I better start the next one now.
Support local cinemas if you can, it's much better craic than sitting at home and watching your electricity and gas meters deplete. All (or at least most) the Northern Irish cinemas all seem to serve alcohol now.... what could go wrong?!
Have a great 2024 everyone and I appreciate the read if you made it this far. Catch you next time!
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