2010! A date that once conjured visions of intrastellar exploration and unknowable technological advancement in the minds of speculative fiction's finest. The reality of 2010 is somewhat different, but no less remarkable than what was once dreamed of -- we’ve yet to launch a manned mission to any planet in the solar system, let alone develop sentient artificial life, but on the other hand, iPads! -- because in a year of tumultuous world affairs, dicey news media coverage and ever-worrisome economic conditions, at least we've had good stuff to watch.

From the vast depth of quality genre TV shows to the oftentimes problematic but always intriguing attempts to bring favorite books, comics and TV shows to the big screen (as well as a few original ideas... although, to be honest, not many), there has been much in this storied year to either gladden or madden the geek heart.

And so, without further ado, herewith we present the best and worst of the TV and movies we consider within our purview here at Geek Speak Magazine. Some of these results astonished even us, but we’re certain there will be at least one outcome with which you’ll agree. And if you don’t, take heart; most of the recognized awards-giving bodies probably won’t agree with us either…

MOVIES:

BEST PICTURE:

No surprise here… it’s Inception, of course! Although Scott Pilgrim vs. the World also had its devoteés, director Chistopher Nolan’s star-heavy crossover blockbuster proved it deserved all the hype with a substantial majority of Geek Speaker voting. Unless it's all a dream...

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE:

Toy Story 3 was always going to be a contender here, and despite some competition from Despicable Me (“Multiple twinkie-like minions trump "Minion" from Megamind,” quoth K. Burtt), and a late run from Disney’s super-fun Tangled, Woody and the gang won out in the end.

BEST ADAPTATION:

With Eclipse and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 dividing the YA book lovin’ vote, the insta-cult classic Scott Pilgrim vs. the World walks away with this one, Michael Cera-fatigue notwithstanding. As David Baldwin said: “I did not think it was possible, but Edgar Wright successfully brought Bryan Lee O’Malley’s epic graphic novel series to the big screen in the most uniquely entertaining way imaginable.”

BEST EFFECTS:

A controversial category this one, but Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows made it just over the line. "I admit, I'm not the biggest Potter fan, but the effects sequences were nothing short of stunning," said Mark Ritchie. "Never has magic looked so real."

BEST SEQUEL:

Previously mentioned franchise leaders like HP7, Eclipse and Toy Story 3  received some praise here, but none managed to topple the comic book coolness of Iron Man 2 as the premier successor to past glories. But…

WORST SEQUEL:

… showcasing the wide range of interests and opinions our crack staff can muster, Best Sequel Iron Man 2 was also voted Worst Sequel. Never let it be said we’re not a melting pot of geek extremes.

WORST REMAKE (AKA: WHY, GOD? WHY?):

Clash of the Titans, in a landslide. So, in this case: why, gods, why?



BEST REMAKE:

The deliciously campy and fun Piranha 3D. As David Rosiak points out: “There's a lot to cheer for in director Alexandre Aja’s gleefully classless redo of director Joe Dante’s seminal Jaws rip off.” There sure is!

BEST ACTOR:

Leonardo DiCaprio won much praise for his work in both Inception and Shutter Island here, with a minority vote going to Iron Man 2’s Robert Downey Jr. “His portrayal of the haunted Tony Stark continues to be the pinnacle to which all lesser actors can only hope to near,” says Rachel Hyland.

BEST ACTRESS:

In a narrow victory, young Chloë Grace Moretz, of Kick-Ass and Let Me In fame, claims the crown. Although our Cathy Thomson paid tribute to “Jenn Proske as the Kristen Stewart copycat in Vampires Suck, for her perfect mimicry!” And that is the only tribute to Vampires Suck you’ll see printed in this magazine.

BEST CAMEO:

Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Expendables made our collective geek hearts leap, or, as Rachel Hyland said excitedly: “Bruce, Arnie and Stallone in the same scene! I can die happy.”

BIGGEST SURPRISE:

The A-Team. “I can't believe how much I loved this movie!” exclaimed Geonn Cannon. Hot Tub Time Machine's unexpected flashes of clever wit led it to a respectable second place.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT:

From the long, long list of disappointments this year past, including video game adaptation Prince of Persia, unnecessary sequel Predators and comic book adaptation Jonah Hex, M. Night Shyamalan's much-derided cartoon adaptation The Last Airbender garnered this dubious honor. (Bearing in mind, these votes were cast before the release of TRON Legacy.)

WORST MOVIE OF 2010:

The Last Airbender took out this one, too (although, again, TRON Legacy…)



TV:

BEST SERIES:

A wide range of tastes across a vast viewing demographic made this one contentious, but in the end, Doctor Who took the prize, with Sanctuary running a very close second. What can we say? We're deep.

BEST ANIMATED SERIES:

The indefatigable South Park, by a very narrow margin, although, as Mark Ritchie says: “Family Guy? American Dad? South Park? Pah! Spongebob Squarepants all the way!”

BEST NEW SHOW:

Nikita. Yes, the CW's reboot of the Luc Besson movie coupled with the Peta Wilson-starring USA series. Seriously!


BEST ADAPTATION:

True Blood. So say some of us, anyway. Also mentioned: AMC's six episode special event, The Walking Dead, and the mini-series made of Ken Follett's tree killing novel The Pillars of the Earth.

MOST IMPROVED:

Fringe and Smallville both got kudos for their recent renaissances, but it was ABC’s problem child V that we deemed staged the greatest comeback of 2010. As our Kate Nagy said: “Oh, V, how could you do it to me? How could you be uneven for nine episodes and then totally rock for three and then just go away? Come back, V, come back!” (Happily, V is back January 4, 2011. Happy New Year!)

MOST MISSED:

Of the shows we lost this year, the most missed is Joss Whedon’s unkindly truncated Dollhouse. Speaking of Joss, we still miss Firefly and Buffy, in addition to perennial Geek Speak favorite, Stargate SG-1. (We have long, long memories around these parts.)

BIGGEST SURPRISE:

Rachel Day summed it up best: “Just how good the new look Doctor Who is.” Nikita’s addictive and palpable quality also shocked the hell out of more than a few of us.


BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT:

Glee’s painful sophomore season, with particular reference to the titular popster’s quite pointless appearance in the fawning apologia that was “Britney/Brittany” (02.02).

BEST EFFECTS:

Definitely Sanctuary, though Supernatural's work is also of note. “Meanwhile,” says Rachel Hyland, “the Worst Effects Award, if we had one, would surely go to Warehouse 13. Awesome show, but when the cobwebs you’re using to illustrate that a room has been vacant for several years look like they came from a grade school Halloween haunted house, you probably need to look into that.”

BEST ACTOR:

Jensen Ackles is smoking it as the torn, tortured and ever-tousled Dean Winchester in Supernatural. “He’s such a hidden gem of an actor,” opines Mark Ritchie.

BEST ACTRESS:

Fringe’s Anna Torv is in a class all of her own, with her stunning portrayal of two different versions of Special Agent Olivia Dunham, both of them trying to be the other version of herself. She’s who The Vampire Diaries’ Nina Dobrev, equally gifted with a dual role this year, wants to be when she grows up. We're also loving Amanda Tapping's phenomenal work as the ageless Helen Magnus in Sanctuary.

BEST GUEST STAR:

Former teen queen Julia Stiles’s reinvention as sweet-faced revenge killer Lumen Pierce on Dexter delighted us, as did Timothy Dalton’s Keyser Soze-esque turn in Chuck’s action-packed fourth season.

FAVORITE COUPLE:

Triumphing over nominees like Burn Notice’s Michael and Fiona, Eureka’s Alison and Carter, Smallville’s’ Clark and Lois and Sanctuary’s Helen and John, the lovers we loved most this year were Doctor Who’s adorable Amy and Rory. As our Rachel Day said: "I love Amy and Rory! For me, the best new character of the series has turned out to be the one I had the most misgivings about, but Rory carved out his own place as a brilliant addition to the TARDIS. He was heroic, deeply in love with Amy and not afraid to stand-up to the Doctor."

MOST DESERVING CANCELATION:

J. J. Abrams’s lackluster return to spyville, Undercovers, though some of us were also very happy to farewell Caprica. Alas, poor Caprica, we knew you too well…


MOST UNDESERVING OF CANCELATION:

… but others were less pleased, decrying the Battlestar Galactica prequel’s abrupt dismissal at the hands of Syfy. Alas, poor Caprica, we hardly knew ye. Meanwhile, Stargate Universe's similar termination for cause also left some not best pleased.

WORST TV SERIES OF 2010:

Undercovers. What a silly show! (Despite the admitted hotness of its cast.) Good call, NBC.


GEEK HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR:

Sure, we loved the various conventions we attended, the TV shows we discovered, the long-awaited books we read and the ass-kicking movies we saw, but the biggest highlight of 2010, in our majority opinion, relates to a future geek event. Mark Ritchie explains: "Joss Whedon was announced to direct the flippin' Avengers movie!! I think I'll live off that geek high for a few years!" And with a projected 2012 release date, we may all need to.

-- The Geek Speak Staff