LISTEN TO THE PLUGGED IN SHOW, EPISODE 172
If you saw and heard our livestream March 7, what follows is old news. (See, don’t you early listeners feel just that much more cool now?) But for those who didn’t … hey, we officially selected and announced winners for our very own Plugged In Movie Awards! And while the winners didn’t get gold statuettes or fabulous swag bags, they do get to brag about their achievements for the next 12 months. And that’s worth something, right?
If you want to hear how the voting went down—and the raucous fighting that ensued—listen to this very special edition of The Plugged In Show. You’ll hear us discuss the pros and cons of everything from I Heard the Bells to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. We’ll find out why Mrs. Harris went to Paris and discuss some Bad Guys that maybe aren’t so bad. And while you’ll never know how many people voted for Oscar’s eventual winners, you’ll know exactly how we voted … and why. And, of course, we’ll unveil how you—our treasured Plugged In user/listener/reader—voted, too.
But if you just want to know who won … here they are.
Best Movie for Kids
The Nominees: The Bad Guys; Disenchanted; Marcel the Shell With Shoes On; Puss in Boots: The Last Wish; Railway Children
The Pluggy Goes to … Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Forget Pixar and Disney’s animated offerings this year. The Last Wish gave Plugged In what it wished for: good movie with some strong messages.
Your vote: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
DreamWorks’ hit scratched all the right places, it seems—earning a rare double win in the Plugged In derby.
Best Movie for Teens
The Nominees: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; Catherine Called Birdy; Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio; Slumberland; Till
The Pluggy goes to … Till
This true-story drama isn’t the easiest movie to watch. But it’s good, it’s worthwhile and it just might spark some wonderful conversations with your teens.
Your vote: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
This superhero story wasn’t just about fistfights and laser blasts. Because of the tragic passing of star Chadwick Boseman, the film was forced to wrestle with deeper issues.
Best Movie for Adults
The Nominees: The Batman; Cyrano; Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris; Thirteen Lives; Top Gun: Maverick
The Pluggy goes to … Thirteen Lives
The true story of the mission to rescue a Thai soccer team from a flooded cave system swam to a surprise, come-from-behind win.
Your vote: Top Gun: Maverick
It’s probably not a surprise that one of the year’s most-seen, most-praised films flew away with your hearts.
Best Christian Movie
The Nominees: Family Camp; Father Stu: Reborn; I Heard the Bells; Paul’s Promise; Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters
The Pluggy goes to … Father Stu: Reborn
Certainly the roughest film that has ever gotten Plugged In praise as a Christian movie, this Mark Wahlberg project gave us a gritty story of how faith can change lives—beginning with a very unlikely convert. (Note: If you want to watch this movie, be sure to watch the Father Stu: Reborn version, as the original Father Stu is a very hard R.)
Your vote: Paul’s Promise
In a spirited race, Paul’s Promise eventually snuck past the category’s other worthy contenders.
All right—with that out of the way, watch! Listen! And as always, talk to us about your own opinions on Facebook, Instagram or via email ([email protected]). You agree with our picks? Disagree? Can’t believe that Marcel the Shell With Shoes On didn’t walk away with all the awards? Let us know.
Additional Resources:
- Plugged In Blog: “The Plugged In Movie Awards: 2023”
2 Responses
Sonic 2 may not have been nominated, but it will always be the best kids film of 2022 in my heart.
– You bet, I work at a library and ran a movie event for Sonic 2…the movie was probably the best animated film that I have seen since Despicable Me 3! It really felt like a video game in most of the action scenes, which is definitely its highlight. I am hoping the Super Mario Movie coming next month will build on the same ideas and make them even better!