Controversial films and U2 are the People's Choice

Two controversial films that defied the odds to earn millions at the box office joined a familiar green ogre to take top honours at the annual People’s Choice Awards in California.

Mon, 10 Jan, 2005 - 10:04

Two controversial films that defied the odds to earn millions at the box office joined a familiar green ogre to take top honours at the annual People’s Choice Awards in California.

In the music category, U2 were named favourite group.

The Michael Moore documentary film Fahrenheit 9/11” which took a critical look at President George Bush’s actions after the 9/11 attacks, won the favourite movie award, while Mel Gibson’s explicit The Passion of the Christ won in the favourite drama category.

Moore dedicated his win to the US troops fighting overseas and said he was “amazed” that people voted his film their favourite.

Gibson echoed Moore’s appreciation, saying the award ”means a lot more to me this time than anything before”.

“I depended on you and you were there,” Gibson said. ”If it wasn’t for you guys, we would have been dead in the water.”

The animated Shrek 2 swept a number of categories, being named favourite comedy, favourite sequel and favourite animated movie.

The character of Donkey in Shrek 2, voiced by Eddie Murphy, was named favourite animated movie star, while the Fairy Godmother, voiced by Jennifer Saunders, won in the favourite movie villain category.

Perennial favourites took many of the top awards, including many of this year’s new categories.

Julia Roberts and Johnny Depp won for favourite female and male movie star. Matt LeBlanc and Marg Helgenberger won for favourite male and female TV stars.

Will & Grace, won for favourite TV comedy. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation was named favourite TV drama.

The People’s Choice Awards covered 38 film, television and music categories. Winners were determined by Internet voting.

Partial list of winners:

:: Motion picture: Fahrenheit 9/11

:: Drama motion picture: The Passion of the Christ

:: Comedy motion picture: Shrek 2

:: Animated motion picture: Shrek 2

:: Favourite sequel: Shrek 2

:: Animated movie star: Donkey in Shrek 2 (voiced by Eddie Murphy)

:: Movie villain: The Fairy Godmother in Shrek 2 (voiced by Jennifer Saunders)

:: Favourite on-screen chemistry: Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler in 50 First Dates

:: Female movie star: Julia Roberts