MTV honors its 2003 movie award winners in irreverent style

LOS ANGELES -- You don't have to exist to get an MTV Movie Award.

The irreverent ceremony honored the little green Jedi, Yoda, for best fight scene from "Star Wars: Episode II--Attack of the Clones," while the raspy creep Gollum from "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" won for "virtual performance" and for best on screen team for its performance alongside human co-stars Elijah Wood and Sean Astin.

Yoda appeared on a giant screen to accept the honor and spoke in his signature circuitous manner.

"Hmmm ... grateful am I to this award receive. To win, I did not expect," he said. "Promise myself cry I would not."

He went on to thank supporters ranging from "Star Wars" creator George Lucas to Wookie Chewbacca, Vin Diesel, space monster Greedo and actor Steve Guttenberg.

The computer-animated Yoda became angry when music played him off the stage.

After the virtual performance award went to Gollum, actor Andy Serkis -- who voiced the character and performed the movements for its computer animation -- appeared on screen to thank the filmmaker and special effects crew for their work in bringing the monster to life.

Then, the emaciated Gollum clamored over to snatch the trophy from Serkis' hands.

"You're a liar and a thief," Gollum hissed. "It's mine!"

Gollum went on to deliver an expletive-filled tirade against the filmmakers, actors, MTV and audience, while Serkis stood by looking embarrassed.

Rage rapper Eminem claimed the Breakthrough Male trophy for his work in the drama "8 Mile."

In a pre-taped acceptance speech he took a shot at Mariah Carey and her romantic-musical flop.

"I can't believe I beat Mariah for 'Glitter,'" he said.

While Yoda and Gollum won in categories in which they competed against human actors, Gollum defeated Yoda in the new MTV class for virtual performance. Their competition included the jabbering marsupial from "Kangaroo Jack;" Dobby the self-torturing elf in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" or the talking dog from "Scooby-Doo."

MTV says the award goes to the character -- not necessarily the flesh-and-blood actor involved or special-effects team that create it.

'Two Towers' honored

"The Two Towers" won best movie, beating "Spider-Man," "8 Mile," "The Ring," and "Barbershop." And "Towers" star Astin used his acceptance speech to apologize for Gollum's uncouth behavior. "Spider-Man's" Kirsten Dunst was named best female star, while Eminem won best male for his role in "8 Mile."

"I got male, I got male, I got male, I got male," Eminem shouted dozens of times.

Mark Wahlberg, Samuel L. Jackson, Hugh Jackman and Beyonce Knowles were among the presenters. Rapper 50 Cent, the pop singer Pink and the Russian girl duo t.A.T.u performed.

The event at the Shrine Auditorium is more satire than ceremony, honoring show-business types for such categories as best kiss and villain. The rain-drenched upside smooch between "Spider-Man" Tobey Maguire and Dunst won for kiss and 12-year-old Daveigh Chase collected the villain honor for playing the evil little girl who kills people through their television sets in "The Ring."

Unable to stop her giggling, Chase shouted, "Hey! Oh my gosh. This so rocks."

Singer Justin Timberlake and Seann William Scott (Stifler from the "American Pie" movies) hosted.

The 12th annual ceremony is scheduled to air Thursday on MTV.