By Anthony Breznican
The Associated Press

The MTV Movie Awards turned into "ladies night" on Saturday, as women who kicked butt and made jokes took away most of the top awards.

Uma Thurman's bloodthirsty revenge maven from Kill Bill: Vol. 1 claimed the first prize of the evening for best female performance.

The actress praised director Quentin Tarantino for the two-part saga.

"Quentin spent many years writing this for me and wants to be honored as if he were dead tonight," she told the crowd. "We don't have time, so I'll have to honor you as if you were living. Thank you, Quentin."

Then Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler won the best onscreen team award for their amnesiac romance in 50 First Dates.

The MTV Movie Awards mocks the year in movies as much as it celebrates it. But this year, MTV followed the Oscars, giving its best movie honors to The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

The program, which was taped for broadcast on June 10, also featured comedy clips, and even the Passion of the Christ didn't get away without some ribbing.

The MTV Movie Awards are known for irreverent prizes. For instance, the best kiss trophy went to Amy Smart and Carmen Electra for their three-way makeout with Owen Wilson in Starsky & Hutch.

Electra accepted the award alone.

"Usually when people win this award they kiss someone, but Amy's not here and Owen's not here," Electra said. "So I don't know."

Snoop Dogg, who along with Paris Hilton presented the prize, offered his cheek.

Electra responded, "That's it?"

After he allowed a peck on the lips, Electra turned to Hilton.

"Paris?" And another brief liplock ensued.

Other winners included Lucy Liu's head-chopping Japanese assassin from Kill Bill: Vol. 1 as best villain, while Seann William Scott's embarrassingly goofy moves in American Wedding earned him the best dancing sequence prize.

The best fight prize went to Kill Bill: Vol. 1.

Host Lindsay Lohan took home the breakthrough female honor for Freaky Friday, while Shawn Ashmore from X2: X-Men United was picked breakthrough male.

Johnny Depp won best male performance for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and Jack Black won best comedy performance for School of Rock.

Musical performers included Eminem and his D12 group, the Beastie Boys and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

The winners List of winners at the 2004 MTV Movie Awards:

• Best Movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

• Male Performance: Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

•  Female Performance: Uma Thurman, Kill Bill: Vol. 1.

• On-screen Team: Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, 50 First Dates.

• Best Kiss: Owen Wilson, Amy Smart and Carmen Electra, Starsky & Hutch.

• Best Villain: Lucy Liu, Kill Bill: Vol. 1.

• Action Sequence: The Battle at Gondor, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

• Dance Sequence: Seann William Scott, American Wedding.

• Breakthrough Male: Shawn Ashmore, X2: X-Men United.

• Breakthrough Female: Lindsay Lohan, Freaky Friday.

• Best Fight: Uma Thurman vs. Chiaki Kuriyama, Kill Bill:
Vol. 1.

• Comedic Performance: Jack Black, School of Rock.