Last updated July 11th 2014
At the beginning of the year, I was very highly stoked. I was especially escatic over all the sci-fi that was lined up: a new Star Trek film, the Superman reboot, Pacific Rim, Oblivion, Elysium, Riddick; I was even psyched to see if M. Night Shyamalan could redeem himself with After Earth. There was plenty of action to be had, with a new Fast & Furious film, World War Z, a fifth Die Hard film, the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger, a big helping of even more superhero flicks (chief among them, Iron Man 3), and for some crazy reason, two movies about invading the White House. On top of that, this year also marks the release of two films from two great Korean directors, working in the US for the first time (Chan-Wook Park and Kim Jee-Woon). A few long-awaited projects have finally seen the light of day (Upstream Color, Shane Carruth's first film in something like nine years, and Ender's Game, which was over a decade in the making), and a few troubled productions managed to do okay (Jack the Giant Slayer, The Lone Ranger. and 47 Ronin).
Now that all the hype has died and all eyes turn to what's around the corner for 2014 (and 2015, a year that's sizing up to be unbelievably epic), I've looked back on 2013 with more objectivity (and perhaps more cynicism). As my scores for each movie would indicate, I enjoyed the line-up we've had this year. For a while, I felt a little underwhelmed, but I realized that while the major blockbusters may have been a hit-and-a-miss, this year as seen a lot of great dramas that are well-worth seeing. I think I am most impressed by the line-up of crime dramas: The Wolf of Wall Street, Prisoners, The Place Beyond the Pines, Only God Forgives, American Hustle, Dallas Buyer's Club, Pain and Gain, and even trash like Spring Breakers all offer phenomenal storytelling experiences in and around different levels of crime, and are all really sticking to me well. Even though very few movies outright blew me away, there have been plenty of 2013 films that have offered worthwhile experiences, and I am compelled to say that it's been a solid year in film.
Listed below are all the 2013 movies I've seen throughout the year. There are still some I haven't seen, so this list is not quite complete. As it is, I've arranged these in order of least-favorite to most-favorite, so it counts up to my #1 favorite of the year. A lot of the films have been quite divisive this year, so I'm sure that many viewers will disagree with my ratings. Regardless, if you're looking to see what you may have missed this year, I hope you'll find this list at least somewhat valuable.
For your consideration, here are my conclusions for the films of 2013...
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82: Independence Daysaster
The title alone should tell you what to expect. A blatant rip-off of ID4, with a horridly uninspired story, terrible acting and writing, and bad special effects.
Resonance: Likely to be ignored by most and hated by those who have actually seen it.
My current score: 1.5/5
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81: Stranded
A rather plain, dull, contrived, and utterly forgettable sci-fi flick that mimics the exact same plot of John Carpenter's The Thing. Nothing really stood out, Christian Slater continues to pump out bland and uninspired performances, and the model work at the film's beginning are some of the cheapest I've seen.
Resonance: I've pretty much already forgotten about most of this film, and chances are that it will be forgotten by all in due time.
My current Score: 2/5
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80: The Purge
This film had a promising synopsis; it could have been the wickedest dystopian film since A Clockwork Orange. It fell way short, presenting a cast of incredibly stupid characters who do some incredibly stupid things, all to push a story along that's nothing more than a bland home-invasion thriller. Despite a few good moments, the film could have been so much more.
Resonance: The film has a following, and chances are that there may be sequels coming along. It could be good or bad, but I could see it getting out-of-hand if they just keep pumping these out one-after-another the same way they did with all the Saw movies, the Rest Stop movies, the Wrong Turn movies, and stuff like that.
My current score: 2.5/5
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79: Planes
Pretty standard kids' movie fare here; the animation looks pretty, but the story, characters, and comedy don't really knock anybody's socks off. It was originally planned to be a direct-to-video movie, and it actually looks like one.
Resonance: Fans of the Cars franchise, and kids, will probably get a kick out of this. A second Planes film is already in the works. This movie could be around for a bit.
My current score: 2.5/5
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78: Sharknado
Do I really need to say anything about this? It's about a tornado full of sharks. Enough said!
Resonance: It was an amusing anomaly at its time, and it might garner a following for those who actively seek out "so bad it's good" films. Regardless, folks still prefer films that are unintentionally funny, rather than this film, which tries to be funny by being intentionally bad. I predict that Sharknado will be forgotten quickly, but immortal classics like Birdemic and The Room will live on forever in many viewers' hearts...
My current score: 2.5/5 (guilty pleasure)
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77: 47 Ronin
A fine and dandy samurai fantasy, with some cool-looking parts, but it's not nearly enough to surpass other films of the genre (especially those that actually come from the Far East).
Resonance: Likely to be forgotten in time.
My current score: 3/5
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76: I Spit on Your Grave 2
The sequel to the 2010 remake; pretty much the same story, told with different characters in a different setting (urban now, instead of some backwoods). The film is quite wicked indeed, and it does push the boundaries of taste and morality. I also have this film to thank for giving me a fear of vice grips.
Resonance: The film is critically panned, and will probably never surpass the notoriety of the 1978 or 2010 films. Of course, all these films cater to a specific audience anyway: those that can stomach some harsh and ugly violence. Such viewers might still dig this sequel, and it wouldn't surprise me if a third movie pops up down the line to satisfy this niche.
My current score: 3/5
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75: Turbo
Pretty average child's fare here. The film looks slick, but tells a pretty average and predictable (if not totally ridiculous) tale. A fine enough way to pass the time for families, but little more.
Resonance: Likely to be forgotten in time.
My current score: 3/5
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74: R.I.P.D.
A short, weird, silly, cartoony action/comedy monstrosity that's often accused of ripping off the Men in Black series. Enjoyable, but still very daft and shallow.
Resonance: Some audiences enjoy it, but I doubt that it'll go far in the long run. I still think it's this year's equivalent to Priest and Jonah Hex.
My current score: 3/5 (possible guilty pleasure material)
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73: Identity Thief
Despite having the relevant premise of identity theft as the core driver of the story, this film is just straight-up silly and ridiculous, to the point where it loses its creditability. The issue is compounded even more with a lot of tasteless, unfunny low-brow comedy. It's still more or less watchable, but it is heavily convoluted.
Resonance: Has gotten mostly bad reviews, so I expect this will be forgotten quickly.
My current score: 3/5
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72: The Last Stand
Ahhhnold returns from being the Governator!!! Kim Jee-Woon's film is...pretty weird. Despite a few good parts, the comedy just doesn't work that well, the plot is quite standard, and nothing really stood out.
Resonance: Likely to be forgotten in time. I'll still root for Kim Jee-Woon as a director though, for whatever his next project will be, and I'll still root for Schwarzenegger to the end (here's hoping that Maggie will be great).
My current score: 3/5
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71: The Europa Report
This is the "found footage" movie of the year. Not surprisingly, the photography tends to be rather dull and gaudy because of that. Thankfully, it's not as herky-jerky as movies like Cloverfield. I would have actually enjoyed this film more if there was more to the plot; as it is, the film has a few good merits, but it mostly feels long and empty.
Resonance: Likely to be forgotten in time.
My score: 3/5
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70: The Heat
This film has its moments, but I it didn't really make me laugh as much as I expected, and the story is pretty regular (if not utterly contrived and incredulous) buddy-cop fare.
Resonance: Likely to be forgotten in time.
My current score: 3/5
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69: Ip Man: The Final Fight (Yip Man: Jung Gik Yat Jin)
If you've been following these Ip Man films for this long, chances are that this final fight will appeal; the fight scenes are as cool as ever. The story doesn't really offer anything new to the table though. It actually comes up a little dry, cutting the action short and drawing out the uninspired drama. Above all, Donnie Yen is sorely missed.
Resonance: Might see some love from franchise fans, but otherwise, chances are that it'll be forgotten in time.
My current score: 3/5
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68: The Internship
You know what you're getting with this film: it's a pretty formulaic story with a strong feel-good payoff that you'll see coming from miles away. But then again, maybe that's not a bad thing either; it's a safe watch that'll likely please the most non-discerning audiences. But for those wanting something fresh and bold, you're better off looking elsewhere. There are a few good laughs in this flick, but that's about it.
Resonance: It seems like this film has gotten mostly bad reviews, so I doubt this film will see any lasting success.
My current score: 3/5
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67: GI Joe: Retaliation
What a fun movie. What a stupid story. Definitely a guilty-pleasure flick.
Resonance: Likely to be forgotten in time.
My current score: 3/5 (guilty pleasure)
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66: A Good Day to Die Hard
Rather messy and generic, but the film has its moments, especially as a mindless shoot-em-up blow-em-up guilty pleasure.
Resonance: Likely to be hated forever. My score has decreased on repeat viewings.
My current score: 3/5 (guilty pleasure)
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65: Enough Said
This is a nice film. It's well-made, it's sentimental, and it offers a refreshing view on relationships. The only reason why I didn't rank this film higher is that I personally found it a little dry, and maybe a little too safe and predictable. But hey, it's an easy recommendation to genre fans.
Resonance: Might be a hit for anybody who loves romance films.
My current score: 3/5
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64: Upside Down
A pretty unique film with clever ideas, a nice romance, and a lot of visual flair. It's a bit rough around the edges, but as a sci-fi romcom experiment, it's pretty interesting.
Resonance: Likely to remain obscure.
My current score: 3.5/5
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63: Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters
Pretty fun film with some cool fighting, some comedy, and a lot of attitude. There is something about it that feels cheap and perhaps somewhat trashy, but the film is a pretty neat hybrid of dark fantasy and adventurous action.
Resonance: Likely to be forgotten in time.
My current score: 3.5/5
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62: Jack the Giant Slayer
This film struck me as a rather weird experience: it's as if it couldn't decide if it wanted to be a kids' movie with a ton of low-brow comedy and antics, or a dark adult-rated fantasy with a ton of rip-roaring action and violence. The middle ground doesn't really congeal, but the film is still fun and light.
Resonance: Likely to be forgotten in time. Bryan Singer can make a better film (such as X-Men: Days of Future Past...).
My current score: 3.5/5
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61: After Earth
I had high hopes that M. Night Shyamalan can redeem himself with this film. I still don't think it's all that bad; I thought it was a decently-entertaining sci-fi flick with a decent-enough story and a pretty good style. Something about it does feel a little off, and I think most people are just appalled by the blatant nepotism demonstrated by Will Smith and his son.
Resonance: Will likely be regarded with sheer loathing and hate, given everyone's disposition on M. Night Shyamalan and Jayden Smith. My score has dropped since I saw it.
My current score: 3.5/5 (guilty pleasure)
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60: Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 1
As always, Lloyd Kaufman delivers a tasteless onslaught of crazy blood and gore, crazy sex, and an overall crazy energy that makes it all breeze by so comically. While Troma fans may find plenty to love in this semi-reboot, I personally don't think it's quite as funny or gnarly as its predecessors. Still a blast though.
Resonance: Well, volume 2 is on its way, so there must be some kind of audience for this...
My current score: 3.5/5
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59: New World (Sin-Se-Gae)
Technically not a bad film at all: it has good performances, good style, good storytelling, and everything. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that this has all been done before in more exciting ways. In the end, the film didn't do much for me personally.
Resonance: Will probably be loved by fans of the genre, but may still be pretty obscure for most North American audiences.
My current score: 3.5/5
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58: Frances Ha
A neat little film with a few neat moments, all in the style of New Wave cinema, complete with stylish black-and-white photography and French music. Unfortunately, New Wave is not my thing at all, and I couldn't relate to the main character at all; Frances is a bloody slacker. This film has moments that underscore the consequences of being a slacker - shrugging off responsibilities and leaching off of people - but one's enjoyment of the film will hinge entirely on whether or not you can dig the characters and their urbanite existence.
Resonance: Despite some quibbles, will likely be praised and loved by many viewers in the coming years.
My current score: 3.5/5
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57: The Grandmaster (Yi Dai Zong Shi)
Wong Kar-Wai offers this alternate take on the Ip Man tale, and he does so with a huge amount of style and flair. The visuals and fights are top-notch. However, at least for the US cut, the story comes off as rather dry and convoluted. I still prefer the 2008 film.
Resonance: Likely to remain a modest success among genre fans.
My current score: 3.5/5
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56: Trance
Danny Boyle's thriller definitely has style and flair, and some action, and an interesting premise, but I found it rather muddled. I generally liked what I saw, but will need another viewing to fully appreciate it.
Resonance: Could go one way or another, but I'm tempted to think that it'll be forgotten in time.
My current score: 3.5/5
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55: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
A rather mixed experience, but this comedy does have some awesomely hilarious moments. The story's not very strong, but it's totally worth seeing for a good laugh or two (especially with Jim Carrey's portrayal of the Chris Angel style magician).
Resonance: Likely to be forgotten in time.
My current score: 3.5/5
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54: Inside Llewyn Davis
I personally found this film to be rather dry, especially since I am not a fan of folk music. The main plot is interesting enough and there are themes to be had. It can be amusing to watch just how everything keeps going wrong with Llewyn Davis' life, but it can be a stretch to really relate to him. Ultimately, it is a film of quality with a few good moments, and I'll probably always have that wacky "Outer Space" song stuck in my head, but everything else felt really dry to me.
Resonance: Likely to receive plenty of love among film fans and fans of the Coen Bros.
My current score: 3.5/5
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53: Hummingbird
Also known as Redemption in other parts of the world, and that is probably a more relevant title. This movie does go through a promising plot with characters we can actually care about. It has action, but also a lot of heart. This is easily one of the better movies starring Jason Statham.
Resonance: Likely to remain obscure.
My score: 3.5/5
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52: Oz: The Great and Powerful
Wow, it's pretty ambitious to make a prequel to a movie that's 75 years old now. Still, Sam Raimi did it, and did so with plenty of style, flair, and imagination. The film has a few dumb parts, and it'll never outdo the magic and nostalgia of the original Wizard of Oz, but it is an enjoyable trip down the yellow brick road.
Resonance: Will probably see little-to-moderate success and recognition as time goes on, but I question as to whether it'll be memorable at all after ten years or so. My score has dropped since I saw it. Might still want to revisit the film.
My current score: 3.5/5
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51: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2
Pretty much more of the same as the first film. It is a pleasure to see all the characters coming back with their signature style of comedy, but the film sinks into becoming just a madcap series of chases and eye candy. Entertaining, but not quite as substantial or endearing as its predecessor.
Resonance: Likely to be a hit for fans and families.
My current score: 3.5/5
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50: OldBoy
This is pretty much on-par with other American movies made from great foreign films; same story, different take, and not quite as good. In the case of OldBoy, I think this movie gets an exceptionally bad rap, because Chan-Wook Park's original film is an exceptionally bleak, brutal, and bizarre experience; Spike Lee's version doesn't have the same kick, especially in regards to the acting, overall style, and execution. It is still an entertaining thrill ride with some edge to it.
Resonance: Likely to remain hated.
My current score: 3.5/5 (guilty pleasure)
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49: Stoker
Chan-Wook Park's US debut presents a pretty stylish, moody, and sensual thriller. It's definitely a worthy title in his repertoire, and the acting is great. The problem is, there's not much to the plot, and it just doesn't stick out as much the director's previous work from Korea. In fact, I personally have little-to-no interest in revisiting this film at all.
Resonance: I think it'll be forgotten pretty quickly. My score has dropped since I saw it.
My current score: 3.5/5
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48: Evil Dead
What is up with all these even-numbered Evil Dead movies? It's always a simultaneous remake/reboot/sequel. This one definitely looks sharp and sick, it is chock full of attitude, and it's definitely a fun flick for horror fans. Might just be a bit trashy with the language.
Resonance: Likely to be a fan favorite.
My current score: 3.5/5
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47: World War Z
In spite of the shakey-cam and fast editing, this film is quite relentless, and audiences have enjoyed it as a great thrill ride. There are some issues I found disruptive, but contrary to popular opinion, I actually enjoyed the last act the best (which was entirely re-shot, since the original ending in Russia was said to be horrid).
Resonance: Likely to be a continuing success. My own score could improve on repeat viewings.
My current score: 3.5/5
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46: Despicable Me 2
Enjoyable, but not quite as memorable or endearing as the first film, and I think most of the comedy aims a lot lower to appeal to the kids.
Resonance: Likely to be a popular choice for family-friendly entertainment.
My current score: 3.5/5
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45: Monsters University
Still not quite as magical as Pixar's earlier works, but M.U. does have its moments, and it does decent justice to the characters and the imaginative world they inhabit.
Resonance: Likely to be a popular choice for family-friendly entertainment.
My current score: 3.5/5
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44: Fast & Furious 6
Enjoyable, with some really mad stunt work and action scenes, but it does get incredulous, and the story suffers a little.
Resonance: Likely to be a fan favorite. This is currently my second-favorite of the franchise (just behind Fast Five), but my score has dropped since I saw the film.
My current score: 3.5/5
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43: Batman: Dark Knight Returns Part 2
Pretty much more of the same as part 1, offering plentiful amounts of action and style. The story remains interesting enough, with fine characters. Animation style is fairly cool. Overall, a decent cartoon that Batman fans everywhere can enjoy.
Resonance: Might remain a hit among fans.
My current score: 4/5
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42: 42
A pretty solid dramatization of the life and career of Jackie Robinson. The film is well-made and boasts some decent performances. The focus on racism digs up some relevant themes worth exploring. In the end, it's a good-looking drama worth seeing.
Resonance: Likely to remain a hit for fans of baseball, fans of Jackie Robinson, or fans of drama in general.
My current score: 4/5
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41: The Croods
Although this film runs the risk of coming off as more of the same, it is a pretty decent flick with plenty of good jokes, plenty of peril and visual whimsey, and themes worth exploring. The story may have been done before, but the characters are endearing and their adventures are rarely dull. Overall, a decent choice for families and animation fans.
Resonance: Likely to remain a modest success, especially with a sequel planned.
My current score: 4/5
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40: Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
If you liked the first Anchorman film, this long-awaited sequel delivers more of the same. Some of the jokes are retreads, some aren't that funny, but the film moves fast and has some seriously funny scenes to it.
Resonance: Likely to be a fan favorite.
My current score: 4/5
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39: Room 237
The documentary that opened my eyes to all the (potentially baseless) subliminal messages and anomalies that exist in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. Even though the film doesn't show the interviewees' faces, it is a pretty neat presentation with some very convincing arguments.
Resonance: Likely to be laughed at and dismissed by most viewers, will be adopted by fringe viewers wearing tin foil hats who insist that The Shining is all about the faked moon landings.
My current score: 4/5
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38: Necessary Evil: Supervillains of DC Comics
This documentary provides a pretty neat overview of the supervillains of DC lore. It's not terribly in-depth, and probably won't provide any new information for die-hard comic book fans, but for a casual viewer like myself, it's entertaining and enlightening.
Resonance: Probably won't leave much of an impact.
My current score: 4/5
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37: Spring Breakers
It's a massive onslaught of booze, drugs, sex, debauchery, and wannabe gangstas. The film busts out in a type of music-video mode often, and combined with the trashy partying, the film comes off as a pretty trashy experience for many viewers. I personally appreciated the experience of the film; thanks to its wacked-out use of visuals and editing, I think it told its story in a fundamentally visual way. And all the topless ladies didn't hurt either...
Resonance: Likely to remain a love-it-or-hate-it film. Might become a cult film.
My current score: 4/5
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36: Olympus Has Fallen
Perhaps a bit trashy, especially with the drab and gaudy colors and dark lighting. It's also been bashed for being too right-wing or jingoist. Still, the film has plenty of action, and I think it's a good complement for many of my other favorite action movies (especially Die Hard, Under Siege, or The Rock).
Resonance: Might be forgotten in time, but I do wonder if action fans will embrace it as some kind of cult film. I probably will re-watch it on occasion.
My current score: 4/5
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35: The Wolverine
Surprisingly, not very big on the action, but the fights are pretty cool. It is a pretty decent drama at its heart though, with a solid focus on the title character.
Resonance: Not sure; might be embraced by viewers wanting more than mindless superhero action, but might also be dismissed by those who expect bigger-scale setpieces.
My current score: 4/5
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34: Man of Tai Chi
Maybe not a great film, especially when compared to other established martial arts classics, but for his directorial debut, Keanu Reeves managed to make a pretty solid and hip film. The fights are great, the style is slick, and the film is fairly cool overall.
Resonance: Likely to be a hit for fans of the genre. I'm intrigued to see what films Reeves will direct next.
My current score: 4/5
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33: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
It's a good-looking film with some good-looking locales, good-looking fantasy scenes, and a feel-good vibe overall. Not quite as inspiring as I'd like, but it's still a good light-weight adventure with messages worth exploring (even if they are unsubtly thrown into your face).
Resonance: Likely to find an audience, but won't last long. I will have to see the original 1947 film to see how it compares.
My current score: 4/5
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32: Secretly, Greatly
A strangely bipolar film that hasn't really connected with all audiences, but it is a hit in South Korea. On one hand, this film features generous amounts of heartfelt slapstick comedy. On the other hand, it's also a dark, action-packed thriller with lots and lots of fighting. I personally found the film fun on both counts, with just the right level of heart and style.
Resonance: Likely to be a hit, but might be bewildering to North American audiences.
My score: 4/5
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31: Captain Phillips
A simple tale about a bunch of Somali pirates taking on a freighter. The film is not without its stupid parts, but it is an intense and suspenseful thriller that consistently entertains. Tom Hanks is as great as ever, and despite Paul Greengrass' penchant for shakey-cam, the direction in this film is not too shabby.
Resonance: I'll bet this will be forgotten after a year or two.
My current score: 4/5
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30: Now You See Me
This film kinda shoots itself in the foot, using frequent CGI to simulate impossible magic on-screen, but i think it's still a unique and fun heist film with a few smart twists.
Resonance: A sequel might be possible, but even then I don't think this will be remembered in the long run. I might revisit the film now and then for its merits as a heist or caper film specifically.
My current score: 4/5
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29: Unbeatable (Ji Zhan)
This film has a few awesome fight scenes, but its main focus is on storytelling. It is pretty weird how the story splits itself in half between two different sets of entwined characters, but each character has their moments. It's nothing new to the world of sports films, but it is endearing and well-made.
Resonance: Likely to be a hit in Hong Kong, and it might find an audience everywhere else.
My score: 4/5
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28: Pain & Gain
Based on a really strange real-life case, P&G might push the boundaries of taste as it revels in the violence and torment that the idiotic criminals dish out. Still, it is refreshing to see a Michael Bay film that's not overloaded with endless 'splosions. It is still quite entertaining, low-brow humor and all, and the film has a phenomenal style.
Resonance: Looks to be a love-it-or-hate-it film forever. Might be forgotten in time, but I wonder if it has the potential to be a cult favorite. I might revisit the film whenever the mood strikes me.
My current score: 4/5
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27: White House Down
It's classic Roland Emmerich: plenty of action, plenty of timely comedy, and light-hearted characters and storytelling. Comparisons with Olympus Has Fallen are inevitable; that one was a decent action flick, but this is pure popcorn entertainment, and I value it a little more for being more evenly-entertaining and having a more solid plot structure.
Resonance: Likely to be dismissed by many viewers, but might find a home among those who enjoy this type of flick. I will probably re-watch the film on occasion.
My current score: 4/5
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26: The Lone Ranger
I halfway wonder if people were predetermined to hate on this film. I can't deny that the humor won't work on everybody, and some of the plot could have been cut out to make it shorter and tighter. It's still one of the most entertaining westerns I've ever seen, and I thoroughly appreciate the big-scale adventurism the film offers.
Resonance: The film is considered a failure, on a similar level to last year's John Carter, and many viewers will probably always dismiss this as a mere box-office flop. Still, it does have a following (just like JC), and less-critical viewers will likely latch onto it. I personally don't see that much wrong with the film; my score has decreased since I saw it, but I'll probably still revisit it at some point.
My current score: 4/5 (guilty pleasure)
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25: Iron Man 3
Pretty much more of the same, and I didn't mind it that much. The action does get rather incredulous, and the little twist with the bad guy has caused nothing but outrage among most viewers. These were minor nitpicks to me personally, and I still enjoyed watching the characters and the action.
Resonance: Might be hated on the same level as X-Men: The Last Stand or Spiderman 3. My score has decreased since I saw it, but I'll probably revisit this film sometime.
My current score: 4/5
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24: The Conjuring
This is some damn creepy stuff, easily one of the most effective horror pictures since the days of The Amityville Horror or The Omen. The film successfully gets under the audience's skin through the effective use of setting, lighting, pacing, and effective storytelling, with much less emphasis on gimmicks. The film's style is understated, while the performances are decent and the experience overall is effective.
Resonance: Likely to remain a hit in the genre.
My current score: 4/5
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23: Star Trek: Into Darkness
The action is definitely great. The style is really slick. The acting is still top-notch. The film overall is a greatly-entertaining thrill ride. There's just one thing that's always bothered me: the lack of originality. This is a total rehash of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and I wish they could have come up with something new for a change.
Resonance: Will probably continue to be loved and embraced, especially by newer or younger audiences who were introduced to Trek with the 2009 film. Upon reflection on the actual story, my score has decreased since I saw it.
My current score: 4/5
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22: Riddick
Riddick's back, ready to cut up some mercs and slay some monsters! It's not a terribly tasteful film, but it's still really fun to watch this guy struggle to survive, and then pick off some tough guys systematically. The character is as tough as always, and is still fun to watch.
Resonance: Likely to find its way in the collections of various Riddick fans.
My current score: 4/5
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21: Ender's Game
It took a while to bring Orson Scott Card's classic novel to the big screen. Despite some issues with the pacing, timeline, and pathos of the story, it is a pretty decent adaptation, and quite the entertaining film. It's mostly just what I pictured from reading the book.
Resonance: Likely to have a following, but its success may be marred by a weak box office reception and people's boycotting of Orson Scott Card (even though the movie has nothing to do with his personal views).
My current score: 4/5
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20: Thor: The Dark World
Resonance: Likely to find its way in the collections of many Marvel or comic-book fans.
My current score: 4/5
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19: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Quite an improvement over the first film, and a smashing adaptation of the novel. A lot of moments are brought to life on the big screen perfectly, and the cast is phenomenal. It's a very evenly-entertaining film, with a finely balanced story and quality characters (for a change).
Resonance: Likely to remain a hit for a while. My own score could increased on repeat viewings.
My current score: 4/5
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18: Elysium
Generally dismissed by most, but this film met all my expectations. Even though the themes aren't all that subtle, the film has some really awesomely-gritty action and a lot of unique ideas. It's a rough and tough piece of pulp sci-fi with a lot of ideas shoved into it, and I thought it was as interesting as it is exciting.
Resonance: Might be forgotten by most, might also find a stronger audience among those willing to give it a second chance. My score has decreased since viewing, but I will probably always be watching this film, because I think it's a fine piece of sci-fi.
My current score: 4/5 (guilty pleasure)
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17: Dallas Buyer's Club
Winner of the Academy Award for Best Actor (Matthew McConaughey), Best Supporting Actor (Jared Leto), and Best Make-Up.
A competently-made drama about a Texan dude who contracts AIDS and decides to help other sick people by dealing in pharmaceuticals. A bit morally ambiguous, but the film maintains a great level of pathos and character development, and it's easy to understand and relate to the situation. The style is solid, performances are good, and the film overall is worth seeing at least once.
Resonance: Likely to remain a hit for film fans. Might also be seen as overrated by some.
My current score: 4/5
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16: Her
Easily one of the most complete and touching romance films. It's stylistically slick, the relationships are developed very nicely, and the characters are endearing. And with the premise of the love interest being an artificial intelligence, the plot does dig up some fascinating themes and ideas, and invokes some reflection on how human relationships work today and how they could evolve in the future. My only complaint about this one is that the film feel a bit long.
Resonance: Likely to remain a success.
My current score: 4/5
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15: American Hustle
The 70s never looked or sounded more fabulous in this intense and highly entertaining tale of deception and entrapment. While the production design is top-notch, it's the actors who shine the most: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, and Bradley Cooper all exude a sense of presence, style, and raw emotion that gives their respective characters life and makes the complexities of this four-way relationship creditable. The film overall is like a mash-up of The Goodfellas and Argo, and while the story and characters won't appeal to everybody, the quality of this film is phenomenal.
Resonance: Oscar hype will likely cause everybody to label this film as "overrated," and audiences have been griping that the film itself is a "con." Regardless, it'll likely have its share of fans, but long-term success is dubious.
My current score: 4/5
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14: The World's End
The last part of the Cornetto Trilogy is here! This is the end! The World's End is every bit as good, if not better, than Edgar Wright's previous films, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. They all share similar stories, similar characters, similar comedy, and similar themes. But The World's End is consistently entertaining, quite funny on many levels, and well-structured.
Resonance: Likely to remain a success.
My current score: 4.5/5
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13: 12 Years a Slave
Winner of the Academy Awards Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong'o), and Best Screenplay.
This is probably the one film from this year that made me want to cry. It is a seriously painful experience. It's not necessarily the violence or brutality as it is, simply, the focus on hopelessness and despair. This film really nails all the reasons why slavery is one of the most atrocious social evils. It is a gut-wrenching tale told with solid performances and solid style; the themes aren't subtle, but in spite of that, the film is a must-see.
Resonance: Likely to remain a success. Awards could cause some to label this as "overrated."
My current score: 4.5/5
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12: Pacific Rim
Guillermo Del Toro's epic mash-up of monstrous kaiju and robotic Jaegers gets a bit silly, but it's still a blast. Pacific Rim boasts some of the biggest and best action scenes of the year, complete with top-notch SFX and highly imaginative worldbuilding. It has a cast of endearing characters, and the film overall has a huge amount of heart. Above all, I'm quite happy to see a movie like this come along, bringing the possibility of a thrilling new franchise, as opposed to more sequels, prequels, remakes, reboots...
Resonance: Likely to remain a modest success. My score dropped just a tad, but the film will likely remain one of my favorites of the year.
My current score: 4.5/5
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11: The Place Beyond the Pines
An intimate, gritty, and thoughtful crime drama in three acts, each one exploring a new angle and a continuing consequence from a series of simple, but perhaps terrible, mistakes. Although the film loses some steam by its end, the bank robberies of the first act and the intense conspiracies of the second act are quite gripping. The acting is exceptional, the story is very intriguing, and despite some shakey-cam, the film looks quite stylish.
Resonance: Likely to remain a modest success. My score has increased since I saw it, and chances are good that I will revisit the film.
My current score: 4.5/5
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10: Prisoners
Resonance: Likely to remain a hit. Might even see long-term success among genre fans.
My score: 4.5/5
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09: Only God Forgives
Perhaps the most beautifully-shot film of the year, with gorgeous camera work, and lots of bizarre lighting and intricate locales. The actual story for this is almost incomprehensible, but the sheer style and mesmerizing experience more than makes up for it. If you give the film a few viewings, you can see some method to the madness, and it can be rewarding in its own right.
Resonance: Chances are that audiences will continue to discover it as time goes on, but it'll likely always be a love-it-or-hate-it film.
My current score: 4.5/5
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08: The Wolf of Wall Street
Plays out like The Goodfellas, but with stock brokers instead of the mafia. I think the film purposefully blurs the line between white collar crime and common thievery, as these brokers sucker hapless victims into their schemes and make obscene amounts of money, before making obscene displays of excess and debauchery. The film has its share of intensity and grotesqueness, but it's also surprisingly sharp and sadly funny at times. With Martin Scorsese's signature style and top-notch performances, this ought to be one of the best crime movies that's come along in the past decade (take that, Boiler Room!).
Resonance: Likely to remain a hit.
My current score: 4.5/5
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07: Frozen
Winner of the Academy Awards Best Animated Film and Best Original Song.
A phenomenal surprise on all levels. Children may be pleased by the spellbinding visuals and catchy songs; adults may be pleased by the nuanced storytelling. Comedy is there, but hardly overbearing. There is magic and action to be had, but once again, it's not too overwhelming. It's a short and fast-moving picture with a firm focus on its story, and it is a fresh, original tale worth telling. In the end, it's every bit as finely balanced as some of Disney's best films, making this one of the best princess-fairy-tale type of films to have come out in a long time.
Resonance: Could become a classic.
My current score: 4.5/5
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06: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
An Unexpected Journey may not have sat well with many viewers, but with the epic journey underway, the second Hobbit film wastes little time in the set-up and gets right to the action. The film continues boldly ahead, venturing into darker territory, and jam-packed with a huge number of crazy action sequences. It's still a heavily-padded saga, with a number of tangents, added characters, added relationships, and added connections to bloat the story. It is still a very entertaining thrill ride, full of inspiring spectacle, heartfelt characters, and impressive style. I just wish the film didn't end right in the middle of the climax...
Resonance: Looks to be a little more well-regarded than its predecessor, and will remain a success. I predict that Battle of the Five Armies will be the best of the lot and a huge success (although I doubt it'll surpass the success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy).
My current score: 4.5/5
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05: Upstream Color
This is a film that makes very little sense, but it is chock full of exquisite compositions and interesting scenes. What the film lacks in narrative or logos, it makes up for in warm, abstract, artistic expression, leaving it wide open to interpretation and speculation. I found the experience of the film most mesmerizing, the content fascinating, and the film itself very well-made. As to what it's about, the frakk if I know; it's about a dude injecting grubs into people, then stuff happens. As it is though, I prefer this a bit more than Shane Carruth's last film, Primer.
Resonance: For those who do manage to discover this film, it will likely remain a love-it-or-hate-it film.
My current score: 5/5
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04: Oblivion
Say what you will about Tom Cruise, Oblivion is a phenomenally stylish and highly-entertaining thrill ride. It offers a story that's been done before, with scenes that echo numerous other sci-fi films, but it does pull out some fascinating twists that sheds different light on the film with repeat viewings. The story's dense, and the action is great; the combination hasn't sat well with many viewers, for there are those who find the story incomprehensible and just want the action, and others who like the story but thought that the action took away from it. I personally appreciate the marriage of action and storytelling, and Oblivion comes out as one of the most perfectly entertaining blockbusters of the year.
Resonance: Despite some lackluster reviews, the film might remain a favorite for sci-fi fans, or else it might garner a cult following. My score has increased since I saw it, and I find it quite rewatchable.
My current score: 5/5
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03: Man of Steel
In this day and age, with superhero movies all the rage, and with dark serious movies like The Dark Knight setting bold new standards, a serious reboot for Superman was well overdue. Zack Snyder's take on the Man of Steel is a very ballsy movie that hasn't sat well with many viewers; the style can be quite erratic, with frequent snap-zooms. The nature of the character is not the same; this is not the happy slappy ultimate-boy-scout type of Superman. He does not spend every waking minute saving people; he actually gets into trouble for being the hero. Superman is a threat here, and he's called upon to fight another threat in a massive series of highly-destructive battles. It is such a different tale, it was bound to be hated; I've seen a ton of rants about this movie, and many would call it the worst of the year. I personally disagree; I think the story and characters are great, I think the film is immensely powerful, and I love the action, no matter how excessive it gets.
Resonance: With sequels on the way, and some kind of Batman/Superman mash-up scheduled for 2015, Man of Steel has made its mark, and will probably stick around whether you like it or not.
My current score: 5/5
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02: Berserk: The Golden Age Arc III: Advent (Beruseruku: Ougon Jidai-hen III - Kourin)
The first Berserk film was rather disappointing, for it was too short and cut out so many important scenes. The second film was a grade better, finding a better balance between content and action. But it's this third film that offers the best payoff, faithfully adapting the last act of the Golden Age story arc. And it is a real doozy of a film, for it doesn't hold back on the gore and sex, and the scenes of the Feast are as intense as ever. Even though a few important scenes are still missed, this film hits up all the right plot points and makes the characters shine well. The animation style seems to be improved as well. Overall, the experience of this film is everything I expected it to be, and it makes up for the shortcomings of its predecessors.
Resonance: Likely to be a hit for anime and franchise fans.
My current score: 5/5
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01: Gravity
Winner of the Academy Awards Best Director (Alfonso Cuarón), Best Original Score (Steven Price), Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, and Best Special Effects.
Astronaut movies are few and far-between, but none have had the ambition of Gravity. Alfonso Cuarón went to great lengths to simulate a cinematic experience in outer space; the opening 17 minutes is a magnificent sequence that goes on without any cuts, using superb SFX to show orbital disaster and the characters' struggle for survival. The settings, with vast views of Earth and the wide-open void beyond, are magnificent, as the characters drift to their salvation and eventually find their way to Earth. The film has its share of spectacle, suspense, and thrills, but it's also beautiful at times, thanks to a surprisingly earnest performance by Sandra Bullock, and the film's great cinematography. A few viewers have nit-picked on the accuracy of the film (there are a few scenes that aren't 100% realistic), but the movie is well-made, consistently engaging, and a fantastic example of how a movie can make the most out of a simple story.
Resonance: Likely to remain a success, although many will probably go on to call it overrated. I can see myself watching this film over and over again.
My current score: 5/5
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Score for 2013 in films: 3.76/5 (a "pretty good" year)
Favorite film: Gravity
Least favorite film: Independence Daysaster
Favorite blockbuster: a tie between The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug and Man of Steel
Favorite arthouse film: Upstream Color
Favorite foreign film: Berserk: Golden Age Arc III: Advent
Favorite documentary: Necessary Evil: Supervillains of DC Comics
Favorite science fiction film: Gravity
Favorite fantasy/epic: The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug
Favorite action film: White House Down
Favorite comedy: The World's End
Favorite drama: The Wolf of Wall Street
Favorite horror: The Conjuring
Favorite romance: Her
Favorite animated/family film: Frozen
Biggest guilty pleasure: Man of Steel
Best "so bad it's good" film: Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 1
Most disappointing film: The Purge
Biggest box-office success: Iron Man 3 (gross of $1,215,439,994)
Biggest box-office flop: The Lone Ranger (estimated loss as high as $119,748,943)
Favorite male performance: A tie between Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street and Hugh Jackman in Prisoners
Favorite female performance: a tie between Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Sandra Bullock in Gravity
Favorite direction: a tie between Alfonso Cuarón directing Gravity and Peter Jackson directing The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug
Favorite action scenes: Man of Steel
Favorite special effects: a tie between Gravity and Oblivion
Favorite film score: Hans Zimmer composing the Man of Steel score
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All that being said, I still have all these films on my radar:
Al's Watch List of Lingering 2013 Films
Kick-Ass 2: Having enjoyed the first film and the comic books, I have faith that I'll enjoy this sequel, despite the varied reviews I've read. The trailer looks very much in-line with the comic, and the action looks smashing.
R.E.D. 2: The trailer always looked amusing, but negative reviews held me back. I won't expect a whole lot, but since I enjoyed the first R.E.D. film, I'm interested to see where this sequel goes.
The Escape Plan: It's Ahhnold and Stallone in jail together, trying to bust out! How cool is that?!
Machete Kills: Looks like more of the same as Machete, but I totally dig the aesthetics, action, and absurdity of the franchise, so I'm willing to give this sequel a shot.
Dead Man Down: Because the trailer looked alright.
Nymphomaniac: Okay, let's see what crazy thing Lars Von Trier comes up with now...
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That's not all; it's also time to look ahead and see what's coming up next year! Even though we'll still have to wait a while to see the epicness of Star Wars VII, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avatar 2, ID4 2, and so many others, 2014 looks to have some interesting hits of its own...
Al's Watch List for 2014:
I, Frankenstein (January): Perhaps a bit too absurd and derivative, but it's only natural that the Frankenstein monster, with all its inhumane strength and power, should be a natural monster-slayer. It might be a bit ridiculous, but it looks like fun.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (January): Not sure how close this will be to Tom Clancy's original works, but the film looks pretty gripping and action-packed.
RoboCop (February): It might be sacrilege to take Paul Verhoeven's pulp sci-fi masterpiece and water it down to PG-13 blockbuster mush, but judging from the trailers, the new RoboCop might do okay justice to the story (and let's face it, the original film's story was very short and simple anyway). I could see this being either another bland remake like 2012's Total Recall, or something decent; I'll probably enjoy it no matter what though.
Pompeii (February): Likely to be a flop; director Paul W.S. Anderson is not known for making particularly good films. Regardless, he does make them fun, and a movie about the Pompeii disaster should be interesting.
Son of God (February): Chances are that The Passion of the Christ has spoiled me, because Son of God looks like a glossy, Hollywood-ized, potentially ethnocentric telling of biblical events. Then again, it's not like the classic 1950s films were bad that way; chances are that Son of God will be a good, straight telling of Jesus' life, and Christian audiences might enjoy it.
Seventh Son (March): I thought the trailer looked cool: lots of fantastic dragon-slaying and axe-bashing mayhem going on there. I think this one will be right up my alley.
Divergent (March): Having never read the book for this (much less heard of it), I'll probably put off seeing this until it hits home video. It looks like more of the same as other films based on young-adult fiction (especially The Hunger Games). But, it is still a neat-looking concept.
300: Rise of an Empire (March): I'm personally skeptical as to whether or not this film is really "necessary," but as a fan of the first movie, I expect to enjoy this one a lot.
Noah (March): Darren Aronofsky hasn't failed me yet. The trailer makes this look a little fantastic, and I wonder how far into the realms of fantasy it will go, but it still looks decently epic, intriguing, and potentially powerful.
Captain America: Winter Soldier (April): I liked what I saw from this movie's trailer: tons of stylish modern-day action and huge over-the-top setpieces. I think it looks awesome so far.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (May): I generally enjoyed the other Spider-Man movies, including The Amazing Spider-Man, so there's a chance that this one will be just as enjoyable.
Godzilla (May): It's been ten years since Toho wrapped up the Godzilla franchise with Godzilla: Final Wars, and even longer since the US last tried its hand at a Godzilla film (the much-hated Roland Emmerich version), so a reboot is certainly welcome. The trailers for this look really intense, and chances are that the film will deliver. I'm only concerned about the director (I hated his debut film, Monsters, and it looks like the new Godzilla might take the same path of masking a lot of the action with cheap camera tricks; we'll find out how good it really is soon...).
X-Men: Days of Future Past (May): Anticipation for this film is pretty high, and with a good cast and Bryan Singer back behind the camera again, this has the potential to be phenomenal.
Maleficent (May): Well, Maleficent is one of my favorite Disney villains, so seeing a live-action movie on her should be interesting.
Edge of Tomorrow (June): The poster looks like a Crysis video game brought to life, but the premise echoes The Source Code. I think it'll be cool.
Transformers: Age of Extinction (June): Ditching the characters of the last three movies and pushing ahead as some kind of semi-reboot, I'm not expecting much out of this. But with Michael Bay's signature style and penchant for huge action, I think this film will still be a blast.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (July): Rise of the Planet of the Apes proved to be a phenomenal reboot, so the continuing conflict should be just as great.
Jupiter Ascending (July): The Watchowskis are two of my favorite directors, so I welcome any new film they make. This sounds like it could be a promising new sci-fi franchise, maybe even on the same level as The Matrix.
Sin City: A Dame to Die For (August): A sequel for Sin City has been long overdue, prone to constant push-backs over the past so-many years. I predict that this will be more of the same, but that's not a bad thing at all.
Guardians of the Galaxy (August): I don't know a thing about this Marvel superhero team, but coming from Marvel studios, I expect it to at least be fun.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (November): The book was great, and as long as the filmmakers stick with what was working with Catching Fire, this is sure to be awesome. It's just a bit of a shame that they split it up into two movies (although with such epic scenes as a big mountain battle and full-scale revolution at the Capital District, I can totally understand the decision).
Interstellar (November): Christopher Nolan directs a film involving space travel, wormholes, and possibly alternate dimensions. Having already blown most people's minds with such involving films as Inception, Memento, and The Prestige, this has the potential to be another rich, dense, thought-provoking, and original experience.
The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies (December): Ugh, it's such a long wait to see the conclusion for a saga that's been inflated to a huge degree, but with the Battle of Laketown, the Battle of the Five Armies, a battle with a Necromancer, and numerous plot strings left to tie up, this should be just a huge cascade of climaxes. This could be the most epic Middle-Earth movie of the lot, and it's bound to satisfy all viewers who've held onto the Hobbit movies for this long.
