My Top 10 Movies of 2013

While I still haven't completely caught up with all of my reviews, but I decided I may as well get my best films of the year out of the way. Now, just to clarify, these are movies that I've actually seen, which means other highly regarded movies like "Dallas Buyers Club" are not on the list. Also, all of the movies, except for number one, are in no particular order, these are just 10 movies that I personally felt we're the best of the year. Now let's begin with...

Number 10

Now I know what you might be saying, "How can this be on the list? It's not nominated for an Oscar, it's just some dumb summer blockbuster." All of that is true, except it's an incredibly fun summer blockbuster. One of the funnest times I had in a theater this year was in "Pacific Rim". While certainly not a perfect movie, "Pacific Rim" is like last year's "The Avengers", where it's just so much fun and awesome to watch, I had to love it and put it on this list. If you've yet to see this, buy it on Blu-ray, get your friends together, and have a great time with this blockbuster.

Here's a link to my review: http://newandclassicreviews.blogspot.com/2013/07/pacific-rim-nr-47.html

Number 9 

 I'll admit it, this is another guilty pleasure. I love Joss Whedon, so when I heard he was doing Shakespeare, I got excited. When I heard the cast, I was dying to see it. After finally seeing it, "Much Ado About Nothing" can stand up there with some of the best Shakespeare adaptations. It's funny, dramatic and works extremely well in the modern day. It's also great to see all these actors, who are all friends in real life, get together and have some fun. While my bias might be fueling this choice, I still love this movie.

Here's a place to put my eventual review!

Number 8

What is up with all of these oddball choices? Well this one is not based on any personal bias. "It's a Disaster" is a criminally unknown black comedy that came out last year that's one of the funniest and most clever movies I've seen. While it has a slow start, once the ball gets rolling, it never stops. There's always a new twist or character revelation that keeps you invested in these horrible people, and everyone reacts in ways that almost anyone would react in an end of the world situation, just in a more selfish way. With a twist ending that makes the whole movie, "It's a Disaster" is a movie that's a must see. Also, I believe this is still on Netflix streaming, so you really have no excuse.

I'll probably put a link to the review here, you know, if it ever comes out.

                      

 Number 7

If you know me in real life, you know how much I love this movie. I love it so much, I saw it three weeks in a row, no joke. "Gravity" is a visual masterpiece that masters tension and realism. Every time I saw the film, even though I knew what was going to happen, I still felt tense and excited. There's also a ton of excellent camera work here, with many shots going on for over 10 min. But, let's not forget both of the actors, with Sandra Bullock carrying this film mostly by herself. While not the deepest in terms of storytelling, "Gravity" is an experience that will not soon be forgotten, especially when seen in 3D.

Here's a link to my review: http://newandclassicreviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/gravity-bling-ring-nr-52-cr-43.html

Number 6

Believe me, I'm just as surprised as you probably are. While I wasn't a huge fan of the first film, and I've never read the second or third "Hunger Games" books, "Catching Fire" is the definition of a great sequel. Not only did it improve on everything wrong with the first film, it got me excited for the next installments. Full of great performances, action, story, special effects, characters, villains, and twists, I was fully enthralled by this film. And, with one of the best cliffhanger endings since "The Empire Strikes Back", "Catching Fire" is easily one of the best films of this year. Now let's hope the other two can live up to this one.

Once again, I'll put a link here when I get to my review...maybe...

Number 5

I'm so glad that I'm starting to discover Woody Allen now rather then earlier. "Blue Jasmine" is Allen at his finest, packed to the brim with great performances and incredible dialogue. Of course, the person who steals the show is Cate Blanchett, Jasmine herself. She is what brings this movie above the greatness is already was. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, and hope that the next Allen film can keep the trend going.

Here's a link to my review:http://newandclassicreviews.blogspot.com/2013/09/blue-jasmine-nr-49.html 

Number 4

Being as huge a fan of Edgar Wright and his Cornetto/ Blood and Ice Cream trilogy (Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) as I am, how did you not expect this on the list? It has everything you could ever want from an Edgar Wright film. Fast paced hilarious comedy, check. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, check. Nerdy and clever references, check. Call backs to the original two films that range from the obvious to the obscure, check. What this film brings to the table is an unexpected drama aspect and spectacular action scenes. The dramatic moments are just as good if not better then the comedy, and the actions scenes are some of the best put on the big screen this year. If you love "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz' and still haven't seen this masterpiece, what are you waiting for?

Here's a link to my review:http://newandclassicreviews.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-worlds-end-nr-48.html

Number 3

The most fun I've ever had with a movie, "The Wolf of Wall Street" is another classic under Scorcese's belt. This film, while it does have an underlying message, is more about having fun for 3 hours then it is about enlightening you on anything. Funnier and crazier then most movies released this year, "The Wolf of Wall Street" deserves to be seen by those who can handle to vulgar material.

Here's a link to my review:http://newandclassicreviews.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-wolf-of-wall-street-nr-56.html

Number 2

While I only recently saw this film, "Her" has already left a huge impression on me. It's been nearly 24 hours since seeing it, and I can't get the movie out of my head. The acting, the filmmaking, the style, the message, everything is done masterfully. It's a Sci-fi film that, ironically, tells a more human and relatable story then most romantic movies attempt to do. It's also funny and heart-warming, while making you question yourself and relationships in general. "Her" is the reason why I love film, because every once in a while, you get a movie that changes the way you look at things and leaves a huge mark on you. Obviously, "Her" is one of those films.

Here's a link to my reviewhttp://newandclassicreviews.blogspot.com/2014/01/her-nr-58.html:

Number 1

Of course it's "12 Years a Slave", what else could it be? No other movie this year has made me feel so depressed, so angry, and yet made me want to see it again and re-experience this all over again. This movie made me cry, which I go into in my review, let's just say that's a big deal for me. Spectacular acting, direction, dialogue, everything. This is also just an important movie. For people like us who live in this modern era, we have no real idea what slavery was actually like, and "12 Years a Slave" might be the closest we get to seeing this dark time in American history. Every person who is of age should see this movie, even if you can't handle torture or pain, I still say see this movie, it's that important. This is one movie I will never forget. 

Here's a link to my review: http://newandclassicreviews.blogspot.com/2013/11/12-years-slave-bad-grandpa-captain.html