I saw only 23 movies of 2013 and I saw 17 of them in the theater. There are some movies which have yet to get released here in India, including The Wolf Of Wall Street, Inside Llewyn Davis, 12 Years a Slave, American Hustle and Her. They are releasing in January and February of 2014.
So my favourite movies of 2013 list feels largely incomplete and probably isn't quite final, as I have also missed quite a number of films which I intended to see, but couldn't due to different circumstances.
But the one film that undoubtedly belongs on the top of my list is Gravity. I don't know how much of repeat value it will have for me on home video, but it remains one of my best theatrical movie experiences in a long time.
It delivered obviously on the awe front, while giving ample instances to resonate with the character moments as well. Gravity is a great example of what going to the cinemas should be about, which is the experience of being transported to a different world.
My top favourite movies of this year are as follows.
1. Gravity 2. Pacific Rim 3. The World's End 4. Frances Ha 5. This Is The End
Honorable Mention: Upstream Color, Iron Man 3, Rush, Thor: The Dark World, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Other movies I liked though it had its share of shortcomings (release date order): Oblivion, Star Trek Into Darkness, The Wolverine, Elysium, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
Also check out these two great mashup videos showcasing clips from
various 2013 films. Good choice of music too. (I recommend wearing headphones while watching them). The second video is a tad
longer but has a more wider selection of movies from 2013.
Gravity was stunning and gripping as I had hoped for. I made the 16 hours round trip to Bangalore to see it at PVR IMAX in 3D, not true IMAX but still the best picture quality I have seen.
Sandra Bullock gives a great and endearing performance, while George Clooney is charming as he balances out some of the tension. Plotwise the film is akin to a bottle episode but high on visual spectacle and the short 90 minutes duration of the film helps with its pacing.
Most of the film is CGI blending with live action, which was seamless including some stellar transition between different perspective shots.
Thanks to director Alfonso Cuaron, cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki and the rest of the Gravity cast and crew who have delivered one of the most immersive cinema experiences of 2013.
The Wolverine was good and surprisingly so grounded with its approach to the story and characters for a major portion of the film. Though it's not exactly an faithful adaptation, the movie gives nods to the 1982 Wolverine comic by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, while borrowing certain elements from it and expands on them.
This is Hugh Jackman's 6th time (5 movies and a cameo) portraying the character of Logan and he still brings something fresh to the character along with his badass charm to it. Both Mariko and Yukio played by Tao Okamoto and Rila Fukushima were good supporting characters, especially with Mariko I was secretly hoping they would go with the comic ending panel.
The story is pretty straightforward but still manages to bring in some intrigue and moments of suspense in midst of the action. For most parts at least until the end, director James Mangold made sure that it doesn't feel like the action is driving the story, thus the action played out quite organic to the story.
The Wolverine is a solid and worthy entry into the X-Men saga and the mid credits scene just builds up the excitement for the next chapter.
Here are some of the Twitter reactions from the Amazing Spider-Man panel at Comic-Con.
EricVespe: Amazing Spider-Man 2 is up next. Stands a good chance of being the biggest and best thing in the Hall today.
devincf: Sony is doing the multi screen thing for SPIDER-MAN, a la HOBBIT and PACIFIC RIM.
ErikDavis: Andrew Garfield sitting on the SPIDER-MAN panel as Spidey #ComicCon
devincf: Garfield is on stage in his Spidey suit. He's staying in character.
ErikDavis: Andrew Garfield is in character as Spider-Man & he's
stealing the show. Geeking out on Jamie Foxx movies. "I loved Django!"
devincf: "I got these powers and I have to do something with them and I don't like assholes." - Spider-Man. #SDCC
eruditechick: Garfield, full costume, doing panel in character. "who is Andrew? I thought Eduardo Saverin played me."
empiremagazine: They're really going for this Spider-Man-is-real schtick. Garfield sells it. #ComicCon
EricVespe: I can't get over how sweet it is to have Spider-Man actually on this panel.
EricVespe: Foxx said he really wanted Electro to be someone who is the
opposite of the jokey Spider-Man. "I want to burn the city to the
ground."
EricVespe: Really impressed with the Amazing Spider-Man 2 footage. Fully away from the Raimi films now with no origin story.
devincf: Electro gets his powers from eels at oscorp. He flies. His
power level is enormous - he seems to blow up a bunch of buildings.
#SDCC
EricVespe: Electro's origin involves electrocution and electric eels in an Oscorp lab.
empiremagazine: Spider-footage: much bigger in scale than the first.
Spidey catches a flying cop car like a pro. Quip level upped.
EricVespe: Also, Paul Giamatti screaming in a pissed off Russian accent is awesome. Hope he's more than a footnote in the film.
EricVespe: Harry Osborne seems to start out as angry and bad guy, Chris Cooper's Norman looks very sickly.
ErikDavis: Monster AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 trailer teases a silly start that quickly escalates to all-out mayhem. Ends w/ Electro destroying Times Square
ErikDavis: The only thing I wanted more of in that Spidey 2 trailer was
Dane Dehaan. Only shot of Chris Cooper as Osborn, he seemed to be near
death
EricVespe: Yep, Andrew was back after the footage ended, apologizing profusely for being late.
devincf: Nerd in UCB shirt confronts Garfield about being too sexy for
Peter Parker. Garfield handled it well, said Maguire is always
Spider-Man.
EricVespe: A gay Asian American attendee applauded Garfield for his recent statements about how Spider-Man could be gay
EricVespe: Garfield says that Spider-Man is supposed to stand for
everybody, black, white, hispanic, gay, straight, transgendered, etc.
EricVespe: Because of the suit anybody can project what they want
underneath, that's the beauty of Spider-Man, no matter what skin color
or orientation
devincf: Garfield is one of the best panel personalities in the history of SDCC. He's so natural and funny and personable.
EricVespe: Said it wouldn't make sense for Peter to suddenly be with a
black guy in the third film storywise... to which Jamie was all "I'm
right here"
ErikDavis: The thing I love most about these new SPIDER-MAN movies is
the tone. It's playful and silly, but still really fun & thrilling
Blake Wright: Foxx is humming the Superman theme to a kid dressed as Superman getting ready to ask a question.
EricVespe: High school kid dressed up as Superman strikes poses as Jamie Foxx sings the John Williams theme. #comicconisawesome
EricVespe: I love this panel! This sort of funny energy has been missing from Hall H today.
EricVespe: Webb says he's not tied down to one particular comic series, pulls from both the Ultimates and Ditko/Lee years.
EricVespe: Big Spider-Man fan asks Webb if it's too much having Rhino,
Electro, the Osborns, etc. "I don't want another Spider-Man 3."
devincf: Audience applauds guy who is worried that AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 has too many characters and villains. #SDCC
EricVespe: Webb says Electro is by far the main villain. Rhino is a minor thing to add flavor. Calls Electro "God-like."
EricVespe: "How does Spider-Man touch someone who if you touch him is like touching a thousand third rails?"
ErikDavis: Fan: "What kind of Spider-Man storyline would you like to see
in a movie?" Garfield: "I'd like to see him with the Avengers."
EricVespe: Garfield says he really wants to see Spider-Man with The Avengers. "You're not allowed to say that!"
devincf : "I want to see [Spider-Man] in The Avengers," - Andrew Garfield plays to the crowd at #SDCC
EricVespe: Garfield said that meeting Stan Lee for the first time was
like meeting Mickey Mouse. "Is it you, O creator of everything great and
holy!"
Pacific Rim isn't short on action and visual treats. The scenes where the awe inducing scale of the mighty Jagers fighting the nasty Kaijus are indeed the main highlights of the film. But I was quite pleased how the rest of the film managed to keep me entertained with the story.
Though there are some hokey dialogues during few parts of the movie, it didn't put me off in any way. The human characters in Pacific Rim aren't iconic, but their acts are heroic and they serve the story well. We know their past, their prior battles, so everytime they are out fighting while being inside the mecha, it brings the sense of real danger and anticipation as we are quite emotionally vested in those characters; while marveling at the beauty of the Jagers kicking serious Kaiju ass.
Many seem to have been irked by the characters of the scientists, I for one really liked the character of Newton played by Charlie Day, (maybe cause he plays my favourite character on the hilarious series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia). Also I really enjoyed the scenes and banter between Newton and Hannibal Chau played by Ron Perlman. Idris Elba manages to express his role with great gravitas and authority.
While most seem to identify the lead actor Charlie Hunnam from Sons of Anarchy, I only knew him as Lloyd, the charming British guy on Undeclared and now quite enjoyed his performance as Raleigh Becket. Rinko Kikuchi (who was great in both Babel and The Brothers Bloom) as Mako Mori was bit awkward during the initial scenes or are atleast they seem to have been written her character that way, but quickly becomes an admirable character as the story continues. Both made a good team. Mako Mori's younger self played by Mana Ashida gives a remarkable performance in a quite a memorable sequence.
As wonderful as the Jagers vs Kaijus fight scenes were, I wanted to see more in the daylight. Cause there is so much detailed work that went into those designs of creatures and suits, that most of it would go unnoticed. Some of the footage of Kaiju attacking cities were shown in daylight and looked great, but were short in duration. But since many of the creatures had that glowing effect from their bodies, it's understandable that they would look better in the dark.
I liked the score by Ramin Djawadi especially the fantastic main theme of Pacific Rim which also featured music by Tom Morello, the track "Go Big or Go Extinct" which is a variation of the main theme is another one of my favourites.
I will be buying the NECA figures for sure, at least the Gipsy Danger
ones in both 7" and the upcoming 18" version. I really want to own a
human scale head bust or helmet mask of Gipsy Danger, hope NECA or
somebody else makes them.
Warner Bros. and Legendary took a chance with this film and I hope it really pays off for them.
Thanks to Guillermo del Toro and all the artists involved for crafting this gorgeous chapter in entertainment and thanks to screenwriter Travis Beacham for birthing this story and world of Pacific Rim to fruition.
Pacific Rim is the most fun I had at the theatre in 2013 and is my favourite movie of this summer so far. I can't wait to see it again.
I liked Man of Steel, it was good but far from great. I was expecting them to rush through the Krypton scenes, but was glad that they fleshed out the origin story with his parents while also making Zod's story arc more relatable.
I had quite a few issues with the film, mainly cause though the visuals
of mayhem and destruction looked impressive including moments of Faora kicking serious butt, followed by Zod confronting Superman; eventually the action in
the second half felt little too tedious.
Henry Cavill was great and embodied most of the qualities of Superman so well, but I wish they had established the character of Superman in the world for some more time, instead of Zod invading so soon. Amy Adams was unlike any other Lois Lane before, but she made the character her own and I wanted to see more scenes of her and Clark Kent.
Clark and his backstory through flashbacks both as a kid and as an adult including the Kent family scenes delivered the emotional punch (one scene in particular) that was more memorable than the physical punches and action later in the film.
This incarnation of the character is not my grandpa's Superman, not my
father's Superman and probably not my Superman either. But he is the
Superman of this new generation and though some of his character and
universe mythos have been changed or lost in this adaptation, I enjoyed
this film and its modern interpretation. And now with the origin story
being established I am hoping we will get to see a better film from Zack Snyder next time
with a more balanced out script of story and action.
This is one of my favourite tracks by Hans Zimmer from the movie score which was also used in the trailers. Play the music, increase the volume (perhaps put on your headphones) and close your eyes throughout the track as you slowly experience goosebumps and then visualize Superman taking flight.
If this video appears blocked, search for the track "What Are You Going to Do When You Are Not Saving the World? " on YouTube, the 5 minutes version.
I finished watching the entire season 4 of Arrested Development on Netflix. I wasn't too pleased with the opening episodes but it started getting better after episode 3. And though the episodes aren't all out funny like the original seasons, they are still pretty entertaining even though some of the plot felt confusing at times. Some of the jokes and plot lines really pay off well in the later episodes.
It appears seven years haven't been too kind on Portia de Rossi, though in the later Lindsay episode she looked much better with her short hair. Tobias episodes were initially the most funny ones, I also enjoyed the episodes of Gob, Lindsay, Maeby and Buster. But George-Michael episodes were my overall favourites and pretty hilarious in some instances. All in all I am glad they brought the show back and perhaps they can have season 5 next year in a regular narrative format.
Watched Mallrats today after a long time and reconfirmed my stance on it. Mallrats has always been my favourite Kevin Smith movie and it still is.
I know Mallrats continues to get flak from many fans and viewers. Clerks and Chasing Amy are definitely better films and probably Smith's strongest works, but I still prefer Mallrats over them for the more fun and entertaining factor. It's still hilarious, including so many great lines.
It's surprising to know that the movie cost $6 million back then in 1995 despite it being limited in its scope and shooting locations.
And at a time now when adding comic and pop culture references in movies and TV episodes are becoming sort of a cliche and are almost passe during certain instances, Kevin Smith back then managed to make it seem organic with his writing and infused it naturally through his characters and plot lines. It also probably helped that not many film and TV people were doing those things at that time.
I wish I had the chance to see Oblivion in IMAX as it was meant to be seen that way. The movie is worth the ticket price for its stunning visuals alone especially all the gorgeous landscape shots. The production design team did a fantastic job while invoking this great vibe of sci-fi world for Oblivion; including the cool vehicles, drones, weapons and other tech which were also some of the highlights of the film.
Though it didn't really stand out throughout, M83 did a good score to the film with some memorable themes. (You can listen to the entire soundtrack below which was composed by Anthony Gonzalez and Joseph Trapanese).
The world of Oblivion is established pretty quickly during the opening minutes of the film, while the story build up takes its time. Also it was interesting to see how a large portion of the film's beginning is carried out pretty much by only two characters, played well and effectively by Tom Cruise and Andrea Riseborough.
There are quite a few twists in the story and though they are far from original concepts, it works in the premise of the movie. Oblivion doesn't reach the levels of greatness I was hoping for, still it's a worthy and great step up by director Joseph Kosinski who has delivered a entertaining and visually compelling film.
As someone who is always advocating people to watch movies at the cinemas, I am glad I decided to watch Django Unchained for the first time through the downloaded copy back in January.
Quentin Tarantino has crafted a fantastic and compelling film which is non-stop entertaining, while being able to do the transition through the tones of drama, comedy, suspense and action so naturally. The soundtrack with that compilation of songs is another highlight of the film.
Tarantino's signature style of violence with over-the-top display of blood is a delight to watch and is almost comedic in nature at times. But then there is the sheer brutality of human suffering which is more unnerving. And though those scenes are instances of fiction, it serves as a gentle reminder of the real horror which was apparently more cruel and obviously prevailing during the sinister part of American history.
The movie got released in India on Friday and I decided to watch it again, this time on the big screen. Besides the ridiculous three months late India release for Django Unchained, I knew they will butcher the film here in someways.
The cigarette smoking warning during major parts of the film was so annoying. One of the unsettling scenes in Django Unchained was the revelation of Broomhilda and how she was handled by others. Thanks to Indian Censor Board and Sony Pictures India, that entire scene was cut out due to partial nudity, resulting in Django's state of emotions and the impact of that scene being totally lost on most viewers.
And Sony Pictures India is likely more to blame for the cut, as they probably wanted to make the movie more accessible to everyone. So I guess all the blame is on the Indian Censor Board who didn't want us to witness the scenes. Because we all know human female bodies are so hideous, that everyone including the female audience would be totally repulsed by it. Just remembered, there is also another brief moment where there is male nudity later on which was also cut. Guess they didn't want to seem partial.
The movie was already rated R (Restricted) in US and is meant for mature audience worldwide. So Indian Censor Board's decision to remove that scene was not only censorship of art, but was also undermining the adult viewers in India.
And any smoker above the age of 18 already knows the ill effects of smoking and so does the non-smokers. The audience doesn't need to be preached by the law or government about this.
If they are really so bothered about the well being of the citizens,
why don't they just ban cigarettes outright? Oh yeah, they can't afford
to lose the millions in tax money, so they compensate for that by showing false sense of concern with warnings being interjected in movies and ruining the cinema experience.
Update: Sony Pictures India got back to me and reminded me that Django got A rating and that movies with A rating in India are still open to further cuts by the Censor Board (which I was aware of).
And they confirmed that there was no question of them trying to a wider audience rating by including cuts, as the movie had already received the strictest rating (A) in India. And that if they hadn't accepted the cuts, the film release would not have been possible.
Still in this case I find the cuts baffling cause movies with far more nudity have gotten away without cuts in India. Thanks to Sony Pictures India for their response and it's little comforting to know that they aren't to blame for the cuts.
