My name is Mike and I'm an addict. It has been 12 hours since my last movie hit.
2013 was a fairly average year overall however there were some terrific standouts. For me, the top 10 list below makes it all worthwhile. Looking over the top 10 lists for Guy and Macca I'm pleased there is about a half half ratio of same choices and different ones. The variances can obviously come from different taste but I also think mood and experience come a lot into play as well. Quite often watching a great movie in the wrong mood can result in a skewed opinion. Personally this is why I love trawling through other people's top movie lists - just on the off chance of finding a movie I may have missed (heaven forbid, lol) or maybe misjudging one the first time so I give it another shot.
For movies that were initially reviewed on the site I have included a link in case you missed it.
Enjoy :)
10. The Purge - Thriller - This one just snuck in. I was divided between a few for this spot but in the end I think The Purge is worthy. The movie is good but I think it was the core idea of the story that I really liked. One night a year - the rules are off... Brilliant.
9. World War Z - Horror - Some people will think I'm crazy putting this one in here. I'm not going to call it one of the best movies of all time but it was a really great ride. With so many zombie flicks bombarding the screen it's hard to find ones that stand-out and push the bar forward. I think this one manages to stand out. Review
8. Prisoners - Thriller/Drama - Just a great, super-intense thriller with very dark undertones. Just how far would desperate fathers go to get back their kidnapped daughters? Not for the faint hearted :) Review
7. The Impossible - Thriller/Drama - I don't understand how some of these tsunami shots were done. So realistic and intense. Combine these with incredible shots in post tsunami landscapes showing the panic, the fear and desperation. Such a horrific event captured incredibly. Review
6. Europa Report - Sci-Fi - A low budget gem. The first 5 minutes may make you want to turn it off, but persevere and enjoy a great Sci-Fi flick. A must see for all Sci-Fi fans and a must have in my blu-ray collection. Review
5. The Conjuring - Horror/Thriller - Macca is one of the few people I know with the same thirst for horror as me. I know he won't agree with me having this one in the top 10 but for some reason I just completely loved it. Not sure if it was just the right night, the right mood, the right red... whatever it was I thought it was great from start to finish. Review
4. The Place Beyond The Pines - Drama - I still remember this as being one of those few exceptions where you watch a trailer and get all hyped up and then not be disappointed when you watch the film. Brilliant story, brilliant acting and very clever transition of story and character which I had not seen before. Review
3. Rush - Action/Sports - Just a great exciting movie to watch, even without being a fan of the sport. Loved how they captured the 70's/80's perfectly. Review
2. Byzantium - Fantasy/Horror - Guy may be a sucker for Peter Jackson, but I'm a sucker for vampires. This movie was so refreshing after the years of teenage vampire shit that has been destroying the genre *grumpy old man waves fist in the air*. Review
1. Gravity - Thriller/Drama - Wow. Just Wow. I was a late comer to this one and after reading Guy's initial review it was on the list to see, just couldn't get around to it. Last week I was pleased it was still showing in 3D so managed to catch a session. Forget story and realism, this movie is just an incredible experience. You are actually out there floating in space with these guys. It is technically perfect. Review
Bring on 2014!
Unfortunately I did not have a chance to watch the movies below - all of which I believe may have been top 10 candidates. Also, "12 years a Slave" which may have gone number 1, Guy and I are treating as 2014 and it is not being released until March in Australia, even though was out in the states in 2013.
Philomena
Filth
All is Lost
Short Term 12
Before Midnight
Out of the Furnace
Wolf of Wall Street
If you have seen any of the above, drop a comment in and let us know what you thought.
2013 was a fairly average year overall however there were some terrific standouts. For me, the top 10 list below makes it all worthwhile. Looking over the top 10 lists for Guy and Macca I'm pleased there is about a half half ratio of same choices and different ones. The variances can obviously come from different taste but I also think mood and experience come a lot into play as well. Quite often watching a great movie in the wrong mood can result in a skewed opinion. Personally this is why I love trawling through other people's top movie lists - just on the off chance of finding a movie I may have missed (heaven forbid, lol) or maybe misjudging one the first time so I give it another shot.
For movies that were initially reviewed on the site I have included a link in case you missed it.
Enjoy :)
10. The Purge - Thriller - This one just snuck in. I was divided between a few for this spot but in the end I think The Purge is worthy. The movie is good but I think it was the core idea of the story that I really liked. One night a year - the rules are off... Brilliant.
9. World War Z - Horror - Some people will think I'm crazy putting this one in here. I'm not going to call it one of the best movies of all time but it was a really great ride. With so many zombie flicks bombarding the screen it's hard to find ones that stand-out and push the bar forward. I think this one manages to stand out. Review
8. Prisoners - Thriller/Drama - Just a great, super-intense thriller with very dark undertones. Just how far would desperate fathers go to get back their kidnapped daughters? Not for the faint hearted :) Review
7. The Impossible - Thriller/Drama - I don't understand how some of these tsunami shots were done. So realistic and intense. Combine these with incredible shots in post tsunami landscapes showing the panic, the fear and desperation. Such a horrific event captured incredibly. Review
6. Europa Report - Sci-Fi - A low budget gem. The first 5 minutes may make you want to turn it off, but persevere and enjoy a great Sci-Fi flick. A must see for all Sci-Fi fans and a must have in my blu-ray collection. Review
5. The Conjuring - Horror/Thriller - Macca is one of the few people I know with the same thirst for horror as me. I know he won't agree with me having this one in the top 10 but for some reason I just completely loved it. Not sure if it was just the right night, the right mood, the right red... whatever it was I thought it was great from start to finish. Review
4. The Place Beyond The Pines - Drama - I still remember this as being one of those few exceptions where you watch a trailer and get all hyped up and then not be disappointed when you watch the film. Brilliant story, brilliant acting and very clever transition of story and character which I had not seen before. Review
3. Rush - Action/Sports - Just a great exciting movie to watch, even without being a fan of the sport. Loved how they captured the 70's/80's perfectly. Review
2. Byzantium - Fantasy/Horror - Guy may be a sucker for Peter Jackson, but I'm a sucker for vampires. This movie was so refreshing after the years of teenage vampire shit that has been destroying the genre *grumpy old man waves fist in the air*. Review
1. Gravity - Thriller/Drama - Wow. Just Wow. I was a late comer to this one and after reading Guy's initial review it was on the list to see, just couldn't get around to it. Last week I was pleased it was still showing in 3D so managed to catch a session. Forget story and realism, this movie is just an incredible experience. You are actually out there floating in space with these guys. It is technically perfect. Review
Bring on 2014!
Unfortunately I did not have a chance to watch the movies below - all of which I believe may have been top 10 candidates. Also, "12 years a Slave" which may have gone number 1, Guy and I are treating as 2014 and it is not being released until March in Australia, even though was out in the states in 2013.
Philomena
Filth
All is Lost
Short Term 12
Before Midnight
Out of the Furnace
Wolf of Wall Street
If you have seen any of the above, drop a comment in and let us know what you thought.
Two very fine lists here lads. Im surprised to see Rush so high up for two people not overly into F1, but I guess that shows how good that film was that it could cross over and appeal to the broader public like that.
ReplyDeleteBefore Midnight is great. If you liked the first two movies then youll enjoy the third. A mighty fine finish and I still believe that hawke & Delpy have a near unbeatable onscreen chemistry.
Out of the furnace I watched last night and I can describe it as 'the sum of its parts is greater than the whole'. Great individual performances, well produced, good direction, but just didn't all come together.
Awesome list mate, quite a few darker films on here, but thats nothing too unexpected. Again I haven't seen some of these so 2014 is already looking pretty good on the to-watch list. 12 years a slave is probably going to be the number 1 for 2014 and maybe Wolf of Wall Street, ive heard its pretty polarizing.
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