Top 10 Films Of 2013

In October 2010, I was sitting in a movie theater with my then girlfriend (now wife) watching David Fincher's newest movie. It was called The Social Network. After the movie ended and after I picked my jaw up off of the floor, I turned to her and said, "Holy Shit, that was great. I don't know which movie was better, this or Inception!" Inception had come out a few months earlier, and was just groundbreaking and breath taking. In my mind, at that time, I couldn't decide which awesome movie was more awesome.

2010 had two Holy Shit movies. A "Holy Shit movie" is a movie that is just so damn good that the only words that come out of your mouth after you see it are "holy shit." Obviously those movies were The Social Network and Inception. The reason I bring this up, is because we haven't had a Holy Shit movie in over 3 years since The Social Network. 2011 had "Drive", which is really the only movie that could even be considered a Holy Shit movie since 2010. However, Drive was really good, and maybe even great, but it wasn't Holy Shit good. Need further proof? Cracked recently named Drive the most overrated movie to come out in recent years, my old site Game of Inches didn't even consider it for its list of the 25 Best Films of the Past 25 Years (it was eligible), and it only received 1 (minor) Oscar nomination (Best Sound Editing) at the 2012 Academy Awards. Now you can make very easy arguments against all 3 of those instances; however, the problem is that Holy Shit movies don't even get that kind of bad publicity. You haven't heard a single complaint about Inception or The Social Network for the past 3 years. They're both still almost universally revered.

My Ten Most Anticipated Summer Movies

It's summer movie preview time! Between May 1st and Labor Day, the movie studios release their blockbuster movies. It's a time for superheroes, explosions, action, adventure, and big Hollywood epics. I love summer movie season, and here are the ten movies I'm most excited for.

My Most Anticipated Films Of 2013

10) Oz: The Great and Powerful
Directed By: Sam Raimi
Starring: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams & Rachel Weisz

Why I'm Excited: After the Spider-Man trilogy, Raimi will get the benefit of the doubt until he's proves me wrong otherwise. Despite the word "Disney" slapped on to this film, despite the fact that this looks like Alice In Wonderland 2, and despite the fact that The Wizard Of Oz was really just Dorothy's dream and thus it is impossible to have a sequel, it's still Sam Raimi's vision which means it's bound to be excellent.

9) The Hunger Game: Catching Fire
Directed By: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks & Philip Seymour Hoffman

Why I'm Excited: I really liked The Hunger Games book and movie. While the movie was unfortunately less violent than the book to earn a PG-13 rating, it was still enjoyable nonetheless. PLUS, the sequel adds Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman to the mix and an amazing actress that I really enjoy and that you've never heard of: Jena Malone.

8) Anchorman: The Legend Continues

Directed By: Adam McKay

Starring: Will Ferrell, Steve Carrell, Paul Rudd, & David Koechner

Why I'm Excited: 1) Adam McKay is awesome. 2) Will Ferrell is awesome. 3) Anchorman is fucking awesome. Good enough reasons for you?

7) This Is The End

Directed By: Seth Rogan & Evan Goldberg

Starring: Seth Rogan, James Franco, Danny McBride, Jonah Hill, Jay Baruchel, Craig Robinson & everyone else associated with Judd Apatow

Why I'm Excited: While Goldberg and Rogan scripts have been more Green Hornet than Superbad recently, This Is The End seems like the great comedy writing duo finally found their mojo again. Plus, any chance these amazing comedic actors can get in a room and just riff and just try and make each other laugh seems like it will be a good time enjoyed by all.

6) Kick Ass 2: Balls To The Wall
Directed By: Jeff Wadlow
Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloe Grace Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, & Jim Carrey

Why I'm Excited: THREE actors who all have three names in their name? It seems like the perfect trifecta! I love the original Kick Ass when it first came out. I'm a sucker for both superhero flicks and Chloe Moretz so bring on the sequel! Also, any chance you can see Jim Carrey dressed up like THIS, the film's viewing is a must.

5) Star Trek: Into Darkness
Directed By: J.J. Abrams
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, & Benedict Cumberbatch

Why I'm Excited: 1) I really enjoyed the first Star Trek a lot, 2) J.J. Abrams is a pretty darn good director, and 3) I've recently gotten into Sherlock so now I enjoy Benedict Cumberbatch. BTW, we all know Cumberbatch is playing Khan. There's no need for the studio to treat us all like fools. Remember when we all thought Joseph Gordon-Levitt was Robin in The Dark Knight Rises from the get-go and then we saw the film and we were proven right? Yeah, same goes for BC except we we'll be proven correct from the onset of the film.

4) Sin City: A Dame To Kill For
Directed By: Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller
Starring: Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, & Dennis Haysbert

Why I'm Excited: Because the first Sin City was mind blowing and fucking amazing. The characters are so rich and the film is so stylized that I just want to see what adventures these characters are up to now. A sequel has been rumored for a LONG time, but with an official October 4, 2013 release date, we finally all seem to be getting what we wished for.

3) Iron Man 3
Directed By: Shane Black
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce, & Ben Kinglsey

Why I'm Excited: Since The Dark Knight, our superhero movies need to be Nolan-ized. There needs to be grittiness and vulnerability and actual, three dimensional characters. We got that in the original Iron Man. We did not get that in the crappy sequel. It looks like we get it again in Iron Man 3 where we see the effects the events in The Avengers had on Tony Stark.

2) The Great Gatsby
Directed By: Baz Luhrmann
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, & Carey Mulligan

Why I'm Excited: I was excited to see this film when this trailer was first released in July of 2012 and it was supposed to be released opposite of Django Unchained this past Christmas. But the movie studio decided to act like a fucking moron and pushed back The Great Gatsby to July of 2013. While I'm not a big fan of Luhrmann's past work (Moulin Rogue, Romeo + Juliet), the man is great at making things extravagant and there's nothing more extravagant that the Roaring 20's in this classic F. Scott Fitzgerald tale.

1) Man Of Steel
Directed By: Zack Snyder
Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, & Michael Shannon

Why I'm Excited: Do I really need to give you a reason why I'm excited about Man of Steel?! It's a superhero movie from the minds of the brilliant Christopher Nolan and the incredible Zack Snyder (Watchman, 300). Plus it's written by David S. Goyer who helped and influenced Nolan on The Dark Knight movies. You're super stoked to see this film as well. I'm even more excited that the underrated and excellent Michael Shannon gets to play the film's villain: General Zod.

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