My 2013: My 2014 - 10 Films I'm Looking Forward To

So tomorrow 2013 will be over and we will be ringing in 2014.  While 2015 looks to be THE year to go to the movies (well, if you're a franchise person), 2014 will be no slouch.  There's already plenty of notable projects and I'm sure more will pop up as the year goes and we get some more trailers and extra buzz from screenings.  While 2015 has all the hype in the world, it also could be setting up for a big disappointment.  2014 on the other hand has the sort of "well, let's just get through this year so we can get to 2015" type feel with the movies, meaning its probably going to surprise and turn out to be pretty damn good in its own right.  Remember or summer 2011 was only the preface to summer 2012...and then 2011 wound up being the much better summer?  I'm not saying that will happen, I'm just saying let's not discount 2014 before its even begun.

Below are 10 films that are currently on my radar (there's more than 10 actually, but I have ten digits and its a nice clean cut off) going into 2014.

My 2013: The Top 10 Films Of The Year

Hey folks!  Its finally here!  Follow the link below to see my Top 10 Films of 2013 over at Why So Blu!

BRANDON'S TOP 10 FILMS OF 2013!

My 2013: The Honorable Mentions

It’s hard to make a Top 10 list.  There are a ton of movies that come out every year.  And there are a lot of ones I enjoy.  To limit it to just 10 is crazy, crushing and heartbreaking as I snip away films from a bigger list of one’s I loved from the year.  It’s not until a few years separated to we see a much clearer picture of what we really did like and enjoy.  What we ended up going back to more often. What maybe didn’t hold up.  So, with that in mind I think it’s fair to take a gander at these 12 films that just barely didn’t make the cut for my Top 10 list.  Each of these has a chance to move on up the rankings as the years go by.  Consider this 11-22 if you will.  I’m doing alphabetical here because I don’t have to rank these so I’m not going to.  And this can also serve as clues and hints to what my Top 10 will include.

My 2013: The Top 10 Mainstream Movies I Didn't Like (Worst Of 2013)

It's off to negativity land now.  But, in order to remember 2013 fairly, we have to.  I really don't like to use the term "Worst" when making this list.  For one, I saw a lot of films in 2013, but I didn't see everything.  I made this "mainstream movies" because I'm sure there's plenty of bad super low budget indie projects that come out every week that its just really not fair to lump them in with this.  So we go on the big movies that stunk.  I also hate using "Worst" because I'm sure there's some on this list that some will argue are better than this damnation I've given it.  Some of these even might have a small fanbase.  There are also plenty of films out there that I didn't see because I could tell I wasn't going to like them and my critic peers who did see them only confirmed my dread.  I do get curious as to how bad some of these can be and checked them out myself or also had to review it for Why So Blu.  I also don't have all the time in the world like I used to, so I didn't need to see The Internship, Jack The Giant Slayer or A Haunted House to tell you they weren't any good.

My 2013: The 10 Best Movies You Probably Didn't See

In order to offset my Worst Of list (coming later today) I'd like to add something positive, so here's a look at 10 movies that, judging by box office, you likely didn't go check out but were well worth your time.  These are ones that specifically won't make my overall Top 10 list.  Pictured above is The Lone Ranger, which isn't on this list, but I don't think is as heinous as you may have heard.  It's biggest crime is being unnecessarily too damn long.  It does however, provide a fantastic final action sequence.  Just wanted to drop that tid bit while I'm here.  Without further adieu and, of course, in alphabetical order here's the Top 10 best movies you probably didn't see this year.

My 2013: 10 Best or Favorite New Characters In 2013

In this portion we discuss the characters that quite delighted me and that I may remember most glancing back to 2013.  Whether it be what they did, contributed to a movie's plot or someone just gave a terrific performance these folks just stuck in my mind the best.  This list was actually quite a bit tougher to edit down than I had thought.  All of them will be in alphabetical by character name until then end where I present the absolutely best and most memorable character of 2013 (that one was easy).

Quickie Retrospective: Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)

Gremlins 2: The New Batch
1990
Director: Joe Dante
Starring: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Dick Miller, John Glover, Christopher Lee, Howie Mandel, Robert Prosky, Robert Picardo, Haviland Morris
Rated: PG-13

Kate: Elevator! Sound alarm!
Gremlins: ENH! ENH! ENH! ENH! ENH!

Quickie Retrospective: Gremlins (1984)

Gremlins
1984
Director: Joe Dante
Writer: Chris Columbus
Starring: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Frances Lee McCain, Judge Reinhold, Corey Feldman, Dick Miller
Rated: PG

They're watching Snow White. And they love it.
      ~Billy Peltzer



Merry Christmas or Happy Day Off Work for those who don't partake.  And for those of you not qualifying for either working, thank you for putting the hours today to help those who are in need of you or your company's services.  Happy Friggin' Holidays I guess could cover it, but being as its December 25th I think its a bit obvious what day I'm commemorating this piece with.  I'm covering one of my all-time favorite movies and its a Christmas movie at that!  GREMLINS, baby! Ho ho freakin' ho!

My 2013: The 5 Films That Surprised Me

In this look back, I'm focusing on 5 films that pleasantly surprised me this year.  These are films that for all intents and purposes looked bad from the trailers, had production problems, had people behind or in front of the camera I usually don't like...whatever the case may be...I was really surprised to find when these films came out, and I saw them on my own accord or was recommended them by a peer, and really enjoyed them and was pretty surprised that I'd qualify them as good/great/enjoyable.  And I'm well aware I just wrote the run-on sentence to end all run-on sentences just now.  I'm presenting them in no preferential order, just alphabetical.

My 2013: Funniest Scene In A Non-Comedy Film - The Ferris Wheel Scene From Texas Chainsaw 3D

It's that time of year where a boatload of Oscar-bait movies and crowding into theaters and best and worst of the year lists are crowding your web browser.  Everybody does it, and Naptown Nerd will be no different.  Although, since this is my site, I get to make my own rules, do my own thing and phrase and word things how I want to.  So we'll have lists and maybe some moments like this one I'm kicking off this little stretch with.

Ranking Rustys (And The Rest Of The Vacation Series!)

Tis the season...to rank stuff.  This might have been the most bitter ending to any retrospective series ever.  That last movie was heinous, absolutely heinous.  But the first four I rather liked.  Even the ones I found weaker I was able to find positives in.  This seriously is slated for a reboot with Ed Helms as Rusty taking his wife (Christina Applegate I believe) on their first family vacation.  Its been put on delay, so who knows when that'll happen.  It would have been nice to give Anthony Michael Hall or Johnny Galecki a shot at being Rusty again and then grab a major female star to play his wife, but oh well.  Why those two over the others?  Well, one is the original which could draw some buzz and the other is a genuine household name television star.  We'll revisit the series when we get to that.  For now, here's the rankings and a bit of what's going on after this and a bit of a preview of next month.  Thanks for reading and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

BONUS: Griswold Expanded Universe

While there's been no films since...well, let's forget that one....the Griswolds have popped up on two other occasions for "new" adventures and homages. This piece is to acknowledge and take a little look at them.

Vacation Retrospective: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure (2003)

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure
2003
Director: Nick Marck
Starring:  Randy Quaid, Miriam Flynn, Dana Barron, Jake Thomas, Fred Willard, Ed Asner, Sung Hi Lee, Eric Idle
Not Rated

Why the hell did I do this to myself?
      ~Brandon Peters

Vacation Retrospective: Vegas Vacation (1997)

Vegas Vacation
1997
Director: Stephen Kessler
Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Ethan Embry, Marisol Nichols, Randy Quaid, Wayne Newton, Miriam Flynn
Rated: PG

Every time I belch, the plate shifts and my legs give out. But man, what a view!
                                       ~Cousin Eddie

Vacation Retrospective: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

 

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

1989

Director:  Jeremiah S. Chechik

Starring:  Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Johnny Galecki, Juliette Lewis, Doris Roberts

Rated: PG-13

Clark: Hey kids, I heard on the news that an airline pilot spotted Santa's sled on its way in from New york.

Eddie: You serious Clark? 

Vacation Retrospective: National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985)

National Lampoon's European Vacation
1985
Director: Amy Heckerling
Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Jason Lively, Dana Hill, Eric Idle
Rated: R

Clark:  I'll have a Coke.
Stewardess:  Do you want that in the can?
Clark:  No, I'll have it right here.

Vacation Retrospective: National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)

 

National Lampoon's Vacation

1983

Director: Harold Ramis

Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Anthony Michael Hall, Imogene Coca, Randy Quaid, Dana Barron, Miriam Flynn, John Candy, Christie Brinkley, Jane Krakowski, Eugene Levy

Rated: R

When I was a boy, just about every summer we'd take a vacation.  And you know, in 18 years, we never had fun.

                                                     ~Clark Griswold

Something Nobody Wants To Celebrate: Gus Van Sant's PSYCHO Remake Turns 15 Today

Whether we're willing to admit it or not, the much maligned Gus Van Sant remake of Alfred Hitchock's Psycho from 1998 has left a legacy.  You don't have to be favorable or liked to have made an impression or leave your mark.  When discussions happen about remakes-their quality, their necessity, what to do and what not to do-you'll be hard pressed to find the remake conversation where this movie DOESN'T come up.  Today, I've decided on its 15th anniversary, to take a look back at the film that terrified people and made them scared for different reasons than the original film.  It opened film lovers' eyes and frightened them of the reality this film was the gateway for.  That NO MOVIE, no matter how perfect the first time around or how loved and adored was safe from being remade or retooled.