Best of 2013

Yeah, this is a film blog and generally I only post about films. However entertainment is entertainment so instead of simply putting in a list of my favorite films I am expanding a little.

Here’s the rundown on what I consider to be the best in entertainment of the year. While not as underground as one would expect from a person such as myself this is how it is J

Films:
10. Star Trek – Into Darkness – Even with the most emotional moment lifted from “The Wrath of Khan” the film was more than enough to satisfy this Star Trek Fan.

9. The Motel  Life – Heavy thriller about two brothers who are forced to leave the motel they live in after something goes horribly wrong. While this is a 2012 film, it didn’t see release until 2013 so I am counting it.

8. The World’s End – Five childhood friends are convinced to attempt to conquer a failed pub crawl from their youth. Strange things happen.

7. American Hustle – A fictionalized account of some incidents in the Abscam investigation in the late 1970s. Stellar performances by Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence.

6. Elysium – Even with the heavy handed social commentary this stunning sci-fi from Neill Blomkamp was very compelling.

5. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – The incredible dragon Smaug (voiced perfectly by Benedict Cumberbatch) was the star of this one. Gorgeous film that is best seen in HFR 3D. Some parts seemed like padding but as I was expecting that after the first part it didn’t seem like a negative.

4. The Place Beyond the Pines – Great acting and strong characters made this story of the length a father will go to care for his son a winner.  While this is a 2012 film, it didn’t see release until 2013 so I am counting it.

3. Prisoners – A gripping revenge tale with a simply amazing performance from Hugh Jackman.

2. Gravity – A convincing performance by Sandra Bullock (who I don’t like) coupled with the most amazing 3D space footage made this once of the most intense dramas ever.

1. Pacific Rim – While not the strongest in terms of story or acting this movie made me feel like a ten year old watching “Destroy All Monsters” for the first time. This wonderful film forced me to wear an ear to ear grin for at least 20 percent of the running time. I lost track of repeat viewings at eight!

Albums – No comments,  just buy the albums!
10. Grave Miasma – Odori Sepulcrorum
9. Steven Wilson – The Raven That Refused To Sing And Other Stories
8. Lingua Mortis Orchestra – LMO
7. The Ruins Of Beverast – Blood Vaults – The Blazing Gospel Of Heinrich Kramer
6. Darkthrone – The Underground Resistance
5. Autopsy – The Headless Ritual
4. Gorguts – Colored Sands
3. Carcass – Surgical Steel
2. Amon Amarth – Deceiver of the Gods
1. Inquisition – Obscure Verses for the Multiverse

Shows – Since retiring from unpaid live music photography I go to a LOT less shows. Here are the ones that came immediately to mind as the best for me:
8. Luke Jaeger – 12 October at Snack Shack in Everett – Our little grand opening party did not disappoint. The number of people in attendance did.

7. Inquisition – 6 March at Studio Seven in Seattle – Some other bands played but I can’t remember who.
6. My birthday party, 27 July – While no bands played there was music and the majority of the people I hang out with at shows were there. I had a great time with great friends, great beer and lots of liquor.

5. Weapon, Mitochondrion, Tyrants Blood and Auroch – 12 January at the Astoria Pub in Vancouver – Some of Canada’s finest metal bands all got together for what would end up being Weapon’s final live performance. I had a great time.

4. Absu – 26 April at the Ash Street Saloon in Portland OR – Although the show in Seattle the night before was great this one was better!

3. Autopsy – 13 July at Neumos in Seattle – I missed all the openers due to being a socialite but Autopsy delivered the goods.

2. Bolt Thrower – 29 May at Neumos in Seattle – My fourth time seeing them and easily the best. I got an indirect shout out as one of the few people who saw them in Federal Way in 1991. The venue was a total madhouse at this sold out show.
1. Goblin – 18 October at Neumos in Seattle – After years of being a fan of their film scores the opportunity came to finally see the band live. They did not disappoint, playing the majority of their hits complete with scenes from the films projected. Simply amazing.

End of Year Ketchup

234. 12/20 – Don Jon* – A man (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) meets the girl of his dreams (Scarlett Johansson) but porn gets in the way. (VOD) 7/10

235. 12/20 – Runner, Runner* –  A man (Justin Timberlake) loses a bunch of money playing online poker and ends up going to Costa Rica to work for the man (Ben Affleck) who was responsible for his loss. (VOD) 6/10

236. 12/21 – Insidious Chapter 2* – More of the same but it worked. (DVD) 6/10

237. 12/21 – Out of the Furnace* – Christian Bale and Casey Affleck are brothers in a small Rust Belt town. Bale goes to jail and Affleck gets in trouble with Woody Harrelson and his inbred kinfolk. Horrible things ensue. (Cinema) 8/10

238. 12/23 – The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug* – The incredible dragon Smaug (voiced perfectly by Benedict Cumberbatch) was the star of this one. Gorgeous film that is best seen in HFR 3D. (Cinema) 9/10

239. 12/24 – Black Christmas – Holiday horror classic from Bob Clark. (DVD) 8/10

240. 12/26 – Prince of Darkness – A cast of John Carpenter regulars play scientists who are researching something evil. (Bluray) 8/10

241. 12/26 – Blade Runner: The Final Cut* – It’s hard to say if this is better than the theatrical version but it’s still a fantastic film. (Bluray) 8/10

242. 12/27 – In the Mouth of Madness – Sam Neill plays an insurance investigator looking into the disappearance of author Sutter Cain. Madness ensues.  (Bluray) 9/10

243. 12/27 – Contest* – Feature film about bullying that plays like an afterschool special. Too wholesome for me.  (DVD) 5/10

244. 12/27 – C.O.G.* – A Yale student hits the road and ends up picking apples in Oregon. (Netflix) 7/10

245. 12/28 – Sightseers* – Two Brits head off for an RV holiday and things go south quickly. (Netflix) 7/10

246. 12/28 – National Lampoon’s Dad’s Week Off* – How Henry Winkler could act in such a pile of dreck is beyond me. (Netflix) 5/10 Sorry, no trailer for this. Full movie on YouTube in ten parts, below is the first.

247. 12/30 – Not Fade Away* – Story about a band in New Jersey in the late 60’s hoping for fame and fortune (Netflix) 6/10

248. 12/30 – Losers Take All* – Funny film about a punk band in 1986 trying to make it.  (Netflix) 7/10

249. 12/30 – You’re Next* – A family’s anniversary celebration is interrupted by a gang of crossbow wielding killers. (VOD) 7/10

250. 12/30 – American Hustle* – A fictionalized account of some incidents in the Abscam investigation in the late 1970s. Stellar performances by Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence. (Cinema) 8/10

* = first time viewing

My IMDB ratings history

December Begins

263. 12/01 – Deadfall* – Good crime thriller with Eric Bana, Olivia Wilde and Charlie Hunnam. (On Demand)

264. 12/01 – ParaNorman* – Not Pixar quality but this was a pretty entertaining animated film. (DVD)

265. 12/01 – Ted* – I think Seth MacFarlane should stick to episodic television. (On Demand)

266. 12/01 – Degenerate Art: The Art and Culture of Glass Pipes* – Good documentary, the title says if all. There is some amazing art going on in this scene! (Netflix)

267. 12/01 – Men in Black 3* – Pretty much the same as the others but with even more plastic looking CGI. (On Demand)

268. 12/02 – Monster Brawl* – PPV styled movie featuring monster fights. It was cool to see Jimmy Hart but other than that this was a disappointment. (Netflix)

269. 12/02 – The Bourne Legacy* – Jeremy Renner acted his ass off in this one, too bad the script sucked. (On Demand)

* = first time viewing

My IMDB ratings history