Top Ten films of 2013

JOHANNESBURG – This year’s top ten films had to mostly have strong story lines and maintain that within the boundaries of different genres, and the following ten films managed to do so.

The biggest surprises of the year were Fast & Furious 6, Man of Steel and Iron Man 3. All three films delivered beautifully crafted storylines while delivering what their genres demanded.

Fast & Furious 6 did not only deliver a pulsating action from beginning to end, but, all of that carried a well crafted storyline with a couple of unexpected twists in between; a similar comment could also apply to Iron Man 3.

Late comers Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and Frozen crept into the top 10 because of the storylines; this is despite the makers of Mandela failing on capturing a different angle to the legend’s life.

Starting with number one, top ten films of 2013 are as follows:

Fast & Furious 6  

Hobbs has Dom and Brian reassemble their crew in order to take down a mastermind who commands an organization of mercenary drivers across 12 countries. Payment would be full pardons for everyone!

Director: Justin Lin

Stars: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez

Man of Steel

A young itinerant worker is forced to confront his secret extrastellar origin when Earth is invaded by members of his own race.

Director: Zack Snyder

Stars: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Diane Lane

Iron Man 3

When Tony Stark’s world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.

Director: Shane Black

Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle

Despicable Me 2

Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super criminal.

Director: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud

Stars: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove

The biggest surprises of the year were Fast & Furious 6, Man of Steel and Iron Man 3. All three films delivered beautifully crafted storylines while delivering what their genres demanded.

Pacific Rim

As a war between humankind and monstrous sea creatures wages on, a former pilot and a trainee are paired up to drive a seemingly obsolete special weapon in a desperate effort to save the world from the apocalypse.

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Stars: Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day

Oblivion

A veteran assigned to extract Earth’s remaining resources begins to question what he knows about his mission and himself.

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Stars: Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Andrea Riseborough, Olga Kurylenko

The Great Gatsby

A Midwestern war veteran finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his millionaire neighbor. (143 mins.)

Director: Baz Luhrmann

Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Tobey Maguire

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.

Director: Francis Lawrence

Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Late comers Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and Frozen crept into the top 10 because of the storylines; this is despite the makers of Mandela failing on capturing a different angle to the legend’s life.

Gravity

A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.

Director: Alfonso Cuarón

Stars: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris, Orto Ignatiussen

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

A chronicle of Nelson Mandela’s life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.

Director: Justin Chadwick

Writers: William Nicholson (screenplay), Nelson Mandela (autobiography)

Frozen

Fearless optimist Anna teams up with Kristoff in an epic journey, encountering Everest-like conditions, and a hilarious snowman named Olaf in a race to find Anna’s sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter.

Director: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee

Stars: Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff

Looking ahead to 2014, it seems the best place to spend over weekends will be at the movies, especially with the anticipated Fast & Furious 7.