Movies 2013

Yet another movie year has come to an end. Seen a few movies during the year, both old and new ones. Feels like it's been a good year all in all. If I have to pick some of my favourites though, I think it has to be Jagten, Django Unchained, The World's End and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Amongst documentaries, Stories We Tell, Doin' It in the Park: Pick-Up Basketball, NYC and Searching for Sugar Man were some of the best. 

A Band Called Death
Adams æbler
Animal Factory
Anna Karenina

Argo
At Night I Fly
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Bones Brigade: An Autobiography
Brave
Bully
Cabin in the Woods, The
CBGB
Central Park Five, The
Champion
Cloud Atlas
Cockneys vs Zombies
Dead Man Down
Despicable Me 2
Detachment
Devil's Playground
Disconnect
Django Unchained
Doin' It in the Park: Pick-Up Basketball, NYC
Don Jon
Dragon Lore: Curse of the Shadow
Elysium
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Frankenstein's Army
Fuck You, Fuck You Very Much
Gangster Squad
Good Day to Die Hard, A
Good Vibrations
Gravity
Great Debaters, The
Great Gatsby, The
Green Street 3: Never Back Down
Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Hitchcook
Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The
How to Make Money Selling Drugs
Idiocracy
Imposter, The
Iron Man 3
Jack Reacher
Jack the Giant Killer
Jagten
jOBS
John Dies at the End
Kick-Ass 2
Klovn: The Movie
Knight of the Dead
Kovasikajuttu
La Source des Femmes
Last Shop Standing
Les Misérables
Life of Pi
Lone Ranger, The
Looper
Lost Christmas
Louder Than a Bomb
Machete Kills
Mammas pojkar
Man of Steel
Mansome
Master, The
Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth
Monica Z
Moon
Movie 43
Mud
Now You See Me
Oblivion
Olympus Has Fallen
Oz the Great and Powerful
Pacific Rim
Palme
Perfect Sense
Prince Avalanche
Red 2
Robot & Frank
Schultze Gets the Blues
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Searching for Sugar Man
Seven Psychopaths
Sharknado
Silver Linings Playbook
Small Town Gay Bar
Speak of the Devil
Spring Breakers
Star Trek Into Darkness
Stories We Tell
Sune i Grekland
Tabloid
Taxi to the Dark Side
This is 40
This is the End
Thor: The Dark World
To Do List, The
TPB AFK
Trek Nation
2 Guns
Vamp U
Vinyl
Wadjda
Warm Bodies
We're the Millers
We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks
Wolverine, The
Woodsman, The
World' End, The
World War Z
Zero Dark Thirty
Äta Sova Dö

Stories We Tell

Stories We Tell

Review: At first I wondered if this documentary about a quite ordinary family would be interesting. But in all honesty, all families have their stories, and this story is told with such warmth and love that it left me with a warm feeling inside. One of the best documentaries I've seen in quite a while. 

Rating: 8/10

Thor: The Dark World

Thor: The Dark World

Review: Action packed Marvel movie. What more can you really ask for? The Thor series is not among my favourite, but still worth watching.

Rating: 5.5/10

Moon

Moon

Review: A really good sci-fi film. Moon is more or less a one man show starring Sam Rockwell, and he's doing a good job of it all. A bit of a step back to the older space films, without the action and monsters of later years. A bit slow, but not the worse for it. 

Rating: 7/10

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Review: If you enjoyed Kick-Ass, then you ought to like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Not quite as violent and dark, but still a really fun watch. 

Rating: 6.5/10

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Review: Ah, you really can't be disappointed after watching another one of Peter Jackson's films based on J.R.R. Tolkien's work. The second part of The Hobbit is pure beauty, and there is not a single moment in it when I'm bored. Might get a bit tired of the overuse of effects at times, but all in all, it's pure enjoyment. And casting Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of Smaug was nothing less than the move of a genius. 

Rating: 8.5/10

Don Jon

Don Jon

Review: Decent movie with some good acting in it. Nothing special though.

Rating: 4/10

Gravity

Gravity

Review: Wow! I hadn't expected this. A movie with Sandra Bullock being very good. But Gravity really is. Perhaps not as much for the acting as for the cinematography and overall feel of the film, but Bullock is making good of her part in it all. Probably one of the finest space films I ever seen. Recommended!

Rating: 8/10

A Band Called Death

A Band Called Death

Review: A Band Called Death is a documentary that is quite similar to Searching for Sugarman. It's about this protopunk band called Death that existed in the 70's before breaking up after only releasing one vinyl single. Then in the 90's, they got "discovered" again and the story of Death got started again. A warm and interesting tale with some really good music. Worth checking out.

Rating: 7.5/10

The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby

Review: Finally got around to see The Great Gatsby. I've been wanting to ever since it first came out, but for some reason I never got around to it. Was never a huge fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, but I still felt that it might be interesting as a film. Was it then? Well, not really. It was very beautiful and a joy to watch for that reason, but as a film it never truly captivated me. A decent flick, nothing more unfortunately.

Rating: 5/10

Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth

Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth

Review: Undisputed Truth was a one-man show that Mike Tyson put up on Broadway. It's just him on a stage talking about his life. Might sound a bit boring, but it is strangely captivating. He is after all a person who has experienced a thing or two throughout his life. 

Rating: 6/10

jOBS

jOBS

Review: As expected, this film about Steve Jobs was a bit of a yawnfest for me. No more, no less.

Rating: 3.5/10

Doin' It in the Park: Pick-Up Basketball, NYC

Doin' It in the Park: Pick-Up Basketball, NYC

Review: Ever since I first heard that Bobbito Garcia would be making this documentary about pick-up basketball, I've been wanting to see it. And I wasn't disappointed. It's a very good documentary that really brings out the love for the game and the respect for the whole culture. Not just recommended for sport fans, I think anyone could get something out of watching this one.

Rating: 7.5/10

2 Guns

2 Guns

Review: A decent action flick. Nothing special, but sometimes just what you need on a Sunday afternoon.

Rating: 5/10

The To Do List

The To Do List

Review: Why on Earth did I decide to watch this film? Good question. The only thing I know is that I have no one else to blame but myself for this waste of 108 minutes.

Rating: 2.5/10

Prince Avalanche

Prince Avalanche

Review: When I first read about this film, it felt like something I would appreciate. And it wasn't bad. But unfortunately it wasn't memorable at all either. An ok watch.

Rating: 5/10

Red 2

Red 2

Review: Just like when Red came, this follow up's got an amazing cast. But just like back then, that's not enough to make a good movie. 

Rating: 4.5/10

Brave

Brave

Review: Not a big fan of Disney and Pixar films, but thought I'd check this one out after hearing good things about it. And it's a good one. Not overly cheesy like typical Disney flicks, but actually a a warm and human story. Worth checking out.

Rating: 6/10

Despicable Me 2

Despicable Me 2

Review: After being in bed sick and bored for a couple of days, this film is actually quite enjoyable. But I guess it has to be under those kind of circumstances. 

Rating: 4/10

Machete Kills

Machete Kills

Review: Just looking at some of the cast of this film and you know it will be good: Danny Trejo, Mel Gibson, Charlie Sheen (appearing under his birth name Carlos Estevez), Vanessa Hudgens and Lady Gaga. The créme de la créme of acting! And the pure number of people getting killed in the first 5 minutes of the movie combined with really crappy special effects settles it. Robert Rodriguez has done it again. 

Rating: 6/10

The Lone Ranger

The Lone Ranger

Review: I knew from the get-go that I wouldn't like this film. And I was right. A true sleeping pill.

Rating: 3.5/10

Disconnect

Disconnect

Review: Disconnect is kind of a internet version of Crash, but not nearly as good and captivating. It's not bad though, but it's really the actors that is saving this movie in the long run. 

Rating: 5.5/10

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room

Review: Third Alex Gibney documentary in 2 days. This one is an interesting one about the rise and fall of Enron. As with all of Alex's documentaries, it's clear and on point.

Rating: 6.5/10

Taxi to the Dark Side

Taxi to the Dark Side

Review: After watching Alex Gibney's documentary We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks, I decided to check out one of his earlier ones. Taxi to the Dark Side talks about USA's policy on torture and how it changed the rule book when it comes to treating prisoners fairly. Strong and interesting documentary.  

Rating: 8/10

We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks

We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks

Review: A lot has been said about this documentary. Few neutral reviews. Either people love it or they hate it. Most people who hate it do so because they feel that Julian Assange is painted in a negative light. Personally I enjoyed it. I can't claim to know what did and did not happen so I prefer not to put too strong words behind this. Definitely worth checking out. 

Rating: 6/10

Good Vibrations

Good Vibrations

Review: Charming film about Terri Hooley and his record shop/label Good Vibrations. Terri Hooley has often been called the Godfather of Irish punk and he sure did his part back in the days. Definitely worth checking out, there are some amazing tunes in it as well. 

Rating: 7/10

Now You See Me

Now You See Me

Review: I have to admit that I was really enjoying this caper thriller film. The story might have worked completely, but the actors and some nice turns made it entertaining enough.

Rating: 7/10

Green Street 3: Never Back Down

Green Street 3: Never Back Down

Review: I have this thing for movies about football hooligans. Don't ask me why, I just do. I didn't love Green Street Hooligans when it came out, mostly because of Elijah Wood's part, but it felt proper somehow any way. This flick however is nothing but a movie showcasing fights, nothing else. Nicely shot fights, but the story is super weak.

Rating: 4/10

Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing

Review: A modern version of William Shakepeare's Much Ado About Nothing, made by none other than Joss Whedon. You bet I was interested in seeing it! And he managed to create a charming comedy that has both Shakespeare's basic story and beautiful language intact, as well as adds his own quirky sense of humour to it.

Rating: 7/10

Pacific Rim

Pacific Rim

Review: The main reason for me to want to watch Pacific Rim was that it was made by Guillermo del Toro. And it's an entertaining modern day version of Godzilla. Some nice effects combined with some weak storyline made it easy consumed, but not memorable. 

Rating: 5/10

Monica Z

Monica Z

Review: Monica Z is a movie losely based around the life of Swedish singer Monica Zetterlund, and when I say losely I mean losely. And it's also one of the sad things about this project. Why do a film about a famous person and then change a lot of the actual facts? There are however lots of good acting, great cinematograpy and amazing music. I'm however leaving the movie theatre thinking that I never felt anything for the main character throughout the whole film, nothing except that she seemed like an unsympathetic person. 

Rating: 6/10

Small Town Gay Bar

Small Town Gay Bar

Review: The title kind of says it all. This documentary focuses on two gay bars in small towns in Mississippi and the struggle for people to be able to be who they are. Warm and interesting documentary that is worth watching. 

Rating: 6/10

CBGB

CBGB

Review: There are some good things about this film, especially when it comes to describing Hilly Kristal's big heart. But there are also many annoying things about this movie about his club CBGB. Some good music, some rewarding scenes and a really irritating use of visuals. Please stop using cartoon bubbles as an attempt to seem edgy visually!

Rating: 5/10

This Is the End

This Is the End

Review: Over the top, but still quite entertaining, comedy about a bunch of real life movie stars facing The Apocalypse.

Rating: 5/10

The World's End

The World's End

Review: Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. That's all I really need to be happy. So when I heard of this third installment of the so called Cornetto Triology, I could hardly contain myself. I totally worship Shaun of the Dead, and Hot Fuzz still works well after all these years so I was also a bit nervous. But no need to, The World's End was perfect in all it's glory. Geeky? Yes. Weird? Certainly. Childish? You bet. Worth watching? Most definitely!

Rating: 7.5/10

Elysium

Elysium

Review: Considering that the director and writer behind Elysium, Neill Blomkamp, was the man behind District 9, I kind of hoped that this flick would be better and more entertaining, but it never really grabbed hold of me. Decent, but that's it.

Rating: 4/10

We're the Millers

We're the Millers

Review: An about average comedy. No more, no less. 

Rating:  4.5/10

Kick-Ass 2

Kick-Ass 2

Review: I really loved the first Kick-Ass film when it came out in 2010, so when I heard of Kick-Ass 2 I got really excited. This follow up might not really live up to the first one, but it's still violent, funny and entertaining. Jim Carrey as Colonel Stars and Stripes bored me though. 

Rating: 6/10

Fuck You, Fuck You Very Much

Fuck You, Fuck You Very Much

Review: For some reason I never got around to watching this documentary when it came out way back. Leila K, one of Sweden's most tragic pop stars, and it is a sad watch. Especially since everything went even more downhill the years after this documentary. Interesting watch though nevertheless.

Rating: 5.5/10

Klovn: The Movie

Klovn: The Movie

Review: I haven't seen the tvshow that this film is based on, so I don't know whether or not it's good in comparison. But I really liked the film. It's akward humour and human aspects makes it a really entertaining watch. 

Rating: 6.5/10

The Wolverine

The Wolverine

Review: I do love my Marvel movies. Unlike many others though, I never been a huge fan of Wolverine. That doesn't mean I don't watch movies with him gladly though. A good action film, no more no less. 

Rating: 6/10

Frankenstein's Army

Frankenstein's Army

Review: There are some nice effects in this horror flick, but God I'm sick of this found photage gimmick! It wasn't fun to begin with, and it doesn't get less annoying with time.

Rating: 3/10

Idiocracy

Idiocracy

Review: Just as stupid as expected, but sometimes stupid is just what you want. Not a good film at all, but it worked for the moment.

Rating: 4/10

Vinyl

Vinyl

Review: A really charming British comedy about an aged punk band reviving their career by letting young people front as if they are the ones playing. It is loosely based on the true story of Mike Peters and The Alarm who in 2004 released the single 45 RPM under the name of a fictitious band The Poppy Fields.

Rating: 6.5/10

Speak of the Devil

Speak of the Devil

Review: When sitting down to watching this documentary of Anton LaVey, I wasn't expecting that such a big amount of it is him sitting down playing the organ. Feels more like an audition video than anything else.

Rating: 2.5/10

Sharknado

Sharknado

Review: Flying sharks. Ian Ziering. Tara Reid. What more can you really ask for?

Rating: 3/10

Mud

Mud

Review: This is probably a good film. There's some nice acting in it and the story seems ok. Just left me bored, that's all.

Rating: 4/10

The Cabin in the Woods

The Cabin in the Woods

Review: Joss Whedon. You can always count on that guy. If you want a good horror flick with a twist and great dark comedy, then this is your film.

Rating: 7.5/10

Oblivion

Oblivion

Review: Oblivion is a visual treat, but I'm not too sure about the storyline. It's a bit too weak in the long run and leaves me slightly bored.

Rating: 4/10

Last Shop Standing

Last Shop Standing

Review: Ever since I first heard of this documentary, I've been wanting to see it. And now I finally have. It's about the development of independent record shops in the U.K., and it's various ups and downs. It's perhaps more of a documentary for record geeks, but I think anyone interesting in music and our modern culture should give this one a go.

Rating: 7.5/10