As my lists slowly but surely are unveiled, here is my next one! So I decided to make this a thing. I love movies. Obviously. But sometimes there are scenes within a movie that are just....well.....unforgettable. The movie itself may not be the best, but the moment is awesome. Maybe the movie put all of its money into one scene? Maybe? Well, whatever. It doesn't matter, for at least a few moments, the movie was incredibly enjoyable. So, here is a short list of some of the best moments of the movies in 2013!
1) 13 minute opening shot-Gravity (Detached Clip)
I have absolutely no idea how this movie was shot. From start to finish. While there are several fantastic and unforgettable moments located all throughout the movie, and almost every single one of them deserves a spot on this list, I will just pick one. Even this is a rather easy decision. The opening 13 minutes of Gravity easily stand above and beyond as one of the greatest shots I have ever seen in a film. Easily the best moment of 2013, the 13 minute single shot opening has the camera "floating" between all of the various characters and scenery, from initially showing the Explorer floating towards us from off in the distance, to having close-ups of Clooney and Bullock as they continue to try to reboot the satellite they've been working on for a week. Not to mention wide shots of earth that were absolutely breathtaking to see in a movie theater. Additionally, the first major crash scene is filmed within this single shot, (see the clip) and somehow the scene is captured flawlessly. Despite the mass chaos occurring on the screen in front of me, I never once felt nauseous or overwhelmed. I have watched the scene many times by this point, and it has yet to NOT leave me completely breathless. 10/10, Alfonso Cuaron. 10/10.
2) DiCaprio's Speech-Wolf of Wall Street (Full Scene WARNING explicit content!)
Easily the most controversial movie of 2013, The Wolf of Wall Street is full of....well.....things. There is so much crap happening on screen at once in this movie. It is utterly amazing in its production value. And in a movie filled with many great scenes, one stands out. The moment that just might get Leo that Oscar he deserves. Well, there are three big speeches in the movie, but the speech where he convinces his crowd of misfits to sell Steve Madden's IPO is one for the ages. There's an electricity in that scene that you can only fully appreciate by watching it on screen. And hey! There's a link where it says full scene! Here's the background on the scene: according to the writer, Terrence Winter, (longtime writer of many Scorsese projects) he asked the real Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belfort, to come in and recreate these speeches for him and DiCaprio so that they could implement them into the movie as accurately as possible. Boy did they. The amount of intensity DiCaprio puts into these speeches, and particularly the Madden IPO, is breathtaking. Beautifully written and masterfully acted, this is one of the best speeches in recent movie memory. It is easily one of the best moments of the year.
3) Takeover of Philly-World War Z (Edited Scene)
Don't worry guys, you won't see this movie anywhere else on any lists. While I personally really liked this movie, and it was arguably one of the best of the summer blockbusters, the movie also received a lot of criticism for it not being anything like its source material. I say who cares. When you watch it from a movie perspective and acknowledge the fact that virtually the only similarity between it and the book is the fact that they share the same name, you will realize that it is a really good movie! Anyway, here's the part that you cannot deny, no matter how you feel about the movie, the opening of it is really freaking cool. To see a huge city go from normal to completely overrun with zombies in about 4 minutes is just, well, scary as hell. The chaos that unfolds in front of you is breathtaking, and really sets the mood for a frantically paced movie. Fortunately for us, it's used as a trailer, so you can watch the scene as many times as you like without watching the actual movie! But seriously, that wide shot of Philly in chaos gives me chills every time.
4) Let It Go sequence-Frozen (Full Scene)
Think what you want about the song, (I think it deserves best original song personally) but you cannot deny how beautiful the scene behind it is in terms of its animation. Just watch the clip. The attention to detail made by the animators to create this scene is breathtaking. The castle created is so complex and colorful that it really is mind-blowing, as well as the fact that you actually watch the creation of the castle unfold in front of you. Really makes you realize how far good animation has come over the last few years. Not to mention the part where Idinia Manzel's voice could stop a war. Proven fact. While Lord knows the song has been played about 9 kajillion times, you cannot deny that she's good.
5) Khan's Reveal-Star Trek Into Darkness (Full Scene SPOILER WARNING if you continue watching the scene after the reveal)
Ya this is kinda here because of Benedict Cumberbatch. I had a feeling that Cumberbatch was Khan, but the reveal still gave me goosebumps in the theater way back in May. It was also a special moment for me because this was the beginning of my (somehow) manly relationship with the actor Benedict Cumberbatch. I actually watched this scene with my parents, and definitely shared a moment with my dad (somewhat of a Trekkie) as this scene unfolded and he realized it was Khan. (He had no idea.) So....you may not agree with this moment at all, but for me personally, it was one of the best moments of the year. Also definitely the best scene in the movie from all three of these actors. Sure there were some flaws with the movie, but it was still a good sequel to Star Trek. And lots of fun. If you are freaking out over how good Star Wars 7 is going to be, go watch J.J. Abrams (directing Star Wars 7) and his recreation of the Star Trek universe. We'll be fine, guys. That was an unnecessary tangent but whatever. Bite me.
Honorable Mentions (In no particular order)
Solomon Northup is beaten and ignored-12 Years a Slave (Solomon Featurette sorry can't find the actual scene)
A truly unforgettable and heart-wrenching moment within a heart-wrenching movie.
"I'm the captain now."-Captain Phillips (Full Scene)
Already a Hollywood joke, this scene is chilling, and that line gives me goosebumps every time.
The Fight Scene cameos-Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (Full Scene WARNING: If you want to see this movie DO NOT WATCH THIS SCENE. If not, enjoy it, for it is absolutely hilarious)
I could not stop laughing with these cameos. So incredibly ridiculous yet....so great.
Opening: Pacific Rim (Full Scene-start at :30)
A really cool way to open a film. Lots of exposition that is actually entertaining! Good job guys.
The part where The Lone Ranger actually became The Lone Ranger briefly-The Lone Ranger (The only part worth watching)
I feel like I need to explain this one, because I am actually serious here. This movie sucked. Definitely one of the worst movies of last year. Now, while most of it was awful, and it definitely didn't deserve any nominations at the Oscars, there was about 3 minutes of movie in here that was actually wildly enjoyable and yes, one of the best moments of last year. When the classic song that has come to define the Lone Ranger FINALLY comes on, and he's riding through the rooftops and onto the train, a huge smile crept onto my face. Then the movie goes back to being terrible where all of the sudden there are multiple train tracks! And trains! And you can't tell where anything is or what is even happening etc, etc. Whatever! But for 3 minutes (the clip I have captures 1 of those 3 minutes) it was really really fun. If this movie isn't in my bottom 10, this is the sole reason why.
Photo Credits
Gravity: http://timsfilmreviews.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/gravity-damn-space-debris.jpg
Wolf of Wall Street: http://www.slantmagazine.com/assets/film/wolfofwallstreet.jpg
World War Z: http://www.cgsociety.org/stories/2013_07/wwz/cinesite/streetd458.jpg
Frozen: http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/moSFlvxnbgk/maxresdefault.jpg
Star Trek: http://www.crushable.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Star-Trek-Into-Darkness-Khan-Benedict-Cumberbatch-Zachary-Quinto-Chris-Pine-Kirk-Spock.jpg
1) 13 minute opening shot-Gravity (Detached Clip)
I have absolutely no idea how this movie was shot. From start to finish. While there are several fantastic and unforgettable moments located all throughout the movie, and almost every single one of them deserves a spot on this list, I will just pick one. Even this is a rather easy decision. The opening 13 minutes of Gravity easily stand above and beyond as one of the greatest shots I have ever seen in a film. Easily the best moment of 2013, the 13 minute single shot opening has the camera "floating" between all of the various characters and scenery, from initially showing the Explorer floating towards us from off in the distance, to having close-ups of Clooney and Bullock as they continue to try to reboot the satellite they've been working on for a week. Not to mention wide shots of earth that were absolutely breathtaking to see in a movie theater. Additionally, the first major crash scene is filmed within this single shot, (see the clip) and somehow the scene is captured flawlessly. Despite the mass chaos occurring on the screen in front of me, I never once felt nauseous or overwhelmed. I have watched the scene many times by this point, and it has yet to NOT leave me completely breathless. 10/10, Alfonso Cuaron. 10/10.
2) DiCaprio's Speech-Wolf of Wall Street (Full Scene WARNING explicit content!)
Easily the most controversial movie of 2013, The Wolf of Wall Street is full of....well.....things. There is so much crap happening on screen at once in this movie. It is utterly amazing in its production value. And in a movie filled with many great scenes, one stands out. The moment that just might get Leo that Oscar he deserves. Well, there are three big speeches in the movie, but the speech where he convinces his crowd of misfits to sell Steve Madden's IPO is one for the ages. There's an electricity in that scene that you can only fully appreciate by watching it on screen. And hey! There's a link where it says full scene! Here's the background on the scene: according to the writer, Terrence Winter, (longtime writer of many Scorsese projects) he asked the real Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belfort, to come in and recreate these speeches for him and DiCaprio so that they could implement them into the movie as accurately as possible. Boy did they. The amount of intensity DiCaprio puts into these speeches, and particularly the Madden IPO, is breathtaking. Beautifully written and masterfully acted, this is one of the best speeches in recent movie memory. It is easily one of the best moments of the year.
3) Takeover of Philly-World War Z (Edited Scene)
Don't worry guys, you won't see this movie anywhere else on any lists. While I personally really liked this movie, and it was arguably one of the best of the summer blockbusters, the movie also received a lot of criticism for it not being anything like its source material. I say who cares. When you watch it from a movie perspective and acknowledge the fact that virtually the only similarity between it and the book is the fact that they share the same name, you will realize that it is a really good movie! Anyway, here's the part that you cannot deny, no matter how you feel about the movie, the opening of it is really freaking cool. To see a huge city go from normal to completely overrun with zombies in about 4 minutes is just, well, scary as hell. The chaos that unfolds in front of you is breathtaking, and really sets the mood for a frantically paced movie. Fortunately for us, it's used as a trailer, so you can watch the scene as many times as you like without watching the actual movie! But seriously, that wide shot of Philly in chaos gives me chills every time.
4) Let It Go sequence-Frozen (Full Scene)
Think what you want about the song, (I think it deserves best original song personally) but you cannot deny how beautiful the scene behind it is in terms of its animation. Just watch the clip. The attention to detail made by the animators to create this scene is breathtaking. The castle created is so complex and colorful that it really is mind-blowing, as well as the fact that you actually watch the creation of the castle unfold in front of you. Really makes you realize how far good animation has come over the last few years. Not to mention the part where Idinia Manzel's voice could stop a war. Proven fact. While Lord knows the song has been played about 9 kajillion times, you cannot deny that she's good.
5) Khan's Reveal-Star Trek Into Darkness (Full Scene SPOILER WARNING if you continue watching the scene after the reveal)
Ya this is kinda here because of Benedict Cumberbatch. I had a feeling that Cumberbatch was Khan, but the reveal still gave me goosebumps in the theater way back in May. It was also a special moment for me because this was the beginning of my (somehow) manly relationship with the actor Benedict Cumberbatch. I actually watched this scene with my parents, and definitely shared a moment with my dad (somewhat of a Trekkie) as this scene unfolded and he realized it was Khan. (He had no idea.) So....you may not agree with this moment at all, but for me personally, it was one of the best moments of the year. Also definitely the best scene in the movie from all three of these actors. Sure there were some flaws with the movie, but it was still a good sequel to Star Trek. And lots of fun. If you are freaking out over how good Star Wars 7 is going to be, go watch J.J. Abrams (directing Star Wars 7) and his recreation of the Star Trek universe. We'll be fine, guys. That was an unnecessary tangent but whatever. Bite me.
Honorable Mentions (In no particular order)
Solomon Northup is beaten and ignored-12 Years a Slave (Solomon Featurette sorry can't find the actual scene)
A truly unforgettable and heart-wrenching moment within a heart-wrenching movie.
"I'm the captain now."-Captain Phillips (Full Scene)
Already a Hollywood joke, this scene is chilling, and that line gives me goosebumps every time.
The Fight Scene cameos-Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (Full Scene WARNING: If you want to see this movie DO NOT WATCH THIS SCENE. If not, enjoy it, for it is absolutely hilarious)
I could not stop laughing with these cameos. So incredibly ridiculous yet....so great.
Opening: Pacific Rim (Full Scene-start at :30)
A really cool way to open a film. Lots of exposition that is actually entertaining! Good job guys.
The part where The Lone Ranger actually became The Lone Ranger briefly-The Lone Ranger (The only part worth watching)
I feel like I need to explain this one, because I am actually serious here. This movie sucked. Definitely one of the worst movies of last year. Now, while most of it was awful, and it definitely didn't deserve any nominations at the Oscars, there was about 3 minutes of movie in here that was actually wildly enjoyable and yes, one of the best moments of last year. When the classic song that has come to define the Lone Ranger FINALLY comes on, and he's riding through the rooftops and onto the train, a huge smile crept onto my face. Then the movie goes back to being terrible where all of the sudden there are multiple train tracks! And trains! And you can't tell where anything is or what is even happening etc, etc. Whatever! But for 3 minutes (the clip I have captures 1 of those 3 minutes) it was really really fun. If this movie isn't in my bottom 10, this is the sole reason why.
Photo Credits
Gravity: http://timsfilmreviews.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/gravity-damn-space-debris.jpg
Wolf of Wall Street: http://www.slantmagazine.com/assets/film/wolfofwallstreet.jpg
World War Z: http://www.cgsociety.org/stories/2013_07/wwz/cinesite/streetd458.jpg
Frozen: http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/moSFlvxnbgk/maxresdefault.jpg
Star Trek: http://www.crushable.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Star-Trek-Into-Darkness-Khan-Benedict-Cumberbatch-Zachary-Quinto-Chris-Pine-Kirk-Spock.jpg
