Virtually everyone makes their big end of the year list and this year is certainly no exception.
After a year of infectious pop sounds causing us to twerk, blockbuster Marvel films still vying for our attention and the farewell to one generation of gaming into another and television becoming bigger than ever, 2013 was a year worth giving praise to.
Yes, it's another list, but this is different as it counts entertainment as a whole, separated by category to make it easier on the reader.
Also, I have not seen all the major Oscar contenders or films of 2013, so the film portion may be a bit light. Anyway, without hesitation, here is the top 10 entertainment of 2013.
Film
Rare is it that a documentary deliver such power and heartbreak and Blackfish does just that while exposing the practices and animal done by Sea World. Despite its PG-13 rating, Blackfish is a rough sit as it follows an orca named Tillikum with a history of killing trainers and for being psychologically torture by his living situation and treatment at the Sea World parks. The documentary is armed with footage recorded in secret at the parks of the mistreatment and the shocking eyewitness accounts to incidents will make those who adore Sea World think differently about visiting.
Disney delivered a nostalgic throwback to the days of the Disney Renaissance with the stunning and gorgeous Frozen. Taking the story of the Snow Queen and adapting it for a modern audience is no easy task, but subverting classic Disney tropes while playing many of them straight, Frozen comes out on top as one of the best animated films in recent memories. The musical number "Let It Go" highlights the beauty of this film as Elsa, voiced by Idina Menzel, sings about her finally being while describing in vivid detail the creation of ice around her. Disney gave a lot of care to this film and it shows in every frame.
No other blockbuster I have seen this year comes close to watching the beyond crowd-pleasing Fast 6 in the theater by embracing the ridiculous nature of the franchise's street racing routes while giving out one hell of a fun action romp. Following Dominic "Dom" Toretto, played by Vin Diesel, and his crew, aka family, Fast 6 has our heroes track down an mercenary group lead by Owen Shaw, played by Lee Evans, in order to also get back Letty, played by Michelle Rodriguez, who was presumed dead. Even in the wake of the tragic death of Paul Walker this year, the film is worth watching for over-the-top action, fantastically directed car chases and for a popcorn movie worth remembering.
Beneath the summer riddled with the typical bombast we have come to expect was James Wan's The Conjuring that manages to be a classic throwback to 70's spook house horror. Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Fermiga respectively, investigate the Perron family's house for the paranormal and get more than they would ever expect from any case. The build-up and suspense helps make the scares more frightening alongside moments of silence that have viewers second guess whether it is safe to look at the screen without a scare. The Conjuring is a thrilling and much needed scare against all the generic horror as of late.
Music
Oozing with '70s disco flair and the French robot duo's signature electronic funk sound, Random Access Memories may very well be the best pop album of the year. Daft Punk teams up with Pharrell Williams on the two sexy tracks "Get Lucky" and "Lose Yourself to Dance" that would make the club get on their dancing feet and even going into somber territory with Julian Casablancas' on "Instant Crush." Where the album shines is in its deeper cuts from the darkly sad "The Game of Love" to an eight-minute epic about love on "Touch" with '70s legend Paul Williams singing his heart out. Random Access Memories is a masterwork for Daft Punk right next to Discovery and a experience for any music lover to enjoy.
David Bowie finally returned to deliver one of his greatest works since the early days of his career. The Next Day proves that the man still has that by retaining his classic style while going into new and unique places. From the title track's powerhouse anthem to the quiet depression express in "Where Are We Now?," Bowie has a lot to reveal in his lyrics after a decade of being absent. The album is thematic in its elements from balancing new wave sounds and beyond eerie atmosphere, which is present throughout all of Heat. It is truly exciting to know that Bowie is back and ready for music once more.
New Zealand native Lorde gave a hip-hop inspired pop song about not being in the life of luxury and how everything is better to not be, but rather live in the fantasy rather than the reality. It drives that point home alongside 17 year-old Lorde's gorgeous vocal and truly know how to create a stellar pop hit. Fortunately, Lorde is growing in popularity allowing more of her music to get exposure to audience who otherwise would stray away from artists like her.
JT has had a year of hits and misses with average to just okay song on first part of The 20/20 Experience. Yet, "Mirrors" is the magnum opus of the entire experience by creating a powerful and gorgeous love track that shows the maturity of Timberlake's romantic lyrics with a beat unique to its own. With swelling violins, a thumping bass and symphonic synths, "Mirrors" gives Justin a return to form while assembling something new for us. Just don't listen to "Strawberry Bubblegum" after. It will ruin the taste buds.
Television
Everyone's favorite time lord came to Earth on his TARDIs to surpass the finale of Breaking Bad by going for a global simulcast breaking ratings and world records left and right. It also manages to be a fantastic and delightful episode of Doctor Who as the Eleventh Doctor, played by Matt Smith, teams with the Tenth Doctor, played by David Tennant, in order to stop a Zygon invasion while dealing with The War Doctor, played by John Hurt, who is responsible for the demise of Gallifrey in the Time War. The special has something for every fan of the Doctor from classic throwbacks, modern flair and a nice twist that is 50 years in the making that will make any fan root for the Doctor to succeed. This is one for the ages.
Video Games
Rockstar North steps in once again to break new ground on the previous incarnation of GTA by giving a story line with three different playable characters as allegories of the real fan of the series. With its rich bank heist story providing both dramatic and comedic tones, Grand Theft Auto V offers a much larger playground to play in with hours of activities and side missions to play through and with its new online component being larger than ever, the party of free roaming has become a massive experience. GTA V gives a beautiful sendoff to the PS3 and Xbox 360 by becoming another classic in the sandbox genre.
