In years past on Daily Dead, I’ve gone back and forth on whether we should run an end of the year list. There are always movies that I recognize are really well made, but I didn’t like and is it even fair to run a “Best” list when there’s the odd movie that I didn’t get a chance to see? It was enough to drive me insane and so I decided to do something a bit different in 2013. This year, we return with our “Favorites of the Year” lists and the difference here is that we’re not just highlighting movies. Instead, we’re sharing our favorite genre experiences of the year with our readers, which could be a favorite movie, collectible, event, or person. Check back every day this week to find out what made the cut for the rest of the Daily Dead team.
Snowpiercer
The story of a perpetual-motion engine-powered train carrying the last surviving humans on Earth is completely engrossing by itself, but Snowpiercer takes a much deeper look at the human race as a whole. The exploration of political, societal, and religious topics will keep you thinking about this movie long after your first viewing. Top that with Chris Evans’ best performance to date and Tilda Swinton playing the delightfully insane Mason, and you have a film that is an instant sci-fi classic.
Only Lovers Left Alive
Just when I thought the vampire subgenre had run out of ideas, writer/director Jim Jarmusch completely surprised me with Only Lovers Left Alive. With mesmerizing performances from Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton, the movie reminds you that immortality may not be all it's cracked up to be. Jarmusch wisely treats this movie more like the following of aging drug addicts rather than the undead, giving us the best vampire movie since Let The Right One In.
Scott Snyder
I usually read a handful of comic books every month, but I got back into them in a big way thanks to Scott Snyder. His run on Batman is easily one of the best I've read and he continues to surprise me with the direction he takes The Dark Knight. Even when not tackling something that's straight horror, Snyder's love of the genre always shines through. This year, we got the excellent Zero Year storyline in Batman, but American Vampire is still going strong, and we saw the launch of a new series, Wytches, which is off to a great start.
Edge of Tomorrow
You usually know what you're getting with a Tom Cruise movie these days, but Edge of Tomorrow is a major step up from what we saw in Oblivion or Jack Reacher. Even knowing that it's using the Groundhog Day formula at the start, Edge of Tomorrow won me over with a surprisingly effective blend of action, comedy, and supporting characters. Bolstered by great performances from Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson, and Noah Taylor, Edge of Tomorrow is enjoyable from start to finish.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Easily the biggest surprise of 2014 was Guardians of the Galaxy. The movie some critics felt would be Marvel's first flop, Guardians proved that Marvel doesn't even need characters audiences are familiar with to fill theater seats. In this case, all they need is James Gunn, someone who clearly has a love for these Marvel misfits and gives us the best space opera since the original Star Wars.
The Raid 2: Berandal
How does Gareth Evans top what he did in The Raid: Redemption? He builds an incredibly rich crime world and drops Rama in the middle of it. The nearly three-hour runtime may turn people off initially, but this accomplishes what so few sequels are able to do and shows that Evans is the most talented director currently working in martial arts / action cinema.
The Babadook
I was a bit late to the game watching this one and, even after hearing all the praise for The Babadook, I was not let down. Much of the story may seem familiar, but the movie is not just expertly executed by director Jennifer Kent, but by the two leads, Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman. This isn't a movie that goes to extremes, but just like The Babadook himself, it continues to creep in and get stronger the more you think about it.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Although I like Rise of the Planet of the Apes a lot more than Tim Burton's effort, it felt more like a reboot with minor ties to the original series. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a different beast altogether and it's obvious director Matt Reeves has such a love for the series. With the help of the amazingly talented Andy Serkis, Reeves turns Caesar into a fully believable and captivating lead character that easily overshadows some great performances from Gary Oldman and Jason Clarke.
The Walking Dead Comic Book Series
The Walking Dead Season 4 made my list last year, but I'm more excited about the direction that Robert Kirkman is taking the comic book series this year. His "A New Beginning" story arc is the start to what has been the most refreshing and interesting the series has been since the visit to the prison. Each issue brings new surprises that enhance not only the world Kirkman created, but the zombie subgenre as well.
Daily Dead's Official Podcast! Daily Dead's Official Podcast!
