10. "Frozen"
Between the catchy songs performed by killer
voices -- a special tip of the hat for Idina Menzel
and the surprisingly fantastic Kristen Bell -- and
the ridiculously adorable faces of the current
Disney era, you'd be hard-pressed to dislike this
animated fairy tale. "Frozen" has the makings of a
"Little Mermaid"-style classic, but with an even
more modern, feminist twist. After all, the main
moral of the story has nothing to do with sweet
Anna falling for the woodsy Kristoff, but rather the
love of family and sisterhood. – B.L.H.

9. "Short Term 12"
Here's a film that most folks probably haven’t yet
heard of (it made just a smidge over a million at
the box office), but we couldn't recommend
highly enough. Destin Cretton's comedic drama
has drawn comparisons to 2006's excellent "Half
Nelson," and rightfully so: Like "Nelson," it's
based on a short of the same name, and it
centers on twentysomething idealists (Brie Larson
and John Gallagher Jr.) hoping to effect change
through the young people they mentor (here at a
foster care facility in place of a middle school, and
award-worthy Larson in lieu of an Oscar-
nominated Ryan Gosling) despite their own flaws
and troubles. "12" is the type of film that will
have you in stitches one moment, tears the next;
it's sweet, funny, tender, moving, and beautifully
true to life. – K.P.

8. "Inside Llewyn Davis"
The story of perpetually down-on-his-luck folk
singer Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) is not a happy
one, but because it's told through the artistic and
insightful lens of Joel and Ethan Coen, there is
cinematic magic made in the misery. Their
exploration of the early beginnings of American
folk music has a timeless, familiar quality and, as
we've come to expect from the Coens, a killer
soundtrack. Not to mention a few key
performances by Isaac, Carey Mulligan, and John
Goodman. – K.W.

7. "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"
Don't act so surprised to see this film so high on
our list. After all, when was the last time a book
adaptation with a huge following that was also a
sequel succeeded on so many levels? We'll bet
never. Jennifer Lawrence and co. brought more
action, higher stakes, and even more heartfelt
emotion to the franchise's second installment.
Packed to the brim with great performances and
both heartbreaking and heart-pounding moments
-- with just the right dash of fun -- we have to give
a District 11 salute to director Francis Lawrence,
who just nailed it. Needless to say, our countdown
to Nov. 21, 2014, when "Mockingjay – Part 1" hits
theaters, has already begun. – B.L.H.

6. "Her"
Who would've thought that watching Joaquin
Phoenix fall in love with his computer, in this case
a highly-advanced operating system (OS) voiced
by Scarlett Johansson, would make for one of the
more oddly realistic and emotionally moving films
of the year? That is the beauty of Spike Jonze's
"Her," a thoughtful, unique, and slightly
frightening look at where our addictions to
technology may soon lead us. – K.W.

5. "Dallas Buyers Club"
Every bit as great as Tom Hanks Oscar-winner
"Philadelphia," "Dallas Buyers Club" -- also about a
man with HIV-AIDS -- is vastly different,
showcasing a visceral, rousing cowboy spirit. "I
prefer to die with my boots on," Matthew
McConaughey's Ron protests as he goes against
doctor's orders. Jared Leto is searing and heart-
wrenching as Ron's unlikeliest of sidekicks.
Intuitive in all the right ways, "Dallas" flaunts its
star's most important performance to date. – M.D.

4. "The Wolf of Wall Street"
Martin Scorsese's previous movie was "Hugo," a
sweet, kid-friendly romp that made some wonder
if the old master had lost his edge. But he shut
critics down with this, his fifth and best
collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio. This
adaptation of Jordan Belfort's memoir of unlimited
greed and debauchery in the financial world of
the early '90s has the manic energy of Scorsese
classics like "Goodfellas." It's also flat-out hilarious,
with Jonah Hill heading up a deep bench of
comedic talents. The film does run long, and it
could be seen as unintentionally glamorizing the
reckless behavior it actually decries. It's still the
most potent jolt of pure cinema you'll see this
year. – M.M.

3. "American Hustle"
"American Hustle" not only moves, it purrs and
dances its a** off. Fat-and-bald Christian Bale,
sexy-to-the-max Amy Adams, and the rest of the
outrageously brilliant cast get supersized by
David O. Russell's inventive, dare we say, lyrically
guided mind behind the camera. He even
manages to sneak in a pseudo-musical into his
'70s crime opus: Bale and Jeremy Renner lead a
restaurant sing-a-long and Jennifer Lawrence
angrily croons to Paul McCartney's "Live and Let
Die." – M.D.

2. "Gravity"
How did they do it? It's a question we're still
asking about director Alfonso Cuarón's
astonishing science-fiction movie. And we don't
mean how did they film that 12-minute-long
opening shot that puts you right in deep orbit
with the astronauts on screen. Or how did they
get Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, two of
the biggest stars in the world, to agree to be
dangled like puppets in an enclosed box to
simulate the motion of spinning off into space. Or
how did "Gravity" get to be the highest-grossing
original film of the year (not a sequel, comic-book
adaptation, or both). The real question is how did
they make such a visual spectacle and pulse-
pounding thriller also one of the most heartfelt
and genuinely moving stories of the year? – M.M.

1. "12 Years a Slave"
In the hands of any other director, the true story
of Solomon Northrup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free
man kidnapped and forced into slavery from
1841 to 1853, could very well have been
formulaic, run-of-the-mill, and overly sentimental.
Thankfully, it landed in the hands of Steve
McQueen ("Shame", who portrays the brutality
of slavery by framing Northrup's tale as a taut
thriller, creating a visceral experience for viewers
akin to someone grabbing you by the throat and
not letting go for two hours (in a good, somewhat
cathartic way). What results is an instant classic,
and the definitive slavery film of our time. Believe
the hype: "12 Years a Slave" will knock you out …
again, in a good way. – K.P.

movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-news/25-best-movies-2013-073214602.html?soc_src=mediacontentsharebuttons

Too bad I haven't watched any movie listed by the Op. Maybe because I watch more of block busters. Best I've watched this year
10. Kick a$$ 2
9. Thor 2
8. Man of steel
7. World war Z
6. Elysium
5. RIPD
4. White house down
3. Percy jackson 2
2. Olympus has fallen
1. Riddick 3.

Fruitville Station should definitely be in the top 3..

crazygod: Too bad I haven't watched any movie listed by the Op. Maybe because I watch more of block busters. Best I've watched this year
10. Kick a$$ 2
9. Thor 2
8. Man of steel
7. World war Z
6. Elysium
5. RIPD
4. White house down
3. Percy jackson 2
2. Olympus has fallen
1. Riddick 3.

NONE of the movies on your list are gonna be nominated for the Oscars

crazygod: Too bad I haven't watched any movie listed by the Op. Maybe because I watch more of block busters. Best I've watched this year
10. Kick a$$ 2
9. Thor 2
8. Man of steel
7. World war Z
6. Elysium
5. RIPD
4. White house down
3. Percy jackson 2
2. Olympus has fallen
1. Riddick 3.

You and I re the same. The only movie am yet to watch on OP's list is gravity.