Wadjda (2013) ***

While not the first feature film from Saudi Arabia (that would be 2006's "Shadow Of Silence"), it is definitely the best film ever made in that country. And the first directed by a woman.

Lone Survivor (2013) ***

Dirty Wars (2013) ***

An eye-opening documentary about the War on Terror and its unintended consequences.

Blue Jasmine (2013) ***

Surprising film from Woody Allen, a mix of "The Wolf Of Wall Street" and "A Streetcar Named Desire".

Philomena (2013) ***

Surprising film about a elderly woman looking for her son.

Ender's Game (2013) ***

Fine adaptation of Orson Scott Card's bestselling novel about a genocidal war against ant-like alien creatures. Excellent special effects.

Trance (2013) ***

This Is The End (2013) ***

Spring Breakers (2013) ***

Salome (2013) ***

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) ***

Very good science-fiction film.

Rush (2013) ***

Erased (2013) ***

Hitchcockian thriller starring Aaron Ekhard.

The Croods (2013) ***

Amusing animated film set in prehistorical times.

Riddick (2013) ***

Pinup Dolls On Ice (2013) ***

Not Another Happy Ending (2013) ***

Loves Her Gun (2013) ***

Lovelace (2013) ***

Jailbait (2013) ***

Her (2013) ***

Hansel And Gretel Witch Hunters (2013) ***

Dallas Buyers Club (2013) ***

Cutie And The Boxer (2013) ***

Concussion (2013) ***

The Canyons (2013) ***

Bullet To The Head (2013) ***

The Great Gatsby (2013) ***

Bravura adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece.

Bad Grandpa (2013) ***

Captain Phillips (2013) ***

Somali pirates kidnap a ship captain.

The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug (2013) ***

The spiders are scary, the ride in the barrels is exciting and the dragon is awesome. The rest doesn't matter.

The Bling Ring (2013) ***

Based on a true story.

Le Passé (2013) ***

Thoughtful and complex film about family relationships. A coproduction between Iran and France.

Would You Rather (2013) ***

Effective horror movie about a deadly game. With Sasha Grey keeping all her clothes on and Brittany Snow (photo) only baring her shoulders.

Despicable Me 2 (2013) ***

Much better than the first film, thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining.

Third Person (2013) ***

Less impressive than "Crash" (2005), this film by Paul Haggis is best remembered for a memorable nude scene involving Olivia Wilde and Liam Neeson.

Monsters University (2013) ***

A sequel to "Monsters Inc".

Watermark (2013) ***

Gorgeous documentary about water.

My Prairie Home (2013) ***

Well-made documentary about a transgendred country singer from Alberta.

Catimini (2013) ***

Excellent film about children in foster care, child protection centers and juvenile delinquent prisons. Very effective narrative structure.

Pacific Rim (2013) ***

Basically a Godzilla picture with countless Godzillas (named "Kaiju") attacking coastal cities all around the Pacific.

20 Feet From Stardom (2013) ***

Oscar-winning documentary about backup singers. Great music.

A Touch Of Sin (2013) ***

Weird film from China.

One Chance (2013) ***

A worker's son dreams of becoming an opera singer.

Jodorowsky's Dune (2013) ***

Le Démantèlement (2013) ***

Touching film about a selfless farmer making sacrifices for his daughters.

Mandela Long Walk To Freedom (2013) ***

Conventional, but compelling biopic about the legendary South African leader. Old-fashioned, classical filmmaking at its best.