What makes a movie quote so quotable?

No one can plan or guess about which movie quotations will become much repeatedScreenwriter William Goldman says the writer is mostly likely thinking about the storyQuotes are a shorthand, evoking a whole movie -- and the memories of that film

(CNN) -- Screenwriter William Goldman has written some of the most famous lines in movie history.

You know the ones. "My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die" from "The Princess Bride." "Is it safe?" from "Marathon Man." "Follow the money" from "All the President's Men." "Think ya used enough dynamite there, Butch?" from "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."

He's won two Oscars, two Edgars, a Hugo and a career achievement award from the National Board of Review. He obviously knows how to write.

And he still has no idea why some of his dialogue manages to become part of the national vernacular.

There are so many factors that go into creating a movie, he says, that it's all a writer can do to get his script right.

"When you're doing a movie you have no idea who the powers on the movie are going to be, and is there going to be a star who wants this line or doesn't like that line. You're at the mercy of everybody and you do the best you can," he says. "But you never know."

(It's no wonder that another of Goldman's most famous lines is his summation of Hollywood: "Nobody knows anything.")

If you're a screenwriter, it's not exactly something you can plan. Maybe the actor gives a line a poor spin; maybe the director doesn't capture the moment; maybe the film editor changes the rhythm of the scene in the cutting room. It's been said that nobody plans to make a bad film, but with so many variables at play, even a good script isn't bulletproof.

Great cast! Great director! Why did that movie flop?

Fred Shapiro, editor of "The Yale Book of Quotations" and several other books in the field, points out that movie quotations can be a shorthand -- something that brings up powerful associations.

"Some movie quotes become popular because they evoke a great film, or a great scene, or a great actor," he says. "Sometimes the words of the quote become proverbial -- something like 'The natives are restless' or 'If you build it they will come' or 'Win one for the Gipper!' They enter into the language."

He also notes that lines tend to get condensed or changed. For example, he was quick to point out that the correct quotation from "Field of Dreams" is "If you build it, he will come."

They're also social glue. Repeat a line from popular comedies such as "Airplane!" or "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," and you can immediately establish bonds with similarly minded individuals. This summer Marvel fans have been fond of repeating, "I am Groot."

The late Harold Ramis was a champ at composing such wisecracks, anti-establishment jokes that have been repeated by generations of viewers.

During the Oscars, Pepsi even promoted its "mini can" with a commercial that featured only well-known movie quotations. Why that strategy? "We want to take this to an emotional place," Seth Kaufman, PepsiCo's VP-marketing for colas, told Advertising Age.

Shapiro makes a distinction between popular quotations and catchphrases. The latter is more of a trademark, he says -- Bugs Bunny's "What's up, doc?", for example -- and incessantly repeated. They're often even said in the voice of the performer. It's hard to say "Make my day" without evoking Clint Eastwood's clenched-jaw delivery.

These days, thanks to repeated television showings, video streaming and the Internet, quotations attach themselves to our craniums more quickly than ever.

Ironically, that means the person who wrote the immortal line is now more ignored than ever. Think about Goldman's classics: Who do you think of, the actor or the writer?

"Nobody cares about who the screenwriter is," Goldman says. "That's one of the things you have to deal with if you write a screenplay. Nobody has the least knowledge of what's going to work, and everybody wants Tom Cruise."

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Conan O'Brien + MTV Movie Awards: Good fit?

The MTV Movie Awards is that awards show that can only ever be one of two things: Either a semi-painful mix of awkward and boring, or a lot of fun. With awards like Best Kiss and Best Fight, the acceptance speeches are always unpredictable (as are the clothing choices). But perhaps the most unpredictable aspect of all is the host.

Throughout the past four years, hosts have included Aziz Ansari, Jason Sudeikis, Russell Brand, and Rebel Wilson, each of whom created a very different show experience. So what can we expect from the 2014 MTV Movie Awards now that Conan O’Brien has been announced as the host?

Conan’s success will depend solely on where he focuses. Don’t get me wrong, I love Conan. But like all hosts, he needs to be able to recognize his strengths. Where Conan is best is in his interaction with others, whether it’s skits that make others feel slightly uncomfortable or conversations with celebs, when he delivers that unexpected (probably self-deprecating) line that makes everyone laugh. Can he deliver a funny stand-up bit on his own? Sure. But he’s much better when he has someone to play off of (hence, Andy Richter).

If we’re basing this on past performances, then his opening bit as host of the 2006 Emmy Awards gives me hope. By placing himself inside some of the most popular shows, Conan was able to use his creativity to create something that was pretty fantastic. I’d like to officially request more of this:

So here’s what I’m hoping we can expect from Conan as host: Multiple pre-taped group sketches, as well as a number of on-the-fly sarcastic remarks. Let’s cut down on the scripted stage time, though some is expected. He can learn a lot from Ellen DeGeneres’ recent showing as the Oscars host. She had a great opening bit, but she didn’t try to go outside her comfort zone. She kept things simple: She ordered pizza, interacted with celebs, and let the jokes come on their own. For Conan, less is more.

On the downside, we can probably also expect some of his typical gestures — the overzealous head bob and the evil finger tapping thing he does all the time. Will there be cartoonish voices? Of course. But let’s also hope there will be some of that spontaneous wit that makes us love him so much.

All in all, I think Conan is a bit of an odd choice for the MTV Movie Awards. It feels a little like MTV is either having an image crisis or trying to improve said image. And by picking someone who’s an experienced host as opposed to a popular actor, I have no idea what the result will be. My gut tells me that it will be a good show, but maybe not great. I think there will be some potential viral videos that come out of the night, but with a self-proclaimed awkward ginger will come some awkward moments (that might not cause laughter), especially when you consider that the MTV Movie Awards and Conan don’t exactly mix. Conan hosting the Emmys? That I understood. But I can’t quite wrap my head around this Conan and MTV pairing. Perhaps he’ll go so big and ridiculous that it will work?

Regardless, by the end of the night, I have a feeling we’ll be saying the same thing I’m thinking now: MTV and Conan don’t quite mix.

The MTV Movie Awards air Sunday, April 13, at 9 p.m. on MTV.

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Golden Globes 2014: We predict the movie winners

Will Win: Gravity
Possible Surprise: 12 Years a Slave

Some members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association have been fairly vocal about not being swayed by 12 Years a Slave. On the other hand, they really liked Rush — as evidenced by its unlikely nomination here. So while some voters will be split in those directions, the consensus choice is most likely Gravity.

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'Hobbit' is 2013's most pirated movie

Martin Freeman stars as Bilbo Baggins in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" had about 8.4 million downloadsIt was followed closely by "Django Unchained"Total piracy numbers are probably significantly higher

(EW.com ) -- Congratulations are in order, sorta, for Peter Jackson and his Hobbit team.

According to TorrentFreak's annual list, the first film in their trilogy was downloaded well over eight million times in 2013, making it the year's most pirated movie.

It wasn't, however, a runaway victory. "An Unexpected Journey" was followed closely by "Django Unchained," which has an estimated download count of 8.1 million — just 300,000 fewer than "The Hobbit," even though "The Hobbit's" worldwide box office take was more than twice what Django made. Two blockbuster sequels — "Fast and Furious 6" and "Iron Man 3" — plus a surprisingly high-performing Oscar nominee ("Silver Linings Playbook") round out the top 5.

But as TorrentFreak notes, the list also holds a few surprises: Though one Jennifer Lawrence film made the list, another, much bigger one — "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" — didn't. (Maybe we can blame this on Catching Fire's November release date.) High grossers like "Man of Steel" and "Gravity" are absent as well, though "Gangster Squad," with its modest worldwide gross of $105,200,903, somehow eked out the number 7 spot. Still not as weird as last year, when "Project X" somehow reigned as the list's top movie.

See below for the full top 10. Note, though, that there's no way to draw data from online streaming and cyberlocker download sources — which means that total piracy numbers are probably significantly higher than these.

1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (estimated downloads: 8,400,000)

2. Django Unchained (estimated downloads: 8,100,000)

3. Fast And Furious 6 (estimated downloads: 7,900,000)

4. Iron Man 3 (estimated downloads: 7,600,000)

5. Silver Linings Playbook (estimated downloads: 7,500,000)

6. Star Trek Into Darkness (estimated downloads: 7,400,000)

7. Gangster Squad (estimated downloads: 7,200,000)

8. Now You See Me (estimated downloads: 7,000,000)

9. The Hangover Part 3 (estimated downloads: 6,900,000)

10. World War Z (estimated downloads: 6,700,000)

See the original story at EW.com.

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Best movie of 2013? Vote!

EW movie critics Owen Gleiberman and Chris Nashawaty each named their top 10 movies of 2013. Now, we want you to tell us what you think is the best movie of the year.

Are you partial to Gravity, Blue Jasmine, 12 Years a Slave, or Before Midnight? Is there another film more your speed Vote below!

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Native Americans sue over movie

Actor Casey Affleck and director Scott Cooper speak at a screening of "Out of the Furnace" in November.Eight of the plantiffs share a surname with the villian in the movieThe lawsuit says the movie perpetuates untrue stereotypesThe company that released the film had not answered CNN's request for commentThe suit was filed in federal court in New Jersey, where the film is set

(CNN) -- Seventeen members of the Ramapough Lunaape Nation have sued the makers of the film "Out of the Furnace," saying the movie portrays their Native American people in a false light and has caused humiliation for the tribe.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in New Jersey District Court, asks for compensatory and punitive damages of more than $150,000 and the costs of suit.

The film stars stars Christian Bale, Casey Affleck and Woody Harrelson and is set in the Ramapo Mountains along the New York-New Jersey border about 25 miles west of New York City.

The lawsuit states characters in the film have last names that are common among the Ramapough and that it perpetuates negative and unfounded stereotypes.

In the movie, Bale's character seeks his missing brother who has been killed at the hands of Woody Harrelson's character, named Harlan DeGroat.

Eight of the plaintiffs share the DeGroat surname. Another film character has the last name of Van Dunk, as does one of the plaintiffs.

Relativity Media, which released the film earlier this month, didn't immediately respond to CNN's request for comment. Also named in suit were the writers and producers of the film.

The gang in the movie is called the "Jackson Whites," which the suit says is a well-known derogatory term in the area.

The lawsuit says the Ramapough are a Native American group recognized as a tribe by the states of New Jersey and New York.

"Any reasonable person would be offended by the false light in which the movie placed the people who have the family name of DeGroat and Van Dunk and who are known to live in the Ramapo Mountains and/or be part of the group now or formerly known as Jackson Whites," the suit alleges.

CNN's Carolyn Sung contributed to this report.

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Leonardo DiCaprio: Ranking his movie roles

With ''The Wolf of Wall Street'' out, we size up 25 previous big-screen appearances

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Movie winners and losers in 2013

The year in movies 2013 - CNN.comvar cnnCurrTime=new Date(1387893707000),cnnCurrHour=9,cnnCurrMin=1,cnnCurrDay="Tue",cnnIsIntl=true,clickID=212106,cnn_cvpAdpre="edition.",cnnCVPAdSectionT1="edition.cnn.com_specialreports_yearinreview_t1",cnnCVPAdSectionInPage="edition.cnn.com_specialreports_yearinreview_inpage",cnnShareUrl="%2F2013%2F12%2F16%2Fshowbiz%2Fmovies%2Fthe-year-in-movies-2013%2Findex.html",cnnShareTitle="Tentpoles%20falling%2C%20\'Gravity\'%20rising%2C%20money%20spinning%3A%20The%20year%20in%20movies%202013",cnnShareDesc="",cnnFirstPub=new Date('Monday Dec 16 08:09:32 EST 2013'),cnnSectionName="entertainment",sectionName="entertainment",cnnSubSectionName="ent : movies",cnnPageType="Story",cnnBrandingValue="intl.yir";cnnPartnerValue="";cnnOmniBranding="Year in Review",cnnAuthor="Todd Leopold, CNN",disqus_category_id=207582,disqus_identifier="/2013/12/16/showbiz/movies/the-year-in-movies-2013/index.html",disqus_title="Tentpoles falling, \'Gravity\' rising, money spinning: The year in movies 2013",cnn_edtnswtchver="edition",cnnIsStoryPage=true,cnn_metadata = {},cnn_shareconfig = [];cnn_metadata = {section: ["entertainment","ent : movies"],friendly_name: "Tentpoles falling, \'Gravity\' rising, money spinning: The year in movies 2013",template_type: "content",template_type_content: "gallery",business: {cnn: {page: {author: "Todd Leopold, CNN",broadcast_franchise: "",video_embed_count: "0",publish_date: "2013/12/16",photo_gallery: "Tentpoles falling, \'Gravity\' rising, money spinning: The year in movies 2013"},video: {video_player: ""}}},user: {authenticated: "",segment: {age: "",zip: "",gender: ""}}};if (typeof(cnnOmniPartner) !== "undefined") {if (cnn_metadata.template_type_content === "") {cnn_metadata.template_type_content = "partner";}}var photo_gallery = "Tentpoles falling, \'Gravity\' rising, money spinning: The year in movies 2013";if(typeof CNN==='undefined'){var CNN=Class.create();}CNN.expandableMap=[''];function _loginOptions(){};var disqus_url=(typeof disqus_identifier!=='undefined') ? 'http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/16/showbiz/movies/the-year-in-movies-2013/index.html' : 'http://www.cnn.com'+location.pathname;cnnad_newTileIDGroup(['970x66_top','300x250_rgt','300x250_rgt2','336x280_rgt','336x850_rgt','300x150_rgt','728x90_top','728x90_bot','BG_Skin','120x90_bot1','120x90_bot2','120x90_bot3']);cnnad_newTileIDGroup(['607x95_adlinks','336x280_adlinks']); EDITION:  INTERNATIONAL U.S. MÉXICO ARABIC TV:   CNNi CNN en Español Set edition preference Sign up Log in Home Video World U.S. Africa Asia Europe Latin America Middle East Business World Sport Entertainment Tech Travel iReport /* STORY PAGE SPECIFIC CSS */.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr { background:#fff url('http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/mosaic/bg_speccov_hdr.gif') 0px 0px repeat-x; }.cnn_stryspcvh1 { position:relative; height:74px;background:transparent url('') 50% 0px no-repeat;overflow:hidden; }.cnn_stryspcvh2 { font:bold 10px/12px arial;color:#666;padding:0 0 2px 0; }.cnn_stryspcvh3 { font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight:bold; font-size:18px; line-height:21px; }.cnn_stryspcvh4 { position:absolute; z-index:1000; float:left;margin:30px 0 0 10px;display:inline; }.cnn_stryspcvh5 { float:right;margin:30px 10px 0 0;display:inline;text-align:right; }.cnn_stryspcvh20 { padding:0 0 2px 0; }.cnn_stryspccvrgebot { height:3px; background:#e6e6e6; }.cnn_stryspccvh6 { width:100%; height:74px; text-align:center; left:0; }.cnn_stryspccvh6 a { display:block; margin:0 auto; width:304px; height:74px; }Part of complete coverage onYear in ReviewSHARE THISPrintEmailMore sharingRedditStumbleUponDelicious/* push in config for this share instance */cnn_shareconfig.push({"id" : "cnn_sharebar1","url" : "http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/16/showbiz/movies/the-year-in-movies-2013/index.html","title" : "Tentpoles falling, \'Gravity\' rising, money spinning: The year in movies 2013"});Tentpoles falling, 'Gravity' rising, money spinning: The year in movies 2013By Todd Leopold, CNNDecember 18, 2013 -- Updated 2046 GMT (0446 HKT)if (typeof cnnArticleGallery=="undefined"){var cnnArticleGallery={};if(typeof cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList=="undefined"){cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList=[];}}var expGalleryPT00=new ArticleExpandableGallery();expGalleryPT00.setImageCount(20);expGalleryPT00.setAdsRefreshCount(3);//cnn_adbptrackpgalimg("2013 in movies: Winners and losers", 1);.cnn_html_slideshow_metadata > .cnn_html_media_utility::before{color:red;content:'>>';font-size:9px;line-height:12px;padding-right:1px}.cnnstrylccimg640{margin:0 27px 14px 0}.captionText{filter:alpha(opacity=100);opacity:1}.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:visited,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:link,.captionText a,.captionText a:visited,.captiontext a:link{color:#004276;outline:medium none}.cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto{margin:0 auto;padding-right:68px;width:270px}Winner: "Iron Man 3" was the top-grossing film of the year.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":true,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":1,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}Winner: "Gravity" was a widely praised hit. It will figure in awards chatter.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":2,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}Winner: "Fast & Furious 6" was the most successful film of what's become a very profitable series.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":3,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}Winner: Tom Hanks starred in two well-reviewed films, "Captain Phillips" (pictured) and "Saving Mr. Banks." He's been in the thick of awards talk.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":4,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}Winner: Melissa McCarthy had a terrific year, starring in two hit films, "Identity Thief" and "The Heat."cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":5,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}Winner: Matthew McConaughey was praised for his work in two 2013 films, "Mud" and "Dallas Buyers Club."cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":6,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}Winner: Jennifer Lawrence keeps rolling. The actress won an Oscar in February, and in 2013 had both box-office gold ("The Hunger Games: Catching Fire") and critical praise ("American Hustle").cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":7,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}Winner: Amy Adams starred as Lois Lane in the hit "Man of Steel" and is getting awards talk for "American Hustle." She also stars in the well-reviewed "Her."cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":8,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}Winner: The much-lauded "12 Years a Slave" (above) was one of several films about the African-American experience, including "42," "Lee Daniels' The Butler" and "Fruitvale Station."cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":9,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}Winner: At 77, Robert Redford received some of the best reviews of his career for "All Is Lost."cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":10,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}Winner: Minions rejoice! "Despicable Me 2" was the top animated film of the year, even topping Pixar's entry, "Monsters University."cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":11,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}Loser: "The Lone Ranger" was saddled with a big budget but made less than $100 million. It did, however, end up as the butt of many jokes.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":12,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}Loser: Ryan Reynolds, left, starred in two duds, "R.I.P.D." and "Turbo" (for which he supplied the voice of the lead). In Reynolds' defense, "The Croods" -- another voice role for him -- did better.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":13,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}Loser: Washington. It's not just last in the hearts of its countrymen these days, but two movies -- "Olympus Has Fallen" and "White House Down" -- wrecked some of the city's landmarks.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":14,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}Loser: Thanks to the bomb "After Earth," Will Smith is no longer king of the summer movie.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":15,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}Loser: "After Earth" director M. Night Shyamalan didn't even get his name above the title, but the film couldn't break his losing streak.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":16,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}Loser: Cities. It's not enough to bring down a building or two; films such as "Man of Steel," pictured, "Star Trek Into Darkness" and "Pacific Rim" lay waste to blocks and blocks. If this were the real world, insurance companies would be going bankrupt.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":17,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}Loser: Director Michael Bay got away from "Transformers' " huge special effects with "Pain and Gain." It tanked. No worries: "Transformers: Age of Extinction" is due out in June 2014.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":18,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}Loser: Race-car drivers had a poor 2013, with the live-action Formula One racers of "Rush" and the animated snails of "Turbo" falling short at the box office.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":19,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}Loser: The "Fast & Furious" series faces a number of questions after the death of star Paul Walker, second from right, in November. A seventh film is in production but has been shut down in the wake of the tragedy.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":20,"title":"2013 in movies: Winners and losers"}HIDE CAPTION2013 in movies: Winners and losers2013 in movies: Winners and losers2013 in movies: Winners and losers2013 in movies: Winners and losers2013 in movies: Winners and losers2013 in movies: Winners and losers2013 in movies: Winners and losers2013 in movies: Winners and losers2013 in movies: Winners and losers2013 in movies: Winners and losers2013 in movies: Winners and losers2013 in movies: Winners and losers2013 in movies: Winners and losers2013 in movies: Winners and losers2013 in movies: Winners and losers2013 in movies: Winners and losers2013 in movies: Winners and losers2013 in movies: Winners and losers2013 in movies: Winners and losers2013 in movies: Winners and losers<<<1234567891011121314151617181920>>>Event.observe(window,'load',function(){if(typeof(cnn_adbptrackpgalimg) == 'function' && typeof(cnnArticleGallery) != 'undefined'){cnn_adbptrackpgalimg(cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[0].image,"Tentpoles falling, 'Gravity' rising, money spinning: The year in movies 2013");}});STORY HIGHLIGHTSThe year in movies was both terrible and terrificSome of the biggest successes were also critically acclaimedSeveral of the industry's biggest directors predict an implosion of the studio systemBut that could lead to more creativity

(CNN) -- It was a terrible year for movies.

"The Lone Ranger" was awful -- roasted by critics, avoided by audiences. "Pain and Gain," "After Earth" and "R.I.P.D." also stunk up the multiplex.

There was the usual spate of sequels and franchises and throbbing video-game spectacles, once again provoking the complaint that nobody in Hollywood has an original idea. There were even two movies that destroyed Washington landmarks.

No, it was a great year for movies.

"Gravity" was a rush, a 3-D blockbuster that lived up to its technology and featured a nice character study, too. A lot of "adult" films -- that is, movies with well-drawn characters and capable acting and the kind of stuff that is allegedly box-office poison to 15-year-old boys -- did well at the box office, indicating that the market for well-told stories (in addition to video-game spectacle) isn't dead yet.

Even some of the CGI-laden adventures, the ones often deplored by film snobs, had unusual features. The year's box office leader, "Iron Man 3" -- featuring one of Robert Downey Jr.'s typically offbeat performances -- took an unexpected detour into rural Tennessee, and "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," helped by its terrific cast, raised the stakes from the sometimes clumsy first film in the series.

And the most important people in Hollywood -- the accountants -- should be happy. Going into the holidays, domestic box office has kept up with 2012's record pace, and international markets have been strong.

So: Terrible or terrific?

Take your pick.

"At the end of the summer there was kind of an exhaustion and a sense of that it had been one lousy movie after another," says Keith Phipps, the editorial director of the movie site The Dissolve. "But I'm not sure the big picture bears that out."

Overall, he says, "it was a really good year."

Ominous predictions

Indeed, it was the summer that really got the naysayers naysaying -- and their criticisms were foreshadowed in the spring by three of the most notable names in Hollywood: the eclectic director Steven Soderbergh and blockbuster kings Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.

In a widely circulated speech, Soderbergh -- the Oscar-winning director of "Traffic," "Contagion" and the "Oceans" films -- told an audience at the San Francisco Film Festival that he believed the studios were "kind of like Detroit before the bailout." The movie business, he said pessimistically, was making it increasingly hard to produce "cinema" instead of product, and was putting too many of its eggs in blockbuster baskets.

A month later, Spielberg predicted the "implosion" of the business, thanks to the same trend.

"There's going to be an implosion where three or four or maybe even a half-dozen megabudget movies are going to go crashing into the ground, and that's going to change the paradigm," he told a group at the University of Southern California. Lucas, sharing a panel with Spielberg, agreed: "The pathway to get into theaters is really getting smaller and smaller."

Summer seemed to prove their point.

"The Lone Ranger" was a huge bust domestically, making less than $90 million on a reported $215 million budget and becoming 2013's version of "Waterworld." (Though, like "Waterworld," it actually didn't do as poorly as imagined -- overseas the film took in $171 million.) "After Earth," Will Smith's latest summer entry, also got crushed by both critics and domestic audiences -- though, like "Ranger," international audiences were kinder.

Even films that did well with both critics and audiences somehow conveyed an image of "I've seen this before." "Star Trek Into Darkness" was voted the worst of the "Star Trek" films (yes, even worse than "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier") at a Las Vegas "Trek" convention, despite solid reviews and box office. "Man of Steel," Zack Snyder's rebooting of the Superman saga, earned catcalls from many critics and fanboys, but nevertheless drummed up almost $300 million domestically.

The problem, producer Lynda Obst told CNN in August, was "tentpole fatigue."

"How many times can you see the same cities being blown up? They all seem to mirror the same sensibility," she said.

From rubble to revival

And yet, even then, there were glimmers of something different -- and audiences responded.

"Lee Daniels' The Butler" opened in August and stunned Hollywood with its strong box office performance, unexpected for a straight drama about the black experience starring two African-American leads. It joined "42" and "Fruitvale Station" as films that put African-Americans front and center and enjoyed rewarding reviews and revenues.

"We're the Millers," a comedy about a drug dealer, a stripper and two teens who pose as a family to smuggle marijuana, was the year's sleeper, a $37 million film (chump change in today's market) that did more than $150 million domestically and topped $250 million total. It was also that rarity, a Jennifer Aniston hit. (It outdid every one of her films except for "Bruce Almighty.")

And then came the fall, with "Gravity," "12 Years a Slave," "Captain Phillips" and "Rush" all earning excellent reviews and awards talk without nine-figure budgets. Not all of them were huge hits -- Ron Howard's "Rush," in particular, failed miserably at the box office -- but they offered some hope that there was still a market for something besides tentpoles.

"I'm optimistic that good films always find a way to get made," said The Dissolve's Phipps.

However, he added that Soderbergh and Spielberg may not necessarily be wrong. "The frequency with which (good films) get made can be a little concerning, and the frequency with which midsized films, or films that don't have a high-concept hook is really concerning to me."

He mentioned the 2012 film "Hope Springs," a well-written piece about a middle-aged couple trying to reignite their marriage, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Meryl Streep and Steve Carell. The film did fairly well with both audiences and critics, but hasn't exactly spawned a rush of similar works.

"You don't see that often enough, I think," Phipps said.

'Nobody knows anything'

As awards season beckons, the old William Goldman adage about Hollywood -- "Nobody knows anything" -- remains in effect.

Is a lesson of 2013 that stars still open movies? Sandra Bullock certainly can -- "Gravity," for all its wonder, was also her show -- and Tom Hanks has "Captain Phillips" and, probably, "Saving Mr. Banks" on his side.

But is Melissa McCarthy a star? She dominated two hits -- the reasonably well-reviewed "The Heat" and the poorly reviewed "Identity Thief." It's that latter that will make studios take notice: a relatively low-budget comedy released in the depths of February that earned $135 million will mean plenty more opportunities for the "Mike & Molly" star.

What about Matthew McConaughey? After years of bland romantic comedies, he earned raves for his performances in both "Mud" and "Dallas Buyers Club" and stands to figure in awards season chatter. But both were indie-level successes. Next year he stars in "Interstellar," the new Christopher Nolan film.

"At some point he took the reins of his career and remembered he was a great actor," Phipps said.

Is a lesson of 2013 that you pump big budgets and CGI into franchise bids? "Iron Man 3," "Man of Steel," "Star Trek Into Darkness" and "Thor: The Dark World" say shoveling money to make money still works; "Lone Ranger," "Oblivion," "After Earth" and "Ender's Game" say you could lose your shirt.

Finally, for all the "adult" films that are hitting theaters now -- Hollywood's traditional prestige season -- it's an open question if the great buzz will translate into big dollars.

Last year a number of well-reviewed movies also hit with audiences; though a number of major films have yet to go into wide release, it's likely that the Coen brothers' "Inside Llewyn Davis," Martin Scorsese's three-hour "The Wolf of Wall Street" and Spike Jonze's "Her" will be tough sells. Fortunately, the studios have "Catching Fire," the second "Hobbit" and "Anchorman 2" to take to the bank.

The future of Hollywood

It has become conventional wisdom to say that rich dramas and innovative comedies have moved to television, leaving the movies to rise and fall with their tentpoles.

"Winning formulas and popular brands (Pixar, Marvel, J.R.R. Tolkien, Johnny Depp) are run into the ground, stripped of novelty and magic in pursuit of profit," New York Times movie critic A.O. Scott wrote in a thoughtful essay in The New York Times Magazine.

But it's worth pointing out that even the famed late-'60s/early '70s golden age wasn't 24-karat perfection. For all the films like "The French Connection" (try that downbeat ending nowadays), "The Godfather," "Chinatown" and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," there were the Irwin Allen disaster films (the hokey CGI extravanganzas of their time), mediocre sequels ("Shaft in Africa"?), sloppy Disney films ("The Apple Dumpling Gang") and big-budget misfires ("Lost Horizon," "Tora! Tora! Tora!").

Even sequels and remakes aren't a recent invention. "Great movies aren't made," Warner Bros. founder Harry Warner reportedly once said. "They're remade."

Overall, 2013 may end up with mixed reviews. But that in itself may be a sign that things are changing for the better -- or, at least, for the interesting.

"Like every period of decline -- which is to say like just about every other moment in the past century -- this is an age of wild and restless experimentation," writes Scott.

These days directors and actors have gotten shrewder about "one for me, one for them" and have been quick to turn to unusual producers (Megan Ellison, daughter of Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison, helped fund Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master," Kathryn Bigelow's "Zero Dark Thirty" and Jonze's "Her"), new ways of distribution and even Kickstarter. As Phipps put it, Hollywood is coping with "unsettled times."

And, like Scott, he sees promise in the chaos.

He mentioned "Upstream Color," one of the most intriguing films of 2013. A fever dream of color and unease that inspired lots of chatter at Sundance, it earned a theatrical run despite its uncommercial bent -- mainly because director Shane Carruth distributed it himself.

"It's sort of a singular case of a filmmaker trying to do things himself," he said. "If the system is putting up roadblocks, then ways of sneaking through the roadblocks is what people are going to have to do."

What would Iron Man think?

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