Critics say new films don't merge creativity with values as inyesteryear

Scene from To Kill a Mockingbird

The Broadway play South Pacific is often re-enacted by various theater groups who tour the country, as part of the world of the theater that continues to depict American life.  But it also helps to educate, as other plays and films do as well, about life, culture, race and humanitarian issues in America.

South Pacific was made into a movie, and like the play dealt with the stereotypes of the time and the forbidden love that had occurred between a white man and an island girl.  Although some of the stereotypes may seem antiquated by modern views, it remains part of the culture of years ago that continues to be part of today's prejudices.  Yet there remain stereotypes about the darker-skinned people in the eyes of many, as people struggle with their feelings about immigration.  Some of that struggle is said to be based on the same types of fears that were examined in the play so familiar and of another time, yet so current with its theme in many ways.

To Kill a Mockingbird dealt with the prejudice of Jews, as the issues of stereotypes again were unveiled, for people to see how folks of a different culture faced rejection simply because of religion.  Still it remains a part of the political and social discussions, as similar stereotypes are given of Muslims in different parts of the world, including the United States.

The list of films produced and offered to the general public in 2013 included Wolf of Wall Street, Saving Mr. Banks, Olympus Has Fallen, Last Vegas, Captain Philips, World War Z, The Hunger Games- Catching Fire, Iron Man 3, Man of Steel, Star Trek Into Darkness and many others, none but The Butler offered a theme related to race, cultural and humanitarian issues.  Instead the films focused on excitement, terrorism, making it in business the easy way and the fun of life without boundaries.  The Butler was a chronicle of a black man's journey from a child of near slavery in the South to working as the head Butler at the White House, yet along the way there remained little reflection on the issues of today, including diversity issues and the continuing social divisions between black and white groups.

Hollywood makes the movies and can offer insight into people's feelings and future, yet in recent years the focus has been on maintaining popularity through violence, sex and fantasy, something removed from the films of the past where entertainment and values forged an alliance to both educate and entertain.  Some folks maintain Hollywood has lost its way by not offering the marriage of values and creativity, and so the list of what is considered the 13 best movies of 2013 that you may not have known about or will see is here, including films about major humanitarian issues.