It was recently announced that this year's Oscars will have a heroic theme. Heroes have been an essential part of not just cinema, but every kind of story telling since the beginning of time. Heroes like Robin Hood and King Arthur have transcended the written word or the silver screen to become irreversibly ingrained in the hearts and minds of people all over the world.
2013 was a great year for heroes new and old. Several movie heroes got sequels and others were rebooted to kick off a new franchise. From reformed villains to ancient deities and beyond, here are some of the best movie heroes of the past year.
Image courtesy of Lionsgate Publicity
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10. Gru
This anti-hero returned to theaters this year in Despicable Me 2 after being reformed from his evil ways by three adorable children in the first movie in 2010. There's something particularly enjoyable about seeing a bad guy turned good, especially in this fun animated comedy. It features the vocal talent of Steve Carell as Gru, Kristen Wiig as his new love interest and Miranda Cosgrove as one of his adopted daughters.

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9. Bilbo Baggins
The underdog is perhaps the most endearing of all heroes, and who is more of an underdog than a hobbit facing a dragon? Martin Freeman returns as the titular hobbit in The Desolation of Smaug. This sequel to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ups the stakes by introducing a visually breathtaking villain to the story, the dragon Smaug voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch.

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8. Katniss Everdeen
Award show darling and internet treasure Jennifer Lawrence stars as Katniss in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. In this sequel Katniss finds herself caught up in politics and revolution when she returns as champion of the kill-or-be killed games from the first movie. Her actions made her a symbol of the rising rebellion against a corrupt government. Through it all Katniss struggles to stay true to herself while keeping her beloved little sister safe.

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7. Thor
The Norse God of thunder returns in his first solo film since The Avengers, The Dark World. When Thor's love interest, Natalie Portman as Dr. Jane Foster is threatened by the villainous Malekith, the hero of myth must turn to his brother and foe Loki for help. Doctor Who's Christopher Eccleston plays the Dark Elf Malekith and Tom Hiddleston is delightfully evil as always in the role of Loki.

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6. Captain Kirk
Director J.J. Abrams' second Star Trek film Into Darkness sees the continued voyage of the Star Trek Enterprise under the helm of Captain James T. Kirk. Chris Pine's Kirk is a little more toned down than William Shatner's but every bit as fun to watch. He really plays up the impulsiveness of Kirk which is countered nicely by the always stoic Mr. Spock, as played by Zachary Quinto. The Desolation of Smaug's Benedict Cumberbatch plays the iconic villain Khan, who uses deceit to enact revenge on Kirk's adopted family at Starfleet.

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5. Wolverine
Although Wolverine's first solo movie was heavily criticized, Hugh Jackman has proven that he can carry a movie and he does it again in The Wolverine. Based on the classic graphic novel by legendary X-Men scribe Chris Claremont, this movie shows Wolverine's adventures in Japan. Seemingly an odd place for a Canadian cowboy type like Wolverine, many fans have been waiting to see this side of their favorite mutant for years.

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4. Ron Burgundy
The original Anchorman movie is one of the greatest comedies of the past decade, so when fans found out about its sequel they were cautiously optimistic. Upon seeing the movie, many found their caution unnecessary. After a barrage of publicity, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues delivered on every promise. Will Ferrell returns to the mustache to read the news once again, and this time he is global. Director and co-writer Adam McKay does a good job of balancing the expected callbacks to the original with creating a new story with plenty of quality jokes, on top of making an impressive parody of 24 hour news.

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3. Iron Man
In his first three movie outing, the genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist Tony Stark seems to only grow more egotistic. He keeps his wits about him when he's stabbed in the back by a trusted friend, has his own tech used against him, and even in the company of gods and super soldiers,but in Iron Man 3 audiences finally see the human side of Tony. In the first post-Avengers Marvel movie Tony finds himself in the middle of nowhere with an inoperative suit, forcing him to rely on little just his prized wits, which are threatened by his post traumatic stress.

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2. Superman
While not as fun or hopeful as some of Superman's earlier outings, Man of Steel is a triumphant revival for one of the world's greatest heroes. Henry Cavill makes a star turn as the Last Son of Krypton and Amy Adams is fantastic as ace reporter Lois Lane. However controversial Man of Steel may be, there is no denying Superman's place as a cinematic hero.

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1. Jackie Robinson
Superheroes and spaceships are nice, but once in a while it is inspiring to see a real life hero make his way to the big screen. Jackie Robinson has long deserved a quality biopic, and 42 is satisfactory. Chadwick Boseman plays the legendary athlete, who shattered the professional baseball color barrier in the 1940's. Robinson earned his place in the history books with both his skill as a baseball player and his courage in the face of adversity, making him a hero to millions.