Ocean’s Thirteen Parent Guide
This glamorization of crime is doesn't feel as entertaining as the last two capers -- even the actors don't look as if they're having as much fun.
Parent Movie Review
The most difficult part of doing repeat performances is keeping them fresh—something that is hard to come by in a summer already saturated with trilogies. So even if you couldn’t condone the criminal activities in their previous films, Danny Ocean (George Clooney), Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt), Linus Caldwell (Matt Damon) and the rest of their con men buddies (Eddie Jemison, Don Cheadle, Shaobo Qin, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Bernie Mac and Carl Reiner) at least appeared to have a good time pulling off their heists.
However there is nothing quite so entertaining about this latest caper. (Even the actors don’t look as if they’re having as much fun.) Perhaps that’s because the criminals’ motives are all about the settling of scores this time. Converging on Las Vegas, the guys are out to wreak revenge on Willy Banks (Al Pacino), an unscrupulous hotel owner who swindled their friend Rueben Tishkoff (Elliot Gould) out of his share of a new high-rise casino being built on the Sin City Strip and caused the old man to suffer a debilitating heart attack.
Not about to let one of their own get duped, the gang of thieves plan a little comeuppance for Willy at the grand opening of the new gambling establishment, even though pulling off their vindictive stint means engaging the help of their former victim Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia) who’s hotel safe they emptied in the first film.With a seemingly impenetrable computer program to hack, a man-made earthquake to generate and some highly secure diamonds to steal, there should be plenty of tension building on the screen. But while all the elements appear to be in place for another high-rolling adventure, the escapade is half-baked at best. Every glitch is easily solved. Every obstacle readily conquered.
Although this romantic concept might work in movie land, the lack of believable conflict makes it hard for audiences to truly engage with the characters. Fortunately the film tempers the content found in the prequels. Language contains infrequent scatological slang, vulgarities and profanities. Sexual content finds Linus employing a pheromone-style ingredient to seduce Willy’s cleavage-baring assistant (Ellen Barkin), but their interactions are limited to kissing and suggestive dialogue. As well, violence is aimed at property rather than people.
Still, despite a long list of Hollywood heavyweights in the credits (including Oprah Winfrey), Ocean’s Thirteen proves that even a soiree of powerful purloiners doesn’t guarantee a good time for audiences, especially when the headliners seem to have left their party hats at home.
Directed by Steven Soderbergh. Starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon. Running time: 122 minutes. Theatrical release June 7, 2007. Updated August 17, 2017About author
Ocean’s Thirteen
Rating & Content Info
Why is Ocean’s Thirteen rated PG-13? Ocean’s Thirteen is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for brief sensuality.
Meeting in Las Vegas, a group of criminals plan to double-cross Willy Banks and his cleavage-bearing assistant who defrauded their buddy. Using heavy-handed tactics to keep his staff in order, Willy prepares for his casino’s grand opening. The characters drink and smoke cigars while plotting their revenge that includes repeated property damage. Meanwhile, one of the crooks incites a riot at a Mexican plastics factory that results in strike action involving police. One criminal seduces a woman with the aid of chemical enhancer (kissing, fondling and seductive commentary are portrayed). A nude drawing and the buttocks of Sumo wrestlers are seen. The script also contains infrequent profanities, vulgarities and scatological slang.
Page last updated August 17, 2017
Ocean’s Thirteen Parents' Guide
While Danny Ocean and his gang are spending millions of dollars to defraud Willy Banks, the employees in a Mexican factory strike to gain a very modest pay increase. How do the lifestyles of these two groups differ? What would the wage hike mean for the factory workers and their families? How do their lives compare with the excessive extravagance of the gamblers in Las Vegas?
How does Willy treat his employees and subordinates? It is likely he would even speak directly to his housekeeping staff? Would you want to work for this kind of employer?
Do the criminals suffer any consequences for their actions? Are they ever remorseful?
Home Video
The most recent home video release of Ocean’s Thirteen movie is November 12, 2007. Here are some details…
Home Video Notes:Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen Triple Feature
Release Date: 13 November 2012
Warner Brothers Studios is releasing a box set of the three movies in this franchise: Ocean’s Eleven, Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen.
DVD release Date: 13 November 2007
Ocean’s Thirteen makes a splash on DVD in either wide screen or full frame presentations. Both versions offer additional scenes as well as the featurettes Vegas: An Opulent Illusion (a look at Las Vegas’ influential design sense) and Jerry Weintraub Walk and Talk (where the movie’s producer conducts a casino tour). Audio tracks are available in English (Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), French (Dolby Digital 5.1) and Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1), with subtitles in English, Spanish and French.
Also releasing is Ocean’s Trilogy, which packages together all three films, Ocean’s Eleven, Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen.
Related home video titles:
This is the third film in this franchise. Check out our reviews of Ocean’s Eleven and Ocean’s Twelve.
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