Thirteen

Rating:
Summary: Realistic and genuine..
Review: Being a teenager (still) and watching Thirteen was more than great. I'm not even sure how to describe it. I don't nessecarily relate to it but I somewhat understand it because I have seen these things happen with my own eyes. My mom actually brought me to see it and we both enjoyed it and had lots of questions for each other.

I recommend this to everyone; whether they agree with teen drug-use, teen-sex, self-mutilation or not. Simply because, it's not rare anymore. It happens all of the time. It's everywhere. Not to say that every thirteen year-old is having sex and doing drugs, just that there are the ones that do it.

It's better to be aware than to not know. That's all.

Rating:
Summary: Riveting
Review: I saw this movie last September when it came out in San Diego, and I don't go one day without this movie passing through my mind. Ive become obsessed, but this movie is the best I've ever seen at capturing California Adolescence, for I was forced into a world of sex, drugs, alcohol, ect when I was in SIXTH grade. Nikki Reed, Evan Rachel Wood and Holly Hunter are an amazing trio. I must say Nikki Reed is probably the best actress (surprising seeing as this is her debut) in the movie at being the malicious, manipulative and devious "Evie Zamora". Evan Rachel wood is astounding as well, she truly is amazing.I can relate to this movie so well and many people do, resulting in its popularity. The neat thing about this film is how is was filmed, the camera is very jolty, in your face, and colorful...it makes you feel every emotion, from the moments Tracey (Wood) is high, partying and spinning out of control, you feel the excitement, the fast pace of everything, and also to the sadness, depression and anxiety of a teen living in a dark world where kids want to be adults and independent as fast as possible.

Probably my number one favorite movie ever.

Rating:
Summary: Time to find new friends
Review: I plan on seeing this movie when it comes out on DVD later this month. I am writing this "review" in response to all the 13 year old girls who claim that this movie is sooo amazingly real. From what I've heard about this movie, with the drug use, the sex, etc, no 13 year old, or any teen, for that matter, should be relating to it. If you, as a young teen, can relate to this film, it's time to dump the crowd you are hanging with. I can't believe that things today are so cRaZy that an old-timer like me (a teen in the 80's) can't begin to relate. One of two things is going on here: a small percentage of delinquents are reviewing this movie, giving the impression that the country is screwed, or the country is really screwed. When I was a teen, it was clear to me what was smart and what was dumb as far as the things that I chose to do in my free time. I had the strength to resist the temptations of alcohol, drugs, and sex... and no, I wasn't a religious nut fearing that Jesus would send me to hell. An intelligent person realizes the consequences of these activities and behaves accordingly.

Be wise out there,
db

Rating:
Summary: Amazing...
Review: This movie is so real and so amazing. It really shows how us teens don't have it as easy as many adults do think. We have to deal with tough choices everyday and worry about other things on top of all the peer pressure! this movie should get a million starts but unfortunately it only goes up to five.

Rating:
Summary: Thirteen as told by a thirteen year old
Review: While reading other customer reviews, I was stunned by the tendency of cynical college types to dismiss this movie as "eager to be hip" and "exploitive garbage". If one has not been through an experience, rejecting it when it is displayed must be easy. However, for those of us like myself, who are thirteen years old, this movie was shockingly real. And who better to be the judge of that than a thirteen year old, rather than a pretentious college student, now too cool to believe in teen "angst" as they call it.

Tracy's (the remarkable Evan Rachel Wood) descent into the world of drugs, casual sex, and smiling lies is a descent I have seen far too often in real life. Some reviewers were suspicious of the quickness of her progression into this world. However, one must remember that these are middle schoolers, not twenty-somethings, and the overwhelming insecurity of most 13 year olds allows them to change their images daily. Also, Tracy is not necessarily a "good girl" when the movie begins. She already smokes, and seems to feel stuck in her life both at school and at home. This is evident in scenes she shares with her friends, and a particular scene with her mother (Holly Hunter in an incredible performance), where despite her best efforts, Tracy cannot get the attention she needs from her mother, who is wrapped up in most aspects of her own life, especially romantically.

Thirteen is not for those who wish to shut their eyes to what is truly happening to our culture and society. However, I would recommend that every parent see Thirteen with their child to know the reality of the environment their child is growing up around. If you are a parent, do not believe for a moment that the experiences of Tracy are experiences that take place everywhere else. Whether you know it or not, this movie does indeed hit close to home.

A few more notes before I end this review. Evan Rachel Wood deserves an Oscar for her harrowing performance as Tracy, Holly Hunter is better than I have ever seen her, and Nikki Reed is inspiringly truthful in both her writing and her performance as a character she had not intended to play. Catherine Hardwicke, as the director, uses her own emotions and vibrant colors to convey the truths hidden behind the masks each character wears. The obsessive need of the two girls for each other, as a replacement for lack of love in other aspects of their lives, is perhaps the most honest part of this movie.

Whether you enjoy it or not, Thirteen is a movie that must be seen. More than a social commentary, Thirteen is almost a mirror of reality.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie
Review: Thirteen is a great movie about a 13 year old (Evan Rachel Wood)who becomes friends with the popular girl at school (Nikki Reed, who also co-wrote the movie). Being a teenager, the movie hits close to home on so many levels. Some parts of the movie are disturbing to watch (wrist cutting, drug use), but its a totally great movie, and i can't wait to buy it!

Rating:
Summary: very true to life
Review: This story of two thirteen year old girls whose lives spiral into bad grades, drugs, self harm, sex and alcohol problems is extremely realistic. The filming is excellent, the message hard hitting. An intricate relationship is developed between both of the lead characters and their respective guardians. This might be the story of any one of millions of adolescent girls today.
I highly recommend it, but not for the faint of heart or those who wish to believe in the innocence of their daughters.

Rating:
Summary: THE BEST MOVIE!
Review: I loved this movie so much. It was a true movie and it was just amazing. I can't describe in words how much i loved this movie. Everyone should see it. BUY IT TODAY!

Rating:
Summary: Can't tear your eyes away
Review: Drawing more than a few comparisons with Larry Clarke's Kids, Thirteen is actually a great deal more restrained and deals with the subject of burgeoning sexuality among thirteen year-old girls in an extremely tasteful way. It's safe to say that the movie doesn't for one minute exploit the young girls whose story it's trying to tell. The basic set-up has Evan Rachel Wood becoming best buds with pretty popular Nikki Reed and before you know it she's dabbling in body piercing, boys and drugs.

Thirteen is a difficult movie to review. Though it has some fantastic performances - not only are the two lead girls impressive, but Holly Hunter is stunning in her role as Wood's confused, terrified hip young mom - it tends to feel a bit overly like a cautionary tale and little else. The two girls' motives for what they do aren't really explained as anything other than trying to 'fit in', and the breakdown at the end isn't very fulfilling (though in fairness maybe this is the point). However, it's reasonably hard-hitting, particularly in the scenes where the girls hit each other after drug use because they can't feel anything. In addition, you can clearly tell Nikki Reed's hand in the scriptwriting process as the movie has a clear 'insider's perspective' feel to it. In short, though there are many impressive elements to Thirteen, it ignores a lot of the issues surrounding the issues of self-harm and why the transformation in Wood's character is so quick. Though it's certainly something you'll remember, it's no masterpiece, though this is something in itself compared to the unintelligent and unambitious films on offer most of the year round.

Rating:
Summary: Confront Your Own Fears
Review: For parents, "Thirteen" just might be the scariest film you'll see all year. Unlike some mad slasher movie, "Thirteen" hits a little closer to home. It addresses almost every fear that a parent might have about a teenage daughter. Simply put, Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood) is a mess.

Communication between Tracy and her mother Melanie (Holly Hunter) has completely broken down. This often happens with families, particularly single parent households where the custodial parent lacks insight into even his or her own situation, much less the child's.

Tracy gets involved in risky sexual activities and has some serious self-esteem issues. She's crying out for a help to a mother that in some ways is ill equiped and too caught up in her own life to deal with her daughter.

It's easy to dismiss "Thirteen" as simply a film about a bratty teenager, but Tracy's behavior is only a symptom of a much larger problem. While it may not manifest itself in such extreme ways as depicted in the film, the problems are real for many teenagers growing up today.

Hopefully, the film will promote a dialog between parent and child and encourage families to communicate better together. If one looks at the film as only an extreme example of a family in trouble, that person will be missing the point.

We need more films like "Thirteen" that address real problems facing our families today. Through films like this may be the only way that things get discussed.

If you do decide to see this film with your children, proceed with caution and be prepared to answer some tough questions. Also be prepared to hug your child, because he or she might need it afterwards.