HTF HD DVD REVIEW: Ocean's Trilogy: Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve, Ocean's Thirteen (1 Viewer)

[Citizen87645]

Ocean's Trilogy: Ocean's Eleven | Ocean's Twelve | Ocean's Thirteen Release Date: Available now (original release date November 13, 2007) Studio: Warner Home Video Packaging/Materials: Cardboard case and slipcover MSRP: $79.98 Overall Score: 4/5 Released concurrently with Ocean's Thirteen, Ocean's Trilogy brings Ocean's Eleven and Ocean's Twelve to the market but only makes them available through the set - disappointing for those who don't care for the franchise in its entirety. For those who enjoyed all three films or who are completists, the set is decent overall, the first and second films being fairly spartan in special features but all three films having very good audio and video quality. The packaging, while straightforward, is nice for its stylish graphics, which should have been carried over to the individual films' cover art. That the first two films maintain their own cover art suggests that they may eventually be available separately. Continue reading for more information on each film. Since Ocean's Thirteen was reviewed separately by HTF's Ken McAlinden, I have simply linked to his review. Ocean's Eleven Year: 2001 Rating: PG-13 Running Time: 1h56m Video: 1080p high definition 16x9 2.40:1 Video (Special Features): 480i or 480p standard definition Audio: Dolby Digital Plus: English 5.1, French 5.1, Spanish 5.1, Japanese 5.1 Audio (Special Features): Stereo Subtitles: English, French, Spanish and Japanese Subtitles (Special Features): Japanese (on select bonus materials) Packaging/Materials: Single-disc HD-DVD keepcase The Feature: 5/5 Fresh out of prison for his thieving ways, Danny Ocean (George Clooney) concocts a heist of monumental proportions instead of honoring his humbling parole terms. But this time it's not about money, even though his plan is to raid the vault of Las Vegas's three most lucrative casinos. Instead, he's out to regain what he lost - his ex-wife Tess (Julia Roberts) who is now with the casinos' ruthless owner, Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia). For his plan to work Ocean needs a sizable crew - 11 to be exact - with talents ranging from pure deception to security infiltration to acrobatics. Whether they succeed will depend on crucial timing and planning and a deep understanding of human nature and weakness. A remake of the 1960 Sinatra/Rat Pack vehicle and starring some of the biggest actors in the industry, Ocean's Eleven is a true (and unabashed) popcorn flick. While many star-heavy productions wind up being disappointments, folding under the weight of the collective celebrity, the film makes good on its talent through an excellent script by Ted Griffin and its gifted director, Steven Soderbergh. Though the sequels failed to match its energy, Ocean's Eleven remains a remarkably perfect work of escapism. Highly recommended. Video Quality: 4.5/5 The film is VC-1 encoded and correctly framed at 2.40:1. The image is largely free of defects - minor white speckles show up throughout the film along with a few flashes of dust or dirt. What viewers will find striking though is fine object detail, particularly in the early scenes with the prison chain links and the fine checkered pattern of Ocean's suit jacket. With such tight patterns there's never a moment of moire or shimmer. The stylized cinematography of high contrast and warm, saturated colors also gets presented nicely by the high definition format. Interestingly, the outdoor scenes tend to look drab and hazy, but given their consistent look I can only assume this was intentional. Blacks - particularly in the indoor and night scenes - are also deep and solid. Audio Quality: 3.5/5 The film's audio mix is largely front-focused, even during scenes with heavy crowds and activity. It's not until the final stages of the heist that the surrounds perk up. LFE is also used judiciously for the two or three moments that truly demand it. Though a lossless track might have been nice to include, it's not really missed given the rather utilitarian sound mix. Ultimately the Dolby Digital Plus audio track gets the job done. Special Features: 3/5 Audio Commentary with Matt Damon, Andy Garcia and Brad Pitt: The three readily admit they don't provide the most rousing commentary track as they easily get caught up watching the film they so enjoyed making. Still, if you're looking for a hang out session with some interesting anecdotes spread out over the two hour run time, it's not a bad listen. Audio Commentary with Director Steven Soderbergh and Screenwriter Ted Griffin: Soderbergh and Griffin provide a much more detailed and focused commentary, sharing information about the production and the development of story and character. The two also maintain a relaxed, humorous tone throughout. HBO First Look (15m01s): Promotional featurette covers the major talking points. The Look of the Con (9m40s): An interesting look at costuming and the principles around shaping a character through wardrobe selection. Theatrical Trailer (2m07s) Teaser Trailer 1 (2m10s) Teaser Trailer 2 (32s) Recap and Final Thoughts The Feature: 5/5 Video Quality: 4.5/5 Audio Quality: 3.5/5 Special Features: 3/5 Overall Score (not an average): 4/5 Excellent popcorn flick gets very good audio and video treatment with a spare set of special features. Ocean's Twelve Year: 2004 Rating: PG-13 Running Time: 2h05m Video: 1080p high definition 16x9 2.40:1 Video (Special Features): Partially 1080p or 1080i high definition; partially 480i or 480p standard definition Audio: Dolby Digital Plus: English 5.1, French 5.1, Spanish 5.1, Japanese 5.1 Audio (Special Features): Stereo Subtitles: English, French, Spanish and Japanese Subtitles (Special Features): Japanese (on select bonus materials) Packaging/Materials: Single-disc HD-DVD keepcase The Feature: 3/5 Determined not to repeat himself, Director Steven Soderbergh takes Ocean's Twelve in a number of different directions. Not only is the visual aesthetic quite different, making use of natural and practical lighting and more location shoots, but the story itself is grittier and less stylized. Though the effort is commendable, ultimately the story gets weighed down by too many apparent in-jokes and overly complicated (or simply unclear) narrative trails. Having enjoyed the escapist fun of the first film so much, it's also difficult to accept the darker tone of this sequel. And what humor there is feels forced and obtuse. I imagine after seeing the film a few more times it may grow on me and I readily admit there's enough in it to make me willing to do so. The film is not so much a disappointment as simply something unexpected. Video Quality: 4/5 The film is VC-1 encoded and correctly framed at 2.40:1. The image is largely free of defects - white speckles show up a few times along with a few flashes of dust or dirt. Having moved away from the neon glitz of Las Vegas to conventionally lit European cities, the cinematography (by Soderbergh himself) adjusts accordingly with a more naturalistic, available light aesthetic. The byproduct of this approach affects black levels, which tend to be crushed on the far end, increases grain and reduces fine object detail. But the look also is appropriate for the less stylized, less glamorous nature of the story. This second film may not have the visual "pop" of the first, but things still look quite good and true to the filmmakers' intent. Audio Quality: 3/5 The film's audio mix is front-focused, just as in the previous film, though this time there are even fewer occasions of surround or LFE activity. As with the first film, a lossless track might have been nice to have, but it's not really missed given the rather straightforward sound mix. Ultimately the Dolby Digital Plus audio track does its job. Special Features: 3/5 Audio Commentary with Director Steven Soderbergh and Screenwriter George Nolfi: Soderbergh and Nolfi turn in a detailed and interesting audio commentary sharing plenty of background detail and technical information. Given Soderbergh's natural light approach, there seems to be more on the technical end than usual, which should please tech heads. HBO First Look: Twelve is the New Eleven (13m01s): Promotional featurette covers the major talking points. Additional Footage (28m06s): An alternate opening focusing on Rusty and Isabel's first meeting, a heavily edited montage of the Terry Benedict confrontations, and various other treatments. Theatrical Trailer (2m16s) Recap and Final Thoughts The Feature: 3/5 Video Quality: 4/5 Audio Quality: 3/5 Special Features: 3/5 Overall Score (not an average): 3.5/5 A challenging sequel gets similar technical treatment to the previous film and a comparable special features package. Ocean's Thirteen From Ken McAlinden's November 19, 2007 review: "Ocean's Thirteen" provides a diverting two hours for fans of the first film in the series. While the "this time it's personal" plot is a bit clichéd, the filmmakers try to make up in sizzle what they lack in steak, and succeed modestly. The HD DVD presentation has outstanding (although not lossless) audio, and a very nice film-like video presentation. The extras are a step up from the SD release, with an engaging screen-specific commentary from the director and writers and a couple of featurettes that will be of interest to fans of the city of Las Vegas or of real-life "big score" capers. The brief set of deleted scenes is amusing if slight. Continue to read the full review. [PG]118768203[/PG]