Ocean's Trilogy (4K UHD Blu-ray) review

[David Vaughn]

Studio: Warner Brothers 
Release Date: April 30, 2024
Rating: PG-13
Film: See Below

Plot
Ocean’s 11 (2001) 4.5/5
Danny Ocean (George Clooney) likes taking chances. All he asks is that his handpicked squad of ten grifters and cons play the game like they have nothing to lose. If all goes right, the payoff will be a fat $150 million.

Ocean’s 12 (2004) 4/5
They’re back. And then some. Twelve is the new eleven when Danny Ocean and pals return in a sequel to the cool caper that saw them pull off a $150 million heist. But $150 million doesn’t go as far as it used to. It’s time to pull off another stunner of a plan. Exciting locations include Amsterdam, Paris and Rome. 

Ocean’s 13 (2007) 3/5
Danny Ocean rounds up the boys for the most dazzling heist yet, after casino owner Willy Bank (Al Pacino) double-crosses one of the eleven, Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould).

My Thoughts
Over the past three nights, I watched the entire trilogy with my wife and we both had a great time revisiting them. Ocean’s 11 is still the best of the three and keeps you on the edge of your seat even if you know how it ends. The all-star cast work so well together and the slick dialog flows naturally throughout the film.
 
Ocean’s 12 was better than I remembered it and I really enjoyed the humor that’s thrown in throughout the film. Arguably the funniest segment of the film is when Tess (Julia Roberts) shows up and impersonates Julia Roberts in order to pull off the theft. Unfortunately, Bruce Willis is staying at the same hotel and things don’t go exactly as planned.
 
Ocean’s 13 is just a fair movie for a number of reasons. First, the setup to the film is very clunky and the entire experience feels rushed with very little explanation on what’s going on behind the scenes. While it’s not a bad film, it just fails to measure up to the previous two.

The video transfers on 11 and 12 are spectacular, particularly on 11, which has never looked better. From the opening scene I was mesmerized with the level of depth and detail in the image. 12 is nearly as impressive with the sweeping shots of Amsterdam and Rome teaming with detail. I’ve never liked the look of 13 from the time I saw it in theaters. It’s much too dark and muddy in the low light scenes and just looks ugly for much of the film. I give the first two films perfect scores and an 8.5 to the third, which reflects in the average shown below.

Thankfully, the audio tracks have been remastered from the lossy 5.1 tracks found on the previous Blu-ray release and the results are spectacular. Dialog is clearer, bass more intense, and the use of the surround speakers drop you right into the scene.
 
Video 9.5/10
Audio 9/10 (DTS-HD MA 5.1)

Special Features:

Ocean’s Eleven

• Two Commentary Tracks
• Are You In or Out? The Making of Ocean’s Eleven
• Pros & Cons: Inside Ocean’s Outfit
• The Style of Steal
• The Look of the Con
• Original Ocean’s, Original Cool
• UHD + Digital Copy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imm6OR605UI&ab_channel=MovieStation

Ocean’s Twelve

• Commentary
• Ready, Jet Set, Go: The Making of Ocean’s Twelve
• HBO First Look: Twelve is the New Eleven: The Making of Ocean’s Twelve
• Deleted Scenes
• UHD + Digital Copy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9uhRSLMORw&ab_channel=RottenTomatoesClassicTrailers

Ocean’s Thirteen

• Commentary
• Third’s Charm: The Making of Ocean’s Thirteen
• Ahab with a Piggyback: The Means & Machines of Ocean’s
• Jerry Weintraub Walk and Talk
• Masters of the Heist
• Deleted Scenes
• UHD + Digital Copy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so9Eh-Guci8&ab_channel=RottenTomatoesClassicTrailers

Conclusion
While you need to suspend belief quite a lot in these films, they are a lot of fun to watch. While the first will always be my favorite, the other two films are very entertaining in their own right. They are well acted and directed and the writing is fantastic. Throw in the new 4K remasters with improved audio and this one is easy to recommend.


Reference Review System:
 JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
 (Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
 Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Screen
 Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
 ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
 ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
 Kaleidescape Strato + Server
 Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
 System Controller: URC MX-990
 M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
 M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
 Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
 Dual Rythmik FV15HP2
 Mini DSP HD controlling all subwoofers
 Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
 PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner

[bmoney]

Def picking these up.