Thirteen

I watched this movie for the first time years ago when I was 12. This is one of the realist movies I've seen. They don't try to sugarcoat the influence of drugs and emotions during adolescence.

The acting is great and it shows how people go on a downward spiral when drugs are involved.

It is my opinion that THIRTEEN is as close to (or right AT) the ferocious, unrelenting honesty that too many films of the former half of the twenty-first century try to avoid. No stone is left unturned in showing how teenagers--including those just starting in their teens--try too hard to be mature beyond their years. No free passes are given to the parents who are supposed to keep close eyes on their growing sons and daughters and fail; and parental failure is NOT always accidental. Most of all, the point stating (and showing) that even the kids with a strong decent upbringing can be swayed by the wrong sort is made staggeringly clear. Obviously, that's the case with Tracey (Evan Rachel Wood) and Evie (Nikki Reed). Additionally, why teen children get so far out of line is anybody's guess. Sometimes, figuring out the Evie's of the world, male and female, is darned here [humanly] impossible. (Or so it seems.) And, at the end of the day, thirteen-year-olds are still children nonetheless--as the picture's ending shows. Plus, parenting goes on regardless of the coming of age. Dads and moms don't get a time-out just because the kids catch on further. Parenthood was and is meant for times like these. In fact, just as much for adolescence as the infant years. My advice to parents, quit spoiling and start/continue toiling. As for pre-teens and teenagers, watch who you let into your life and who you dismiss from it. You could be making a terrible, scathing mistake. Though it could have done a little more (in terms of catering to both boys AND girls), my rating for THIRTEEN and its cast and crew: 10 out of 10.

I did not see this movie until twleve years AFTER I myself turned thirteen. I didn't get it at first--well, that's because I never saw it from top to bottom! Then, just earlier, I did, and it was very compelling and even more...convicting. Evan Rachel Wood delivers a track 1 performance as Tracey. In fact, so good that I cannot deny the fact that I can relate to Tracey a lot. Though, of course, I was (and still am) introverted and did/do not have that many friends. And a lot of the things Tracey learned at home I learned at school. And let's not forget Nikki Reed. She delivered as well with her no-prisoners portrayal of Evie. The ending is kind of a downer, especially if you have those days when you feel the whole dang world is moving along without you. Altogether, Thirteen flawlessly shows how tough it is for a kid to turn the age where he (AND she) finally notices things--things they like and things they do not like. No sentiment, no false hope, no fabrications. It's a winner in my book all right.

"Thirteen" is a great eye-opener for parents. Many don't realize it, but this is what is happening in today's middle schools. Drugs, sex, alcohol, the whole works. Parents just assume kids are innocent like they were back in the 70s...but we aren't in the 70s anymore. Kids have resources like the internet to learn whatever they want about anything in the world. This movie is also great because it shows a teenager's point of view. Teen suicide is on he rise, and here is why. Life gets too real too quick without proper parenting. Hormones combined with peer pressure and the need to be popular drives teens to the edge. This movie is great for kids as well. It shows what drugs and alcohol can do to you. Tracy went from a good student to staying back in the seventh grade because the drugs and alcohol took over her life. The moral of this story for parents is to keep an eye on your children and be careful of who they are friends with. For kids, the lesson is to not get mixed up in the wrong crows. Because this movie has a great message for both kids and parents I give it 5 stars.

One of my favorite movies! Me being a teen myself absolutely love it, it's so realistic. If you like it, another good movie and book is Speak

Nikki Reed (she played Evie) is my role model! Yesterday made the 10 year anniversary for thirteen. I can't explain what a great movie this is! It teaches you some important life lessons! Love it.

You don't realize just how young this girl is until her teacher says she's being held back in 7th grade. This movie is so true it's scary honestly this stuff happens to kids their age.

Some of the reviews make this movie seem ridiculous. They must be under the impression that life is perfect -___- Nikki's ability to connect to the story to the audience is amazing. So many teens experience a life similar to the plot of the movie and the cast portrays their characters beautifully. I would definitely recommend this movie to kids 13 and up. I would also recommend it to parents who are struggling with their relationship with their tweens. It could help build an understanding of what they might be going through.

I guess it is supposed to be a gritty view of early adolescent life in public school surrounded by bad influences including a naive single-mom. But it plays so ugly and raw that it is hard to watch. It ends badly like a lot of lives where people don't take their actions seriously. The mom acts like her twelve-step meetings are a joke, she parades men through her home and naively sets no boundaries with her new 7th grader, willfully choosing to ignore her deceit. And so, why are we surprised when the girl gets into drugs and cutting and lying and stealing and sex? I suppose it is supposed to be a sad, gritty indictment of society, but not all society has to be that way and not all recovery is so dysfunctional. How about a movie where these things happen and then people turn their lives over to God and He changes them. That happens all the time but Hollywood refuses to show it.