Rating: 
Summary: Stylish Vehicle but a dull ride
Review: Let's get this out of the way. Yes we know Matt Damon, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Andy Garcia, and Julia Roberts are in this movie. God forbid you ever read the opening paragraph of a review without them reminding you. Yes we know that these actors have done some great work in the past, but what we don't know until it's too late is that none of these actors are that great here. The opening scene of the movie pretty much runs like an outtake from Out of Sight. Clooney sits in front of the parole board, and is then released into the world. There he immediately launches into a plan to rob three casinos of $150 million. While it sounds like it should be entertaining, suspenseful, it really isn't. The movie takes a different approach by forging a motley crew of a eleven different criminals. Clooney recruits eleven other guys to be apart of his crew. Since this movie decides not to partake in any sort of action, the drama of the movie will rise or fall with the personalities of the characters. So fall it does. Clooney, Damon, Pitt, Garcia, nor Roberts exhibit nearly enough personality to keep you interested in their characters, let alone entertained by them. Clooney smirks and makes eyes at Julia Roberts much in the same way he did toward Jennifer Lopez in Out of Sight. Unfortunately here it's not nearly as engaging as Clooney can only seem to generate any real chemistry with himself. Pitt lazes through his performance often digesting one form of a snack or another in whatever scene he appears. This makes you wonder if this was part of his character, or if he could hardly be bothered to leave his trailer for the shoot. However to give the actors the benefit of the doubt they really don't have alot to work with. The dialouge runs pretty flat, with a few viable punchlines, but not nearly enough to make the movie a worth experience. The real story of Ocean's Eleven are the actors who didn't make it to the movie poster. Scott Caan and Casey Affleck play bickering siblings and are perhaps the most engaging and entertaining performances in the film. Bernie Mac provides one of the more memorable scenes of the movie as he threatens Matt Damon in a Casion Backroom. In the end Ocean's Eleven is disappointing because it's a movie you really want to enjoy. It fails to deliver because in essence it's a movie way too enamored with it's own sense of style. Style however doesn't translate to attitude.
Rating: 
Summary: You don't even have to have seen the first ten Ocean films
Review: Despite its flaws, the original Ocean's 11 is one of my favorite films. So when I say that I almost completely forgot about the original while watching this movie, I mean that as high praise. George Clooney makes the part of Danny Ocean completely his own from the moment he first appears. I would point out that he's ably assisted by his supporting cast, but considering that cast includes Brad Pitt, Andy Garcia, Julia Robberts, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Carl Reiner, Casey Affleck, and Elliot Gould, that should be self-evident.Perfectly paced, this caper movie hoodwinks the viewer as cleverly as it does the marks in its story. The pieces are all there, but director Steven Soderbergh doesn't reveal all the information in a straightforward manner, and keeps from spoiling the fun. We don't know every aspect of the plan, so the surprises are genuine. On the one hand, it never seems like anything is being left out, and on the other, it never feels like the movie cheats. It's a delicate balance, but the movie pulls it off magnificently. And then, when you think it can't get any better, there's the "introducing Julia Roberts" credit at the end. I smell another Oscar nomination in Mr. Soderbergh's future ...
Rating:
Summary: E-O-11!
Review: It's amazing what forty years of technological advancement and the repeal of the Motion Picture Production Code can do to a remake.
Like the Nicolas Cage GONE IN 60 SECONDS, this takes an existing story of greed and self-interest and turns it into a vaguely noble cause: instead of eleven bored ex-paratroopers looking to reuse their skills by knocking over five individual casinos, it's a bunch of crooks hitting three casinos all owned by a totally reprehensible and amoral businessman who has no qualms about going after your family if you cross him. It's all executed through confidence scheme after elaborate confidence scheme using high-tech surveillance equipment, low-tech costumes & props, and even borderline terrorism with EMP bombs. It may not have the charm of the original Rat Pack version, but this one at least had a bunch of people interested in making a decent film without overindulging in the Vegas lifestyle between takes.
Rating: 
Summary: Rat Pack: The Next Generation
Review: "Ocean's 11," directed by Steven Soderbergh, is a remake of a 1960 film of the same name. That first film co-starred the notorious "Rat Pack," which included Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. Soderbergh's version stars George Clooney as Danny Ocean, an ex-convict who organizes a team of 11 criminals for an audacious plot: to rob the vault of Las Vegas casinos owned by super-rich Terry Benedict (played with a nice edge by Andy Garcia). "O11" is a very entertaining film: an effective mix of humor, character drama, inventive plot twists, and high-tech thrills. The superb ensemble cast includes Julia Roberts (as Clooney's love interest), Matt Damon (as a pickpocket), and Brad Pitt (as a master card player). The ensemble members have great chemistry together. Clooney follows up terrific roles in "The Perfect Storm" and "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" with his role as Ocean. Clooney is charming and likeable, and his expressive eyes bring a nice wistful touch to his performance. The film is also greatly enlivened by the versatile Don Cheadle as a British demolitions expert. Elliot Gould is hilarious as a rival to Garcia's character: watch out for his outrageous costumes. But my favorite performance in the film belongs to show biz legend Carl Reiner as an aging con man; he is outstanding, and quite endearing, in his double-layered role. Some aspects of the plot are a bit far-fetched, and I must admit to a degree of unease with a film that essentially glorifies destructive criminal behavior. But the film's strong points are evident. I particularly like how the film evokes the excitement, glamour, and intrigue of the high-stakes Las Vegas scene. "Ocean's 11" is another strong effort from one of our most interesting directors.
Rating:
Summary: The Worst Remake EVER!!!!
Review: This film has a bad story, a big budget cast that cant act, and a good director. I was very excited to see this remake of this 1960 classic RAT PACK caper,because I loved the first one and after seeing this I went home and watched the original but all a side let's get back to this remake. The first 45 minutes of this film were good, but by the time they got to the heist I wanted to leave the teather, one thing I loved about the movie was the sharp classy dressing by Brad Pitt, George Cloony, and Carl Reiner, It was good to see Elliott Gloud and Carl Reiner back on the big screen after all these years that's one thing Hollywood should do more often because there part of the reason I gave this movie two stars, but i think the biggest problem was just these two things (too many actors with no room to act) and (not enough chemistry between the actors) if this movie would have had that much i think it would have been as good as the first one ...
Rating:
Summary: One of the Years Best
Review: Steven Sodobergh has done it again, made a movie that is both unbelievebly entertaining and connects with the audience. Steven's direction is almost mystical as he pulls us into the first few scenes introducing all the con men, to, quite possibly the best shot scene, when they all depart from "the waterfall." The whole cast pulls in very good performances, espiecially Goerge Clooney who is oscar worthy material with this movie. Everyone though, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Don Cheadle, Brad Pitt to Julia Roderts, do a terrific job. he movie was so enjoyable as well because the actors seemed to be having fun DOING their jobs, which we don't get much these days. that the movie is so good in fact that this movie is a possibility for direction, screenplay, photography, art direction, and Picture for sure; There might also be room for a Best Actor/Supporting Actor. Do not miss out on this movie, trust me this is definetly one of the best films of the year, and by far the most enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Clooney and Soderbergh at their best
Review: Daniel Ocean has just been released on parole after 4 years in prison, with 10 other guys he is planning one of the biggest job ever by robbing 3 casinos at the same time. Is he in this purely for the money or is there something else he's looking for? Ocean's Eleven is one of the smartest heist film I've ever seen, with an excellent director, a talented cast with some great chemistry, and smart dialogues. The movie was fast paced, unpredictable, and a lot of fun to watch, there was never a dull moment. Even though the movie lacked character development, but a decent plot and solid performances by Clooney (as Daniel Ocean,) Roberts (as Tess) and Pitt (as Rusty) more than made up for it, and created an enjoyable experience for me. I've never seen the original and therefore cannot make any comparison with the 1960 film, but I can say for sure that Ocean's Eleven is a great way to spend 2 hours at the theater, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: Pure Entertainment
Review: Call it improbable, or even a highly imaginative flight of fancy; either/and/or, all of the above are correct. But whatever you choose to call it, this is one of the sleekest and slickest caper movies you're ever likely to run across, and what you're really going to end up calling it is pure Entertainment (yes, with a capital "E"). Incomparable escapist fare, impeccably crafted and delivered by director Steven Soderbergh and a dynamite cast, "Ocean's Eleven" is a joy ride that gives you a chance to root for the bad guys and feel wickedly good while you're doing it. Because, after all, what's so bad about a bunch of regular guys ripping off a bazillionaire casino owner, who in the first place isn't such a great guy himself? Remember, the key word here is "escapist"; don't worry about moralizing while you're watching this one, because a movie like this is made to let you to live vicariously for a couple of hours, so just sit back, relax and go with the flow. Just remember: These are professionals; don't try this at home. When Danny Ocean (George Clooney) is released from prison, he doesn't waste any time. Taking a rather indirect route after leaving the place he's called home for some time, he winds up in Las Vegas where he quite simply plans to rob three casinos owned by one Harry Benedict (Andy Garcia), an extremely meticulous businessman, who is also-- if his reputation serves correctly-- an extremely ruthless individual. He's not a guy you want to mess with. So why does Ocean want to pick on Benedict, who has the means and the muscle to crush him like a bug with a mere nod of his head? Suffice to say it has something to do with a personal agenda, as well as the possibility of a paycheck worth around $160 million, which-- even after splitting with the ten other guys he's about to recruit for the job-- will land him a share that won't be too bad for a day's work. And, of course, there's the challenge; Danny Ocean and his buddies are about to attempt the impossible. What he is proposing is something that has never before been accomplished, a gamble with nearly insurmountable odds; but, hey, this is Vegas-- and that's what it's all about. To be sure, Soderbergh had the deck stacked in his favor right out of the chute with the cast he assembled for this film; but like any self-respecting odds-makers in Vegas will tell you, nothing is a sure thing. Soderbergh still had to mix all the ingredients just right-- cast, story, photography, music, action, humor-- to make it cook. Well, he may not get the Oscar for Best Director for it, but if there's a Golden Chef's Hat Award, he's a shoo-in for preparing this feast. This is a veritable smorgasbord for the senses; it's easy on the eyes, it'll give you some laughs and make you feel good, it's easy to digest and in the end is a totally satisfying experience. There may not be anything ground breaking about this movie, and certainly nothing especially new, but Soderbergh presents it with nuance and finesse, as well as that special artistic touch of his that is so definitive of his work. Neither was a haystack anything new in Monet's day when he chose it as a subject for one of his paintings, and the rest is history. It's how the artist renders the subject on canvas that's important, and it is in this that Soderbergh excels. As Danny Ocean, George Clooney demonstrates that he has the charm of Grant, the magnetism of a young Brando and the down-home agreeableness of Jimmy Stewart. With his personality alone, he defines Ocean in no uncertain terms. From the opening frame you know exactly who this guy is. Still, there are a few surprises along the way that keeps him interesting. Mostly though, he's just enjoyable to watch as he puts his plan into action, and it's easy to believe he's who he is and doing what he's doing. And that's part of the charm of this movie and, moreover, goes to show you what a good performance Clooney actually gives here. Unlikely as the story may be, he sells it in such a way that it works; and as the customer, you not only buy it, but walk away with the extended warranty and go home satisfied. And that's a good bit of acting in anyone's book. And though Clooney is clearly the star of the show, Brad Pitt checks in as Ocean's friend, Rusty Ryan, and emerges on fairly equal footing with his illustrious co-star. Like Clooney, Pitt turns on the charm and serves up Rusty as a credible enough figure, with a performance that may not be much of a stretch for him, but one that is certainly engaging. The character is lacking somewhat in depth and definition, but Pitt manages to give you a clear idea of who Rusty is without too much by way of development. Call it a fast-food characterization; nevertheless, Pitt does a good job, and for all intents and purposes, he makes the character work. The single question mark in the casting may be with Julia Roberts as Tess, Ocean's estranged wife. She looks good and gives a solid, if not memorable performance, but she seems to miss the mark slightly in capturing the true essence of the character, which may have been better served by someone like Catherine Zeta-Jones or even Rene Russo. But that's a purely subjective observation, and I'm sure there are those who will argue that Roberts was perfect for the role. In either case, Tess is an integral part of the story, and Roberts neither enhances nor distracts from the overall proceedings; most importantly, she does make Tess believable. And in the end, with a terrific supporting cast (too lengthy to mention here), "Ocean's Eleven" is one you don't want to miss.
Rating:
Summary: a heist movie you can take your six year old to...
Review: I saw Ocean's Eleven last night at a sneak preview screening in Los Angeles. Overall it was an entertaining film that lacked edge and originality. Soderbergh must have made the studio suits happy with this one--mainstream, marketable and extremely safe. No risk-taking for Soderbergh on this film. The only gritty Soderbergh trace was that he rebelliously shot handheld from time to time--(just like he does on all of his movies).
A positive note is that it's fluffy entertainment for the whole family. It's a Disney bank robbery movie with the highest paid actors in film history running around Las Vegas in shiny suits. Its so cookie-cutter you could take your six year old with you only be ready to explain to him why he can't have the Clooney action figure in the Valentino tux this Christmas after the show.
Other positives: Casey Affleck and Scott Caan were funny as bickering mormon brothers. Andy Garcia did a good job considering the cliched writing for his character. Julia Roberts was Julia Roberts.
To sum it all up,worth seeing if you bring your suspension of disbelief hat with you, your happy ending sweater and the youngest member of your family so that he can enjoy the first ever made-for-kids heist movie.
Rating: 
Summary: More over-rated Junk from AOL/Time Warner.
Review: Very inempt story of five people coming together to steal a lot of money and do it right under the backs of some of the most high tech security systems ever designed to help safeguard the money from theift. As always , George Clooney shows us why he can't act as his attempts at humor are about as unfunny as you can get. Brad Pit and Matt Damon are a little better (but one wishes that better written scripts would come their way) and Julia Roberts is always good in almost every film she appears in, no matter how bad the film's direction is, and lack of direction is what this movie has.
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