Rating: 
Summary: Great Stars, Great Movie
Review: I've got to admit, half the fun of this movie is the star-gazing. George Clooney is great as a convict recently released from jail, Brad Pitt is Mr. Suave as his right-hand man, and Julia Roberts plays the icy ex-wife beautifully. Throw in Matt Damon as a pick-pocket and Andy Garcia as a casino mogul and you've got the gist of this movie's star power.
The plot is pretty simple: Danny Ocean (Clooney) organizes a group of eleven highly skilled criminals to simultaneously rob three of Vegas' biggest casinos. Their plans are over the top and outrageous-and you can't help but smile watching them put into action. There are also some really memorable touches in the movie: including Brad Pitt teaching Shane West and Topher Grace how to play poker. This movie kind of serves as a who's-who in Hollywood. "Oceans" probably won't spark any deep conversations or teach you any life lessons, but it's fun watching the celebrities interact onscreen. If you want something deep and thought-provoking, this probably isn't your movie. But if you want to watch something purely for entertainment, this is a great and fun film.
Rating: 
Summary: Tired remake
Review: Soderbergh has made a business out of making ultra-cool movies, but his style is growing a bit stale, especially when he raises the ante big time in this remake of the classic brat-pack movie with Sinatra, Martin, Lawford and Sammy Davis, Jr. What was a joke before, Soderbergh takes a bit too seriously this time around. Such a heist would be every middle-aged man's fantasy, but this plot has such gaping holes in it that you can drive an armoured car through them, not least of all being where these guys got the cash to pull off a stunt like this, given the rather scruffy nature of our thieves. Anyway, it is good clean fun with a lot of witty banter between Clooney and Pitt. Julia Roberts looks divine, and Andy Garcia cuts a fine figure as the owner of a string of Vegas casinos, but this is well-trod stuff. Soderbergh appeared much more comfortable with simpler scams as in "Get Shorty."
Rating:
Summary: Doesnt hold a candle to the original
Review: The original film starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr and many more great stars has a much more interesting story line and is BY FAR a superior production. In the original you get to see Vegas as it was when it was a in its infancy and had TOP BIlling Stars as entertainment and was a CLASS town where the most popular stars of the large and small screen could be sitting right next to you at a table next to yours. Today Las Vegas is a monument to commercialism with no sense of personality. Gone are the big name entertainers, the free shows, reasonably priced meals, and unless you drop huge amounts of money, the personal and high class service. George Clooney is a great actor, but he does not have the charisma, and talent of Frank Sinatra. He is a pretty face with good acting skills, while Frank Sinatra captivates the audience with charm and overflowing amounts of talent. I got bored watching the remake while I could not take my eyes off the screen while watching the orginal.
Rating: 
Summary: Great movie!
Review: The original Ocean's Eleven was just so-so (although I must admit a great ending!), but this remake wound up being one of the best movies of the year and is certainly a vast improvement. As far as this "Classic Collection", it contains the previously released DVD, and adds the original soundtrack CD, a 16 page commemorative booklet with stills and exclusive behind-the-scenes images, a collectible limited edition 35mm film frame, and free rolled cinema poster in-pack mail-in offer.
Rating:
Summary: One of film's all time best crime capers!
Review: This is fun from beginning to end...clever, fun, fast and funny. Every component is there: from the direction and writing, to casting and editing....incredible score, effects and production values. In spite of the fact that it's about a huge robbery, it manages to be entertainment devoid of Hollywood-style violence and profanity. A true blockbuster!
This bargain DVD includes two great, warts n' all commentary tracks: one smart ass track with Soderbergh and Griffin, the other with 3 of its stars (Damon proves again that he's the smartest, most savvy of today's underestimated film hunks).
You won't care that Don Cheadle's dialect coach was overpaid or that, for all her glamour, Julia Roberts still has difficulty walking in high heels...you will love this great movie, again and again!
Rating:
Summary: Not bad at all.
Review: This was a great movie with a few twists and turns. If you like movies that have a lot of wit and quick, funny dialoge, this movie is for you. Oceans 12 wasn't that good, though.
Rating:
Summary: NOT A CLASSIC BUT ENJOYABLE!
Review: well worth seeing - but where do these women's hair styles come from - yuck!
will probably watch again in a year or two ----
Recommended for space in time.
Rating:
Summary: Slick and clinical caper...
Review: When the high cost of top draw actor's salaries limits the number of big stars, any one movie can have, it's nice to see that the "remake" of Ocean's Eleven does succeed in gathering together a cast of some rather highly paid actors. The "all star cast" includes George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, and Julia Roberts. The second tier group of actors includes Bernie Mac, Don Cheadle, and Hollywood veterans, Elliot Gould and Carl Reiner. With such heavyweight talent, and a setting in Las Vegas, one might expect spectacular results, but they never quite materialize. Director Steven Soderberg's production is a slick, and well-structured, yet superficial and lacking in passion and emotion. The tale is well told, but never aims for, or touches the heart. Low key, analytical, and in control, George Clooney, is Danny Ocean, the man with an audacious plan to rob the vault of the Bellagio casino. Andy Garcia is Terry Benedict, the owner of the Bellagio, who's current love is Ocean's ex-wife Tess (Julia Roberts). Ocean's team is headed by Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt), who does most of the recruiting, and oversees the elaborate operation. Lack of passion? Well, we don't really hate Benedict, the intended victim, who just comes off of as ultra competent. Andy Garcia, plays his character as very straight and reserved. Clooney, while a good actor, is not the ideal choice as a fiery romantic lead. Julia Roberts is the lone female, and her performance is also subdued, rather than stunning. What emotion there is, is mostly present in undertones. The other performances are solid, but there just isn't any special chemistry to be found between any of them. Pitt is steady, not flashy. Don Cheadle's character "Basher" an electronics expert, uses unfamiliar English slang, to perhaps impart "authenticity", but it's more of a distraction ("naused?"). Some performances do sneak up on you. Carl Reiner, is wonderful, and scores big time, playing a rich tycoon to perfection. And versatile Matt Damon, is the "kid" forced into a primary role, in the biggest job of his life. Just a tip, no more shots of Elliot Gould with his shirt open, If you are satisfied with just a smoothly-executed, and rewarding heist, then give this a chance. There's not much suspense or humor however, and character development is minimal. The focus is on the task at hand. The music, adds to its slick feeling, keeping things light and flowing. Oscar winning director Soderberg draws top stars to his projects, and making a lightweight "fun" picture is certainly no crime.
Rating:
Summary: I'm running away with your wife
Review: Why in every scene Brad Pitt appears in, he is eating something?
Steven Soderbergh (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Insomnia, Traffic, and Erin Brockovich) takes this all-star cast and runs with it. Ocean's Eleven is one of those movies where every piece of the puzzle fits perfectly. Ocean's Eleven is a delight, and a hit in every sense of the word.
George Clooney plays the main character Danny Ocean, however he does not dominate the story, or camera. Brad Pitt plays Danny Ocean's main partner Rusty Ryan. Now I cannot say as much about his character, as Brad Pitts persona dominates the screen, but not in a bad way. Every time Pitt appears, there is just a weight to his presence, it really is amazing.
Bernie Mac plays a card dealer at the casino they intend to rob, and he adds some comic relief in his limited role. Matt Damon plays a nerdy son to a famous thief that every one in Ocean's crew has heard of, and Damon is left to be known as just his son, rather then his own real character. Damon plays a cleaver character, but his role is extremely limited, and not really featured.
Andy Garcia is the bad guy (the owner of the Casino who is about to get all his money stolen). Garcia also brings a very strong presence to his character, and also dominates the scenes he's in. Steven Soderbergh did a very good job of trying to make you not like Garcia, despite he being the victim. He is also the guy Clooney's wife has left him for.
Speaking of Clooney's wife, whom else could they get to play the part but Julia Roberts? I guess they couldn't cast any no name actress off the street, an Oscar winner was required. The first thing I noticed about Roberts in this movie...she walks funny. She does a very good job in her role, and is quick, witty, spiteful, and you almost hope she stays with Garcia after he gets all his money taken.
Don Cheadle is the bomb specialist. I must say I am a big fan of his work (Traffic, Rush Hour 2, Swordfish, Rosewood, and Colors). He also adds a lot of comic relief (when you can understand what he is saying). Casey Affleck and Scott Caan play two bickering brothers who have to get into arguments to distract people throughout the movie, their parts were also very funny. Topher Grace (That 70's show) also makes a guest appearance at the beginning of the movie (learning to play cards w/Pitt).
This is a must have movie in your DVD collection, right there with Snatch. Despite being an all-star cast, it still is a great movie, with great performance, not an over kill which I worried about before I initially saw the film.
Grade: A
Rating:
Summary: Okay, now I gotta see Ocean's Twelve
Review: Yeah, it's impossible, it's ridiculous, it's contrived, but you gotta love the acting and the chemistry between the actors. Only Julia Roberts' role was maybe a mismatch, and that's difficult for me to say as she's one of my favorites.
The 1960's original version with Frank Sinatra and the infamous Rat Pack was fun, too, but this contemporary one makes full use of all the modern cinema techniques that make action/adventure films such fun to watch.
The whole setup (a plan to rob several Las Vegan casinos owned by a guy who has `taken possession' of Danny Ocean's ex-wife) is convoluted and sometimes difficult to follow - and frankly, rather than hit replay and try to figure it all out, I'd just advise suspending disbelief and going with the flow.
It's a hoot.
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