Too much movie for two hours!

Rating: 8/10 (18 December 2004)

Soderberg's second go-round at the sequel of a remake seems to be just a bit much. The ending of "Ocean's Eleven" left the viewer in suspense, alluding to a sequel. Fast forward to the time present and here we are, with a sequel too good to be true. "Ocean's Twelve" takes us throughout Europe in an attempt to outdo the masterpiece heist seen previously. The scenery is amazing and true to life. We see Amsterdam's famous canals and Rome's narrow streets. However, just as the scenes are foreign, as is the viewer's comprehension of this movie.
The problem with this movie is that it's simply too much movie. The plot moves excessively fast for two hours give or take a few minutes, and it does not move along evenly per se. Some parts of "Ocean's Twelve" move too fast for the viewer to grasp, yet other sequences escalate painfully slow.
In all, the superb acting and cinematic effects are overshadowed by the plot. Yes, it's intricate, surpentine, and edge-of-your-seat, but, therein lies the problem. Twist after twist upon twist leaves the average viewer dumbfounded. Only those possessing Einstein like intelligence can grasp such plot specifics. For those fitting this category, it's an excellent movie. For the less fortunate, however, it might be best to watch the first one and leave it at that. In the end, you wonder: "who's taking advantage of who?" Whereas Eleven left us with a clear victor with the spoils, Twelves leaves you in suspense. Not the suspense seen at the end of the former, but a spiteful, incomplete suspense.
Nonetheless, the all-star cast of actors boosts the movie's star quality. Bruce Willis' womanizing cameo is delightful, as is the special double entrendre cameo of Julia Roberts. Clooney and Pitt are excellent, and the rest of the cast hold up their end quite well. In the end, it is unfortunate that the plot and its twists are simply incomprehensible to many on the second, even third and subsequent attempt to understand it.
My advice is to save your money and definitely rent it when it comes out on DVD, or hits the second chance theaters.
Shall we see another sequel? Perhaps an "Ocean's Thirteen?" Even with such success as has been seen, it is doubtful Carl Reiner will live that long. But given the director's talent, and the feel good, high chemistry mood of the actors on set, I wouldn't put it out of the question. In all, 8 out of 10 from me.