Not exactly better than the first, but a wonderful movie anyway.

Rating: 9/10 (16 June 2006)

Now, the idea itself of continuing with the Ocean's Eleven franchise was a bad idea in the first place. No movie could live up to the success and sheer brilliance of the first, but with a cast like that, and the visionary wonders of Soderberg, I suppose it was worth a try.
This time around, the team goes international after Mr. Benedict, the shrak-like Antonio Banderas, gives them two weeks to reapy their debts, with interest. It adds up to around 197 million dollars, which the team cannot put together. They find three high paying jobs, only to discover another, perhaps more talented, thief wishes to compete. His name is the NIghtfox, and he is working with Mr. Benedict (which you will find out later).
Now the movie is very different than the first. Not so much a smooth, jazzy flick anymore. The camera is often hand-held, which is new to Soderberg's previous style, but works nicely. The dialouge is funnier than the first movie, but less relevant. Possibly the funniest part in the movie is when the team discuss's why they were called "Ocean's Eleven", yet it doesn't move the movie along at all. The interactions between Rusty (Pitt) and Ocean (Clooney) is great. They work very well together.
The addition of the two new characters, Isabel (Zeta-Jones) and the Nightfox bring the movie to new hieghts. When in the first movie, Ocean picks this job for Tess (Roberts), this movie moves more with Rusty, as he chooses Amsterdam because Isabel is there.
Some of the shots are simply magnificent. When the Nightfox dances through the lasers, and when the incredible Julia Roberts plays...herself. It all just reminds me of what the definition of entertainment really is.
Not the first, and hopefully not the last. Soderberg, you bring hope in sequels.