Baker's Dozen Done Right

Rating: 8/10 (17 August 2013)

There are a lot of people who didn't like Ocean's Twelve. Enough so, I feel they made Ocean's Thirteen as a make-up movie, à la Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when Part Temple of Doom was such a joke. Of course, using that theory, they still need to make Indy 5 for that tragedy of part IV
At any rate, I'm a HUGE 2001 Ocean's Eleven fan. I've seen that movie more than a, ah hem, dozen times. This one, not as much, but I still appreciate it when I do see it.
Is it anywhere close to the magic that (somewhat) part one held? No. But, it's a fun addition and original to the max.
Basically, Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and crew stole more than $150 million in the original movie from three Las Vegas casinos. They were set to get away with it and live happily ever after, or so people who only saw part one would count on.
In this follow-up, the man they stole from, Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia) comes a'looking and teams up with another thief to ensure they pay back the money with interest. Playing it by ear, they cook up some European schemes to "earn" back the money so they don't get murdered, or worse.
Despite the lack of the gorgeous Vegas backdrop, or the normality of the original, Ocean's Twelve does manage to capture the same crew with pinpoint accuracy on their individual characters and the dialogue is still incredibly rich and absolutely hilarious. I always love George Clooney and mostly love Brad Pitt – together, whether this is the original or not, they certainly deliver in the fun I watched time and again in the original.
In truth, this movie is a mess at times. It's random and despite the original aspect of characters having to make up for their sins in the first movieit's still a ton of fun, funny and the cinematography and scenes are crisp and fun to look at.
In truthPart Two or Twelve, honestly, I wish this movie hadn't been made. I loved them just getting away with it in the original and riding off into the sunset. Butif it had to be made, I would have strongly preferred this version. I am a fan. And I endorse this.