I laughed quite a bit in the hall.
It was so much fun, no doubt.
And as I walked out, I could hear a bunch of guys discussing: “Looks like nobody got it… What was it all about? Maybe we should wait for Ocean’s 13.”
I share the sentiment.
I think you need to watch this a second time to get what actually happens, more like Mission Impossible 1 or let’s say Vanilla Sky. But then, from what I understood from the film, even if you watch it the second time, I don’t think you’ll buy the plot… the plot is a bit of a let down.
In his pursuit of doing a fitting sequel to Ocean’s 11, Soderberg seems to have lost the plot literally but thanks to some awesome camera angles, slick cuts, howlarious moments, especially, the bonding scenes and the some great twists and some odd turns, the movie certainly lives up to the promise of an exciting team out to do yet another job, if you just forgive the conveniently simple way the guys pull off the job!
Ocean’s 11 was about a robbery that happens, but not in the way the director sets it up. True to that knot, Oceans 12 is also about a robbery which is not executed the way the director initially wants you to believe but the only difference here: The way they finally rob, somehow does not sound even half as exciting as the other plans the team comes up with. Why have a plan that can be done with a handful of freshers executed by a team of Ocean’s calibre?? If the simplicity in plot was the intention, then why not something even more ridiculously simpler? The simplicity if intended was probably to highlight the irony involved by comparing it with the complexity with which the world’s best thief steals the same thing. But still, that’s a big let down after the super build up and all that planning shown!
That ignored, the movie’s a blast. Rocking music, slick visuals — Soderberg once again blends the documentary-style filmmaking with hand-held cameras and classical old-film feel camerwork with plenty of supers (super imposed text)and uses new-age MTV inspired jump cuts to provide a very stylish retro feel. There are plenty of smart lines, expressions which women are likely to find super-cute. What with Brad Pitt and Clooney around!
The Europol Catherine Zeta Jones intro scene where she talks about the most popular thief Night Fox reminded me of our desi cop flicks where commissioners of all districts sit around to bitch about the most wanted criminal and his past record. I almost saw Captain Vijayakanth rise and say: “Night Faax nari ah irakalaam, ana intha Captain minadi verum ordinary” before he walks away out of the hall in slow motion and Deva’s score to elevate the impact.
(For the benefit of those who don’t know Tamil: Nari in Tamil means Fox… So, “He mite be Night Nari, but in front of Captain, he’s just Ordinary!”)
ha ha! Anyway, the movie is full of surprises, some convincing and some completely out of our Hindi fillums… the Chinky dude hiding in a suitcase is a bit too much to digest even by Captain film standards… but help yourself! Ocean’s Twelve is great company, join the party, drop in with a pinch of salt and lemon and you have a classic Tequila shot ready!
MADRAS INK. 
O12 – doesn’t quite match up to O11. I share the same sentiments 😉
PS – I’ve reviewed it on my blog. Do check it out.
theradiohead.blogspot.com
No Sudhish I’d completely disagree with u. This one is far better than the 1st.
the whole thing here is Ocean’s men want revenge once they find out that they had been identified by nightfox. so they take his challenge and make him believe that they r trying to steal the egg. they r fully aware that nightfox is watchin their every move so they pretend to steal and willfully get caught. While nightfox believes that he had won, Clooney walks in and tells him the truth.
the egg is actually stolen early. i agree that a bunch of amateurs could have pulled it off but then that wouldn’t have fooled nightfox. right?
That captain line was just too much! Did it actually come in some movie?
And I thought O11 was the height of Cinematic style. Am slightly disappointed to hear that its plot doesn’t measure up. But that will not deter me from going to the movie hall..
i haven’t seen ocean 11. so i won’t be able to make the comaprison. but seriously, this movie is hilarious! and yeah, there were times when i felt the others didn’t get some of the funny bits in the movie. still, i think this one’s worth a watch. despite the desi filmi bit towards the end.
I dont quite share the same sentiment. I thought Soderbergh did his job. The movie wasnt a let down by any standards. Suderman…how come no comments abt the scenes involving Matt damon and Brad pitt. I thought they were the best part of the movie. The dialogues were just too good and not to mention Damon’s splendid acting.
My sentiments exactly, Suderman! Good movie, not in the same league as the first one though. A lot less of the caper in the second movie. The whole bit about making Tess (Julia) fly over and get involved was unnecessary. The bits involving Damon and Pitt were incredibly funny, especially the scene where Clooney, Pitt and Matsui(?) play with Damon’s head had me rolling with laughter. Katherine Zeta had a bigger than expected role which is good for those of us who were drooling…
I dont know.. i may be wrong, but sudish dont you think throwing around words like chinky(instead of asian or atleast chinese), ferangi or imported (instead of foriegner) sound a little bit out of the way.
coming from a journo of a respected magazine writing in a public forum (internet, not your blog space) worries me a little bit.
spidey
Lots of people were wondering what the fuss was all about and even I felt have to see the DVD version for it to sink in fully.
I think the disapointment was mainly becuase expectations were for a more stylised caper than O11.However O12 rides on just being smart without the method .
well dumbs,
i got that bit or i wudnt be reviewing the film, wud I? Plus, I hope nobody further comments about the storyline and gives away the end or the surprise elements!
yup, even i liked matt damon’s bit but its only as good as the other moments in the film… there are too many to mention that ways… clooney worrying about his age was hilarious too just like the chinese guy jumping around on the bed or the final scene between night fox and danny or brad pitts expression when he realises he left the fone… too many moments to mention man!
vinod!
ha ha!
no, just that ive been watchin too many captain movies to predict wat he’d actually say!
oceans 12 is a must watch man! dont let the plot put u off! cheers!
karthik!
u must watch oceans 11…u mite love it more since u already love the characters and u’ll know wat im talkin about… they guys have nothing to do in oceans 12 as compared to 11! i guess its a good way to make sure u dont get let down by a sequel…watch a sequel first…ha ha!
Excellent review man….only 1 small mistake…it’s Ocean’s 12 and not Oceans 12…..hell….it’s actually Ocean’s Twelve!
non stop nonsense!
😦
u dint read my review properly, just rushed to commenting without reading it…
i said “the plot was a let down”
movie is a blast! this one’s more fun and style and bonding than the first… but the first one is a more complete film!
arvind!
exactly pa!
its good no doubt…its a riot but compared to the original missed out a plot where all these guys had a significant role in the robbery… its the not the best job, its a conveniently simple job that seems forced just to make it simpler than night fox’s modus operandi!
spidey!
dude, which forum u talkin about?
i thot this was my blog space… i must have used firang even in a coupla stories but thats not derogatory usage…chinks is considered derogatory so we dont use it on print… but when i say it in my blog, i dont mean it the derogatory way when i say the chinky guy is really good in that scene!
anyway, i respect ur sentiment and ill try n go easy on the chinks and the firangs, tho i dont see anythin wrong with the usage in my space!
cheers dude!
and i know u’re upset with me cuz im seeing mary jane off late! 😀
sabs!
well put man!
the style’s there for sure… its the logical content which is lackin here!
well, thanks anon…i can change it now and make it ocean’s twelve! 😀
Suderman point noted.
sudhish,
I read your reply and reread what I wrote, boy did i sound very serious or what. I have been reading ur blog for quite sometime and its really good. If there is one eye sore, thats a big if, it is this particular thing i refered to. It will be taken care of as you said.
I have my two cents worth of a comment about the story for your movie. Will write about it in the future when you refer it somewhere in the blog (it will be off topic if i right it now)
Oh yeah… cheers to you to0
Spidey
Suderman,
Spidey didn’t seem to mind re: you seeing MJ! Guess their relationship seems to have building cob-webs? Time for you to snare her in now. Go, Hero, Go! Cheers, A well wisher aka 🙂 Ravi
suderman,
wel i havent seen ocean’s twelve…but having read your review n the comments that follwd…i think the movie has let down on its plot side bcoz of the hype around it. n i m not talking only abt its promos….but the expectations of the ppl who hav seen ocean’s eleven.
it generally happens with most of the sequels…you always tend to expect somethin more out of PART 2s.
so when watchin any movie i just follw a simple policy …’expect less, enjoy more’…its all about having fun!!