Go Back  DVD Talk Forum > Entertainment Discussions > Movie Talk
Reload this Page >

Roger Ebert ? Discussion & Appreciation (1942-2013)

Community
Search
Movie Talk A Discussion area for everything movie related including films In The Theaters

Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation (1942-2013)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-04-13 | 10:17 PM
  #226  
Hokeyboy's Avatar
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 20,848
Received 1,040 Likes on 620 Posts
From: Fort Lauderdale, FL
re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation (1942-2013)

He became friends with my mother and sister after he and Chaz met them at a spa resort in Mexico in 2004. He INSISTED to my Mom that Spiderman 2 was THE must-see movie of the summer. She was incredulous. When they returned from Mexico and informed me about their new friendship with Roger, my jaw fucking hit the floor. Ebert was the reason I became a film nerd. He and Siskel got me into laserdiscs, widescreen, Kurosawa, Ozu, Welles, Almodovar... I can barely go on. He saved me from thinking the next great moment of cinema was the next Police Academy sequel. My love of cinema started with Siskel and Ebert. A lifelong debt that can hardly be repaid. RIP Roger. Fuckin ay, thank you man.
Old 04-04-13 | 10:19 PM
  #227  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,244
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
From: Marysville, WA
re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation (1942-2013)

Wow, when I heard the news earlier today, it felt like I had lost a life long friend. I grew up watching "Sneak Previews' on PBS and looked forward to the show each and every week and followed Ebert through every single version of his show. I didn't always agree with his reviews, but I knew that the man knew movies. He introduced me to so many things that I love about movies over the years. My favorite moments were his letterbox/widescreen crusades which I used to finally convince my dad that he really was getting the whole picture despite it looking like those black bars were masking the top and bottom of his square screen while watching my laser discs.
Old 04-04-13 | 10:28 PM
  #228  
Charlie Goose's Avatar
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 20,195
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
From: Sesame Street (the apt. next to Bob's)
Re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation [Update: Dead]

Old 04-04-13 | 10:51 PM
  #229  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 729
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation [Update: Dead]

Terrible news; there'll never be another critic like him. I watched Ebert & Siskel (and later Roeper) regularly; like some others, I gained a new appreciation for film through his reviews. I may have disagreed with some of his opinions on horror movies, but he sometimes surprised me with a positive review (his and Roeper's "two severed thumbs up" for The Devil's Rejects comes to mind).

RIP Roger.
Old 04-04-13 | 11:07 PM
  #230  
Decker's Avatar
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 93,603
Received 10,399 Likes on 7,073 Posts
From: Vegas, Baby!
Re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation [Update: Dead]

Originally Posted by Hokeyboy
He became friends with my mother and sister after he and Chaz met them at a spa resort in Mexico in 2004. He INSISTED to my Mom that Spiderman 2 was THE must-see movie of the summer. She was incredulous. When they returned from Mexico and informed me about their new friendship with Roger, my jaw fucking hit the floor. Ebert was the reason I became a film nerd. He and Siskel got me into laserdiscs, widescreen, Kurosawa, Ozu, Welles, Almodovar... I can barely go on. He saved me from thinking the next great moment of cinema was the next Police Academy sequel. My love of cinema started with Siskel and Ebert. A lifelong debt that can hardly be repaid. RIP Roger. Fuckin ay, thank you man.
I believe it. I met him a couple times in college at UCSB when he came to speak and again years later in Hawaii where he gave a talk on Hong Kong action cinema. He was friendly, cool and totally without pretense. Here's a picture of the two of us in Hawaii in 1997 or 98.


He and Gene Siskel had such a huge influence on me growning up and learning about movies from the age of eleven on up. I really miss those two and the insight they brought. Roger
Old 04-04-13 | 11:08 PM
  #231  
Supermallet's Avatar
Banned by request
 
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 54,150
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
From: Termite Terrace
re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation (1942-2013)

I do have to say, I stopped watching the show when Roeper replaced Siskel. There was a period where Ebert had a serious of special guest critics, and some of them were so good at expressing their opinions and debating Ebert, and Roeper felt much more like this wimpy guy who couldn't articulate why he felt the way he felt about films. It felt like a heavyweight agreeing to do a charity bout with a lightweight and then knocking him flat on his ass. The balance was gone.
Old 04-04-13 | 11:11 PM
  #232  
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,067
Received 7 Likes on 6 Posts
Re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation [Update: Dead]

Ebert was not only a great movie reviewer, but he championed motion pictures almost at a scholarly level but in a way that appealed to "everyman." He wrote prolifically about the motion picture industry, to say the least.

He will be sorely missed.
Old 04-04-13 | 11:45 PM
  #233  
Alan Smithee's Avatar
DVD Talk Reviewer & TOAT Winner
 
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,090
Received 457 Likes on 343 Posts
From: USA
re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation (1942-2013)

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/no8xNrEKJyU?list=PL6CD82015CB9644A7" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Old 04-05-13 | 12:02 AM
  #234  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 11,787
Received 375 Likes on 282 Posts
From: Seattle, WA
Re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation [Update: Dead]

Originally Posted by Osiris3657
Yea I saw that earlier in the thread, so professionally it was his last movie...but I'm hoping it's not the last movie he saw in general.
This article says his last submitted review was for Malick's To The Wonder, which he gave 3 1/2 stars. Despite the love/hate people have for Malick, I think we can all agree that's a much better one to go out on!

http://blogs.suntimes.com/scanners/2..._of_roger.html
Old 04-05-13 | 12:08 AM
  #235  
JumpCutz's Avatar
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 13,540
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
From: south of heaven
Re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation [Update: Dead]

Originally Posted by Hokeyboy
He became friends with my mother and sister after he and Chaz met them at a spa resort in Mexico in 2004. He INSISTED to my Mom that Spiderman 2 was THE must-see movie of the summer. She was incredulous. When they returned from Mexico and informed me about their new friendship with Roger, my jaw fucking hit the floor. Ebert was the reason I became a film nerd. He and Siskel got me into laserdiscs, widescreen, Kurosawa, Ozu, Welles, Almodovar... I can barely go on. He saved me from thinking the next great moment of cinema was the next Police Academy sequel. My love of cinema started with Siskel and Ebert. A lifelong debt that can hardly be repaid. RIP Roger. Fuckin ay, thank you man.
Good stuff Hokeyboy.
Old 04-05-13 | 12:59 AM
  #236  
JumpCutz's Avatar
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 13,540
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
From: south of heaven
re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation (1942-2013)

I'm a huge film critic fanboy.

Who out there among the current generation can stand with Kael, Sarris, Simon, Siskel, Ebert, Canby?

Anthony Lane and David Denby in THE NEW YORKER are still pretty damn good, but it is a dying art.


P.S.

Although Rex Reed is ridiculous nowadays, he was great fun to watch on the old Merv Griffin/Mike Douglas 70's talk shows.
Old 04-05-13 | 01:32 AM
  #237  
GoldenJCJ's Avatar
DVD Talk Hero
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 32,695
Received 4,815 Likes on 3,013 Posts
From: Colorado
re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation (1942-2013)

I've always enjoyed Michael Phillips and to a lesser extent Christy Lemire. On occasion I don't mind Elvis Mitchell as well.
Old 04-05-13 | 02:02 AM
  #238  
JumpCutz's Avatar
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 13,540
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
From: south of heaven
Re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation [Update: Dead]

Originally Posted by GoldenJCJ
I've always enjoyed Michael Phillips and to a lesser extent Christy Lemire. On occasion I don't mind Elvis Mitchell as well.
Michael Phillips. He's solid. Perhaps my favorite contemporary film critic.
Old 04-05-13 | 08:05 AM
  #239  
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,769
Received 706 Likes on 456 Posts
From: Galt's Gulch
re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation (1942-2013)

http://www.theonion.com/articles/rog...triumph,31945/
Old 04-05-13 | 11:17 AM
  #240  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 558
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
From: Chicago
re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation (1942-2013)

This is an article written by him in 2011 thinking about it.
http://www.salon.com/2011/09/15/roger_ebert/
Old 04-05-13 | 11:18 AM
  #241  
bluetoast's Avatar
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 11,880
Received 324 Likes on 244 Posts
re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation (1942-2013)

The good news is that The Host is not his last review, he had a few more in the pipeline, including To the Wonder.
Old 04-05-13 | 11:49 AM
  #242  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,284
Received 21 Likes on 9 Posts
From: San Diego
Re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation [Update: Dead]

Originally Posted by Mabuse
His work is the foundation of my interest and passion for film. His life proved that enthusiastic viewership can be something more than mindless fandom.
Mabuse Johnson is RIGHT!

(and frankly there are quite a lot of pertinent and poignant comments on this thread. A bit odd for a dvdtalk forum.)


RIP, I will miss mentally arguing with your comments.
Old 04-05-13 | 11:52 AM
  #243  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 19,461
Received 1,516 Likes on 1,016 Posts
From: Hamilton, Ontario
re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation (1942-2013)

Curious to know what his last official review was... and the last movie he watched was (they're necessarily the same movie).

It'd be nice for him to go out on a movie he enjoyed.
Old 04-05-13 | 12:21 PM
  #244  
Chrisedge's Avatar
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
 
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 7,568
Received 229 Likes on 129 Posts
From: Part of the Left-Wing Conspiracy
re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation (1942-2013)

I remember when Siskel and Ebert reviewed the Criterion Wizard of Oz Laserdisc, and I went out that week and bought it and a player. I still have all my Laserdiscs and often think back to those early days of really getting into owning movies.
Old 04-05-13 | 12:21 PM
  #245  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation (1942-2013)

I still remember complaining back in high school that just reading Roger Ebert's website was using up all the Internet hours I had on my dial-up plan.
Old 04-05-13 | 12:25 PM
  #246  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 18,526
Received 443 Likes on 313 Posts
From: Formerly known as Groucho AND Bandoman/Death Moans, Iowa
Re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation [Update: Dead]

Originally Posted by Coral
Curious to know what his last official review was... and the last movie he watched was (they're necessarily the same movie).

It'd be nice for him to go out on a movie he enjoyed.
His last review was The Host. Not exactly a high note.
Old 04-05-13 | 12:30 PM
  #247  
Dan's Avatar
Dan
DVD Talk Hero
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 29,251
Received 1,553 Likes on 1,109 Posts
From: The place beyond the pines
re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation (1942-2013)

^ it has already been stated that he had more reviews submitted that had not yet been posted. To The Wonder is definitely one of them... there may be more... but not many.
Old 04-05-13 | 12:41 PM
  #248  
Jack Straw's Avatar
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 5,208
Received 17 Likes on 13 Posts
From: So. Calif.
Re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation [Update: Dead]

Here's a clip from ABCNews from 1983 with Siskel and Ebert debating and defending Return of the Jedi with the nimrod on the right. S/E pretty much win the day!

<iframe id="kaltura_player_1365183545" height="221" width="392" style="border: 0px solid #ffffff;" src="http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/kwidget/wid/0_1ccs23e8/uiconf_id/3775332/st_cache/35778?referer=http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/critics-spar-over-star-wars-trilogy-on-1983-nightline-episode-18344732&autoPlay=false&addThis.playerSize=392x221&freeWheel.siteSectionId=nws_offsite&closedCaption Active=true&">Unfortunately your browser does not support IFrames.</iframe>

Last edited by Jack Straw; 04-05-13 at 12:47 PM.
Old 04-05-13 | 01:12 PM
  #249  
Jack Straw's Avatar
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 5,208
Received 17 Likes on 13 Posts
From: So. Calif.
Re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation [Update: Dead]

The infamous review of "North"

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KAAEFRVQU14?list=PL6CD82015CB9644A7" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Old 04-05-13 | 01:24 PM
  #250  
wishbone's Avatar
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,512
Likes: 0
Received 225 Likes on 158 Posts
Re: Roger Ebert – Discussion & Appreciation [Update: Dead]

Originally Posted by Jack Straw
The infamous review of "North"

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KAAEFRVQU14?list=PL6CD82015CB9644A7" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
At the time of its release, Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel considered this to be one of the worst films they'd ever reviewed. Ebert wrote, "I hated this movie. Hated hated hated hated hated this movie. Hated it. Hated every simpering stupid vacant audience-insulting moment of it. Hated the sensibility that thought anyone would like it. Hated the implied insult to the audience by its belief that anyone would be entertained by it." The pair later reviewed it on their television show, where Ebert went on to say that the movie made him "cringe... just sitting here thinking about it." Gene Siskel characterized it as "junk" and said that it made him feel "unclean." The clip of their review would go on to become a popular Internet meme associated with bad movie reviews. When Rob Reiner was roasted at the New York Friar's Club, Richard Belzer asked him to read Ebert's review, Reiner did so, then joked "if you read between the lines, [the review] isn't really that bad." Screenwriter Alan Zweibel keeps a clipping of the review in his wallet, sometimes reading it at public appearances. Ebert's review eventually became so notorious (arguably more so than the film itself) that he later released a collection of negative reviews titled "I Hated, Hated, Hated This Movie."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110687/trivia?ref_=tt_ft

I remember that moment during Rob Reiner's roast.


Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.