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Neville
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
Spain
1590 Posts |
 Posted - 12/01/2007 : 2:38:55 PM
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It sounds like an stinker, alright, but did you notice that the visitors actually rated the movie higher than Ebert? It would sound more convincing if they had rated it way lower than he did.
And now my two cents: As an European, I had never heard of Ebert until a few years ago. I read a few of his reviews and I inmediately understood why he's that popular. He can explain the appeal (or lack of) of a particular movie in just a few words using a style everybody can understand easily. And he also seems to have a good dose of common sense and patience in him.
But c'on, he's a human being, just like the rest of us. He obviously has his share of philias and phobias, and being as prolific as he is you can't expect him not to slip once in a while. I remember reading his review of The Texas Chainsaw Masacre remake. Man, that was completely out of the line. He behaved as if the movie had stolen the lunch money from his children.
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Sardu
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
1126 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2007 : 3:08:47 PM
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I always enjoy reading Ebert- just not until AFTER I see a film. I like comparing his take to mine. I do think he's one of the best film history writers. But as far as agreeing with him it's about a 50/50 coin toss. You just never can tell where he'll fall or why. I also found myself much more in line with Siskel as a critic.
BTW, if you think he went off on Chainsaw, track down his review of I Spit On Your Grave (probably under the original title Day Of The Woman.
"Meeting you makes me want to be a real noodle cook"
--Tampopo |
Edited by - Sardu on 12/01/2007 3:10:05 PM |
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R. Dittmar
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
420 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2007 : 4:38:18 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Neville
It sounds like an stinker, alright, but did you notice that the visitors actually rated the movie higher than Ebert? It would sound more convincing if they had rated it way lower than he did.
But remember, this movie has never been released in any format on home video - not laser disc, VHS, beta or DVD. The only people who have ever seen it were the poor sods who paid good money to see it in the theater back in the 70's. Take the opinion of these one-time deluded souls with a sizable grain of salt. |
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zombiewhacker
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
1475 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2007 : 11:34:03 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Sardu
I always enjoy reading Ebert- just not until AFTER I see a film. I like comparing his take to mine.
Agreed, especially since he's prone to giving away plot twists and spoilers about fifty percent of the time.
His worst movie review ever, ever, EV-UH hands-down has to be The Howling.
[url]http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19810101/REVIEWS/101010341/1023[/url]
This is a perfect example of where Ebert goes off on one of his inexplicable tangents. Was the original Howling a great movie? No. But it certainly is a well-crafted effort deserving of some respect, yet here Ebert displays none, blowing the movie off without even attempting a genuine review.
By comparison, he also panned Howling 2, but at least there he paid it the passing respect of actually, you know, reviewing it.
[url]http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19860407/REVIEWS/604070301/1023[/url]
What is it with this guy?
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Sardu
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
1126 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2007 : 11:42:16 AM
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Oh yeah- Ebert and the spoilers. Didn't even think about that but you are right.
"Meeting you makes me want to be a real noodle cook"
--Tampopo |
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Neville
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
Spain
1590 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2007 : 3:08:42 PM
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Speaking of Hitman, I've been silly enough to buy a ticket. Let's say it is not as bad as the first video-game adaptations (Street Fighter anyone?) but I don't think it will get any good reviews, unless film critics have a secret desire for dumbed down revisions of The Bourne Supremacy
Think of that movie with dumber dialogue, even more implausible action scenes and the worse posible choice as the main character and there you go. |
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Capt. Nemo
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
630 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2007 : 7:38:47 PM
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Hey Zombie!
Did you ever read his review of Wet Hot American Summer?
It continues the point you made about going off in to "tangents." Because in that piece, he wrote the review to the [url="http://artists.letssingit.com/alan-camp-granada-24nkqcq"]"Camp Granada"[/url] song. You know the one:
"Hello Mudda hello Fadda, "
"Here I am at Camp Granada."
When I first read it, I thought Ebert had gone Bat$&!# insane! Or at least the movie had made him that way.
Read it yourself....if you can.
[url="http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20010831/REVIEWS/108310303/1023"]Click Here to Read Ebert's Review of Wet Hot American Summer![/url]
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"Ward, the Beaver blew up the 7-11 again."
"I'll have a talk with him Dear" |
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zombiewhacker
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
1475 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2007 : 7:44:29 PM
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Thanks, Captain. I gave up after about two "stanzas". :)
Kinda makes me think Ebert is the direct opposite of the Indestructible Man: his vocal cords are still in working order, but something has definitely affected his brain.
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andy80
Diocesan Ecclesiarch of the Sacred Order of Jabootu
81 Posts |
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Flangepart
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
2329 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2007 : 4:30:13 PM
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And once more, I am reminded about why critics are not to be taken too sreiously.
A glibly expresseed opinion is still just an opinion.
And Foy, Ken, Nathan, Et al, prove you need not be a 'Pro' to be good.
I just picks 'em cause I like 'em, and agreese with 'em when I feel like it.
But in the end, I...yes I...am my own importand critic.
Nuff' said.
BTW...Siskel was my favorite.
And Slappy Squirrel showed 'em what for.
Marvin the Paranoid Android to Buzz Lightyear "Too infinity and beyond-i've been there, its rubbish!"
"Hoody Hoo, i waste 'em with my cross bow!" Bob Herzog- KODT
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Capt. Nemo
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
630 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2007 : 7:49:56 PM
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Andy,
In that case we are talking about flat out advocacy.
Ebert does take a stand on some issues. Usually when it relates to film or an artist who might need his help. The best example would be his article defending Michael Moore when Film Comment found out that Michael Moore had played fast and loose with the facts in “Roger and Me”. It’s gotten worse since he wrote about it, now people know that most of the families shown evicted were not even GM workers.
[url="http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19900211/COMMENTARY/22010306/1023"]Click here to Read Ebert’s defense of Michael Moore.[/url]
Ebert has on occasion tried personal attacks. The most famous was when a story circulated that Barbara Bush attended a diplomatic function in jeans. Roger went and used the story to flame the president. It was later revealed that the story was a hoax. With egg on his face, Ebert wrote a retraction. Unfortunately, you can’t find the flame piece or it’s retraction on the Sun Times website. So I assume the comentary pieces have been pulled. But copies of the flame piece are available on other websites. Unfortunately, the retraction is not.
[url="http://www.perturb.org/display/entry/321/"]Click here to Read Ebert’s Flame piece.[/url]
And Terra;
You want Nuance. YOU GOT NUANCE. I stumbled on this piece when I was looking for the “yob” story. It goes in to Ebert's thoughts on treatment of women under islamic regimes.
[url="http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19910106/COMMENTARY/11010304/1023"]Click Here to Read Ebert’s thoughts on Judging Cultures.[/url]
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"Ward, the Beaver blew up the 7-11 again."
"I'll have a talk with him Dear" |
Edited by - Capt. Nemo on 12/03/2007 7:59:38 PM |
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