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hbrennan
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
Philippines
1455 Posts |
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EFH
Minister of the Sacraments of Jabootu
27 Posts |
 Posted - 04/01/2008 : 10:13:11 PM
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| I can never figure the man out. At one moment he is a genius understanding everything that is to know about movie. Then he switches off. Very confusing. His list of worse films of all time contains both settings. Granted it is more of the former, but still. |
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RossM
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
427 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2008 : 10:21:33 PM
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| I always enjoy Roger's reviews. Often they are plain bizarre but they are always intelligent and insightful even when totally wrongheaded. |
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Neville
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
Spain
1590 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 03:21:23 AM
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I also like the guy. I rarely agree with his "marks", and I think the idea of giving marks to movies is very innacurate, but it's nice to see a fella that tries both to give some insight on everyday movies and keeps things simple enough so anybody can follow him.
I have a college degree, and despite this often I have trouble figuring out some film reviewers. Even if they liked the film or not.
Basically, when I read a review on a movie what I want to know it's what kind of film it wants to be, and if it succeeds. Not many reviewers bother to answer that. |
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Ken HPoJ
Supreme Potentate
USA
1530 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 07:22:54 AM
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I agree with EFH (and as a Chicagoland guy, I've been tracking Ebert a lot longer than most). There are times when he is literally perhaps the best film writer in the country, expressing cleanly and clearly and entertainingly deep insights into great films. Then one of his wires gets tripped (certain chicks he finds hot; politics) and all his critical acumen flies out that window.
Still, his struggle with all his medical problems has been inspiring. Here's hoping he's completely back on his feet soon.
PEGGY: I don't see how having a girl on the team would ruin it. Did a woman judge ruin the Supreme Court?
HANK: Yes, and that woman's name was Earl Warren.
--King of the Hill |
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Sardu
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
1126 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 09:12:59 AM
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I always find him fun to read- AFTER I see a movie. I like finding out how his take compared to mine because, as people have pointed out, there's no way to tell how the heck he'll feel about a movie which makes his opinions useless to me as far as actually deciding to see a film. Also, it protects against the major spoiler bombs he drops from time to time. Ebert's reviews are always a great read, positive or negative.
"Meeting you makes me want to be a real noodle cook"
--Tampopo |
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Ken HPoJ
Supreme Potentate
USA
1530 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 09:15:37 AM
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I never read a review before seeing a movie, exactly for that reason: I don't want to know what's going to happen before hand. Ebert, it must be said, hasn't exactly avoided blowing important plot details, especially when he doesn't particularly like a movie. (Which shouldn't have anything to do with it.) Like you, I'd rather read a review after seeing a film.
PEGGY: I don't see how having a girl on the team would ruin it. Did a woman judge ruin the Supreme Court?
HANK: Yes, and that woman's name was Earl Warren.
--King of the Hill |
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Ericb
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
648 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 09:48:41 AM
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I remember Ebert getting pissed at Siskel when Sickel outed the twist of The Crying Game on their show.
"I reserve the right to look as well as be boring." - Robert Fripp |
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Ken HPoJ
Supreme Potentate
USA
1530 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 09:55:52 AM
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Well, yeah, that would be a biggie. Like I said, though, Ebert's not exactly spotless on that topic either. In fact, he blows stuff like crazy. I don't like other people assuming they know what won't blow a movie for me.
PEGGY: I don't see how having a girl on the team would ruin it. Did a woman judge ruin the Supreme Court?
HANK: Yes, and that woman's name was Earl Warren.
--King of the Hill |
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zombiewhacker
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
1475 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 12:45:37 PM
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| The reason why film critics blow plot twists and spoilers has to do with the need for adulation. It's not enough for a viewer to say, "What a great plot twist: Keyser Soze turns out to be Norman Bates' sled!" The Eberts of the world want to you say: "Boy, Roger was right, what a great plot twist: Keyser Soze... yada yada." Then the critic will get added credit for being so smart, clever, and perceptive. |
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twitterpate
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
Canada
1026 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2008 : 3:07:09 PM
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I think that's a little unfair. I think Ebert tries to take a critical, or rather scholarly, approach to his reviews, looking at the meaning of the work as a whole. Unfortunately, that way of describing a movie doesn't always work when you are also trying to conceal plot twists from an audience who have little familiarity with the work in question. It would be hard, for example, to write a critical review of the novel Moby Dick without discussing the signficance of Ahab's death (and the death of all but one of the crew) at the end.
Er, I hope I didn't spoil things for anyone.... |
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hbrennan
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
Philippines
1455 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2008 : 3:17:06 PM
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Thanks, twitterpate. Next, you'll be telling me the identity of "Rosebud", I guess.
"...yet it hadn't destroyed his brain."
re: Charles "The Butcher" Benton (1956)
http://www.henrybrennan.com/
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Sardu
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
1126 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2008 : 3:18:24 PM
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Ebert's spoilers are in fact generally necessary and relevant to his reviews. No problem there. My gripe is that he tends to have a real problem (or has in the past at any rate) warning you that they're coming up. I don't think he can bring himself to suggest that you might want to skip part of the review...
"Meeting you makes me want to be a real noodle cook"
--Tampopo |
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kennyblankenchip
Altar Boy of Jabootu
USA
9 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 11:13:46 AM
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| I am also glad to see Ebert back in the saddle as it were. i may not always agree with his picks but he does seem to have talent in knowing how movies are made. |
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