# What is your favorite Roger Ebert review? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 15, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202 "2014-04-15T20:15:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/41 "2014-04-17T15:53:59Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > (Bolding mine) > > I’m sorry, did you just…say “good riddance” to Roger Ebert’s unfortunate, horrifying, long term battle with Thyroid Cancer, to which he finally succumbed, because he didn’t treat video games as art? I don’t recall you being so despicable. > [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Agreed. I vehemently disagreed with Ebert’s perceptions of video games, having been reduced to tears on more than one occasion by various video games over the years (including the end of Gone Home), but no fucking way would I cheer on his demise over such a slight. How about: I wish Roger had lived long enough to see how fucking wrong he was about video games. 🆒 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/42 "2014-04-17T15:59:40Z")
I agree completely with Roger about video games. Guess I’ll be having cancer wished on me, but there it is. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/43 "2014-04-17T16:03:46Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Ebert was a man who couldn’t see art when it was right in front of his face, if it happened to be in the form of a video game, and he almost couldn’t even bring himself to admit that someday, somewhere far in the future, a video game may one day approach being art. Good riddance to him. Thus, my favorite review of his was when he tried a few games that were presented as art to him, and he bashed them all cluelessly, putting his bias and irrational opinions out in the open for everyone to see. So everyone who doesn’t share your view of video games should die? ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/44 "2014-04-17T16:52:47Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I couldn’t possibly pick my favorite Ebert review. But I do have my favorite Ebert quotes: > > “No good movie is too long and no bad movie is short enough.” > > and > > "It’s not what a movie is about, it’s how it is about it.” I love those as well. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/45 "2014-04-17T17:10:51Z")
I didn’t even know that Ebert even HAD an opinion on video games… Who thought of the idea of asking a movie review about video games? Don’t get me wrong, I love video games and think they’re as cinematic as ever, but they aren’t movies…they’re video games. Who thoughts “oh man the story in this game is good, lets ask a movie review about it” ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/46 "2014-04-17T17:16:31Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I didn’t even know that Ebert even HAD an opinion on video games… > > Who thought of the idea of asking a movie review about video games? Don’t get me wrong, I love video games and think they’re as cinematic as ever, but they aren’t movies…they’re video games. Who thoughts “oh man the story in this game is good, lets ask a movie review about it” The jumping-off point was him giving a one-star review to the movie adaptation of _Doom_ (2005). Not content slag the horrible movie, he stated that he didn’t think video games were, nor ever could be, an art form on the same level as film, books, or music. He wrote a longer follow-up in 2010 (hosted on his site) in which he reiterated that position. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/47 "2014-04-17T17:33:58Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > The jumping-off point was him giving a one-star review to the movie adaptation of _Doom_ (2005). Not content slag the horrible movie, he stated that he didn’t think video games were, nor ever could be, an art form on the same level as film, books, or music. > > He wrote a longer follow-up in 2010 (hosted on his site) in which he reiterated that position. All I can say is, since I started playing Second Life, all books and movies have been just pale shadows by comparison. Perhaps Ebert at some level understood that this might be the case, causing a strong averse reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/48 "2014-04-17T21:15:58Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > All I can say is, since I started playing Second Life, all books and movies have been just pale shadows by comparison. Perhaps Ebert at some level understood that this might be the case, causing a strong averse reaction. Yeah, but your idea of an art book is the illustrated version of _Slave Girls of Gor_. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/49 "2014-04-17T21:53:07Z")
Not a review, but Ebert’s response to an Answer Man question about **John Carpenter’s Vampires** : > [@](#): > > Q. I recently saw “John Carpenter’s Vampires” and have to admit that I enjoyed it. However, I felt the film had a strong misogynist tone that made me a bit queasy. I refer to Daniel Baldwin’s constant slapping around of Sheryl Lee’s character. I’m not a diehard feminist, but I was pretty offended. > > A. It all depends on how you look at it. He treated her very badly if she was a woman, but she got what she deserved if she was a vampire. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/50 "2014-04-17T22:04:12Z")
> [@Dave\_Hartwick](#): > > Yeah, but your idea of an art book is the illustrated version of _Slave Girls of Gor_. Moot point. Besides, younger people are largely like me: few have any interest in television or movies or books, they’re into gaming. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/51 "2014-04-17T22:08:08Z")
> [@Dave\_Hartwick](#): > > Yeah, but your idea of an art book is the illustrated version of _Slave Girls of Gor_. This is really off-topic. Let’s stick to Ebert and reviews, please. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/52 "2014-04-17T22:11:41Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Not a review, but Ebert’s response to an Answer Man question about **John Carpenter’s Vampires** : I don’t know exactly what point you intended to make here, but yeah, Sheryl Lee’s character is a woman who has been kidnapped by Baldwin’s character (along with James Woods’ character) since getting bitten, and who hasn’t had the chance to bite anyone, so she’s a definite innocent here. That plot point apparently didn’t register with Ebert when he wrote that answer … or he didn’t catch it when he saw the movie. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/53 "2014-04-17T22:12:25Z")
How about “Pink Flamingos”? He’s right; how DO you rate a movie like this? > **[Pink Flamingos movie review & film summary (1997) | Roger Ebert](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/pink-flamingos-1997)** > > John Waters' “Pink Flamingos” has been restored for its 25th > anniversary revival, and with any luck at all that means I won't have to see it > again for another 25 years. If I haven't retired by then, I will. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/54 "2014-04-17T23:18:54Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Moot point. Besides, younger people are largely like me: few have any interest in television or movies or books, they’re into gaming. I’m one of the biggest gamers on this board and I have to say, this statement is idiotic. Young are hugely into books, movies, and TV. Or do you think the only people who watch/read Game of Thrones and The Hungers are over 40? > [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > I don’t know exactly what point you intended to make here, but yeah, Sheryl Lee’s character is a woman who has been kidnapped by Baldwin’s character (along with James Woods’ character) since getting bitten, and who hasn’t had the chance to bite anyone, so she’s a definite innocent here. That plot point apparently didn’t register with Ebert when he wrote that answer … or he didn’t catch it when he saw the movie. Why do I need a larger point in a thread asking for your favorite Ebert quotes? I like that quote. What more do I need? And you’re wrong about the movie, Sheryl Lee’s character is clearly infected at that point and Daniel Baldwin only starts smacking her around after she tries to bite his face off. It’s an answer that cuts through all the bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/55 "2014-04-18T01:48:00Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I have a much higher opinion of Ebert than **Stranger On A Train** does, and even joined the “Ebert Club”; but I do have to admit he constantly got elements of plot wrong. I had never before heard that it was because of actually leaving the screening room though. It seemed that every single Ebert review I read had at least one error. It was astonishing, and I began to assume that he did it deliberately. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/56 "2014-04-18T02:07:48Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > It seemed that every single Ebert review I read had at least one error. It was astonishing, and I began to assume that he did it deliberately. I think at this point, we need another thread just for this. I’ll make one. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/57 "2014-04-18T02:35:39Z")
I always had a particular fondness for his review of [Alien Resurrection](http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/alien-resurrection-1997S): > [@](#): > > Like the bugs in “Starship Troopers,” these aliens are an example of specialization. They have evolved over the eons into creatures adapted for one purpose only: To star in horror movies. As for his non-movie reviews, I think his critique of [Sarah Palin](http://www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/sarah-palin-the-american-idol-candidate) was rather trenchant, but (IMO) quite astute. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/58 "2014-04-18T08:37:40Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > I always had a particular fondness for his review of [Alien Resurrection](http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/alien-resurrection-1997S) I like that review too. I like this bit in particular, and I think it’s an example of Ebert’s eye for science fiction and flair for language: > [@](#): > > Ripley’s genes are all right, too: They allow her reconstituted form to retain all of her old memories, as if cookie dough could remember what a gingerbread man looked like. However, your link didn’t work for me. I found the review at [http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/alien-resurrection-1997](http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/alien-resurrection-1997) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/59 "2014-04-20T15:40:39Z")
He may be dead a year now, but we’re still seeking out films he’s unearthed. Tonight the wife and I watched a little Chinese gem called _Postmen in the Mountains_ that we never would have known about had it not been for Ebert. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202/60 "2014-04-20T15:54:04Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > As for his non-movie reviews, I think his critique of [Sarah Palin](http://www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/sarah-palin-the-american-idol-candidate) was rather trenchant, but (IMO) quite astute. That piece sounds like it was written prior to the 2008 election but the dateline is April 2, 2010. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-roger-ebert-review/686202.md?page=4)