What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

[Killer Meteor]

Well, I got who Ebert was as I knew him from the CInemania cd-rom. I was also naive enough to think that was the real guy in Godzilla lol.

[Markgway]

Had no idea those guys went back to 1975.

I'll check out a few shows and post some comments.

Haven't seen Carnosaur, but Cop and a Half is crap.

[Markgway]

Officer Down (2012-USA) **
A corrupt cop seeks redemption after an almost fatal shooting.
Murky crime thriller; intriguing, but repetitive, muddled, and pretentious.
Bad Lieutenant-lite.

[RetroRobot]

Cop and a Half is crap.

Gene, is that you..... from the beyond?

[Killer Meteor]

Had no idea those guys went back to 1975.

I'll check out a few shows and post some comments.

Haven't seen Carnosaur, but Cop and a Half is crap.

I've never seen the film, but the novel of Carnosaur is a great tacky read in the vein of James Herbert and Guy N. Smith. It even has a dilophosaurus before Jurassic Park did!

[RetroRobot]

Carnosaur is straight trash can material, and so was Cop and a Half. Though that could at the very least be enjoyed by young ones, and as Ebert said, the child actor is not too bad, as far as child actors go. I didn't wanna jump into the screen and kill him, which is usually my response to Hollywood kid actors. Jurassic Park is a good example. I hated those kids, and they ruined the entire movie for me.

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

Carnosaur is straight trash can material, and so was Cop and a Half. Though that could at the very least be enjoyed by young ones, and as Ebert said, the child actor is not too bad, as far as child actors go. I didn't wanna jump into the screen and kill him, which is usually my response to Hollywood kid actors. Jurassic Park is a good example. I hated those kids, and they ruined the entire movie for me.

I don't think you can get much worse than the kid in The Tin Drum. This film is heralded by many critics (though read Ebert's review on what he thinks of it.)

I'm not sure why so many films have kids with mop haircuts. I almost never see them in real life. But yes whenever I see a kid with that haircut it reminds me that I'm probably in for some annoying scenes (Last Action Hero, Liar Liar).

[grim_tales]

Carnosaur is straight trash can material, and so was Cop and a Half. Though that could at the very least be enjoyed by young ones, and as Ebert said, the child actor is not too bad, as far as child actors go. I didn't wanna jump into the screen and kill him, which is usually my response to Hollywood kid actors. Jurassic Park is a good example. I hated those kids, and they ruined the entire movie for me.

I don't think you can get much worse than the kid in The Tin Drum. This film is heralded by many critics (though read Ebert's review on what he thinks of it.)

I'm not sure why so many films have kids with mop haircuts. I almost never see them in real life. But yes whenever I see a kid with that haircut it reminds me that I'm probably in for some annoying scenes (Last Action Hero, Liar Liar, Big Daddy).

BIB (Kid starts crying)
Adam Sandler (Very Loudly): Aw, HORSESHIT! (quietly): Aw no, not you... WILL SOMEBODY GET THIS KID A HAPPY MEAL?!?

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

...BIB (Kid starts crying)
Adam Sandler (Very Loudly): Aw, HORSESHIT! (quietly): Aw no, not you... WILL SOMEBODY GET THIS KID A HAPPY MEAL?!?

Yes, I've seen the films several times (as well as Liar, Liar). As I was thinking, technically that kid does not have a mop top -- but he is annoying.

[RetroRobot]

Though not as annoying as Rob Schneider.... but few things are.

[Markgway]

Watched a few of the early 80s Siskel & Eberts.

Hard to take seriously critics who give Rocky III and Psycho II thumbs down!

[RetroRobot]

Can't speak on Psycho II, but they certainly missed the boat on Rocky III. It's like they didn't even get the basic themes of it. One of their worst reviews for sure. Not cuz they didn't like it, and I do, but they didn't understand its premise, which is kinda embarrassing. There are other instances where one or both of them really miss the point, like Casino etc.

[Markgway]

The weirdest thing for me was when Ebert said Rocky III was a retread, but then praised Rocky II, and Siskel agreed. Rocky II is a retread of Rocky I, but with a better end fight. Rocky III is quite different to both. The characters have changed (Rocky is now slick and confident, Adrian glamorous and confident), their circumstances have changed (now wealthy and on top, as opposed to in the gutter), and the themes have changed (losing one's hunger, fear of inner demons). Retread, my arse!

[RetroRobot]

Hence why I said they totally misread the film, or weren't paying attention. Funnily enough, they both like part IV as I recall, which of course they should, as it is awesome. But if you dont like III, what are the chances you like IV??? Perplexing!

[Killer Meteor]

One thing that was always odd to me was that Ebert went on a moral crusade against the Friday the 13th series, but he had no problem years before with Last House on the Left. And, of course, he wrote Beyond the Valley of the Dolls!

[RetroRobot]

They were both unfairly harsh on the horror/slasher genre, if you ask me. At least in the early years. They moderated their bias somewhat with time.

[Markgway]

Death Wish (1974-USA) ***
Michael Winner's smart, potent vigilante-drama put Charlie Bronson on the A-list.

Last Man Standing (1996-USA) **½
Walter Hill's decent reimagining of Yojimbo as a 30s gangster western; Willis is on cool form.

[RetroRobot]

Could barely make it through Last Man Standing back in '96, and haven't been able to since. It's just so boring... and brown.

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

.... And, of course, he wrote Beyond the Valley of the Dolls!

Has anyone seen this film here? It is rated NC-17 but honestly I am not sure why. I've seen many worse R films (in both terms of nudity and violence). It has a reputation as being out there, but other than the "twist" at the end (I didn't need to see that) it is not particularly over-the-top. Some of the dialog is decent (though dated which makes it an interesting time capsule) and was referenced in Austin Powers to Ebert's delight.

Casino, a film I liked, but Sharon's Stone performance was a bit too much screaming for me.

I liked horror, but I find slasher films a bit repetitive and for me among the worst of that genre. Too much deals with the people being complete idiots setting up for a slaughter. If a film tends to delve into overt misanthropy I tend to dislike (or wish to eschew completely; this doubles for misogyny as well.)

[RetroRobot]

Saw Beyond the Valley of the dolls a long time ago. Don't remember much, but it was positively tame compared to most of Meyer's other films. Ebert also co-wrote the much racier UP! and Beneath the Valley of the Ultra Vixens, so whenever he would talk about films with sleaze and smut of a sexual nature, I just smile.

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

Saw Beyond the Valley of the dolls a long time ago. Don't remember much, but it was positively tame compared to most of Meyer's other films. Ebert also co-wrote the much racier UP! and Beneath the Valley of the Ultra Vixens, so whenever he would talk about films with sleaze and smut of a sexual nature, I just smile.

He has liked films like Emmanuel and I think has a soft spot for a particular type of smut, especially if it is European. He tends to take some of Meyer's views on sexuality (Meyer's did not like porn for example). I agree with both Ebert and Siskel's view on not putting children in certain type of material (another example for The Tin Drum, though for me that film has several other issues as well.)

But to be fair to Ebert I feel that any critic who has a vast amount of reviews out there is going to have a certain amount of material that contradicts other material, was maybe written hastily, maybe written on a bad day or is so idiosyncratic that borders on insanity (points to Armond White.) It's just the nature of the job. I have not written enough, but I have already found some angry readers with some of my essays.

[Markgway]

Pan's Labyrinth (2006-Spain-Mexico-USA) ***
Unique adult fairy-tale from Guillermo del Toro.
Extremely well-made, but the juxtaposition of childish fantasy and civil war brutality is most jarring.
Striking pure cinema, though not the masterpiece some critics would suggest.

Flash Gordon (1980-USA-UK) **
Ultra-camp, cartoonish comedy version of the old 30s comic strip. The director has no clue how to shoot an action sequence, whilst the special effects are distinctly unspecial. Most of what little fun there is comes from watching an oddly assembled cast spout heinous dialogue.

Haunted Honeymoon (1986-USA) *½
Doomed attempt to recapture the spooky humour of those old dark house comedies that Bob Hope made his own. I like Gene Wilder, but I couldn't even recommend this to fans. Chronic stuff.

[Markgway]

Tough Guys (1986-USA) **
A pair of aged gangsters released after a 30-year stretch struggle to adapt to 80s life.
Disappointing reunion vehicle for two golden age greats - Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster. Kirk in particular is fun to watch, but poor material lets them down.

[RetroRobot]

I love that movie.... but I guess that doesn't surprise you

[Markgway]

Frozen (2009-USA) **½
Well-made thriller manages to be horrific without resorting to excess gore.

Cedar Rapids (2011-USA) **½
Predictable indie dramedy given boost by flamboyantly funny performance from John C. Reilly.
Unfortunately, film is also another in a long line of recent Hollywood movies which make hard drug use (cocaine, crystal meth) seem like harmless fun.