Roger Ebert

          Saturdays as a kid I would sit in my parents bedroom and at about 5:30 then, I would watch
“Sneak Previews” with Siskel & Ebert on channel 13. As the pair would bicker and banter on films that I wanted to see. And I could really care less what their opinions were at that point I just wanted to see the scenes from the movies I wanted to see. As I got a bit older, I'd sneak off to the movies alone or go a group of us would get together to see films and I'd still anticipate watching the Chicago critics give me their opinion on John Hughes classics "The Breakfast Club", "Weird Science". Or low budget fare like "Savage Streets", "Tuff Turf" or "Return of the Living Dead". Despite the critics bashing or liking the films, they both had my attention as they would off rip into one another when they disagreed and when they went to a break, I often wondered if they strangled the shit out of each other.

And the concept of them sitting in the balcony may remind many of "Sneaking in the movies" through the balcony. It was usually those types that talked to the screen.. I also many other critics trying to copy their style with the movie theatre set piece as it were theirs. HA!

 Anyhow, it saddened me when Gene Siskel passed away in 99 as it would break up the iconic duo as it also placed thoughts as what would happen when Roger Ebert would pass. And now that time has happened before my eyes. When he first got sick years ago, those thoughts come to mind again as a constant reminder that life and time is precious. Roger did introduce the world to film critic Richard Roeper whom is quite funny and I can only hope that he carries the torch 20 times over.

              It also saddened me that Roger's attempt to revive "At the Movies" didn't do as well. I personally thought it was the team of critics he put together didn't work. They should've gone with a revolving team of different critics with some high profile celebs like they did years back when Roeper was holding down the fort... Even call on some acting icons to review films (Hoffman, Nicholson, Duvall, Costner, Loren)...

As this new generation is issued in where people aren't really relying on critics for their decisions now is the time to reboot the concept of the film critic.

Love and Light to the icon Roger Ebert.