Roger Ebert: In memoriam

Yesterday saw the tragic passing of renowned and award-winning film critic Roger Ebert, whose name was as equally recognizable and known as the many stars and directors he praised or criticized in his reviews of classic and modern films. A film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death, Ebert's name was synonymous with Hollywood the film industry, and a bad review from him could easily destroy a film's prospects at the box office.

Though he was occasionally charged with 'snobbery' or 'elitism' by numerous people -- many of whom were "coincidentally" the directors or actors of the films Ebert bashed -- the truth is that Ebert's "snobbery" was just a passion for really well-made films. Despite his use of humor in his reviews, it was obvious from the manner and way that Ebert wrote in his column that he felt passionately about the art of cinema, and his Pulitzer Prize and other awards attests to the fact that many others believed in the sincerity and quality of his writing.

Though mourners and admirers across the country have spoke of Ebert's impeccable qualifications and his genuine love of classic and foreign cinema, few people seem interested in or focusing on the fact that Ebert was, in addition to being a competent critic, a pretty damn funny guy. When it came to awful or terrible movies, few critics could tear the director or actors a new one like Ebert, his caustic reviews a mixture of rabid hatred, morbid sarcasm and dry wit. For those who have never had the pleasure of reading one of Ebert's 'no star' or 'one star' reviews, check out a few samples below:

I hated ['North' (1994)]. Hated, hated, hated, hated, hated this movie. Hated it. Hated every simpering stupid vacant audience-insulting moment of it. Hated the sensibility that thought anyone would like it. Hated the implied insult to the audience by its belief that anyone would be entertained by it.

'Battlefield Earth' (2000) is like taking a bus trip with someone who has needed a bath for a long time. It's not merely bad; it's unpleasant in a hostile way. ... Some movies run off the rails. This one is like the train crash in The Fugitive. I watched it in mounting gloom, realizing I was witnessing something historic, a film that for decades to come will be the punch line of jokes about bad movies.

I had a colonoscopy once, and they let me watch it on TV. It was more entertaining than 'The Brown Bunny' (2003).

'Troy' (2004) is based on the epic poem "The Iliad" by Homer, according to the credits. Homer's estate should sue.

You could probably spend a whole afternoon reading these, and you probably should too since they're all pretty funny. Although his reviews for "four-star" and "three-star" films are equally well-written, succinct, and admirable, they lack the acerbic and sardonic wit that make his "no/one star" reviews so much fun. Humor is not an aspect typically associated with the art of analysis and criticism, but the late Roger Ebert proved that one could offer insight and reviews of films while also maintaining a sense of humor.

Though the cinematic world might never be the same with his absence, Ebert's reviews and witty critical analysis shall live on in books and on the web where, hopefully, younger generations will discover them and maybe understand what makes a good movie a "classic" and what makes a bad worth worthy of scorn.

Find the nearest Blockbuster near your home so you can rent these films almost immediately. Or, if you prefer that movies came to you instead, set up a Netflix account and start your ordering as soon as possible.