Everyone's a Critic, But There Was Only One Roger

The kids today don't know how good they got it.  There's some yahoo on every website (yours truly included), cable channel, podcast, you name it spouting off to give their review of some movie.  All of them profess to know what they're talking about.  But in our day, there two cats that set the standard for movie reviews:  Siskel and Ebert.  First Siskel passed years ago leaving just one of the legendary duo.  But no more.

Renown film critic Roger Ebert passed away today just two days after announcing his cancer had returned.  He was 70-years-old.

I will never forget that Saturday night line-up that prominently featured the "Siskel & Ebert at the Movies" followed promptly by "The Muppet Show".  I probably started watching it just because it was the lead-in to "The Muppets".  But then I started watching it more when I realized that they were talking about hot movies coming out that I wanted to see.  It didn't matter that I had no clue who these older cats were.

Naturally, I always didn't see eye-to-eye with Siskel on some of his reviews.  He seemed to have a penchant for classic Hollywood.  Didn't seem to care too much for the popcorn fluff that kids my age wanted to see.  That was to be expected though.  Nevertheless, I always appreciated his honest approach towards every review.  More than that, even though I may not have appreciated some of the flicks he revered back then, I learned to as I grew older.

Siskel & Ebert quickly became the standard for movie reviews.  Anyone could do it, but no one would ever have the same pop culture impact that those two did.  Name one famous film critic that's around now?  You can't.  If you can, it's someone that only a select few have heard of.  Not with Siskel & Ebert.  Millions new them by their name only.  We knew them better than we knew most of the movies that were out.  And they definitely had a much more lasting impression.

As the internet started getting more and more momentum, things begin to shift drastically.  Siskel ended up getting  brain tumor and dying in 1999.  Some guy tried to replace him on the show but didn't have near the same chemistry with Roger. Not to mention that by that time there were so many more channels and viewing options that their show wasn't as effective as it used to be.  It was clear the writing was on the wall for Ebert.  It's a good thing he always had his writing to fall back on though.

I still remember when I first saw how different Ebert looked after he lost his voice and even his jaw from battling thyroid and salivary gland cancer.  I didn't think he would have much longer after that. But he managed to hang on.  All the time remaining in good spirits.  Still, we all knew that it was only a matter of time.  Cancer is just a little punk like that.  It took his voice and took him, but it will never take away the memories that we have of Roger and his entertaining movie reviews.  He will always be thumbs up with me.

Rest in peace, Mr. Ebert.