Siskel and Ebert: Difference between revisions

{{quote|''"That's next week, and until then, the balcony is closed."''}}

 

 

Occasionally, they would devote an entire episode to one issue in film: Their stance against colorization, against fullscreen cropping of widescreen films (and vice versa when it came to older [[Disney]] animated films), trends they noticed in film (such as directors influenced by [[Quentin Tarantino]]) and spotlights on whom they considered rising stars or directors. They even spent an entire episode analyzing who had the better filmography: [[Woody Allen]] or [[Mel Brooks]]? Most notable, however, were the annual "Memo to the Academy" (where Siskel and Ebert recommend what they think should be nominated for Oscars) and the "Best of" and "Worst of" the year lists, the latter of which were quite entertaining as they got to trash the bad films one last time.

'''Ebert''': [[Deadpan Snarker|That would be a start...]] }}

::As mentioned in the intro paragraphs, Siskel and Ebert were against colorization and cropping movies, and rallied against it whenever it was appropriate.

{{quote|'''Siskel''': I liked Connery, and everyone else has been ''nothing'' compared to him.}}

* [[Blind Without'Em]]: In their review of the live action ''[[Mr. Magoo]]'', Ebert readily admits that he's as nearsighted as they come, but was never offended by Mr. Magoo, and certainly didn't think the disclaimer at the end of the film (which defended nearsighted and blind people) was necessary.

* [[Critical Dissonance]]: Invoked. Some examples of films which grossed high numbers despite the duo's score of "two thumbs down": ''[[The Flintstones]]'' (1994), ''[[Home Alone]]'' 1 and 2, ''[[Jumanji]]'', ''[[Independence Day]]'', ''The Lost World: [[Jurassic Park]]'', ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'', and ''[[Ghostbusters]] 2''.

* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: Both Siskel and Ebert could fall into this at times. An example:

'''Siskel''': I've thought about that, too. }}

** Another example, from their review of ''[[Teen Wolf (film)|Teen Wolf]]'' Too, when Ebert said it was a worse film than ''Date With an Angel'' because it didn't have someone like Emmanuelle Béart in it:

* [[8.8]]: Invoked. Certain films received thumbs down from one or both, despite getting rave reviews from many others. Examples:

** Ebert gave ''[[Die Hard]]'' a thumbs down. It holds a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. He thought there were too many plot holes and hated the belligerent authority figures.

** While he didn't exactly hate it, Ebert gave a marginal thumbs down to ''[[Full Metal Jacket]]'', claiming it wasn't on par with Stanley Kubrick's earlier work and finding the second half of the film a letdown. The film has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

** Ebert also didn't care for ''[[Blue Velvet]]'', which holds a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. He admired the filmmaking, but hated being jerked around by having deadly serious scenes immediately cut to something cheerfully ironic.

* [[Finger Wag]]: Films that were [[Not Screened for Critics]] got the Wagging Finger of Shame. This rating was short-lived, however; it only lasted a year before Ebert abandoned it, claiming that it wasn't really stopping studios from withholding their movies from critics.

* [[Finish Dialogue in Unison]]: In their review of ''Over the Top'' (1987), Siskel and Ebert both said "the strap" at the same time. [[Crowning Moment of Funny|Twice]].

* [[Guest Host]]: Tom Shales filled in for Gene Siskel when he went in for brain surgery in 1999. After Siskel died, Ebert tried numerous other guest hosts in 1999 until finally deciding on Richard Roeper in 2000 as permanent replacement co-host.

* [[Guilty Pleasures]]: Ebert has been known to give certain movies thumbs up, even if he admits they're ridiculous and/or not as good of quality as other films. Examples: [[Congo]], [[Gamera]]: Guardian of the Universe.

* [[It Is Pronounced "Tro-PAY"]]: Siskel incorrectly pronounced ''[[Super Mario Bros. (film)|Super Mario Bros]]'' and Super "Meh-ree-yoh" Brothers in their review of the 1993 film.

* [[Keep Circulating the Tapes]]: Due to their timely nature, reruns of Siskel and Ebert usually aren't aired on TV except occasionally their special topic episodes, and while most every review was previously available on Buena Vista's website, they were removed in 2010 when "At the Movies" was canceled. Due to both of these factors, ''Siskel and Ebert'' will never come to DVD.

* [[Like an Old Married Couple]]: Their arguments could fall into this quite often; the two had been paired together so long that they knew what made the other tick and jumped on that. And while they did argue, they also kidded each other just as much.

* [[Limited Wardrobe]]: Throughout the entire run, the typical outfit for both Siskel and Ebert was a blazer with a turtleneck underneath. However, there have been exceptions: Both have worn tuxedos for some of their "Best of" shows, and Ebert wore a suit and tie for his Gene Siskel tribute episode. Perhaps the biggest aversion occurred in a special 1994 episode "Sunny Side of the Screen", where they both wore blazers with hawaiian shirts underneath.

* [["On the Next..."]]: Before the closing catchphrase, each episode featured Siskel or Ebert saying what they'd review on the next show.

* [[Promotional Consideration]]: The sponsors varied, but two companies that often appeared in the "Promotional Consideration" slide were Nestle and Jelly Belly Jelly Beans.

{{quote|'''Ebert''': I ''hated'' this movie! Hated, hated, hated, hated, ''hated'' this movie! ''Hated'' it! Hated every stupid simpering vacant audience-insulting moment of it!}}

* [["The Reason You Suck" Speech]]: In their "Worst of 1995" show, Siskel and Ebert criticized the parents who took their kids to see ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (film)|Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]'', when they could've taken them to better family movies instead.

 

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[[Category:TV Series]]