[imagic]

The most famous movie critic this nation has ever known died today at age 70. Roger Ebert finally succumbed to the cancer he battled for the last decade. His advocacy for quality cinema was his brand; in a career that spanned over 46 years in print and 31 years on television, Roger Ebert became a trusted household name. He never shied away from expressing his views; his dedication to cinema was so absolute, even when stricken with grave illness he persisted in his writing. He will be missed by his many fans.

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Ebert, 70, who reviewed movies for the Chicago Sun-Times for 46 years and on TV for 31 years, and who was without question the nation’s most prominent and influential film critic, died Thursday in Chicago. He had been in poor health over the past decade, battling cancers of the thyroid and salivary gland.

Quote:
Ebert reviewed as many as 285 movies a year, after he grew ill scheduling his cancer surgeries around the release of important pictures.

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Ebert was both widely popular and professionally respected. He not only won a Pulitzer Prize — the first film critic to do so -- but his name was added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005, among the movie stars he wrote about so well for so long. His reviews were syndicated in hundreds of newspapers worldwide.

source: Chicago Sun-Times

 

[RobertR]

RIP, even though I lost interest in his movie reviews years ago.

 

[TimV]

RIP


I remember watching "Sneak Previews" on PBS with my dad when I was a kid in the late '70s and early '80s. Later, we would watch "At The Movies." It was always cool to get a look at upcoming films.

 

[mylan]

And now he rejoins Siskel in that great balcony in the sky, R.I.P. to a great movie institution...even if I didn't always agree with him.

 

[BornSlippyZ]

I grew up watching Ebert and Siskel (sp?) back in the day...Sad that he lost his battle to cancer. RIP

 

[PcGeek626]

yup, i'll miss reading his reviews. I also use to watch that show back in the day

 

[Scott Wilkinson]


I interviewed Roger Ebert for the inaugural issue of Home Theater Technology, which later became Home Theater magazine. As I recall, he was a delightful interview. We disagreed about 3D—he hated it, I enjoy it, at least when it's done well—but I greatly respected him as a movie reviewer.

 

[John dhein]

Good Night , Roger. Sleep well.

 

[comfynumb]

RIP

 

[moviegeek]

I enjoyed watching "at the movies" back in the 80's, he and Gene Siskel can now talk about movies all the time.

 

[stepyourgameup]

RIP


I can't help but to think about when Chris Farley did a parody of him on SNL. Kevin Nealon played Siskel and they were reviewing gay porn movies. Classic.

 

[David Bott]

He had been though a lot that was for sure, but always the fighter and loved what we love, the joy of being able to be caught up in moving pictures. (I say that even though I know it is not how it is done today...but out of respect.)


RIP Robert...I for one surely enjoyed what you did for us in your reviews as well as showing how not to give up and to always press on.


Respectfully,

 

[JoeBlow74]



Those two guys always reminded me of Statler and Waldorf from The Muppet Show. Enjoy the video.

 

[Kimeran]

RIP


Like many have stated, I hardly agreed with his ratings that he gave to movies. But people come from all walks of life and have different views on everything from politics to religion to even how to tie one's shoes.


May he rest in peace.

 

[woody79]

You could bet if he gave it a thumbs it was gonna be a good movie! He was rarely ever wrong.

 

[THANKGOD4PLASMA]

Farewell to a film icon. Roger Ebert was a genius and his reviews were unparalleled. Any one who hasn't, I invite them to read his "great films" reviews.

May he rest in peace.

 

[warrenpeeps]

He was one of the few critics that I actually listened too ... RIP >

 

[DLPProjectorfan]

First Phil Ramone and now Roger..


It looks like the greats are passing the baton onto the younger generation and they are telling us not to screw up and let them down, they have handed over to us a legacy.

 

[DavidHir]

Sad to hear - RIP.

 

[capnvid]

I was raised in the midwest and read his first film review of an Elvis Presley movie in the Chicago Sun Times. He said it was ok, but he liked Julie London record covers better. He was a wonderful writer all around. He also wrote the very funny script for Russ Meyer's "Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls." No one around can fill his shoes. He will be greatly missed