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Old December 12th, 2018, 01:44 PM   #1
Croft2018
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Default Sneak Previews (Gene Siskel & Roger Ebert)

Recently someone has posted many of the original Sneak Previews (1975-96) episodes on IMDB; with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. Here we have season 1, episode 18 and at 21:50 they review the theatrical feature version of Battlestar: Galactica (124 minute version). Sadly, they've given it a real pasting (Siskel: "this is a worthless film").

here
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Old December 13th, 2018, 09:12 PM   #2
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Default Re: Sneak Previews (Gene Siskel & Roger Ebert)

I remember that review. But then they praised a POS like Saint Jack.
Well, Siskel and Ebert, BSG is still here, the other isn't. What of your review now?
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Old December 14th, 2018, 12:07 AM   #3
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Default Re: Sneak Previews (Gene Siskel & Roger Ebert)

In the end it's all subjective. I saw SJ many years ago and thought it a good film and I obviously like BG.
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Old December 14th, 2018, 10:46 AM   #4
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Default Re: Sneak Previews (Gene Siskel & Roger Ebert)

I was thinking of the two being juxtaposed in that way. A one-on-one comparison, and while lauding the other, calling BSG "worthless". Like comparing a connect-the-dots velveteen painting to a verMeer.
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Old December 17th, 2018, 11:16 AM   #5
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Default Re: Sneak Previews (Gene Siskel & Roger Ebert)

Not clear on your analogy.
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Old December 17th, 2018, 03:07 PM   #6
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Default Re: Sneak Previews (Gene Siskel & Roger Ebert)

Galactica was, and remains a work of art. The other...
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Old December 18th, 2018, 12:41 AM   #7
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Default Re: Sneak Previews (Gene Siskel & Roger Ebert)

Much as I do love classic BG, and I do feel all film and TV is a work of art, it was far from perfect and I do agree that putting it on the big screen without proper preperation was a mistake and it hurt the product. John Dykstra left over this because his SPFX were specifically designed for the 4:3 TV ratio and for the lower resolution of '70s TV broadcast. Had he known it was going to get a big screen release he would have done it differently. BG has a more static quality due to it's fraught and rushed TV production that doesn't lend it well to massive screen projection and the SPFX shots are littered with garbage mattes and other tell tale signs of expediency.

Saint Jack is a fine drama and one of Bogdanovitch's more successful efforts; well worth the praise.
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Old February 9th, 2019, 01:25 PM   #8
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Default Re: Sneak Previews (Gene Siskel & Roger Ebert)

Much as I loved Siskel & Ebert they did have loads of hangups. Siskel hated international co productions (like The Wild Geese, Ffolkes) and Canadian films, particulalrly genre efforts which he suspected of being tax shelter projects. Ebert was maddeningly inconsistant; he excoriated The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) for very specifc reasons but praised Van Helsing (2004) for the same ones. Both had a real burr up their ass about slasher or "Women in Danger" films with Siskel actually believing that the genre was a mass reaction to the rise of The Women's Movement. Just watch their segment in which they review Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) with Ebert practically foaming at the mouth.

They could both be very inconsistant and obviously not go back and review what they said previously. The best example of this is the Star Trek film series in which their review of Star Trek IV: The Undiscovered Country (1991) they both agree that the odd numbered films are no good. Hmm, Ebert gave a thumbs up to Star Trek - The Motion Picture (1979) and both gave a thumbs up to Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) and both gave thumbs down to Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989).

When they reviewed For Your Eyes Only (1981) on the show they both gave it thumbs up with Siskel liking it more and Ebert feeling it was rehashing too much but still recomending it. However, when you read Ebert's print review he gives it a paltry ** out of ****. Go figure.
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Old February 9th, 2019, 05:53 PM   #9
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Default Re: Sneak Previews (Gene Siskel & Roger Ebert)

Well, it all fits into my theory of film. If a critic likes it, it is probably bad. If a critic hates it, then vice versa.
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