Two Thumbs Up: Roeper and Kevin Smith
Filed under: Fandom, Newsstand, Kevin Smith
Word from Kevin Smith on his online diary is that he will be sitting in as a guest critic on Ebert and Roeper next week, subbing in for Roger Ebert, who is still recovering following post-surgery complications. Smith says he and Richard Roeper will be discussing The Ant Bully, Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Miami Vice, Barnyard, and perhaps World Trade Center.
Ebert and Roeper taped six episodes ahead of his surgery, to cover his absence, but the complication of a burst blood vessel requiring emergency surgery has kept the big guy down longer than he anticipated (and, no doubt, he's itching to get out of that hospital bed and back into the balcony). It was announced about a week ago that several guest critics would be invited to fill Ebert's shoes until he's well enough to return. Ebert is still (so far as we know) in Northwestern Hospital, and is reported to be improving.
I like the idea of them bringing guest critics in while Ebert recovers; it takes the pressure off him a bit and, if memory serves, they did the same thing years ago when Gene Siskel was ill. So, readers, what do you think about Kevin Smith as a guest host? And who else in film would you like to see sitting across from Roeper for an episode? Personally, I'm hoping they invited Uwe Boll. Just ... because.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-25-2006 @ 10:17PM
Elrond Hobbert said...
Even though Ebert is down for natural causes, perhaps Smith will ponder diet, exercise and quitting smoking. Or is the irony lost on him completely?
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7-25-2006 @ 10:44PM
ihatemovies said...
This is the funniest thing I've read all day. Kevin Smith and Richard Roeper reviewing movies. Oh boy. The end of cinema is near.
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7-25-2006 @ 10:55PM
roadkillbuddha said...
Wow, a reason to actually watch the show.
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7-25-2006 @ 11:00PM
Scott Weinberg said...
Weird to have a filmmaker asked to review films. What if he trashes Miami Vice and runs into Michael Mann one day? If he were a film critic, it'd be no big deal. But since he's NOT...
Anyway, it's TV, so it's not real film criticism. ;)
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7-25-2006 @ 11:26PM
Chris said...
Kevin Smith has never been shy about expressing his opinions on other peoples movies, or his own. He has burned a few bridges, but I don't see him schmoozing with most of the Hollywood elite anyway.
I figure this is a good chance to pander, I mean appeal, to a different audience. I expect to see some blog writers and people that bring in a younger demographic, like Smith.
I wouldn't be shocked to see some Tarantino, or maybe some AICN staffers.
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7-26-2006 @ 12:17AM
thegrizzle said...
Soon, Joel Siegel will direct a movie and the circle will be complete. The end is nigh.
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7-26-2006 @ 12:22AM
Monica said...
I definitely see some of the AICN staffers filling in for Ebert during his recovery.
After all, Harry Knowles was one of the individuals who filled in after Siskel passed away.
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7-26-2006 @ 12:58AM
NYC_Punx said...
Kevin Smith, hands down, is the man!
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7-26-2006 @ 12:59AM
LINDA LUTTON said...
I THINK IT WOULD BE A REFRESHING CHANGE OF PACE FOR KEVIN TO REPLACE MR. ROPER.
KEVIN IS A VERY TUNED IN MAN OF HIS TIME AND HIS LOOK AT THE CURRENT FILM RELEASES I FEEL WILL BE HONEST AND REFRESHING.
AND MAYBE A BIT CRITICAL AT TIMES.
BUT LETS FACE IT HE'S NOT GETTING GRATUS FROM INDUSTRY BUG WIGS TO PLUG THIER FILMS AS IN THE PAST.
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7-26-2006 @ 1:42AM
Smack042 said...
Does it really matter? Is thier opinion really worth it? Can America really not make up its own mind anymore to the point that we need advice from people who get paid to watch a movie and then let us know if it suits thier own personal tastes? I say we just burn it all down and give the ants a go at it.
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7-26-2006 @ 4:14AM
renee said...
Rememeber when people actually cared what those 2 guys had to say? When" 2 thumbs up " meant something now every dumb movie gets "2 THUMBS UP". maybe with Kevin(filling in)a few movies will actually earn it.
I would love to see Q.Tarentino on that show ,that would be hella funny.
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7-26-2006 @ 7:35AM
MosquitoControl said...
"Is thier opinion really worth it? Can America really not make up its own mind anymore to the point that we need advice from people who get paid to watch a movie and then let us know if it suits thier own personal tastes? "
Well, when the options are either that or see a movie based on the marketing the producers want you to see, I'll take critical reviews, thank you.
I don't think anyone uses them as gospel, it can just get them to pay $10 to see a movie they would have been on the fence about, or save $10 by not seeing a movie the trailers looked good for but turned out to be terrible.
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7-26-2006 @ 10:39AM
josh said...
"Rememeber when people actually cared what those 2 guys had to say? When" 2 thumbs up " meant something now every dumb movie gets "2 THUMBS UP". maybe with Kevin(filling in)a few movies will actually earn it."
I guess you never listen to/watch the show... they actually don't give that many movies two thumbs up. Both guys have very different tastes, so they tend to clash a lot. Ebert has (perhaps) mellowed out in his old age so he tends to like sweet movies that Roeper hates, for example.
The one thing I do notice is that often movies they give two thumbs up to are middle of the road fare, simply because things that are more fun or more edgey will get a thumb down from one of them... the risk of having an "either or" rating system instead of stars, I guess.
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7-26-2006 @ 11:16AM
Jette Kernion said...
These shows tend not to include many female critics ... so the obvious solution is that they should engage Kim, Martha, and myself to fill in.
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7-26-2006 @ 1:46PM
Film Junk said...
Personally I don't think Kevin Smith will have much to offer as a critic, but I can't deny that it's got me interested enough to want to tune in.
Still, if anything it only seems to reinforce the fact that Kevin Smith loves to dish out criticism but has trouble taking it himself.
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7-26-2006 @ 2:16PM
Das Klaun said...
Examples, please.
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7-26-2006 @ 4:33PM
pat miller said...
Hey get Peter Jackson to fill in - lets make it international
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7-27-2006 @ 11:59PM
John M. said...
Pity that the photo of Kevin Smith (whose work I like) has him dangling a cigarette out of his mouth. Do we remember the relationship of oral cancers and tobacco?
On point, I think he'll either be great or stink up the "balcony" -- no middle ground. I just hope he doesn't think he needs to put on an act. Voicing his honest opinions of a movie will be enough.
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