Roger Ebert is dead

[Erttheking]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/17320958-418/roger-ebert-dies-at-70-after-battle-with-cancer.html

I just...God, the man didn't know the first thing about video games but...he's dead? I'm having a hard time believing it, it feels like a late April Fools joke...a moment of silence please.

 

[Marter]

It's not a surprise that he died from his cancer. He previously said he wouldn't fight it if it came back. It's a surprise that it happened so soon. It still hits ridiculously hard.

It cannot be overstated what Ebert did for film criticism. RIP.

 

[itsthesheppy]

He'll be missed. A great film critic, and an overall smart guy.

 

[Zenron]

It's not a surprise but wow, that's upsetting. He was one of the only movie critics whose opinions I truly valued and it's a real loss to the movie industry and to the world to see him gone.

Rest in peace Mr. Ebert.

 

[MajorTomServo]

I literally gasped when I found out. He didn't 'get' games, but you know, chalk that up to old man syndrome. I had a huge amount of respect for the man, he was a fantastic critic. At The Movies was the first show that taught me to dig deeper into movies and dissect them. Sad to see him go...

captcha: heart break. Even captcha was a fan...

 

[Thoughtful_Salt]

I have two copies of his great movies books and Your Movie Sucks. I enjoyed reading his reviews and contemplating movies with him as a guide through the entertainment wilderness. Thanks for everything Roger, you will be missed!

 

[RipRoaringWaterfowl]

Just this morning I see a BBC article saying that he's going to slow down, since he had gotten ill... but now he's dead... I'll miss him. His reviews, his essays, his books are all great, and he did so much for film and criticism thereof. Now I have one less place to go for film reviews.

 

[MPerce]

I got on the Escapist just to see if anyone was talking about this. I'm absolutely heartbroken.

It cannot be overstated how much he did for film criticism and the entire medium in mainstream culture. And on a more individual level, he was a man who spoke his mind eloquently and politely, and always welcomed an open dialogue with those who disagreed with him. Sure, he didn't think games were art, but but he always kept a good humor about the Internet shitstorm he accidentally unleashed, and even conceded to a degree on the subject, saying that he wasn't qualified to even mention games in the first place.

Honest, polite, and entertaining. A great critic and a great guy. He will be missed.

 

[King Aragorn]

Wow. That just felt so...quick.
He was one of the most defining movie critics ever, and many valued what he had to say. Even if I didn't really follow him much, I understand what he did for the medium.

 

[Mr.Mattress]

At least now Siskel and Ebert can continue in heaven...

My he rest in peace...

 

[Launcelot111]

Every time I went to his site, I would read every review, regardless of whether I had heard of the movie or whether I thought I would ever see it. He wrote with warmth and gravity and perspective, and he got me to pay attention to things I never would have otherwise considered. This is a real shame for the world of film critics.

 

[Dead Seerius]

Two thumbs down...

I don't mean that disrespectfully, by the way. He was an incredible film critic and even though we didn't see eye to eye on the topic of video games, I'm gonna miss him.

RIP, Mr. Ebert.

 

[JimB]

Farewell, Mr. Ebert. May your eyes behold every wonderful sight, and may your moments be filled with the company of every loved one; and may the comfort of your rest offer consolation to your family in their moment of loss.

(Captcha: "breathe happy?" Seriously, captcha? That's just in poor taste.)

 

[hazabaza1]

Never saw/read any of his stuff but it's always a shame to see someone who applies some critical thinking to mainstream media pass, even if everyone here probably disagrees with his stance on (at least my) favourite hobby.

 

[shogunblade]

When I turned on my computer this afternoon and I saw in the front page of his passing, I actually yelled at my computer.
"No, no, no, no!"
I don't want to believe this is real. I love movies, and he was one of those people who got me into movies. I remember watching his show when I was about 10 or 11 years old, every Sunday at 7:00pm, I'd catch it, and if the channel wasn't working, I'd find the next channel that had it on at 3:30 and watch it then.

I know he didn't think much of video games, but that's beside the point. The man was one of my writing heroes and an Icon to me. A small two paragraphs can't even begin to replicate how I feel right now about this news.

I only wish I could have met him, maybe if I got farther in the movie business, He'd have reviewed one of my movies (One of my dreams).

This is very sad news to me, beyond sad. I feel like I lost a family member right now, and I'll get over it in due time, just right now, this is debilitating to me. I wish his family all the best I can.

 

[NightmareExpress]

"Siskel and Ebert...in Heaven"?
Even in death they won't be able to escape a good critique of the silver screen.
-Coming soon to an afterlife near you

It's a real shame and almost seems unreal.
One of my favorite critics out there, always having a good perspective on the new flick to hit the block.
The man really knew what he was talking about and is a major influence in how I critique things. To say that he was a groundbreaking individual in the field and among the best of 'em almost seems like an understatement.

Yes, he will be sorely missed by critics (and non-critics) everywhere.

 

[Mouse One]

A great man. As someone said, yeah, he didn't get games. But he understood film with the intimacy only a true lover can have. I mean, everyone's a critic these days. But Ebert could take apart a film and explain exactly why and where it worked (or didn't). His reviews always made me think, but he was never pretentious. He liked a good action flick just as much as a good art film. They just had to be GOOD.

And wow. The guts it must have taken to appear in public in front of millions after disfiguring surgery. But he did, because the alternative was hiding away from the world. And he still had a lot of things left to say.

 

[an annoyed writer]

Wait, seriously? He's gone? I may have disagreed with him about my favorite medium, but I did like his work and a lot of his perspectives on various films. The world of film criticism just got a little emptier today. May he rest in peace.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I've been reading this man's column every Thursday for the past five years at the Chicago Suntime Tribune... what am I going to do now...