The Best and Worst Movie Critics...

[Scarface]

There are so many movie critics to choose from today. Its come to the point where everyone who has seen a movie and has an opinion on it, is considered a critic. Lets put all us little people aside and rate the critics of the big-time (i'm including JoBlo in here cuz of his radio gig). Who are your favorites and who do you simply despise?

My favorite is easily Owen Gleiberman. There is no one that can be the critic OG is. He even makes up for Lisa Schwartzbaum's (see below) lack of professionalism, ignorance, and just plain suckiness in the pages of Entertainment Weekly. I would put Ebert here as well but i just started reading some of his reviews today so it might be a little early for that.

For every great critic, there are a handful of crap critics. These include Lisa Schwartzbaum (who IMHO is the worst pro-critic out there), who brings down the quality of Entertainment Weekly. Then there is Leanord Maltin. The guy just plain sucks. I'm trying to think of more and i know there are many more but i try to stick to Owen and not read many more reviews. If the guys over at the "Academy" count as critics then they can blow me up the ass.

[QUENTIN]

Ebert would have to be my #1 easily. He is definetly the best critic in my mind. He is the only critic whose reviews have ever been perfect, sometimes better than the movie itself. Other good ones are James Bernadelli, and the guy from the NY Times, sorry I forgot his name.

My worst professional is probably Leonard Maltin, I haven't read many of Lisa's but what I did read sucked. And whoever is behind the LA Times, I would like to say bite me, Shawshank, Se7en, and Fight Club do NOT deserve a half a star each!

[HomerSimpson]

Two words: JoBlo (whoops, that's one word /ubb/smile.gif

I'm not trying to kiss any ass here, but IMHO JoBlo is the best movie critic - then again I'm not even sure if he considers himself a real critic (but he should). Do you, JoBlo?

Ebert is great, and so is Berrardinelli but I rarely agree with him (he gave "The Stupids" 3 stars, and "Austin Powers" 2 & 1/2).

Jamey Hughton is kinda like an Ebert Jr. and I like his reviews a lot.

Maltin sucks donkey d*ck, and most chick reviewers suck too.

[Scarface]

Althought JoBlo is "Da Man" he differs much from Owen Gleiberman. Not necessarily in a bad way. Owen Gleiberman is very proffessional and he writes reviews for movie buffs and adults mostly. JoBlo, on the other hand, writes reviews for the everday schmoe usually. Don't get me wrong, hes a good critic, but i tend to agree with OG more on a review to review basis and love the format of his reviews.

[Tuukka]

I agree that Maltin is really bad. I'm not a fan of Ebert, but he is OK. Variety usually has good reviews, but I remember only Todd McCarthy's name from it. Joblo is good in his own way, I might disagree with him, but I always understand his point. Even if Joblo gave 7/10 for Battlefield Earth, I know from his review that I probably won't like the film.

I read reviews from three different sources:

Joblo
IMDB
Variety

...With those I will know whether I will like the film or not. I haven't really been disappointed by a film during the last three-four years. I have paid to see only films, that were at least rather good.



[This message has been edited by Tuukka (edited 08-17-2000).]

[retardinAz]

I think that the best critic is Ebert, though he is not one of my faves because I rarely agree with him. My faves are: Siskel(R.I.P), Joblo, Chris Gore, Joe Bob Briggs(if you can call him a critic. I really love his "drive in totals" system), and whomever reviews at Upcomingmovies.com(sorry, forgot the person's name).
The worst critic is by far Leonard Maltin. The second worst is Jay Sherman(It Stinks! /ubb/smile.gif)

[Mr. Meat]

I know it was meant to be a joke, but Jay Sherman is an excellent critic. The problem with him is that he has to sit through crappy films (Goodfellas 2 "Hiiii guy!" or The Red Ballon 2: The Ballon's Revenge)

Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert will ALWAYS be the best critics, and one of the best on screen duos in filming /ubb/smile.gif

Also, what newspaper/magazine does Malton work for? I think I never read his opinions.

[ColonelColinCaine]

You can read Maltin's reviews at imdb.com. Every movie has a special section with his review of the film. I really hate him.

[PackBacker]

Originally posted by Mr. Meat:
I know it was meant to be a joke, but Jay Sherman is an excellent critic. The problem with him is that he has to sit through crappy films (Goodfellas 2 "Hiiii guy!" or The Red Ballon 2: The Ballon's Revenge)


It Stinks! /ubb/wink.gif

I think the best reviewer, in your mind, is one with whom your movie tastes are similar. An uppity art house film only guy ain't the one for me nor is Bob sixpack who only wants to watch car chases and Sylvester Stallone blow up small countries full of scantily clad women (not that this is bad in small doses!)

Personally I don't care much for Ebert. He and I disagree too much. JoBlo and I have similar feelings about films 75-80% of the time which is the best I've ever seen.

As for worst that would have to go to former local (for me) newspaper critic Roger Moore who I am sure has moved on to bigger and better things. How a hack like him got a job no one knows. The man was even more bitter and cynical than me! /ubb/wink.gif

[JoBlo]

I totally agree with PackBacker on this one. The best critics to anyone are probably the ones who are most similar to your own tastes. I'm generally quite in tune with either of these two gents:

1) James Berardinelli
2) Roger Ebert (although I wonder if we all put too much emphasis on him BECAUSE of the fact that he's so nationally exposed?)

Although Ebert has been pretty "weird" over the past year (GLADIATOR- 2 stars? FIGHT CLUB- 2 stars?).

To answer your questions:

1) This is probably just semantics, but I consider myself more of a film reviewer, than a critic! I don't know...the word "critic" just gives me the heebie-jeebies. I watch a movie and I give my opinion of what was good and what wasn't...according to me! Just another "joblo" /ubb/wink.gif

2) The name of the guy who writes the reviews at http://www.upcomingmovies.com/ is Greg Dean Schmitz and I too enjoy his reviews from time to time.

In fact, lately I have been reading plenty of Garth's reviews over at Dark Horizons http://www.darkhorizons.com/ as well. We REALLY seem to have the same tastes in film, and I also enjoy his style of reviewing.

[This message has been edited by JoBlo (edited 08-17-2000).]

[DaN]

My fav critic is i guess i tie between Joblo and Ebert.

Although I disagree with Ebert on some movies, his reviews are simply amazing. They actually acurately back up his choice. one that I disagreed with him on was Gladiator. But his reviews actually back up his desicion in the best way.

Joblo is the man. I agree with him on almost everything. There are a few exceptions (Mafia is a 7/10 for me). He has the reviews that are straight forward and nothing else.

I don't know aboot siskel. I havent read any of his reviews

[Tuukka]

Doesn't enyone else read Variety? Surely there are bad reviews sometimes, but mostly it's very reliable. Why is that? Because of the objectivity. The reviewers of variety usually try to be as objective as possible. They also have a very good understanding of how it is like to make films, which most critics don't have. There are no annoying errors/inaccuracies in Variety's reviews.

[hornytony]

Matlin isn't that good. Others though are those who write for USA Today. Never could appreciate their reviews too much. Bernadellit and Ebert are just about the best though.

[DaN]

The worst critic i know is my city's newspaper critic. HIs name is Robert Denerstien. He does not like any good movie. I mean, he just hates every movie and cant even back up his choice in a good way. Yu should read his reviews at www.insidedenver.com/movies (http://www.insidedenver.com/movies)

[Mr. Meat]

Yes PackBacker did hit the mark, but I found myself agreeing with Siskel and Ebert more than any other critic. And Dan I am gonna check out Denerstein...

[Da ShadiestBro]

Not to be a suck up or anything, but I agree with JoBlo more than any critic out there.

And I have a question, how did Maltin ever get a job as a movie critic?? He's an idiot!!

[Flame]

I agree with JoeBlow almost all the time. He is a people's critic. Ever now and then I think he's off by a number or 2 but he's pretty damn on point

[Silent Bob]

Weirdly I agree with Joblo 90% of the time...He and Roger Ebert are the only critics I read. I see how many stars my paper gives each movie, but I don't read it...They have bad tastes in movies. They rate really top notch movies really low, and then they give lots of prasie to shit movies.
I have to say I don't like Richard Roeper. He is ebert's new co-host. He hates all movies and is too serious, but i guess ebert likes him.

[DaN]

What is so bad about Lenard Maltin? Throw me some of his reviews that you wish you could burn and piss on the ashes.

[QUENTIN]

Dan, he hated Taxi Driver, and Natural Born Killers, didn't like Shawshank Redemption, but gave The Untouchables (good but overrated movie 4 stars, and he only gives one film a year 4 stars) also he liked Pretty Women more than Pulp Fiction...need I say more?

[Brock Landers]

Ebert is essentially of the same mind as me, when it comes to movies...I almost always agree and like his classic film reviews...although lately it would seem that he is becoming a little out of touch with his current reviews...he is all about giving great reviews to mediocre flicks because they are "different"...I think he does this to help push the edgy material so that more similar films will pop up down the road...(what was with four stars for "The Cell"?)...although he is dead on with his reviews of "Boogie Nights" & "Magnolia", both receiving four stars...true classics...P.T. Anderson is a god...

[T-DawG]

Roger Ebert without a doubt in my mind is the most trust worthy critic out there. His new side kick Roeper is tolerable. Also the dynamic duo of Glieberman and Schwarzbaum in EW are reliable too.

As for everyone giving JoBlo props for his reviews I am on the other side of the fence on that issue.

Good web site though. (HMTS where you at Dog?)

[QUENTIN]

I agree about JoBlo, I think he is a pretty good reviewer, but I rarely agree with him. He seems to be a bit too much of a popcorn guy for my taste.

Ebert is the best critic ever in every respect IMO. He is the best writer, I agree with him a million times more than anyone else, and he also does very entertaining side things (the questions for the movie answerman, glossaries, and classic reviews). So to me it is Ebert all the way.

Also I say this a lot (and am really not kissing ass when I do, I think JoBlo is just a so-so to good reviewer....sorry dude, you do have a great site though), but for some reason despite the fact that we only agree on maybe 5 movies tops I think The Arrow is an excellent reviewer, I guess there is just something about his reviews that I love, if never agree with....well whatever kind of subliminal messages you are putting in there Arrow, keep it up.

[AntonioDelLago]

MY FAVORITE FILM CRITICS:
1. Gene Siskel (RIP)
2. Roger Ebert
3. Owen Gleiberman
4. The Arrow
5. Joel Siegel

THE WORST:
1. Leonard Maltin
2. Rex Reed
3. Richard Roeper
4. Lisa Schwartzbaum

[Raena]

JoBlo of course!

My favorite critics are ones who write really well. Also, they don't necessarily write criticism that I agree with.

Roger Ebert is my all time favorite. Sometimes he just says chit that's so on point or is just very poetic.

Example:

His thoughts on GONE IN 60 SECONDS:

"This is the kind of movie that ends up playing on the TV set over the bar in a better movie."

His thoughts on MOULIN ROUGE:

"Everything is screwed up to a breakneck pitch, as if the characters have died and their lives are flashing before our eyes."

I also liked David Denby who wrote for the New Yorker. I often wondered why he chose to be a critic, he never seemed to like anything. He was, however, very, very, good at backing up his arguments. He could make you see the ugliness in some awesome flicks. That takes a bit of genius.


James Berardinelli is another favorite. Love his site. It functions really well. He also knows what he's talking about. He writes like he did real well in school when he was a kid or something, like he'd be a good English major. I could, of course, be wrong, and I don't know what gives me that impression.

Bad Critics?

I haven't really come across any who really work my nerves yet.

[Cyclonus]

Roger Ebert is my personal fave, although I like to read James Berardinii's reviews too.

I respect Leonard Maltin, but he doesn't really think on my wavelength (only 2 stars for Taxi Driver??? WTF? /ubb/frown.gif).

Quentin: Is the LA Times really that hard on movies? Is their rating scale even comparable to ours? /ubb/confused.gif

[loner]

Pauline Kael... she's retired now... but she's the all-time greatest