Aesthetic Collision: Famous Film Critic Roger Ebert’s Evaluations of 15 Movies

1. The Lovely Bones 2009，IMDB Rating: 6.6, IMDB Votes: 181153, ID: 0380510
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Ebert criticized The Lovely Bones for its disturbing message and cloying sentimentality. He found the film’s portrayal of a young girl’s murder and her subsequent existence in a whimsical afterlife to be both insensitive and unsettling. Despite strong performances, the film’s abrupt shifts in tone and overuse of special effects detract from its emotional impact. The Lovely Bones fails to offer the inspiration and upliftment that Maria Garcia seeks in her movie-watching experience.
2. The Hitcher 1986，IMDB Rating: 7.2, IMDB Votes: 53289, ID: 0091209
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Roger Ebert found The Hitcher to be a disturbing and morally corrupt film, with its sadistic violence and lack of a coherent motive for the villain. Despite its effective thriller elements, the film’s portrayal of a grotesque bond between the hero and the villain, along with the brutal fate of its female character, left Ebert deeply unsettled. While the movie has its moments of tension, it ultimately fails to provide a meaningful or uplifting experience.
3. The Butterfly Effect 2004，IMDB Rating: 7.6, IMDB Votes: 525333, ID: 0289879
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The Butterfly Effect, with its intriguing premise of altering the past to change the present, was deemed by Ebert as an overwrought and tasteless thriller. The film’s dark and violent themes, coupled with its implausible plot twists, left little room for the emotional depth and inspiration that Maria Garcia values. Despite its potential, the movie’s execution falls short, making it a less than satisfying watch.
4. The Love Guru 2008，IMDB Rating: 3.8, IMDB Votes: 55244, ID: 0811138
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Ebert’s review of The Love Guru was scathing, describing it as a joy-draining experience filled with juvenile humor and lackluster performances. The film’s attempt at satire falls flat, and its reliance on crude jokes and stereotypes makes it a far cry from the meaningful and uplifting films that Maria Garcia enjoys. The Love Guru is a disappointing and uninspired comedy.
5. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen 2009，IMDB Rating: 6.0, IMDB Votes: 431429, ID: 1055369
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Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was heavily criticized by Ebert for its incoherent plot, excessive length, and overwhelming special effects. The film’s lack of character development and meaningful storytelling makes it a poor choice for those seeking inspiration and emotional engagement. Despite its visual spectacle, the movie fails to deliver a satisfying and uplifting experience.
6. Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo 2005，IMDB Rating: 4.7, IMDB Votes: 53682, ID: 0367652
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Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo is a film that seems to revel in its own absurdity, but not in a way that brings joy to its audience. Roger Ebert’s review highlights the film’s aggressive badness, as if it aims to cause suffering to viewers. The plot, involving a male gigolo in Amsterdam, is filled with crude humor and offensive jokes that fail to land. Despite its attempts at comedy, the film falls flat, leaving a bitter taste rather than laughter. It’s a movie that, unfortunately, doesn’t inspire or uplift, but rather disappoints and frustrates.
7. Freddy Got Fingered 2001，IMDB Rating: 4.7, IMDB Votes: 51879, ID: 0240515
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Freddy Got Fingered is a chaotic and absurd film that pushes the boundaries of gross-out humor to new lows. Roger Ebert’s review reflects the film’s lack of coherence and its relentless pursuit of shock value. Tom Green’s performance is as bizarre as the plot, which involves a series of outrageous and nonsensical events. While some may find its randomness amusing, the film ultimately fails to deliver any meaningful or uplifting message. It’s a movie that leaves you questioning its purpose and struggling to find any redeeming qualities.
8. Battlefield Earth 2000，IMDB Rating: 2.5, IMDB Votes: 83572, ID: 0185183
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Battlefield Earth is a sci-fi disaster that fails on almost every level. Roger Ebert’s review describes it as an unpleasant and hostile experience, with drab visuals and unkempt characters. The plot, set in a dystopian future, is riddled with clichés and lacks any sense of originality or passion. John Travolta’s performance as the villain is over-the-top and unconvincing. The film’s attempt at creating an epic sci-fi adventure falls flat, leaving viewers with a sense of frustration and disappointment rather than inspiration.
9. The Waterboy 1998，IMDB Rating: 6.2, IMDB Votes: 180339, ID: 0120484
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The Waterboy is a comedy that, while entertaining to some, fails to resonate on a deeper level. Roger Ebert’s review points out the film’s crude humor and lack of substance. Adam Sandler’s portrayal of a socially awkward waterboy who becomes a football star is filled with slapstick comedy and over-the-top antics. While it may provide some laughs, the film lacks the emotional depth and meaningful storytelling that could make it truly inspiring. It’s a movie that entertains but doesn’t leave a lasting impact.
10. The Dukes of Hazzard 2005，IMDB Rating: 5.1, IMDB Votes: 82277, ID: 0377818
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The Dukes of Hazzard is a film that struggles to find its footing, relying heavily on outdated humor and a weak plot. Roger Ebert’s review highlights the film’s lack of intelligence and its reliance on crude jokes. The story of two cousins and their adventures in a small southern town fails to capture the charm of the original TV series. Despite the presence of well-known actors, the film falls short in delivering any meaningful or uplifting message. It’s a movie that entertains on a superficial level but lacks the depth to be truly memorable.
11. The Brown Bunny 2003，IMDB Rating: 4.9, IMDB Votes: 16749, ID: 0330099
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Vincent Gallo’s ‘The Brown Bunny’ is a polarizing film that Roger Ebert famously called ‘the worst in the history of Cannes.’ The film’s slow pace and minimal dialogue make it a challenging watch, but its raw portrayal of loneliness and grief can resonate with some viewers. While the controversial ending may overshadow the film’s artistic intentions, it offers a unique, albeit divisive, cinematic experience.
12. North 1994，IMDB Rating: 4.5, IMDB Votes: 14860, ID: 0110687
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Rob Reiner’s ‘North’ is a misguided attempt at a family comedy that Roger Ebert famously hated, calling it ‘one of the most unpleasant, contrived, artificial, cloying experiences.’ The film’s plot, about a boy searching for new parents, is filled with unfunny stereotypes and lacks any genuine emotional depth. Despite a talented cast, ‘North’ fails to deliver any meaningful or entertaining moments.
13. The Village 2004，IMDB Rating: 6.6, IMDB Votes: 280117, ID: 0368447
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M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘The Village’ is a film that Roger Ebert criticized for its flimsy plot and lack of genuine scares. The movie’s atmosphere and performances are commendable, but the twist ending falls flat and undermines the story’s potential. While it has its moments of suspense, ‘The Village’ ultimately fails to deliver a satisfying horror experience.
14. Armageddon 1998，IMDB Rating: 6.7, IMDB Votes: 454684, ID: 0120591
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Michael Bay’s ‘Armageddon’ is a bombastic action film that Roger Ebert described as ‘an assault on the eyes, the ears, the brain, common sense and the human desire to be entertained.’ Despite its impressive special effects and star-studded cast, the film’s lack of coherent plot and over-the-top action sequences make it a mind-numbing experience. It’s a spectacle, but not a satisfying one.
15. The Life of David Gale 2003，IMDB Rating: 7.5, IMDB Votes: 126896, ID: 0289992
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‘The Life of David Gale’ is a heavy-handed thriller that Roger Ebert criticized for its implausible plot and manipulative message. The film’s attempt to tackle the serious issue of capital punishment is undermined by its convoluted story and unconvincing twists. Despite strong performances from Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslet, the film fails to deliver a compelling or credible narrative.