http://www.ebertpresents.com/
Someone asked for my opinion of the new series, and I don't think I could do a quickie review of it. Not because it is particularly special or groundbreaking, but because of its legacy -- because of the torch it carries. No surprise, but the chemistry between the two primary hosts is nowhere near Siskel & Ebert. However, it is unfair to have expected that. Christy Lemire and Ignatiy Vishnevetsky (yes, I looked up the spelling) are charismatic, and their chemistry may grow with time (though Ignatiy looked very young, like he had borrowed his dad's suit). However, what pleased me were the additional elements -- the parts of the show that were not in keeping with the original formula of reviewing a film and debating the review. Kim Morgan was the featured commentator in the pilot episode, offering a review of "The Third Man." The review itself was unexceptional, but it (along with Ebert's contribution) reminded me what made the At The Movies franchise different from other entertainment shows: The focus is on the movies, not on the industry or the box office or the actors or the behind-the-scenes gossip. The critics look at the film critically. The previous sentence should be redundant, but in today's media climate it is not. When all is said and done, I would prefer the series shift its focus away from the original format and spend more time on the original intent: To talk about films as films, not as capitalist ventures or marketing tools. I can foresee a rotating crop of critics (and even industry professionals) reviewing films past and present, offering thoughtful opinions and challenging viewers to ignore the hype and focus on the content. -- Kevin M. (RPCV) -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
