This will probably be the easiest blog post I get to write for the whole class, considering I read movie reviews for fun. I binge on movies every chance I get, and when it comes looking for advice, Roger Ebert is like my right hand man. I read his site like an overly obsessed girlfriend, and I try to watch every 3-4 star movie he reviews. Sometimes, I get a little rebellious and watch his < 2 star movies, just to see if he was right, but I have to say, more than not, the man knows what he’s doing.
Ebert writes his for the Chicago Sun-Times. You can find all his reviews at this site. The movie reviews listed are all current, and range from indie flicks to Hollywood blockbusters. The site is structured so that you can easily find a current movie review from a list on the right side, or just see what he’s recently posted in the middle. Towards the bottom of the page, he has a little area dedicated to an “overlooked movie of the week.” So, as far as infrastructure goes, it’s pretty basic. It’s definitely not the highlight of the blog — if anything, it could use some work.
As far as content goes though, this is movie critic gold (but I guess that’s strictly subjective). Each review posted is unlike the last. There are no generic “this is a good film” reviews. Some posts rave about the setting (see Snow White and the Huntsman), while others question the comprehension of the plot (The Words). What can be said is that you may learn more about movies than you intend after reading a few of his reviews. Ebert is well versed when it comes to how to watch a movie, paying attention to all aspects of development and production within his articles. His extent of analysis almost seems exhausting at times. From reading his reviews, I’ve learned to pay attention to more than just the acting or the story. And of course, those who write invariably also read, which makes for interesting literary parallels every now and then.
On top of Ebert’s movie reviews written for the Chicago Sun-Times, he also maintains a journal that makes for a pretty good read. The man never stops writing, and for good reason. Sometimes if a movie is just that good, he’ll write more and more about it. Multiple articles exist on movies like Prometheus, The Big Lebowski, and Pulp Fiction — and rightly so — cause any good reviewer knows that you can never really say all that there is to say in one sitting.