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Dish of the Day

Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

In thinking about the long proliferation of big budget science fiction fantasy films, more specifically Star Wars, its sequels and reboots, I was reminded of this little debate of long ago with noted film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert defending the franchise against John Simon’s disparaging comments pertaining to the first trilogy. This televised encounter apparently took place soon after the release of the third instalment in the series, 1983’s Return of the Jedi.

I’ve included the segment below:

Some may find this discussion relevant to today's debate over "superhero" or other overtly conceptualised, good versus evil, fantasy type films that originate from comics. What I found most disappointing coming from Simon's otherwise considered perspective, was his moralising (what's bad for kids in this case). The other aspect I'm surprised the two defenders didn't bring up was the science fiction future fantasy world these film stories inhabit, requiring a grandiose kind of creative myth making. The pair might have asked their fellow critic about other science fiction movies pre-Star Wars. Nor did Siskel and Ebert parry with the specific and distinctive human relationships developed throughout the first two instalments (Star Wars from 1977 and 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back) both arguments of which would have more effectively countered some of Simon's criticisms than, say, asking about Yoda which set up the latter’s witty comeback.

I wonder what a similar debate between these three would look like today considering what the cinematic universe has become since Star Wars first premiered in 1977. I miss these guys and so many other critics of yesteryear no longer with us.

Gene Siskel (January 26, 1946 - February 20, 1999) R.I.P.

Roger Ebert (June 18, 1942 - April 4, 2012) R.I.P.

John Simon (May 12, 1925 - November 24, 2019) R.I.P.


All responses are not only welcomed but encouraged in the comments section below.


Hope to see you tomorrow.


A.G.