I can't even imagine a child who would want to see "Tender Mercies". That's like making your kid's first film be something like Schindler's List or The Godfather.
@2Majesties I totally agree. Though Simon comes off as a pompous ass, critics are an important, if not vital component in completing the artistic circle. It's because of some of Roger Ebert's reviews alone that I even know about films I've now come to love, things the masses overlook.
I don't know why some people are so offended by negative reviews. After all, how could Simon's opinion effect anybody at all, unless, of course, he actually made a valid point...
Such criticism of Star Wars is really criticism of mythic themes that are common throughout mythology and story-telling. It's no secret that Lucas was heavily influenced by Joseph Campbell's writings. Well so what if similar themes run throughout mythology, and can even be distilled in the form of "simplistic" storytelling for children or "childish adults". Such intellectual snobbery is really a belittling of the audience and myth itself, not merely the storyteller.
I find your lack of faith disturbing (Simon). Clearly this man was suduced by the Dark Side of the Force. He ceased to be a good film critic and instead became Simon. So what he told us was true. From a certain point of view. LOL. What an uptight, self absorbed idiot!
I'm a huge Star Wars fan (especially of the original films) and I respect Mr. Simon's opinion and analysis. Having said that, in certain respects, Mr. Simon seemed to be gazing into the future and the present state of Hollywood (late 90's to today). I could only imagine what Mr. Simon would say about today's 'fantasy/sci-fi' blockbuster hits like Transformers & The Hulk movies etc. The great thing about the original Star Wars movies is that they speak to both young and old in differing ways.
Simon's being expressly unable to identify with Star Wars describes a lot more about himself than Star Wars. The entire interview lacked any critiquing of any movie. He was critiquing himself.
It was because of guys like John Simon that Adolf Hitler set down his paint brush and became the most horrible dictator of all time. I can't stand these guys that have to put things down to bring themselves up.
I think this guy has some good points, but he really needs to consider that it's JUST A MOVIE. Not every work of fiction has to have meaningful catharsis indicative of reality; that is what makes it "fiction".
The science fiction / fantasy world of Star Wars exemplifies the "hero story", or "the epic". It is archetypical at its core and is not intended to show what reality is truly like. At 1:27 Simon suggests movies should be indicative of reality... I don't think people see movies for realism.
see this is what happens when someone was locked up in a basement their whole childhood.... he must see star wars on tv and want to go on a killing spree!!!
Tender Mercies???? Seriously if I was taken to Tender Mercies when I was a kid instead of ROTJ, I would have cut my parents' hearts out with a spoon! This just shows how disconnected Simon was from every day reality. Film critique should not automatically equal film snobbery.
Well... At least this asshole doesn't have kids. And what was he talking about when he was saying the characters were bad? Obviously people loved the characters seeing as there are hundreds of books based on Star Wars that further the universe. Did he honestly look at Han Solo and not think to himself... Hell yeah.
John Simon is a superb critic, literature, theatre and film. A bit stodgy, but really quite brilliant. Do yourself a favor, give him a chance and look up some of his written film criticism from the 60's and 70's. He brings a love of all art forms to his analyses of film that's really amazing and while I didn't agree with all of his judgements about this film or that director, I always respected his craft. It's a bit like the respect you might have for a really tough professor in school....
@2Majesties I'm sorry, but how do you become a "superb" critic when the arts are a subjective medium? A critic may be the most pointless and pathetic job on the planet. A janitor by comparison gets something useful accomplished. You can not judge something to be good or bad when the proof of that relies on the viewer's opinion and not a real system of measurement. Critics & those who believe them are delusional snobs who enjoy blowing smoke up each others asses.
@dukeofcrydee My only point is that there is a long history of great writing by very brilliant people who bring very interesting points of view to analyzing movies. From James Agee and Dwight MacDonald to Pauline Kael and Stanley Kauffman, I learned a great deal about film history & how to enjoy films. The best critics aren't so much interested in telling you what's good or bad but what took place beyond the obvious up on the screen. I want to LEARN something about films when I read about them.
@2Majesties No, your point was to promote John Simon as if he matters. Learn what you will from historians about film history. Learn what you will from the makers of film as to the meaning behind what you see, but to look at a critic's biased opinion of a subjective work to "learn something" is very sad. Your faith is misplaced. John Simon has a right to his opinion, but that doesn't change the fact that his opinion is as much "malodorous offal" as he claims The Empire Strikes Back to be.
@dukeofcrydee What is a film critic? Someone who writes about movies. A good critic is one who can intelligently and articulately explain what they find in a movie, while still remaining open to the emotions and fun of the experience itself, and help the audience find something new in the movie they didn't see before. Real criticism isn't about telling a person whether to see a movie, but discussing the movie descriptively enough so a person can decide whether to see it for themselves.
@dukeofcrydee You know what, guy? Screw you and the high horse you rode in on. John Simon has done more than you probably will ever do, hell! He's done more than I will probably ever do! By the way, why don't you tell me what you do, so I can tell you how "pointless and pathetic" your job is? Sure Criticism is subjective, so is art, so is film, and so is watching a video. So is that "pointless and pathetic"? For f**k's sake, stop being a jerk and just stick to uploading commercials.
@kreigaffenumber10 LOL I'm curious, what bearing does what I do/have accomplished have on the fact that film critics are useless? Answer, none. I'll clarify though. Those who judge art are useless. To say a piece of art is definitively good or bad? Sorry, no. To each his own. He did. So he's a dick. So are you, & thanks, I will continue to put a smile on people's faces w/ what I upload. And this will be the last I respond on this. Beating a dead horse. Let the douchebag banning begin!
@dukeofcrydee I agree, critics are paid to indulge in their own opinions. No matter how eloquently (pretentiously) they try to express those opinions, it comes down to the same thing for them as it does for anybody's subjective experience with art - did you like it, or not? There's nothing quantifiable about it. Really, in the big scheme of things their function is probably just advertising anyway, whether they like it, or not.
That first guy is a tool. This guy has no imagination. "Huck Finn tells a child about, reality, about people, about life, about growning up. " And Star Wars doesn't? Luke's whole transformation over the span of these movies is all about that. Actually, the people that like these movies are usually the "smarter" crowd than those who don't. At least that was the case back when it came out.
These movies also promote friendship, loyalty, discipline, restraint, honor, compassion, forbearance and even, specifically, reconciling with one's parents while they live. How horrible! /sarc
Who IS this guy? He seems to scream, "Hello. I'm smart, sophisticated, repectable and anyone who likes this is a moron!" It's 27 years later, Star Wars has become a multibillion phenomenon, and who remebers this douche bag?
Star Wars has inspired a countless number of filmmakers including myself, and it has broadened all of our imaginations. This John Simon guy is just a dull, boring, lifeless, Nazi, un-imaginative fuck.
Today we know that sports lead to violence and drugs.
There ar nothing ofintelectual in the useof drugs, marxism is bulshit
And the intelectuals are people wich like sci-fi, fantasy and coimic books.
If you want your childrens out of troubles and became good and healty citizens you send them to play dungeons & dragons, read comic books and play videogames.
I've see at lot of movies and I am highly critical and picky. With that being said, I would say that the Empire Strikes back is within the top 3 best films I have ever seen!
How does he get SW to be 90% special effects? Three lousy actors? Miserable characterisation? Lousy plot? SOMETHING WALT DISNEY COULDVE DONE JUST AS WELL WITH A DRAWING BOARD? DISNEY COULDNT MAKE THAT KIND OF A MOVIE EVEN TODAY! holy FUCK does this guy not understand what ENTERTAINMENT is about, holy SHIT - THIS GUY is a MOVIE CRITIC????
I will bet he never have had fun for even five minutes of his life.
Wonderful. Ebert hit it on the head when he said that he (Ebert) wasn't childlike, only that he wasn't old at heart, like John Simon. When you lose that sense of escape that a movie can provide, you become a John Simon of the world. I'm still trying as hard as I can to be an Ebert.
star wars was never much good but it was not as bad as this crtic made it out to be but it's true the dialogue is awful, repetitive and in the end the story is just about good versus evil and nothing like 2001: A Space Odyssey which had something to say about human evolution and nature or Brazil which was about human corruption. I think star wars was great once but has degenerated ever since.
It bugs me a bit that there seems to be such a conviction among some that animated material cannot be classic or "high-brow" because it is drawn (in some form or another with respect to computer animation today).
@unMotivator This person talks about movies making people stupid, and yet he doesnt understand the medium he's supposed to be reviewing - who is stupid now, Simon?
because you cant see beneath the surface of characters, understand their place in the story or the films universe, it doesnt mean that the rest of us are as stupid and unimaginative as you are, Simon.
FILM critic?!?!?!?! the guy doesnt even understand the medium, nor the PURPOSE of the medium.
Simon has never, obviously, read a word of Joseph Campbell. Star Wars isn't about life? Is he fucking kidding me? He is absolutely a complete moron. The entire point of the film is that the human element, let's say "Father and Son", prevailed over all the technology. Even Vader says in A New Hope that the technology is nothing compared to the force so, basically fuck you Mr. Simon. Read a fuckin' book.
Fast forward to the cinema today and most movies seem to be all about the CGI and not the story. Basically it has only gotten worse and while I liked the SW saga it does sadden me to know it was a precursor to the slop we have today. In that sense I suppose we should blame Tron but I really enjoyed Tron back in the day and look forward to the sequel.
Basically, I am saying, you can use CGI/SFX that is a part of the story not the entire story. Sadly Hollywood has forgotten this.
Strange, I thought Star Wars was supposed to be a Hero's Journey, dealing with important issues like personal growth, triumph over adversity, redemption, love, risking your life for others, rebellion in the face of overwhelming odds and authority. The Empire is essentially nazis in space (godwin'd), but thats not the entire story. The characters have quite a bit of depth to them.
Snobbish elitism of discounting a fun movie just becuase it doesn't have some super deep meaning is just as bad as those that just want action and explosions and dismiss great black and white classic films. Granted I've always been a little lukewarm towards Jedi due to the Ewoks and other things (though I still like it as entertainment). Him not liking The Empire Strikes Back I find much more offensives as it's one of the great sequels ever made.
@89commonsense I believe you need to find a dictionary and look up the word "Classic". History and millions of people have proven the original Star Wars trilogy meet a few of those definitions. They are classic sci-fi/adventure films. Fact.
It's probably a good thing that John Simon didn't have kids; imagine being the only kid in town whose dad won't let you see the STAR WARS films because he thinks they're "not smart enough". I bet whatever films he would've let his kids see would bore them to tears.
I also love the way he insults STAR WARS fans by saying the films aren't for people with adult mentalities. What an asshole.
@kentonlarsen lol! He should've been making his argument against a movie like that instead. I'm pretty sure Megan Fox wasn't even necessary to the plot, was she?
Simon has an excellent point, but he's using it against the wrong target. Yes, there are movies that essentially only dumb-down society while promoting sex or violence, but Star Wars is hardly the worst of these. Like one of the other guys said, as far as movies like that go, Star Wars is really quite good and is actually mostly clean.
I agree with his argument, but not his target. He should be using that argument against other movies (and now video games) than Star Wars.
@Xanofar I'd have to disagree. If a movie promotes sex, violence, or whatever. Whether it's done well or poorly, it does not do anything to society. Individuals either get dumber or smarter based on their own actions. Personal responsibility is something a lot of people disregard nowadays. Putting to much emphasis on "things" damaging people. When that rarely, if ever, is the case.
There are certain things that will simply sell relatively well, regardless of how good or bad they are. A creator should take some responsibility (not all, but some) over what they create. I'm not saying that the creator should be held legally responsible (that would get out of hand very quickly), but the person should at least feel some moral responsibility for their creations.
@Xanofar I don't believe the creator has a responsibility to anyone but the people who employ him, the people he works with & to his idea. Morality is irrelevant (except under obvious extreme circumstances) because it's mostly subjective. Some think sex & violence in movies in immoral, when in reality it's just fine for example. To each his own.
When Star Wars first came out, it sold really well at first. George Lucas was pessimistic, because "all sci-fi films sell really well in the first couple weeks at the theaters" (paraphrase).
But Star Wars continued to sell out in theaters far beyond it's sixth week of screening, and many people were watching it multiple times.
Sci-fi may be viewed as a generally sloppy genre, but Star Wars is undeniably a cut above the rest.
Personal responsibility applies to everyone, including producers - perhaps especially to them. I'm surprised to see someone so into media discount its power of influence. I can't think of a more powerful medium to mold people. Governments know it, corporations know it, teachers know it, and movie studios know it.
Wow, Simon has obviously never been a child, never been in love, never had any joy in life whatsoever. I don't HATE him, I pity him. How horrible to never have had an imagination.
This guy was a moron of epic proportions. Return of the Jedi was filled with classic story telling themes. It had special effects but it was also a very heart felt movie. Who could one watch look burning the body of Vader, in silent recognition that he brought his father back from the Dark Side, not be emotionally moved. This movie was anything but " a jumbled mess". Its a classic film that stand the test of time like few films can.
the reason he didn't get it,the first critic.because he wasn't open.The imagination of Mr.George Lucas is full of heart in abundance.I'am at the moment reviewing in depth the success of the the series.There is an age old message in the complex factitious style it was displayed for viewing..which is simply "Beleive in Yourself" Thats what I got out of it.Children always should be told this one way or another.
If you didn't create your own ideas about these films (Empire being the least facile) you would feel ill. That's how they get you to like them. You like the good chemicals your brain produces just to ward off the anger and despair you would feel if you deatchedly analysed this pap.
This guy's a douche. I don't understand how being a critic is a job. You're just complaining about your own opinion. Even with that aside, he has no idea what he's talking about. And for the record, there is no point in tearing apart a movie bit by bit. It's there to be enjoyed, is that so hard!
im a massive star wars fan *even have a big star wars picture on my wall with wall mounted force fx sabers lol*. But to be honost this critic didnt offend me. I didnt agree with his views but i didnt feel he was saying it to just be hated, i could see he did genuinly believe was he was saying and at least he explained his views. They all made good points. As obi wan says "you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view" :P
WOW! who pissed in that guys morning Star Bucks?what a downer that that guy is, feel sorry for him,to not to be able to enjoy any of the three "Star Wars" films.
Mr Simon must have forgotten about the creative aspect of filmmaking and never heard of the mythological underpinnings of Star Wars. In other words he lacked imagination. I'm glad he wasn't my dad. My dad loved it as much as I did. Like everyone one else in the theater, he cheered when Vader first walked down the ramp at the beginning.
Why would you cheer for a villian? I think Mr Simon was dead right on with the prequeels. they were stupid...I liked the original trilolgy..he was wrong about the original triology, but the prequels were awful.
I aksed my dad why everyone was cheering for Vader. he said that even though Vader was the villain, he is a familiar adversary and it was 3 years since Ep V. So to see our old nemesis , it was more out of respect for the character. But then we knew him as Luke's father. that changed things.
As for the prequels, this guy never saw them, this interview was done when Ep VI was just released. 1983. He was talking like a person with out a literary mind and like he was never a kid.
How many of those stupid kids from the 80s are now doctors , lawyers, NASA employees, pilots and scientists? and how many are filmmakers because they were inspired by Star Wars- Dean Devlin, James Cameron, Peter Jackson
and many others, are who they are because Lucas said , "you can do it!" with Star Wars
@Mr508films "How many of these stupid kids... are now filmmakers... Dean Devlin, James Cameron, Peter Jackson..."
Dean Devlin -- Bad example. Stupid is as stupid does. James Cameron is a crowd pleaser, hasn't done a "deep" film since... the Abyss? (lol) Peter Jackson is an admitted schlockmeister who was in the right place and assembled the right team at the right time to do LOTR, not unlike Lucas! Try Aronofsky, he's a sci-fi fan and smart.
you are not getting my point. whether your'e a summer blockbuster filmmaker like Michael Bay or Cameron or a classic filmmaker like the late Anthony Minghella
they are successful, they have made alot of money with their craft. As far as Peter Jackson is concerned, he's not a schlockmeister. and yes he assembled the right team to make LOTR, that's how you make movies.
I'm a filmmaker and I wish I had the people that Jackson and Lucas had. I would hope to make the movies they make.
John Simon says that he would find Yoda cute for a moment. That wasn't what Siskel meant when he asked if Simon's heart was touched by Yoda. He meant Yoda's character and philosophy. I'm sad that Simon only looked on the surface and judged Yoda by his appearance, when Yoda himself said, "Judge me by my size, do you?" Apparantly Simon does.
this is exactly what I mean, Simon FAILED to see the meaning inherent in the story. The real meanings and messages that Lucas was trying to get across were completely and utterly lost on this guy. How he made it through life and worked as a film critic with that arrogance is amazing. He makes Emperor Palpatine look like Rachel Ray
The whole intent of the star wars films was to entertain children-he was right about that with very little life lessons like in Huckleberry Finn or Tom Sawyer, even the Greek myths...Im sure Mr Simon never saw the prequels because they were garbarge..but Jedi did seem to cater to a very immature audience, little children because of the inclusion of the Ewokes...like I said, he seemed to be right on the money in some regards like the prequels....the most adult movie was defnally Empire.
You don't understand, He didn't see the prequels because they were garbage ( BTW EP 3 is not total garbage.) He didn't see them because he was probably dead by the time they were released. This interview, I repeat was done in 1983 when Jedi came out. See how young Kopel, Siskel & Ebert are in it? old video footage. do you get that? You both are wrong about the mythology.. i
The prequels weren'tt even a thought in anybody's brain yet except Lucas'. IT goes deeper than Ewoks. Good vs evil
HE ISN'T DEAD. LIKE I SAID, EVEN SISKEL AND EBERT SAID THAT JEDI WANS'T AS GOOD AS EMPIRE. EBERT SAID IN ANOTHER INTERVIEW THAT EMPIRE WAS A FAR BETTER MOVIE THAN JEDI. JEDI WAS A CHILDISH MOVIE IN MANY RESPECTS, AND MR LUCAS REPEATED THAT IN THE PREQUELS, UNFORTUNATELY. But even many people said that Harrison Ford finally proved he could act without special effects in films like Witness.
So the hell what this video was not about the damn prequels and Simon's critique doesn't mean shit because the guy is so arrogant and hasn't an ounce of imagination in him. If he's not dead, where is he, is he still reviewing films? Emprie was the best and I would rank Ep 4 and 3 right after Empire in terms of story and intensity. Harrison Ford has always beena good actor even before Witness. He was, aside from Cushing and Guiness the best actor in the first series. the writing was better to.
Looking back at this i'd say John Simon was a bitter old man. I was 8 years old when I saw Jedi at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, CA. Obviously John had a lousy childhood. Kids should be kids - enjoy being young and innocent. Have an imagination for christsakes! Ofcourse as you get older things become more serious but who wants to end up like John Simon at his age? Having a young mentality improves your outlook on life and your life expectancy. Btw, I think John is dead, now.
@cjms08 - I dunno what this guy was thinking. He just seemed so bitter all around in this interview. Makes you wonder what kind of childhood he had in the 30s or 40s. We were so young . I'm just greaful to have been a child of the 80s. That decade was truly pioneering for alot of things happening today.
Yes, I´m 40 (Episode IV at seven years old) hardcore fan. But I also read Huckleberry Finn. What this guy is trying to say (so bitter, badly spoken) is in literature you complete the information with yours own imagination. A vegetable could became a monster, a bull...
This is lost with videogamelike intense visual experience.
Besides, ROTJ is really childish with the absurd Ewoks. It was OK at the time, but now it got the "Jar Jar Binks reppelent Effect".
This Simon guy looks like he's never had a day of fun in his life.
I like Ebert because he judges each movie on its own terms. Unlike Mr. Simon, he doesn't hold it against a film that dares to commit the sin of being *gasp* fun and imaginative.
might or might not like it due to taste but you never know. I mean hey, imagination drives me through reality and encourages me to pursue my dreams and it makes me feel great and very human. If I just follow John Simon's view of the films, I'd be incredibly bored and have no interest in life. A film like Star Wars is great because it teaches you life lessons in a meaningful way and goes straight for the heart instead of over my head
My obvious first comment is of course that John Simon is an old school critic and a bit ignorant. That being said, I find Star Wars absolutely amazing because it has an epic story, awesome characters, and jaw dropping imagination. My imagination is actually what drives me in life and helps me enhance my curiousity and intelligence because I want to explore the world and see and do new things. Its the same way with Tom Sawyer for me as well and I;m willing to try an Ingmar Bergman film but I
And I think Simon intentionally fumbles and pulls out his ear piece in desperation as Gene goes in for the kill. I miss Siskel and Ebert together they were great. Never was the same after Siskel died. They were truly a great pair used to watch At the Movies every week when I was a kid. I like Ropert but Siskel and Ebert were the real team. They had such respect for one another and were friends.
God could you imagine if this asshole Simon could see today's CGI abortions? I love the first 3 Star Wars films, I grew up with them. The later 3 were terrible, I agree you could apply Simon's argument about Jedi to the later 3. But God I feel like he must feel here about all the shit Hollywood puts out now. And get ready for the new GI Joe flick, more CGI and explosions giving the appearance of a video game with horrid acting.
jeesh, john simon seems like a perfect example of one of J M Barrie's grown ups, that have no sense of humor, no imagination, and are boring. Besides, if you look at star wars the right way, its very thematically applicable and understandable in terms of this world.
GENE FTW!!!
LordoftheJimmy 3 weeks ago
I can't even imagine a child who would want to see "Tender Mercies". That's like making your kid's first film be something like Schindler's List or The Godfather.
MountDoomPictures 1 month ago
@2Majesties I totally agree. Though Simon comes off as a pompous ass, critics are an important, if not vital component in completing the artistic circle. It's because of some of Roger Ebert's reviews alone that I even know about films I've now come to love, things the masses overlook.
I don't know why some people are so offended by negative reviews. After all, how could Simon's opinion effect anybody at all, unless, of course, he actually made a valid point...
jg2904 1 month ago 2
Comment removed
jg2904 1 month ago
Those who can't do, critique
anadthebarbarian 2 months ago
@anadthebarbarian A fallacy of epic proportions, considering how many artistic masters also have published criticisms...
jg2904 1 month ago
Such criticism of Star Wars is really criticism of mythic themes that are common throughout mythology and story-telling. It's no secret that Lucas was heavily influenced by Joseph Campbell's writings. Well so what if similar themes run throughout mythology, and can even be distilled in the form of "simplistic" storytelling for children or "childish adults". Such intellectual snobbery is really a belittling of the audience and myth itself, not merely the storyteller.
horsie111 3 months ago
This man is mentally ill.wtf.
iKa11e 3 months ago
hahah this guy looks like FOOL NOW
carollshelby500 3 months ago
I find your lack of faith disturbing (Simon). Clearly this man was suduced by the Dark Side of the Force. He ceased to be a good film critic and instead became Simon. So what he told us was true. From a certain point of view. LOL. What an uptight, self absorbed idiot!
DarthConan74 3 months ago
I'm a huge Star Wars fan (especially of the original films) and I respect Mr. Simon's opinion and analysis. Having said that, in certain respects, Mr. Simon seemed to be gazing into the future and the present state of Hollywood (late 90's to today). I could only imagine what Mr. Simon would say about today's 'fantasy/sci-fi' blockbuster hits like Transformers & The Hulk movies etc. The great thing about the original Star Wars movies is that they speak to both young and old in differing ways.
Lunatic4Bizcas 4 months ago 7
Simon's being expressly unable to identify with Star Wars describes a lot more about himself than Star Wars. The entire interview lacked any critiquing of any movie. He was critiquing himself.
And it wasn't a pretty picture.
TheJediCharles 5 months ago 2
Shortly after this interview, Jabba fed John Simon to the Sarlacc. He is currently being digested and has only 972 years to go.
squamish4244 5 months ago
It was because of guys like John Simon that Adolf Hitler set down his paint brush and became the most horrible dictator of all time. I can't stand these guys that have to put things down to bring themselves up.
Guestservice2000 5 months ago
Had to stop this half way through to congratulate John Simons amazing
Opinion of the film.
Not!
craigandrach 5 months ago
That guy who is bad mouthing Star Wars is a pompous ass!
GODCONVOYPRIME 6 months ago
I think this guy has some good points, but he really needs to consider that it's JUST A MOVIE. Not every work of fiction has to have meaningful catharsis indicative of reality; that is what makes it "fiction".
The science fiction / fantasy world of Star Wars exemplifies the "hero story", or "the epic". It is archetypical at its core and is not intended to show what reality is truly like. At 1:27 Simon suggests movies should be indicative of reality... I don't think people see movies for realism.
MasterChieeff 6 months ago
I am so glad John Simon wasn't my dad when I was a kid. He obviously doesn't get what this type of film is about.
kingv911 7 months ago
see this is what happens when someone was locked up in a basement their whole childhood.... he must see star wars on tv and want to go on a killing spree!!!
one word - HATER
marcelo06 7 months ago
WOW this guy takes movies waaaaaaaaaay too seriously..
dbreiden83080 7 months ago
I believe that history will prove Mr. Simon wrong.
matjohnroe 8 months ago
Glad this guy didn't have any children
muen4634 8 months ago
Tender Mercies???? Seriously if I was taken to Tender Mercies when I was a kid instead of ROTJ, I would have cut my parents' hearts out with a spoon! This just shows how disconnected Simon was from every day reality. Film critique should not automatically equal film snobbery.
accursedarachnid 8 months ago
Well... At least this asshole doesn't have kids. And what was he talking about when he was saying the characters were bad? Obviously people loved the characters seeing as there are hundreds of books based on Star Wars that further the universe. Did he honestly look at Han Solo and not think to himself... Hell yeah.
Trevguy00 8 months ago
Weird. Star Wars has a lot of humanity and heart to it. What a douchebag.
YoungDylanFan 8 months ago
he obviously grew up when imagination was laughed at!
XtraPimp 9 months ago
John Simon is a superb critic, literature, theatre and film. A bit stodgy, but really quite brilliant. Do yourself a favor, give him a chance and look up some of his written film criticism from the 60's and 70's. He brings a love of all art forms to his analyses of film that's really amazing and while I didn't agree with all of his judgements about this film or that director, I always respected his craft. It's a bit like the respect you might have for a really tough professor in school....
2Majesties 9 months ago
@2Majesties I'm sorry, but how do you become a "superb" critic when the arts are a subjective medium? A critic may be the most pointless and pathetic job on the planet. A janitor by comparison gets something useful accomplished. You can not judge something to be good or bad when the proof of that relies on the viewer's opinion and not a real system of measurement. Critics & those who believe them are delusional snobs who enjoy blowing smoke up each others asses.
dukeofcrydee 9 months ago
@dukeofcrydee My only point is that there is a long history of great writing by very brilliant people who bring very interesting points of view to analyzing movies. From James Agee and Dwight MacDonald to Pauline Kael and Stanley Kauffman, I learned a great deal about film history & how to enjoy films. The best critics aren't so much interested in telling you what's good or bad but what took place beyond the obvious up on the screen. I want to LEARN something about films when I read about them.
2Majesties 9 months ago
@2Majesties No, your point was to promote John Simon as if he matters. Learn what you will from historians about film history. Learn what you will from the makers of film as to the meaning behind what you see, but to look at a critic's biased opinion of a subjective work to "learn something" is very sad. Your faith is misplaced. John Simon has a right to his opinion, but that doesn't change the fact that his opinion is as much "malodorous offal" as he claims The Empire Strikes Back to be.
dukeofcrydee 9 months ago
@dukeofcrydee What is a film critic? Someone who writes about movies. A good critic is one who can intelligently and articulately explain what they find in a movie, while still remaining open to the emotions and fun of the experience itself, and help the audience find something new in the movie they didn't see before. Real criticism isn't about telling a person whether to see a movie, but discussing the movie descriptively enough so a person can decide whether to see it for themselves.
Megaritz 8 months ago
@dukeofcrydee You know what, guy? Screw you and the high horse you rode in on. John Simon has done more than you probably will ever do, hell! He's done more than I will probably ever do! By the way, why don't you tell me what you do, so I can tell you how "pointless and pathetic" your job is? Sure Criticism is subjective, so is art, so is film, and so is watching a video. So is that "pointless and pathetic"? For f**k's sake, stop being a jerk and just stick to uploading commercials.
kreigaffenumber10 7 months ago
@kreigaffenumber10 LOL I'm curious, what bearing does what I do/have accomplished have on the fact that film critics are useless? Answer, none. I'll clarify though. Those who judge art are useless. To say a piece of art is definitively good or bad? Sorry, no. To each his own. He did. So he's a dick. So are you, & thanks, I will continue to put a smile on people's faces w/ what I upload. And this will be the last I respond on this. Beating a dead horse. Let the douchebag banning begin!
dukeofcrydee 7 months ago
@dukeofcrydee I agree, critics are paid to indulge in their own opinions. No matter how eloquently (pretentiously) they try to express those opinions, it comes down to the same thing for them as it does for anybody's subjective experience with art - did you like it, or not? There's nothing quantifiable about it. Really, in the big scheme of things their function is probably just advertising anyway, whether they like it, or not.
jmich328 1 month ago
@2Majesties But the dude is a fucking DOUCHEBAG...
Guestservice2000 5 months ago
wow I pitty that mans childhood.... if you can't even enjoy star wars then I pitty him
LazerDude99 9 months ago
John Simon was abused as a child.
spureagle 9 months ago
LOL, sounds to me like this guy simply had sensory overload from watching the movie. He must be a relative of Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer.
fearguis 9 months ago
Three terrible actors and gastly dialogue? Boy he should have seen the prequels, his head would turn even greener.
HLimmen 10 months ago 6
This critic John Simon is a complete tool.Did he understand this movie?? At
all?? He completely missed the universal nature of the story and characters.
mrbrianmccarthy 10 months ago
it's a classic fairy tale of good and evil.....it's not made to make you more smart but to stimulate your fantasy
ryan49er1 10 months ago
this is such a dumb argument,how can these people actually live?
darknessviking 10 months ago
That first guy is a tool. This guy has no imagination. "Huck Finn tells a child about, reality, about people, about life, about growning up. " And Star Wars doesn't? Luke's whole transformation over the span of these movies is all about that. Actually, the people that like these movies are usually the "smarter" crowd than those who don't. At least that was the case back when it came out.
skysamfreeman 10 months ago
what a DICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mayorarce 11 months ago
This is what makes youtube, so Awesome !!!! finding old TV footage you, would never see again otherwise!!!
Reborn8303 11 months ago
These movies also promote friendship, loyalty, discipline, restraint, honor, compassion, forbearance and even, specifically, reconciling with one's parents while they live. How horrible! /sarc
shadowphae 11 months ago
guy number 1 is a plank!!
TheK00000 11 months ago
I bet this guy is face palming himself now
TheJimmyShellChannel 11 months ago
@TheJimmyShellChannel
Why? I am sure starwars was already mega-popular by this time.
LittleEmoBoy001 10 months ago
@LittleEmoBoy001 Well yeah but not as popular as it is today
TheJimmyShellChannel 10 months ago
@TheJimmyShellChannel
I'm true the same could be said of um, I don't know, water.
LittleEmoBoy001 10 months ago
BOY... what would Mr. Simon think of today's blockbusters if he thinks that Return of the Jedi is 90% special effects.
jamiahls 11 months ago
Who IS this guy? He seems to scream, "Hello. I'm smart, sophisticated, repectable and anyone who likes this is a moron!" It's 27 years later, Star Wars has become a multibillion phenomenon, and who remebers this douche bag?
katarnlunney 11 months ago
@katarnlunney
This is not a logical basis to say whether or not he made any sensible points. Popularity does not always mean quality. I mean look at justin bieber.
LittleEmoBoy001 10 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Dude doesn't cum when he fucks.
igottabigwon 11 months ago
All this proves is how awesome Siskel and Ebert really were. Star Wars FTW!
KmorrisonNCC1701 11 months ago
Star Wars has inspired a countless number of filmmakers including myself, and it has broadened all of our imaginations. This John Simon guy is just a dull, boring, lifeless, Nazi, un-imaginative fuck.
Dgamer21 1 year ago
A movie shot in 3D??? In the 80s?? WTF??
OheyBro 1 year ago
@OheyBro Yeah. There was a 3D trend in the 80's too.
Flairbrusher2010 11 months ago
Wow that John Simon guy is a moron. Star Wars is awesome :D
OheyBro 1 year ago
John Simon has always come across as a bit of a Nazi, but he’s right about the “Star Wars” garbage.
HenryConway007 1 year ago
Can somebody say "old geezer"? Not that I do not respect he's opinions but he's way too old fashioned, even for late 80's standards.
TKGB2006 1 year ago
Simon's voice reminds me of Dr. Strangelove.
jollymanbigboy 1 year ago
Siskel is such a buffoon in this video. Wasn't your heart warmed by Yoda? Blech! Then he gives that smug look like he thinks he's Oscar Wilde.
hoopskoop3451 1 year ago
Wow John Simon is one gigantic prick.
badtown88 1 year ago
Damn if that guy thinks the olds ones are bad I think his head would shoot himself if he seen the new ones
TheCoolieyo 1 year ago
TESB awful?
REALLY?!
IamConnorMacLeod 1 year ago
Today we know that sports lead to violence and drugs.
There ar nothing ofintelectual in the useof drugs, marxism is bulshit
And the intelectuals are people wich like sci-fi, fantasy and coimic books.
If you want your childrens out of troubles and became good and healty citizens you send them to play dungeons & dragons, read comic books and play videogames.
raknai 1 year ago
Those guys which self-proclaim thenselfs "serious adults" always reavel to be childshi and dumbs.
Interesting to see the wrong values from 1983.
intelectuals are people which read marxist filosophy have used drugs in the 60's.
Dungeons & dragons, sience ficition and comics lead people to violence.
raknai 1 year ago
I've see at lot of movies and I am highly critical and picky. With that being said, I would say that the Empire Strikes back is within the top 3 best films I have ever seen!
mdstalla 1 year ago
How does he get SW to be 90% special effects? Three lousy actors? Miserable characterisation? Lousy plot? SOMETHING WALT DISNEY COULDVE DONE JUST AS WELL WITH A DRAWING BOARD? DISNEY COULDNT MAKE THAT KIND OF A MOVIE EVEN TODAY! holy FUCK does this guy not understand what ENTERTAINMENT is about, holy SHIT - THIS GUY is a MOVIE CRITIC????
I will bet he never have had fun for even five minutes of his life.
hcvang 1 year ago
Wonderful. Ebert hit it on the head when he said that he (Ebert) wasn't childlike, only that he wasn't old at heart, like John Simon. When you lose that sense of escape that a movie can provide, you become a John Simon of the world. I'm still trying as hard as I can to be an Ebert.
wsaylors 1 year ago
Brillant video, great discussion. How televison should be.
bierbuik 1 year ago
i wonder if john simon liked son in law??? lol
ryan49er1 1 year ago
3:02 My review for Avatar
MrBlockishMark 1 year ago 2
Throw John Simon in the rancor pit.
RDarth 1 year ago 3
star wars was never much good but it was not as bad as this crtic made it out to be but it's true the dialogue is awful, repetitive and in the end the story is just about good versus evil and nothing like 2001: A Space Odyssey which had something to say about human evolution and nature or Brazil which was about human corruption. I think star wars was great once but has degenerated ever since.
Regenmacher175 1 year ago
Siskel & Ebert kick that john simons ass!
ifilmstuf24 1 year ago 3
This Simon moron should just shut his gob and stop embarrassing himself.
tricesimo 1 year ago 3
It bugs me a bit that there seems to be such a conviction among some that animated material cannot be classic or "high-brow" because it is drawn (in some form or another with respect to computer animation today).
unMotivator 1 year ago
@unMotivator This person talks about movies making people stupid, and yet he doesnt understand the medium he's supposed to be reviewing - who is stupid now, Simon?
because you cant see beneath the surface of characters, understand their place in the story or the films universe, it doesnt mean that the rest of us are as stupid and unimaginative as you are, Simon.
FILM critic?!?!?!?! the guy doesnt even understand the medium, nor the PURPOSE of the medium.
go read crime and punishment, Simon.
hcvang 1 year ago
Simon has never, obviously, read a word of Joseph Campbell. Star Wars isn't about life? Is he fucking kidding me? He is absolutely a complete moron. The entire point of the film is that the human element, let's say "Father and Son", prevailed over all the technology. Even Vader says in A New Hope that the technology is nothing compared to the force so, basically fuck you Mr. Simon. Read a fuckin' book.
wasteland70 1 year ago
I can hear lightsabers in the background...
alkalinexiii 1 year ago
I think mr simon was reviewing the prequel trilogy!
buffcode07 1 year ago
Damn Jew doesn't know a good film when he sees it. Damn Jew
mythic89 1 year ago
@mythic89 Hey Gene Siskel was Jewish too, that has nothing to do with it!
LordoftheJimmy 1 year ago
NO YOU'RE DUMB!
Udiel 1 year ago
Fast forward to the cinema today and most movies seem to be all about the CGI and not the story. Basically it has only gotten worse and while I liked the SW saga it does sadden me to know it was a precursor to the slop we have today. In that sense I suppose we should blame Tron but I really enjoyed Tron back in the day and look forward to the sequel.
Basically, I am saying, you can use CGI/SFX that is a part of the story not the entire story. Sadly Hollywood has forgotten this.
GhostOfACPast 1 year ago
John Simon (whoever the fuck that is) is DUMBER than HE NEEDS to be.
Jacktwo04 1 year ago
old jew is angry that non-jew films are on his lawn.
Skurvy2k 1 year ago 2
"That would be where I would take my children....if I had any..."
haha, forever alone.
andrewn630 1 year ago
Strange, I thought Star Wars was supposed to be a Hero's Journey, dealing with important issues like personal growth, triumph over adversity, redemption, love, risking your life for others, rebellion in the face of overwhelming odds and authority. The Empire is essentially nazis in space (godwin'd), but thats not the entire story. The characters have quite a bit of depth to them.
shoseki 1 year ago
Snobbish elitism of discounting a fun movie just becuase it doesn't have some super deep meaning is just as bad as those that just want action and explosions and dismiss great black and white classic films. Granted I've always been a little lukewarm towards Jedi due to the Ewoks and other things (though I still like it as entertainment). Him not liking The Empire Strikes Back I find much more offensives as it's one of the great sequels ever made.
Chris25698 1 year ago 11
@89commonsense I believe you need to find a dictionary and look up the word "Classic". History and millions of people have proven the original Star Wars trilogy meet a few of those definitions. They are classic sci-fi/adventure films. Fact.
dukeofcrydee 1 year ago 4
It's probably a good thing that John Simon didn't have kids; imagine being the only kid in town whose dad won't let you see the STAR WARS films because he thinks they're "not smart enough". I bet whatever films he would've let his kids see would bore them to tears.
I also love the way he insults STAR WARS fans by saying the films aren't for people with adult mentalities. What an asshole.
petercharleskrug 1 year ago
Simon is a pretentious, angry, miserable communist!
pundar 1 year ago 4
This guy must have put a bullet through his head when he saw Transformers 2.
kentonlarsen 1 year ago 22
@kentonlarsen lol! He should've been making his argument against a movie like that instead. I'm pretty sure Megan Fox wasn't even necessary to the plot, was she?
Xanofar 1 year ago
@kentonlarsen Lmao!
cornflakesbaby 1 year ago
@kentonlarsen Just imagine when he saw the prequels...
Kefkadet 1 year ago
Simon has an excellent point, but he's using it against the wrong target. Yes, there are movies that essentially only dumb-down society while promoting sex or violence, but Star Wars is hardly the worst of these. Like one of the other guys said, as far as movies like that go, Star Wars is really quite good and is actually mostly clean.
I agree with his argument, but not his target. He should be using that argument against other movies (and now video games) than Star Wars.
Xanofar 1 year ago 3
@Xanofar I'd have to disagree. If a movie promotes sex, violence, or whatever. Whether it's done well or poorly, it does not do anything to society. Individuals either get dumber or smarter based on their own actions. Personal responsibility is something a lot of people disregard nowadays. Putting to much emphasis on "things" damaging people. When that rarely, if ever, is the case.
dukeofcrydee 1 year ago
@dukeofcrydee I don't mean that people can't control themselves, but there is also the responsibility of the creator.
Xanofar 1 year ago
@dukeofcrydee To quickly add to my last reply:
There are certain things that will simply sell relatively well, regardless of how good or bad they are. A creator should take some responsibility (not all, but some) over what they create. I'm not saying that the creator should be held legally responsible (that would get out of hand very quickly), but the person should at least feel some moral responsibility for their creations.
Xanofar 1 year ago
@Xanofar I don't believe the creator has a responsibility to anyone but the people who employ him, the people he works with & to his idea. Morality is irrelevant (except under obvious extreme circumstances) because it's mostly subjective. Some think sex & violence in movies in immoral, when in reality it's just fine for example. To each his own.
dukeofcrydee 1 year ago
@dukeofcrydee (back to the subject, 3rd reply)
When Star Wars first came out, it sold really well at first. George Lucas was pessimistic, because "all sci-fi films sell really well in the first couple weeks at the theaters" (paraphrase).
But Star Wars continued to sell out in theaters far beyond it's sixth week of screening, and many people were watching it multiple times.
Sci-fi may be viewed as a generally sloppy genre, but Star Wars is undeniably a cut above the rest.
Xanofar 1 year ago
@dukeofcrydee
Personal responsibility applies to everyone, including producers - perhaps especially to them. I'm surprised to see someone so into media discount its power of influence. I can't think of a more powerful medium to mold people. Governments know it, corporations know it, teachers know it, and movie studios know it.
TheGiantRobot 11 months ago
cynical critic: "my children..." *sad pause* "...if I had them..." that pretty well sums things up doesn't it?
bijibadness 1 year ago
Wow, Simon has obviously never been a child, never been in love, never had any joy in life whatsoever. I don't HATE him, I pity him. How horrible to never have had an imagination.
setialphasix 1 year ago 4
"Three lousy actors in the main roles." Really?!
yeah Harrison Ford is a lousy actor thats made more then Mr Simmons would make in 6 life times being a lousy film critic. what an idiot.
TheWhiteOnRye 1 year ago
What do you know. The bastard has a point..
ironhills 1 year ago
john simmons sucks
stopmotion1016 1 year ago
This guy was a moron of epic proportions. Return of the Jedi was filled with classic story telling themes. It had special effects but it was also a very heart felt movie. Who could one watch look burning the body of Vader, in silent recognition that he brought his father back from the Dark Side, not be emotionally moved. This movie was anything but " a jumbled mess". Its a classic film that stand the test of time like few films can.
TheComicBoss 1 year ago
the reason he didn't get it,the first critic.because he wasn't open.The imagination of Mr.George Lucas is full of heart in abundance.I'am at the moment reviewing in depth the success of the the series.There is an age old message in the complex factitious style it was displayed for viewing..which is simply "Beleive in Yourself" Thats what I got out of it.Children always should be told this one way or another.
MrJacksonvill 1 year ago
I've never heard of this guy. What makes this douchebag an authority on cinema?
usafdrum1 1 year ago
what an arrogant ass. I wonder why do we have critics?
notaclerk1 1 year ago
0:55 LOL he looks like the Emperor which would explain why he doesn’t like Star Wars.
I like Star Wars for its technical sound mix recoding in Dolby Stereo 6track!
This first critic must have been abused when he was kid. Booo Hisss get the fuck off!!!!!
EmpireLS56KW 1 year ago
If you didn't create your own ideas about these films (Empire being the least facile) you would feel ill. That's how they get you to like them. You like the good chemicals your brain produces just to ward off the anger and despair you would feel if you deatchedly analysed this pap.
avidalocan 1 year ago
@avidalocan Hey ma, look! It's a douchebag!!
dukeofcrydee 1 year ago
@dukeofcrydee LOL
7128AKB 1 year ago
This guy's a douche. I don't understand how being a critic is a job. You're just complaining about your own opinion. Even with that aside, he has no idea what he's talking about. And for the record, there is no point in tearing apart a movie bit by bit. It's there to be enjoyed, is that so hard!
survivurman 1 year ago
wow he talks about avatar. he got the sixth sense ahahahahaa it seems every BIG movie gets stabbed in the belly
leviterande 1 year ago
Holy crap. Did this guy just call Harrison Ford a lousy actor. Had he not seen Indiana Jones? Both were shot and released at the same time...
flamystar 1 year ago
Does Simon enter a time warp? 'cause him trash talking the originals doesn't make any sense, I could've sworn he was referring to the Prequels.
One176 1 year ago
That phone that keeps ringing during Mr. Simon's blathering is to let him know that they've found a donor for his personality replacement surgery.
MatthewErich 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I think John Simon was the inspiration for the Family Guy character Buzz Killington. "ahhhhhh"
securityguardclass4 1 year ago 2
DID HE CALL HARRISON FORD A LOUSY ACTOR???????
jesusfreakrkg 1 year ago
im a massive star wars fan *even have a big star wars picture on my wall with wall mounted force fx sabers lol*. But to be honost this critic didnt offend me. I didnt agree with his views but i didnt feel he was saying it to just be hated, i could see he did genuinly believe was he was saying and at least he explained his views. They all made good points. As obi wan says "you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view" :P
critbot 1 year ago 3
What a douchebag
WatchMyAwesomeVideos 1 year ago
Tender Mercies was really good. I'll agree with Simon on that...
CountryRoadTrip 1 year ago
That guy is before his time:p.. He is saying the same things as some people are saying about the prequels today. i fine that funny.
JonesIIRoman 1 year ago
WOW! who pissed in that guys morning Star Bucks?what a downer that that guy is, feel sorry for him,to not to be able to enjoy any of the three "Star Wars" films.
GOODFELLAS74 1 year ago
It's funny. The negative critics comments are exactly the way everyone reacted to the prequels.
jjay75 2 years ago
because the prequels were far inferior to the original trilogy.
jw870206 1 year ago
Mr Simon must have forgotten about the creative aspect of filmmaking and never heard of the mythological underpinnings of Star Wars. In other words he lacked imagination. I'm glad he wasn't my dad. My dad loved it as much as I did. Like everyone one else in the theater, he cheered when Vader first walked down the ramp at the beginning.
Mr508films 2 years ago
Why would you cheer for a villian? I think Mr Simon was dead right on with the prequeels. they were stupid...I liked the original trilolgy..he was wrong about the original triology, but the prequels were awful.
3dartistguy 2 years ago
I aksed my dad why everyone was cheering for Vader. he said that even though Vader was the villain, he is a familiar adversary and it was 3 years since Ep V. So to see our old nemesis , it was more out of respect for the character. But then we knew him as Luke's father. that changed things.
As for the prequels, this guy never saw them, this interview was done when Ep VI was just released. 1983. He was talking like a person with out a literary mind and like he was never a kid.
Mr508films 2 years ago
Well he was right about the Prequels...right on the mark definally.
3dartistguy 2 years ago
what he says is totally applicable to the prequel trilogy. (Special effects part)
bolso4 2 years ago
"stupid kids"
This guy is such a dick.
RykoMD 2 years ago
The "stupid children" of the 80s have contributed so much to science and technology. Guess Star Wars wasn't too bad for them!
topraman519 2 years ago
How many of those stupid kids from the 80s are now doctors , lawyers, NASA employees, pilots and scientists? and how many are filmmakers because they were inspired by Star Wars- Dean Devlin, James Cameron, Peter Jackson
and many others, are who they are because Lucas said , "you can do it!" with Star Wars
Mr508films 2 years ago
@Mr508films "How many of these stupid kids... are now filmmakers... Dean Devlin, James Cameron, Peter Jackson..."
Dean Devlin -- Bad example. Stupid is as stupid does. James Cameron is a crowd pleaser, hasn't done a "deep" film since... the Abyss? (lol) Peter Jackson is an admitted schlockmeister who was in the right place and assembled the right team at the right time to do LOTR, not unlike Lucas! Try Aronofsky, he's a sci-fi fan and smart.
ijwi 1 year ago
@ijwi -
you are not getting my point. whether your'e a summer blockbuster filmmaker like Michael Bay or Cameron or a classic filmmaker like the late Anthony Minghella
they are successful, they have made alot of money with their craft. As far as Peter Jackson is concerned, he's not a schlockmeister. and yes he assembled the right team to make LOTR, that's how you make movies.
I'm a filmmaker and I wish I had the people that Jackson and Lucas had. I would hope to make the movies they make.
Mr508films 1 year ago
John Simon says that he would find Yoda cute for a moment. That wasn't what Siskel meant when he asked if Simon's heart was touched by Yoda. He meant Yoda's character and philosophy. I'm sad that Simon only looked on the surface and judged Yoda by his appearance, when Yoda himself said, "Judge me by my size, do you?" Apparantly Simon does.
AvatarYoda 2 years ago
To be fair the philosophy of Yoda is kind of shallow. I know it's not trying to be a Bergman movie, but still.
nikosvault 2 years ago
this is exactly what I mean, Simon FAILED to see the meaning inherent in the story. The real meanings and messages that Lucas was trying to get across were completely and utterly lost on this guy. How he made it through life and worked as a film critic with that arrogance is amazing. He makes Emperor Palpatine look like Rachel Ray
Mr508films 2 years ago
The whole intent of the star wars films was to entertain children-he was right about that with very little life lessons like in Huckleberry Finn or Tom Sawyer, even the Greek myths...Im sure Mr Simon never saw the prequels because they were garbarge..but Jedi did seem to cater to a very immature audience, little children because of the inclusion of the Ewokes...like I said, he seemed to be right on the money in some regards like the prequels....the most adult movie was defnally Empire.
3dartistguy 2 years ago
You don't understand, He didn't see the prequels because they were garbage ( BTW EP 3 is not total garbage.) He didn't see them because he was probably dead by the time they were released. This interview, I repeat was done in 1983 when Jedi came out. See how young Kopel, Siskel & Ebert are in it? old video footage. do you get that? You both are wrong about the mythology.. i
The prequels weren'tt even a thought in anybody's brain yet except Lucas'. IT goes deeper than Ewoks. Good vs evil
Mr508films 2 years ago
HE ISN'T DEAD. LIKE I SAID, EVEN SISKEL AND EBERT SAID THAT JEDI WANS'T AS GOOD AS EMPIRE. EBERT SAID IN ANOTHER INTERVIEW THAT EMPIRE WAS A FAR BETTER MOVIE THAN JEDI. JEDI WAS A CHILDISH MOVIE IN MANY RESPECTS, AND MR LUCAS REPEATED THAT IN THE PREQUELS, UNFORTUNATELY. But even many people said that Harrison Ford finally proved he could act without special effects in films like Witness.
3dartistguy 2 years ago
So the hell what this video was not about the damn prequels and Simon's critique doesn't mean shit because the guy is so arrogant and hasn't an ounce of imagination in him. If he's not dead, where is he, is he still reviewing films? Emprie was the best and I would rank Ep 4 and 3 right after Empire in terms of story and intensity. Harrison Ford has always beena good actor even before Witness. He was, aside from Cushing and Guiness the best actor in the first series. the writing was better to.
Mr508films 2 years ago
he didn't do too bad of a job in american graffiti, despite having very limited screen time.
jw870206 1 year ago
well said. i couldn't have said it much better.
jw870206 1 year ago
whoever that critic is tell him to go suck an egg it is a classic he needs to figure out animated from si-fi
padameamidala 2 years ago
half of these film critics dont know shit the sw movies are fucking classics up there with wizard of oz
painsey 2 years ago
Looking back at this i'd say John Simon was a bitter old man. I was 8 years old when I saw Jedi at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, CA. Obviously John had a lousy childhood. Kids should be kids - enjoy being young and innocent. Have an imagination for christsakes! Ofcourse as you get older things become more serious but who wants to end up like John Simon at his age? Having a young mentality improves your outlook on life and your life expectancy. Btw, I think John is dead, now.
Grooveraider 2 years ago
@Grooveraider i was 6 when it came out this old guy was crazy his best movie was probably a bomb with what he thinks is a great story line
cjms08 2 years ago
@cjms08 - I dunno what this guy was thinking. He just seemed so bitter all around in this interview. Makes you wonder what kind of childhood he had in the 30s or 40s. We were so young . I'm just greaful to have been a child of the 80s. That decade was truly pioneering for alot of things happening today.
Grooveraider 2 years ago
Yes, I´m 40 (Episode IV at seven years old) hardcore fan. But I also read Huckleberry Finn. What this guy is trying to say (so bitter, badly spoken) is in literature you complete the information with yours own imagination. A vegetable could became a monster, a bull...
This is lost with videogamelike intense visual experience.
Besides, ROTJ is really childish with the absurd Ewoks. It was OK at the time, but now it got the "Jar Jar Binks reppelent Effect".
stonelenny 2 years ago
Yeah, its not suprising that guys doesnt have any kids.
Noodie1986ify 2 years ago
John unfortunately is not dead. He's still alive, still reviewing, and still as bitter and nasty as ever.
Mattbrain 2 years ago
This Simon guy looks like he's never had a day of fun in his life.
I like Ebert because he judges each movie on its own terms. Unlike Mr. Simon, he doesn't hold it against a film that dares to commit the sin of being *gasp* fun and imaginative.
arnyjk 2 years ago 3
what a miserable git that guy is.
kalsolarUK 2 years ago
might or might not like it due to taste but you never know. I mean hey, imagination drives me through reality and encourages me to pursue my dreams and it makes me feel great and very human. If I just follow John Simon's view of the films, I'd be incredibly bored and have no interest in life. A film like Star Wars is great because it teaches you life lessons in a meaningful way and goes straight for the heart instead of over my head
VegimorphtheMovieBoy 2 years ago
My obvious first comment is of course that John Simon is an old school critic and a bit ignorant. That being said, I find Star Wars absolutely amazing because it has an epic story, awesome characters, and jaw dropping imagination. My imagination is actually what drives me in life and helps me enhance my curiousity and intelligence because I want to explore the world and see and do new things. Its the same way with Tom Sawyer for me as well and I;m willing to try an Ingmar Bergman film but I
VegimorphtheMovieBoy 2 years ago
And I think Simon intentionally fumbles and pulls out his ear piece in desperation as Gene goes in for the kill. I miss Siskel and Ebert together they were great. Never was the same after Siskel died. They were truly a great pair used to watch At the Movies every week when I was a kid. I like Ropert but Siskel and Ebert were the real team. They had such respect for one another and were friends.
Gossage54 2 years ago 2
God could you imagine if this asshole Simon could see today's CGI abortions? I love the first 3 Star Wars films, I grew up with them. The later 3 were terrible, I agree you could apply Simon's argument about Jedi to the later 3. But God I feel like he must feel here about all the shit Hollywood puts out now. And get ready for the new GI Joe flick, more CGI and explosions giving the appearance of a video game with horrid acting.
Gossage54 2 years ago 3
jeesh, john simon seems like a perfect example of one of J M Barrie's grown ups, that have no sense of humor, no imagination, and are boring. Besides, if you look at star wars the right way, its very thematically applicable and understandable in terms of this world.
Gawaine687 2 years ago 2