ROTTEN TOMATOES: Disney Declared "Thumbs" Ban, Ebert Says Comments

Disney Declared "Thumbs" Ban, Ebert Says

by Jen Yamato | August 25, 2007

Summary

Roger Ebert says he is not withholding the trademark "Thumbs" from his televised film reviews show while he and Disney-ABC are in contract negotiations, contrary to a studio press release yesterday that asserted otherwise. Back to Article

(1-36 of 36 posts) | Reply

TortillaSoup writes:
on Aug 25 2007 06:17 PM

How ridiculous.

(Reply to this)

Darule17 writes:
on Aug 25 2007 07:28 PM

wat kind of news is this?? who cares about thumbs up and thumbs down

(Reply to this)

sickofitall writes:
on Aug 25 2007 07:35 PM

who cares i hate critics why is this news

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Dane Cook is NOT Funny writes:
on Aug 25 2007 07:37 PM

I think Ebert thinks he is more important than he is. THe show is better with all the guest critics! Not that Ebert is bad, but who cares? Nobody bases their decision on viewing a movie because of a thumbs up or down!

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Marktime writes:
on Aug 25 2007 07:50 PM

I'm actually a big fan of the show, with Ebert and without. I don't bese my opinions on what is said but I enjoy the debates, I think that it is stpid to try to remove something so well known for no reason.

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South_park300 writes:
on Aug 25 2007 08:07 PM

maybe this means Ebert will take that thumb out of his *** too

(Reply to this)

CoUcH ToMaToE DoUgIe writes:
on Aug 25 2007 08:40 PM

In reply to this comment (#1073109)
South_park300, we can only hope, for Roper's sake!!!!

(Reply to this)

CoUcH ToMaToE DoUgIe writes:
on Aug 25 2007 08:42 PM

In reply to this comment (#1073109)
just kidding, get better roger, we need your criticism so we can

argue something about anyway. hell, i miss you every weekend and this year it hasn't

been the same without your the thumb, the greatest thumb since the fonz!

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freewillgeek writes:
on Aug 26 2007 12:37 AM

Well, they're moronic for wanting no "Thumbs" on the show, regardless of whether they're silly or not.

Also, Ebert is more than just a TV show dude who throws up a thumb if he likes a flick. He's one of the finest writers on film that the country has ever had. His commentary on "Citizen Kane" is one of the best ever. He's the man.

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Thundaar writes:
on Aug 26 2007 04:22 AM

The show is not as good without Roger - or - Siskel. Roeper and the collection of guest judges are a thumbs down in my opinion.

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joemiglite writes:
on Aug 26 2007 05:10 AM

What's the fuss about with the "Thumbs up, Thumbs down" anyway? Ebert is already a trademark in his own right. This news is baloney. It's ridiculous.

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Novastar. writes:
on Aug 26 2007 10:26 AM

If Ebert changes the word 'thumbs' in 'dicks' a lot of peeps will follow him in his crazyness.Indeed my dear friends that's the world we are living in.

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Some guy you dont know writes:
on Aug 26 2007 10:32 AM

Ebert: ''I'll give Stardust three old hairy penises out of four''

Hm. Maybe if he did that, I'd actually give a **** about his opinion again.

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will_butler writes:
on Aug 26 2007 10:54 AM

In reply to this comment (#1073744)
This is entirely correct. His Dark City commentary track is also fantastic.

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Sputnik99 writes:
on Aug 26 2007 11:06 AM

Boy, you Ebert bashers are complete *******s. Grow up a little!

The "Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down" movie criticism method is practically an American icon. A movie brags if it gets the Thumbs up from Ebert and Roeper. It's sad that Ebert can't be on the show anymore. The show has lost a bit of its interest. But I still like to here "thumbs up" when I'm thinking of seeing a movie.

Disney is making a mistake by giving a cold shoulder to Ebert.

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Some guy you dont know writes:
on Aug 26 2007 11:32 AM

I have every right to be as childish as I want.

Ebert is not a big deal. Despite what he feels.

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TheBomb69 writes:
on Aug 26 2007 12:12 PM

*yawn*

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Bonafideplayer writes:
on Aug 26 2007 12:25 PM

Personally I never liked his "thumbs up or thumbs down" approach to marking a movie. I think its far too simplistic.

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GhostSong writes:
on Aug 26 2007 01:57 PM

What this is, is corporate finagling and manipulation tactics. I personally don't care about the subject, but what strikes me as offensive is that Disney feels the need to try and undercut his pay, then take away his trade mark and attempt to back him into a corner where its fear for his lively hood that guides his decision. Especially since he's been an employee and made money for them for three decades. Its illustrates that Disney, and every other corporation out there have no sense of loyalty.

(Reply to this)

h-town24 writes:
on Aug 26 2007 04:33 PM

You people are losers! The man almost died and all you can do is hate like the freaks that you are! Grow a pair and grow up clowns!

(Reply to this)

Some guy you dont know writes:
on Aug 26 2007 05:26 PM

Grow a pair and insult me like a normal person.

'Clown'... Freak...

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javanyet writes:
on Aug 26 2007 06:00 PM

I don't suppose any of the "who cares" eedjits out there care that if Disney establishes the precedent of controlling the "thumbs", i.e. the bottom line of the Ebert review, they will also control the potential review of their films by one of the most recognized critics in the industry?

It doesn't matter if YOU think it doesn't matter. The fact is Roger Ebert is a Pulitzer prizewinning critic of widely recognized stature because he knows filmmaking, not because h blathers about what he "likes". If he "thumbs down" a movie, people pay attention because he knows whereof (look it up, children) he speaks. Disney is greatly threatened by ANYTHING resembling quality control and does their best to squelch it at all costs. So you'd better believe it matters.

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javanyet writes:
on Aug 26 2007 06:05 PM

In reply to this comment (#1073964)
Well I guess you've displayed your discerning taste. Head's (the one above your beltline) up: Ebert's reviews are for people whose brains outweigh their hormones.

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Product_of_You writes:
on Aug 26 2007 06:10 PM

This does indeed matter to me. I like Ebert a lot and will be disappointed if the thumbs disappear. I also like Roeper a lot.

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a.n.t. writes:
on Aug 26 2007 06:36 PM

i'm watching the show and i'm missing the thumbs. i actually like the thumbs.

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jrdamwijk writes:
on Aug 26 2007 08:16 PM

Maybe instead of removing the Thumbs, they should make Ebert shoves his thumbs into Roeper's eyes. Roeper is so arrogont and easily offended it's hilarious. I still love them both together, they work brilliantly.

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kenneth_cole writes:
on Aug 26 2007 09:59 PM

i give this whole thread two thumbs down!

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marybanilow writes:
on Aug 27 2007 12:50 AM

Geeze. You guys are just mad that he didn't love 'Batman and Robin' as much as you did.

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We Takin OVER writes:
on Aug 27 2007 06:05 AM

I don't understand why they would band the thumbs on Ebert and Roeper

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minderbinder writes:
on Aug 27 2007 09:45 AM

Have some respect, people. Ebert is one of the all time great film critics, and cancer almost killed him.

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FranklinStreet writes:
on Aug 27 2007 10:59 AM

It's sad. It obviously means that Disney doesn't expect him to return to the show, and is trying to buy everything that makes it unique away from Ebert once and for all on the cheap.

That's not the way you honor a business that has been so successful and so profitable for so long.

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tsalin@hotmail.com writes:
on Aug 27 2007 01:14 PM

didn't the romans use thumbs up or down to put someone to death. Hey Ebert you fat bastard, hop in the gladiator pit. ceasar wants his royalty check. you're 2000 years overdue.

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sickofitall writes:
on Aug 27 2007 01:59 PM

In reply to this comment (#1074419)
Get bent

(Reply to this)

tsalin@hotmail.com writes:
on Aug 27 2007 02:12 PM

In reply to this comment (#1076605)
was it the fat thing or the part that the unoriginal bastard has made his money doing the same thing you can post on here for free, that got you? i'll be getting bent after work thanks.

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tsalin@hotmail.com writes:
on Aug 27 2007 02:14 PM

NOW PASS ME THE DOUBLE BUTTERED POP CORN, THE NACHOS AND THE GALLON SIZED LARD MILKSHAKE THAT I PAID 25 BUCKS FOR.. MUNCH MUNCH MUNCH....

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Giant_Walter_Bug writes:
on Sep 01 2007 10:19 AM

I often disagree with Ebert's reviews, but this dude has seen like sixteen times the number of movies I've seen, and has earned the right to share his opinion. He's an icon being taken advantage of, and that sucks. It seems like every week there's a new reason to hate Disney as much as one hates Harvey and Bob!

(Reply to this)

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