Roger Ebert: 1942 - 2013

I have loved movies for as long as I can remember. My dad made sure to share tons of films with me as a kid... no genre was safe, and he made sure to mix in early 80s contemporary movies like Q the Winged Serpent and Friday the 13th as well as classics like the Pink Panther films and anything with Audrey Hepburn. I have a ton of great film memories from when I was a kid... but one of my earliest memories was watching At The Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert.

Please read more of this story after the jump...

The weekly movie review show was must see TV, and the infamous 'Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down' rating system was simple and effective. When Siskel died back in 1999 he was replaced by Richard Roeper, and the show remained important... and the reason was Roger Ebert. He was the driving force, the reason why people turned in, and the voice that many generations of film fans turned to when they wanted an opinion on film. While I certainly didn't always agree with his choices (he hated the whole horror genre and often poo pooed genre films like comic book movies and action films), I always liked that whenever he expressed an opinion he was concise with a WHY he felt a certain way. it was never just a blanket "I hate this...". Nope, he always explained why he hated it... and often provided you with alternatives that he felt got the job done better. if he didn't like something he told you, but the also gave you a few things to seek out to see how much better it could be. I am definitely going to miss him.

One of the great parts of the Internet is the vast wealth of information that exists out there. Thanks to the Chicago Sun Times, Ebert leaves behind a huge plethora of his reviews over at his website, which can be accessed by clicking here. It seems that the last posted review he has on the site is for Stephanie Meyer's 'The Host', which he gave 2.5 stars. Get over there and check out all the great work he has done. The man is a cultural icon and should be revered. Rest In Peace Roger... thanks for all the tips and help with the movies I love so much!!!!    

CCD Links It Up #12

This is the first edition of CCD Links It Up of the New year and as usual it is packed full of page hopping goodness. We got an upcoming CCD Meetup/Mike D birthday outing involving cereal, 80's cartoons, and booze on the big screen... yeah, I just typed that! We got a Top 10 list of the best films of 2012 from Roger Ebert, and like him or not the guys is the defining movie critic of a generation. Need a way to spend those holiday gift cards? We got some suggestions for you. Plus some bonus boobies and much, much more.... what are you waiting for? Get on after it by clicking on the links after the jump...



1) Nitehawk Cinema is one of the coolest movie theaters I have ever been to. Since we NYers don't have an Alamo Drafthouse to go to yet (soon... 2015!), Nitehawk is a pleasant surprise that I stumbled upon doing things similar to what they do at Alamo Drafthouse. They serve drinks and food throughout the films via waitress service, and their menu is outrageous. One of the upcoming events that they have on the agenda is Spoons, Toons and Booze. They are pairing a free cereal bar, tons of 80's cartoons, and a full complement booze for a multi hour marathon on the big screen. I have decided to use this cool ass event as a CCD meetup/birthday get together on Saturday January 19th at noon. Here is the link to the Facebook page and here is the link to official Nitehawk page to order tickets. It is first come first serve tickets, so order ahead of time because they might sell out ahead of time. Come on down!!!!!

2) Here is Roger Ebert's Top Ten Films of 2012. Not a lot of surprises on here (his #4 pick was a bit bizarre for me), but one thing stuck out to me. He named 15 'almost' movies after the Top 10, and Django was not on the list. nor was The Hobbit. Now I can see why these wouldn't make EVERY BODIES Top Ten, but they should have cracked the Top 25, no?

3) ThinkGeek is having a massive 75% off Post holiday Sale that is featuring some cool ass items. Sean Hartter is also selling 11 x 17 prints for 3 for $26 bucks. That is a great price and you can order ANYTHING he has on his website. And Tommy Lombardozzi has some killer artwork as well for sale over at his site... go order some stuff ASAP!!!

4) And now for the BOOBIES!!!! Beer Mug Sports is starting the New Year off right by naming model Kristen DeLuca the beer Mug Girl of the Month. She has boobs, a butt and a face worthy of the title. Enjoy more pics here, and these two are just a bonus...

5) We know what movies made booku bucks in 2012, but what were the LOWEST grossing movies of 2012? Slashfilm takes a look at the worst performers of the year... 

More Proof That Ryan Dunn's Death Was Unavoidable

Just give one listen to this excerpt from Viva La Bam, a show that went off the air at least 4 years ago (I am to lazy to check). In it you have April Margera and Bam Margera talking about how reckless an crazy a driver Ryan Dunn is, how he wrecked numerous cars, and how he probably will.... get this.... DIE IN A CAR ACCIDENT!!! Listen for yourself:



This had to be a few years back, so why is everyone so shocked about Dunn's death? Why is Margera calling Roger Ebert and people who are criticizing Dunn out when he HIMSELF was openly discussing Dunn dying just as he did? Cut the shit Bam. I know you lost a friend, but he killed a former Navy Seal/Iraqi War Vet and could have killed many other innocent people in the process. That gets no sympathy over here at CCD. I will miss Dunn's wild behavior, but can not feel sorry for someone who didn't care about his own life's worth.

Mounds by Hartter

Jayne Mansfield is good choice given the title, no? Hartter is at it again... gotta love this guys work. He even completes the credits on the bottom. Nice touch using Myers, Ebert & Mancini... He takes commissions... tell 'em CCD sent ya!

Irvin Kershner, R.I.P. - 1923 - 2010

A true legend amongst filmmakers passed away yesterday at the age of 87. Irvin Kershner, director of The Empire Strikes Back, succumbed to the lung cancer he had fought for 3 years. Kershner was handpicked by George Lucas to follow up Star Wars, and all he did was make one of the greatest movies of all time. Empire is not just the best Star Wars movie, it may be the best space opera/sci-fi movies ever... EVER!!! The Hoth scenes, Yoda, Han & Leia, Luke finding out that Darth Vader was really Daddy Vader... c'mon man, there is nothing that comes close. Here is what George Lucas had to say about his friend and collaborators death (as per E! news):

"The world has lost a great director and one of the most genuine people I've had the pleasure of knowing," Lucas said in a statement sent to E! News. "Irvin Kershner was a true gentleman in every sense of the word."

Billy D. Williams called Kershner "... a mountain of a man" upon hearing about his death. Film critic Roger Ebert further cemented the legacy of Empire when he gave this review back in 1997 during a re-release of the film:

"It is because of the emotions stirred in Empire that the entire series takes on a mythic quality that resonates back to the first [movie] and ahead to the third," critic Roger Ebert wrote in a four-star review, published upon the sequel's 1997 re release. "This is the heart."

Kershner also directed Never Say Never Again, which brought Sean Connery back to the role of James Bond, and Robocop 2, the sequel to the Paul Verhooven classic. All in all, he was a talented filmmaker and all Star Wars freaks should commend him, because one must face facts: If Kirshner would have fucked up Empire, the franchise would have been over. Thanks to him, its 30 years and still going strong. You will be missed sir. Thank you for my favorite Star Wars movie ever. Good luck on the journey you have ahead.