THIS WAS THE VERY FIRST EPISODE I EVER SAW! I was 12 and I saw every movie they review but it was Motel Hell that made me tune in as that was the only movie listed in the TV Guide discription!
i always LOVED "Twin Peaks", but ive never really been that into David Lynch films. but i think "The Elephant Man" is one of the most heartbreaking films ive ever seen, and the i am not an animal scene absolutely devastates me every time. i dont even have any memory of those middle 3 films. i have never been that big on horror/slasher type films, but "Motel Hell" was one of the few i remember liking when i was growing up. way off topic but James Coburn is the only actor other than Leonard Nimoy that i always thought had the perfect look to play a Vulcan growing up, i was always disappointed that he was never cast in one of those Star Trek films.
I've always loved Twin Peaks, but it took me a while to realize that I don't love Lynch. It may make me a philistine, but I agree with most of Roger's critiques of his work, including what he says about the _dream elements_ he couldn't resist introducing into _Elephant Man._ At the heart of Twin Peaks is a cavalcade of postwar American stock characters, reimagined as full humans, and each suffering from one form or another of the corruption of the American dream. Akin to _Northern Exposure,_ only much cleverer and less repellant. I now believe this brilliant whimsy to be mostly writer Mark Frost's doing, with Lynch taking any opportunity to steer things into surrealist territory. There's nothing wrong with Lynch's surrealism in itself. It can be mysterious and enticing. But because he's quite happy to lure his audience in with elements of a traditional plot, and then shipwreck them in the realms of poetic symbolism, I find a pinch of Lynch goes a long way. In the Twin Peaks television series, we had the recommended daily dose. But in the projects where Lynch dominates, he never seems to tire of the ol' surrealist bait-and-switch.
Roger really missed the point, or theme of the Elephant Man...John Merrick, apart from this grotesque physical form, shows that he is more gentle, sensitive and "human" than any character in his story, apart from Dr Treves, his wife and nurse, while the other "normal" looking people such as his keeper and the night watchman who makes a freak exhibit out of him again in hospital, in and aorund Victorian society are more monstrous and inhuman than those who are disfigured creatures like himself
SEE: Their argument over BLUE VELVET. Roger has a weird "beef" with David Lynch. Roger was WRONG on that and he is WRONG on this . Jeez. What was his problem ?? Gene was right on . with Blue Velvet and this .
John Merrick (in the movie) was portrayed as a beautiful soul trapped in a crooked, gnarled and disfigured body. Maybe it’s cheap Hollywood theatrics but count me in as a sucker for the triumph of the human spirit in this movie. This movie affected me as a kid and made me a better person.
Wow, thanks for pointing that out. I've seen the movie, but decades ago. I'm a big fan of A Man For All Seasons and I never would have connected the actress playing More's wife in that film with the nurse in The Elephant Man. She actually seems younger in TEM.
They show the clip in It’s My Turn where they play the trackball video baseball game. I don’t recall that game but played a lot of the football version at the local arcade…your hand would be numb after smashing it on the trackball for 15 minutes.
Loving Couples looks it could be one of those lamentable movies that were made in the late sixties in desperate attempts to make movie studios look really hip and modern.
The Elephant Man was a wonderful movie! Wonderful acting. John Hurt was spectacular as John Merrick. People in this world still judge and are mean to someone being DIFFERENT. I have a skin condition called VITILIGO and it is the same thing that Michael Jackson had. Just a pigmentation on the skin. It is not contagious. It is not fatal but it is hereditary. I have gotten disgusted/disapproving looks by strangers walking passed me. I would never treat someone that way. Those who are disgusted by my vitiligo…….keep walking! You really missed out on a very nice person. I am a very kind and giving person. And if you only see the vitiligo…..you really don’t see the real me. 🌸
A low blow from Siskel about "a movie for grown-ups about marriage and relationships... meaning Ebert is not legitimate to evaluate the movie. Cruel incel-shaming :D
these two don't know that movies are entertainment. I didn't watch the show when it was current and it's good I didn't waste any part of my youth on it. Its fun now however to take a look back at some of these movies
I am STUNNED that they reviewed Motel Hell.
THIS WAS THE VERY FIRST EPISODE I EVER SAW! I was 12 and I saw every movie they review but it was Motel Hell that made me tune in as that was the only movie listed in the TV Guide discription!
Had it not been for this movie, we would have completely forgotten about the Elephant Man.
Exactly.
i always LOVED "Twin Peaks", but ive never really been that into David Lynch films. but i think "The Elephant Man" is one of the most heartbreaking films ive ever seen, and the i am not an animal scene absolutely devastates me every time.
i dont even have any memory of those middle 3 films.
i have never been that big on horror/slasher type films, but "Motel Hell" was one of the few i remember liking when i was growing up.
way off topic but James Coburn is the only actor other than Leonard Nimoy that i always thought had the perfect look to play a Vulcan growing up, i was always disappointed that he was never cast in one of those Star Trek films.
I've always loved Twin Peaks, but it took me a while to realize that I don't love Lynch. It may make me a philistine, but I agree with most of Roger's critiques of his work, including what he says about the _dream elements_ he couldn't resist introducing into _Elephant Man._
At the heart of Twin Peaks is a cavalcade of postwar American stock characters, reimagined as full humans, and each suffering from one form or another of the corruption of the American dream. Akin to _Northern Exposure,_ only much cleverer and less repellant. I now believe this brilliant whimsy to be mostly writer Mark Frost's doing, with Lynch taking any opportunity to steer things into surrealist territory.
There's nothing wrong with Lynch's surrealism in itself. It can be mysterious and enticing. But because he's quite happy to lure his audience in with elements of a traditional plot, and then shipwreck them in the realms of poetic symbolism, I find a pinch of Lynch goes a long way.
In the Twin Peaks television series, we had the recommended daily dose. But in the projects where Lynch dominates, he never seems to tire of the ol' surrealist bait-and-switch.
Roger really missed the point, or theme of the Elephant Man...John Merrick, apart from this grotesque physical form, shows that he is more gentle, sensitive and "human" than any character in his story, apart from Dr Treves, his wife and nurse, while the other "normal" looking people such as his keeper and the night watchman who makes a freak exhibit out of him again in hospital, in and aorund Victorian society are more monstrous and inhuman than those who are disfigured creatures like himself
I agree.
SEE: Their argument over BLUE VELVET. Roger has a weird "beef" with David Lynch. Roger was WRONG on that and he is WRONG on this . Jeez. What was his problem ?? Gene was right on . with Blue Velvet and this .
The last time I saw these 2 on TV they reviewed Kalifornia and THEY both liked it❤ I remember watching the E. Man & Hotel Hell.
It took Ebert a long time to warm up to David Lynch, but he came around with _Mulholland Dr._ and _The Straight Story_ .
Im shocked they both didnt highly endorse The Elephant Man.
John Merrick (in the movie) was portrayed as a beautiful soul trapped in a crooked, gnarled and disfigured body. Maybe it’s cheap Hollywood theatrics but count me in as a sucker for the triumph of the human spirit in this movie. This movie affected me as a kid and made me a better person.
I agree.
The head nurse in Elephant Man was played by Dame Wendy Hiller, one of Britain’s greatest actresses.
And her character was arguably the hero of the story.
@@RobMacKendrick Good point. She alone saw another freak show going on.
Wow, thanks for pointing that out. I've seen the movie, but decades ago. I'm a big fan of A Man For All Seasons and I never would have connected the actress playing More's wife in that film with the nurse in The Elephant Man. She actually seems younger in TEM.
Yup.
@@colinbaker3916 Yup.
The Elephant Man is the only movie I can see once in my life. It's too painful.
Try watching "Hachi." The dog movie with Richard Gere. I cried my ass off.
Schindler’s List
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is actually a really good film.
I agree. I've only watched it once.
Always loved Ned Beatty, great actor.
Yup.
I like The Elephant Man
Second best movie of that year, behind "Raging Bull"
@@jamesc.lockwood3810 👍🏾
@@jamesc.lockwood3810 don't forget "Empire Strikes Back" now!
They show the clip in It’s My Turn where they play the trackball video baseball game. I don’t recall that game but played a lot of the football version at the local arcade…your hand would be numb after smashing it on the trackball for 15 minutes.
Apparently Roger has a beef with symbolism which happens to be David Lynch's forte.
Hey, the Exterminator was fun..
I saw "Motel Hell" in a theater! That long ago!!
They go see the dogs at the end of the episode since they'd likely never have heard about them otherwise! This TV show was pre-internet!
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is actually a really good film.
Walter Matthau's kissing scene looks so nasty lol
This was after they left PBS and cashed in on their fame with their own syndicated series.
I've never seen it, but the clips here and the guys' comments about Loving Couples sound a lot like a Love American Style sketch. Like, exactly.
2023 and just now connecting Elephant Man to Devito's Penguin..
Good point.
Loving Couples looks it could be one of those lamentable movies that were made in the late sixties in desperate attempts to make movie studios look really hip and modern.
I recently saw Motel Hell again and man....what a mess
The Elephant Man was a wonderful movie! Wonderful acting. John Hurt was spectacular as John Merrick. People in this world still judge and are mean to someone being DIFFERENT. I have a skin condition called VITILIGO and it is the same thing that Michael Jackson had. Just a pigmentation on the skin. It is not contagious. It is not fatal but it is hereditary. I have gotten disgusted/disapproving looks by strangers walking passed me. I would never treat someone that way. Those who are disgusted by my vitiligo…….keep walking! You really missed out on a very nice person. I am a very kind and giving person. And if you only see the vitiligo…..you really don’t see the real me. 🌸
Thank you for telling us your story.
i did not have a problem with the exterminator
Makes no sense why "It's my turn," was given an R rating. I guess for adult themes? There isn't even any strong language in it.
i did not have a problem with loving couples at all
Opinion are relative but the Elephant Man is a very good movie for me ...
I agree.
A low blow from Siskel about "a movie for grown-ups about marriage and relationships... meaning Ebert is not legitimate to evaluate the movie. Cruel incel-shaming :D
It's my turn, looks truly degenerate
these two don't know that movies are entertainment. I didn't watch the show when it was current and it's good I didn't waste any part of my youth on it. Its fun now however to take a look back at some of these movies
No, movies can be entertaining but they aren't limited to being entertainment.
Ummm Ebert really liked The Phantom. They are films that they get behind the entertainment of movies.