One of the funny things about Robocop, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers is they were marketed as blockbuster action movies. The trailers didn’t suggest they’d be satirical action movies 😂 I remember being surprised at how goofy and over the top Starship Troopers was because it was marketed as the next Independence Day.
Elle is one of the most uniquely surprising and rewarding films of recent years and Benedetta would be an interesting double bill with Ken Russell's The Devils. I think Verhoeven is one of the rare master filmmakers who might actually be doing his best work towards the end of a long & varied career, at least relatively consistent in quality and refreshing subject matter. Only a casual opinion as there's still a few of his I've yet to see. But honestly, Elle is one of those films which can reinvigorate one's excitement and faith in modern Cinema and also make you completely forget that anything else exists while watching it.
@@ScreamqueenarmyBlogspot666 A guilty pleasure is a movie you enjoy despite knowing it's objectively bad in some way, not necessarily unabashedly love. I'd say it's a valid term for certain movies, and I definitely describe Hollow Man as such myself. It's a fun movie in some ways, but it's pretty dumb.
One of my all-time favourite filmmakers. Pity they didn't review his earlier Dutch films like Turkish Delight and Katie Tippel, but wonderful to see these - thanks for posting!
Man, you are FAST! I just commented yesterday about Paul Verhoven. The man who tricked American audiences to root for Nazis is a genius in my book. Can’t wait to watch tonight!
If you're referring to Starship Troopers they really aren't. It's much more of a Roman Republic in how that Earth was set up in the film. Voluntary service, Democratic elections and so forth. The CZcamsr Sargon of Akkad among others have done fine videos on that with similar conclusions.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. I'll have to watch the film again since I haven't seen it in years. That's another take that I'll consider when watching, but it doesn't mean ,my take is wrong.@@Contemplativeman101
I can't believe they didn't like Starship Troopers. It's the only movie I've seen at the Theater 3 times. Absolute Masterpiece. Ebert also didn't like Total Recal is also baffling.
My son: “Dad, what was your childhood like?” Me: “A lot like yours, son, except a prestigious well-respected writer of my day went on TV and said “vague pubic nudity.”
@@brentulstad3275 I agree, his films don’t really have a redeeming quality, they are just these chucks of reality which is what I like about his work. I don’t think they would have gotten that. Visually I agree Ebert would have liked it. Enter the Void is a visual masterpiece. I would have loved to hear their take on it.
Amazing how far off the mark and how little they understand Paul Verhoeven. They want a "hero'' and a "villain" ....yup they don't get Paul Verhoeven .....by a couple of miles.....
lol - when they say "Spetters" - a highbrow movie......i don't think they actually saw it........Spetters was such a smart LOWbrow movie - the Dutch art filmgrant committee wanted to (and did) run Paul Verhoeven and Gerard Soeteman out of Holland, tar and feathered......Obviously they were only winging it a lot of the time.
Funny, I saw Basic Instinct for the first time last week and I agree with Siskel & Ebert. It is for better of a more interesting word, dross (even with the sex scenes). THAT scene didn't do it for me either. I'm glad they contrasted the movie against Fatal Attraction, which as it happens I saw for the first time only a few weeks as well. It was way better than the complete waste of 2hrs that BI was.
The writer has something personal against women because every woman in the movie is untrustworthy and subjected to awfully traumatic physical and emotional injuries. Thumbs WAY down.
Artists. Paul would say oh Americans are so uptight about sex but they flock to see soft porn with the flimsest pretense of a story. So ok I'll make one and mock uptight audiences. Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas have chemistry. I think Sharon Stone is a excellent actress. Maybe because she's classically beautiful she doesn't get credit for her acting. Why precisely couldn't a 'homosexual' human being not be a murderer? Actually I don't think Roxy killed anyone. Now I know no matter what terminology one uses it will upset someone I don't wish it so I used the most generic scientific term I know. That's basic instinct. Now Robocop. As far as half human, his brain, his heart and his lungs were saved. His personality was supposed to be wiped. The director is brilliant and I won't pretend to get all his movies. But he has a style I can't ignore.
I love how these two middle aged white guys can discuss sex and gratuity so perfectly straight, without the least titillation nor reluctance. It's a nice reminder that when you take away the juvenile fascination with sex, or violence for that matter, movies & media that rely on those things alone for their selling points really are pretty damned boring. It's nice how neither Gene nor Roger are ever the least bit prudish or morally offended by any content. But they are insulted when movie makers peddle them boring, lazy schlock..
Well well well. If it isn't the Chicago morons. Their take on Starship Troopers was pathetic. That movie is genius AND it is a popcorn movie. That is what makes it such effective satire.
Dude that movie started off great but became repetitious and extremely boring and tried to be serious with the love stories, which didn't fit well. The movie is spectacularly well made though. Great satire but should have been over the top all the way.
Yo, @sideshowjared you should do more siskel and ebert show uploads. Yeah, other channels do, but id sub and watch em. Splice em, maybe, into your fav or least fav opinions? #shrug got a sub from me homie!
Robocop, Total Recall and Starship Troopers are the perfect scifi triple feature.👍
One of the funny things about Robocop, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers is they were marketed as blockbuster action movies. The trailers didn’t suggest they’d be satirical action movies 😂 I remember being surprised at how goofy and over the top Starship Troopers was because it was marketed as the next Independence Day.
Love Paul Verhoeven, a fantastic director who always makes interesting movies
Hallow Man will always be a guilty pleasure. I wish they could have seen Elle and Benedetta, two of his best.
Hollow Man a guilty pleasure? If you love any movie is it really a guilty pleasure ( I think that term is stupid to be honest)
Elle is one of the most uniquely surprising and rewarding films of recent years and Benedetta would be an interesting double bill with Ken Russell's The Devils. I think Verhoeven is one of the rare master filmmakers who might actually be doing his best work towards the end of a long & varied career, at least relatively consistent in quality and refreshing subject matter. Only a casual opinion as there's still a few of his I've yet to see. But honestly, Elle is one of those films which can reinvigorate one's excitement and faith in modern Cinema and also make you completely forget that anything else exists while watching it.
@@ScreamqueenarmyBlogspot666 A guilty pleasure is a movie you enjoy despite knowing it's objectively bad in some way, not necessarily unabashedly love. I'd say it's a valid term for certain movies, and I definitely describe Hollow Man as such myself. It's a fun movie in some ways, but it's pretty dumb.
One of my all-time favourite filmmakers. Pity they didn't review his earlier Dutch films like Turkish Delight and Katie Tippel, but wonderful to see these - thanks for posting!
Flesh and Blood is a masterpiece
Man, you are FAST! I just commented yesterday about Paul Verhoven. The man who tricked American audiences to root for Nazis is a genius in my book. Can’t wait to watch tonight!
If you're referring to Starship Troopers they really aren't. It's much more of a Roman Republic in how that Earth was set up in the film. Voluntary service, Democratic elections and so forth. The CZcamsr Sargon of Akkad among others have done fine videos on that with similar conclusions.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. I'll have to watch the film again since I haven't seen it in years. That's another take that I'll consider when watching, but it doesn't mean ,my take is wrong.@@Contemplativeman101
It's pretty obvious with the SS officer uniforms at the end.
@@Contemplativeman101 Verhoeven himself has said he shows this fascist dystopia, and ‘all it’s good for is killing f-inf bugs!’
I’m surprised they were allowed to use that Robocop clip back then.
Love these segments. Please keep em coming!!
Great director pick dude!
I can't believe they didn't like Starship Troopers. It's the only movie I've seen at the Theater 3 times. Absolute Masterpiece. Ebert also didn't like Total Recal is also baffling.
ebert did like total recall. siskel said he liked the first half but not the second.
I love this! PV is one of the greats!
Very true.
Super interesting to hear how critics reacted at the time these movies came out.
My son: “Dad, what was your childhood like?”
Me: “A lot like yours, son, except a prestigious well-respected writer of my day went on TV and said “vague pubic nudity.”
i always feel sorry for people not seeing verhovens's dutch movies..
Black Book is a hidden gem.
lol @ Siskel negging Elizabeth Berkley's appearance
Good choice of director. Have you considered Mike Leigh? Or Pedro Almovrador (I know it’s misspelled).
Thanks for making these great vids
Thank you. Could you do "films of Coen Bros" next? Thanks
Definitely coming!
Would love to see the films of GASPAR NOE! Great content
I'd think Ebert would at least have respect and awe for Gaspar's work.... I can only imagine how Siskel would react, lol
@@brentulstad3275 I agree, his films don’t really have a redeeming quality, they are just these chucks of reality which is what I like about his work. I don’t think they would have gotten that. Visually I agree Ebert would have liked it. Enter the Void is a visual masterpiece. I would have loved to hear their take on it.
Without the last scene of Basic Instinct, it's already answered earlier.
The nerve of Gene Siskel to trash Elizabeth Berkley physical appearance. Has he ever looked in a mirror?
Michael Phillips And AO Scott Reviews Hollow Man We Say Skip It
Amazing how far off the mark and how little they understand Paul Verhoeven. They want a "hero'' and a "villain" ....yup they don't get Paul Verhoeven .....by a couple of miles.....
lol - when they say "Spetters" - a highbrow movie......i don't think they actually saw it........Spetters was such a smart LOWbrow movie - the Dutch art filmgrant committee wanted to (and did) run Paul Verhoeven and Gerard Soeteman out of Holland, tar and feathered......Obviously they were only winging it a lot of the time.
Funny, I saw Basic Instinct for the first time last week and I agree with Siskel & Ebert. It is for better of a more interesting word, dross (even with the sex scenes). THAT scene didn't do it for me either. I'm glad they contrasted the movie against Fatal Attraction, which as it happens I saw for the first time only a few weeks as well. It was way better than the complete waste of 2hrs that BI was.
The writer has something personal against women because every woman in the movie is untrustworthy and subjected to awfully traumatic physical and emotional injuries. Thumbs WAY down.
So if they had thrown in some happy and heroic women, the film would have instantly become better?
Artists. Paul would say oh Americans are so uptight about sex but they flock to see soft porn with the flimsest pretense of a story. So ok I'll make one and mock uptight audiences.
Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas have chemistry.
I think Sharon Stone is a excellent actress. Maybe because she's classically beautiful she doesn't get credit for her acting.
Why precisely couldn't a 'homosexual' human being not be a murderer? Actually I don't think Roxy killed anyone. Now I know no matter what terminology one uses it will upset someone I don't wish it so I used the most generic scientific term I know.
That's basic instinct.
Now Robocop. As far as half human, his brain, his heart and his lungs were saved. His personality was supposed to be wiped.
The director is brilliant and I won't pretend to get all his movies. But he has a style I can't ignore.
I love how these two middle aged white guys can discuss sex and gratuity so perfectly straight, without the least titillation nor reluctance. It's a nice reminder that when you take away the juvenile fascination with sex, or violence for that matter, movies & media that rely on those things alone for their selling points really are pretty damned boring.
It's nice how neither Gene nor Roger are ever the least bit prudish or morally offended by any content. But they are insulted when movie makers peddle them boring, lazy schlock..
Siskel was the worst. I feel sad for ebert.
Well well well. If it isn't the Chicago morons. Their take on Starship Troopers was pathetic. That movie is genius AND it is a popcorn movie. That is what makes it such effective satire.
Dude that movie started off great but became repetitious and extremely boring and tried to be serious with the love stories, which didn't fit well. The movie is spectacularly well made though. Great satire but should have been over the top all the way.
What about critiquing the work of the critic ?
Very poor evaluations. These guys can see beyond the obvious.
Yo, @sideshowjared you should do more siskel and ebert show uploads. Yeah, other channels do, but id sub and watch em. Splice em, maybe, into your fav or least fav opinions? #shrug got a sub from me homie!
Mad Max that is just a joke compared to Robocop quality and intelligence. Self proclaimed movie experts right here.