<p>John Simon, a film critic writing for New York Magazine about a hundred years ago in 1983, didn't like the third <keyword id="61596" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Star-Wars">Star Wars</keyword> movie, "Return of the Jedi." He went on Nightline with Ted Koppel to explain why he gave the movie such a horrible review.</p>
<p>"I feel they're so bad because they're completely dehumanizing...they are for children or childish adults," Simon said, clearly out of touch with the millions of presumably mature and intelligent adults who had seen the Star Wars movies over the years.</p>
<p>Luckily, legendary film critics <keyword id="1114671" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Gene-Siskel">Gene Siskel</keyword> and <keyword id="530725" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Roger-Ebert">Roger Ebert</keyword> were on Nightline at the same time to defend "Star Wars." And right off the bat, Ebert catches the essence of what "Star Wars" is:</p>
<p>"I totally disagree..I don't know what [Simon] did as a child, but I spent a lot of my Saturday matinees watching science fiction movies and being stimulated...having my imagination stimulated and having all sorts of visions in my mind that helped me become an adult and still stay young at heart," Ebert said.</p>
<p>"I feel badly that this critic, John Simon, didn't have a good time at these pictures. That's too bad for him," Siskel added.</p>
<p>You can watch the full clip below, which we first spotted <a href="http://www.slashfilm.com/votd-siskel-and-ebert-defend-star-wars-on-1983-tv-show/">on SlashFilm</a>. Ebert and Siskel completely destroy Simon's Star Wars-hating:</p>
<p><iframe width="620" height="360" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Ky9-eIlHzAE"></iframe></p>

Watch Siskel And Ebert Completely Destroy A 'Star Wars' Hater On Live TV In 1983

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/53e26ce8ecad042c6765f08b-887-665/man-sitting-in-movie-theater-9.jpg?maxX=480" border="0" alt="man sitting in movie theater" width="480"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-156220p1.html">Deklofenak via Shutterstock</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></p>
<p>Apple is famous for its commercials, which usually feature their flawless products against a white background.</p>
<p>In fact Apple <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apples-new-mac-ad-2014-7">made waves</a> with <a href="https://twitter.com/eileencartter/status/497082919249518592">its latest commercial</a> for showing used MacBooks with stickers on them.</p>
<p>But we rarely see Apple ads held up to a critical lens. </p>
<p>Luckily, <a href="http://sfist.com/2014/07/30/afternoon_palate_cleanser_apples_19.php">SFist recently unearthed</a> a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzE2HxNtJrY">video</a> of film critics Gene Siskel and Robert Ebert reviewing Apple commercials in 1986.</p>
<p>The critics were invited to an Apple event, where they ranked commercials from 1 to 4 stars, as they did for movies.</p>
<p>A 3-star rating, they explained, was the "critical turning point," signaling their approval of a particular ad.</p>
<p>"A 4-star commercial would be: if you don't own a TV set, buy it, leave it on at all times and watch it with your eyes open at all times," said Siskel.</p>
<p>The first spot <span>-</span> which markets the Mac as an education tool <span>-</span> got 2.5 stars from Ebert but garnered a 4-star rating from Siskel, who called it his favorite.</p>
<p>See what else Siskel and Ebert had to say about Apple's ads:</p>
<p><iframe width="800" height="450" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SzE2HxNtJrY"></iframe></p>

Here's What Two Famous Movie Critics Had To Say About Apple's Commercials In The '80s

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/564a4718112314ac008b58c6-2027-1520/ebert.jpg" alt="roger ebert" data-mce-source="Getty Images" /><p class="source"><span>Getty Images</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>The late Roger Ebert was America's most famous film critic, as the reviewer for the Chicago Sun-Times and opposite Gene Siskel and, later, Richard Roeper on TV.</p><p>But most people would not know Ebert had Google stock worth millions of dollars.</p><p>The critic was a passionate fan of technology. In a <a href="http://www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/wall-streets-dirty-rotten-scoundrels" target="_blank">column</a> about the Wall Street documentary "Inside Job" from 2010, Ebert revealed that he had bought shares in <span>Steak n Shake, Apple, Wholesome and Hearty Foods, and Google. He got a piece of Apple because, he said,<span> "I was a Macintosh fan from the late 1980s, and that's when I started buying."</span></span></p><p><span><span>As for Google, he wrote: "<span>I liked Google when it was first introduced." So he became an early investor.</span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span>A forum <a href="http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsgs.aspx?subjectid=56390&amp;msgnum=146&amp;batchsize=10&amp;batchtype=Next" target="_blank">post at siliconinvestor.com</a> reports that Ebert was a holder of 18,000 Class B shares of Google. At the time of Google's IPO in 2004, he held on to shares <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17045-2004Aug19.html" target="_blank">worth $1.8 million</a>. But back then the share price was only $89. Now it's more than $700.</span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span>Ebert died in 2013 following a long battle with cancer. At the time of his death, he was <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chaz-eberts-sundance-roger-you-562221" target="_blank">reportedly worth $9 million</a>, a good chunk of it from Google stock.</span></span></span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/reruns-are-sped-up-to-add-commercials-tbs-tvland-hulu-netflix-seinfeld-2015-10">Cable channels are speeding up 'Seinfeld' reruns to squeeze in more commercials</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="F4dzJkeDpgyWlMcJK3weVmk8N5az4Wgq" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'F4dzJkeDpgyWlMcJK3weVmk8N5az4Wgq',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

Film critic Roger Ebert owned millions of dollars worth of early Google stock

<p><div class="image-container float_right click-to-enlarge" style="width:400px"><div class="image"><a title_source="Stephen Shugerman / Getty Images" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/515e5b49ecad04973800000c-960/roger-ebert-12.jpg"><span class="click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/515e5b49ecad04973800000c-1998-1498/roger-ebert-12.jpg?maxX=400" border="0" alt="roger ebert" width="400" style="float: right;" /></a></div><p class="source">Stephen Shugerman / Getty Images</p></div><keyword id="530725" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Roger-Ebert">Roger Ebert</keyword>'s <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/roger-ebert-has-died-2013-4" target="_blank">death at the age of 70</a> shocked <keyword id="2370" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="hollywood">Hollywood</keyword> Thursday.</p>
<p>Just a day prior, Ebert <a href="http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2013/04/a_leave_of_presense.html" target="_blank">announced a recurrence of his cancer</a>. As a result, he would take a "leave of presence" from film reviews, writing only of those he wished to reflect upon.</p>
<p>Actors, directors, writers, friends, and even President Obama took to <keyword id="6354616" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Twitter">Twitter</keyword> to reflect on the life and loss of the film critic great.<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>Some shared memories and reflections.</strong></span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>we lost a thoughtful writer, i remember my first review from him, pi (i got his and siskel's thumbs) it was a career highlight. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23rogerebert">#rogerebert</a></p>
— darren aronofsky (@DarrenAronofsky) <a href="https://twitter.com/DarrenAronofsky/status/319902623178305537">April 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Roger Ebert RIP. I never grew tired of his opinions...on everything.Great man, great guest and great sense of humor.I will miss him.</p>
— Howard Stern (@HowardStern) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardStern/status/319944332872404992">April 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Roger Ebert was an excellent writer, a gifted artist, and as nice a guy as you'll ever meet.Sad he's gone.</p>
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimmykimmel/status/319901947215888384">April 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>I Miss My Dear Friend Roger Ebert.Roger Was One Of The 1st Major Movie Critics To Support My Joints,Especially Malcolm X And DTRT.-R.I.P.</p>
— Spike Lee (@SpikeLee) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpikeLee/status/319949676969353216">April 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Ever a class act, @<a href="https://twitter.com/ebertchicago">ebertchicago</a> made me love <keyword id="406" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Movies">movies</keyword> even more. <a href="http://t.co/utJZXX7U7O" title="http://bit.ly/Y0z147">bit.ly/Y0z147</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23RIP">#RIP</a></p>
— Seth Green (@SethGreen) <a href="https://twitter.com/SethGreen/status/319899749367042048">April 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<p><strong>Tom Hanks' son, Colin:</strong></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Great memory of Jake Kasdan &amp; I meeting &amp; talking with Roger Ebert during the OC junket. He was very kind to us. He felt more like peer <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23RIP">#RIP</a></p>
— Colin Hanks (@ColinHanks) <a href="https://twitter.com/ColinHanks/status/319928333267779584">April 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<p><strong>Most shared condolences.</strong></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Sad to hear about the passing of Roger Ebert, he was a grand man &amp; in my opinion the dean of American film critics-he will be sorely missed</p>
— Larry King(@kingsthings) <a href="https://twitter.com/kingsthings/status/319902336510214144">April 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>RIP Roger <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Ebert">#Ebert</a>. We lost a passionate and broad minded force for cinema of all shapes sizes and genres. A fine courageous writer and man</p>
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealRonHoward/status/319981914960318464">April 5, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Very sad over news of Roger Ebert's <keyword id="6355784" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="death">death</keyword>.Will miss his tweets and reviews-- his love of movies.</p>
— Judy Blume (@judyblume) <a href="https://twitter.com/judyblume/status/319935160441266176">April 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>RIP Ebert.</p>
— steven yeun (@steveyeun) <a href="https://twitter.com/steveyeun/status/319915784602267649">April 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>So sad. RIP @<a href="https://twitter.com/ebertchicago">ebertchicago</a></p>
— Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElizabethBanks/status/319915865384554497">April 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>I'm saddened by the death of dear, longtime friend, film critic Roger Ebert. He will be missed.</p>
— Hugh Hefner (@hughhefner) <a href="https://twitter.com/hughhefner/status/319971650152050688">April 5, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Words fail me. Is it unusual to talk about loving a film critic? In this case, no. I truly loved Roger. And can't believe he is gone.</p>
— errolmorris (@errolmorris) <a href="https://twitter.com/errolmorris/status/319996431849099264">April 5, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Goodbye Roger Ebert, we had fun. The balcony is closed.</p>
— Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveMartinToGo/status/319913174751129601">April 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Roger and Gene together again. End of an era.</p>
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) <a href="https://twitter.com/Oprah/status/319925017754341379">April 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Reading Ebert's critique of @<a href="https://twitter.com/spikelee">spikelee</a>'s 'Do The Right Thing' exemplifies the importance &amp; relevance of the form <a href="http://t.co/7XqR1DLZWP" title="http://bit.ly/XgIE1h">bit.ly/XgIE1h</a></p>
— Joseph Gordon-Levitt (@hitRECordJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/hitRECordJoe/status/319984674548092928">April 5, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>RIP Roger Ebert - whose great love of cinema inspired us all. He will be missed.</p>
— zooey deschanel (@ZooeyDeschanel) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZooeyDeschanel/status/319954435876982786">April 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Thanks Mr. Ebert.</p>
— Steve Carell (@SteveCarell) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveCarell/status/319904262899515392">April 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Roger Ebert was the real deal! He loved movies, for real! Great guy, good friend. Always made me smile. Thanks for all you were!</p>
— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SamuelLJackson/status/320017746870030336">April 5, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Roger Ebert. Millions of thumbs up for you. RIP</p>
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) <a href="https://twitter.com/MMFlint/status/319897819978817537">April 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>"The movies won't be the same without Roger." —President Obama</p>
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/319916599631044608">April 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<p>Obama also came out with the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/movies/roger-ebert-film-critic-dies.html" target="_blank">following statement</a>:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span>“For a generation of Americans — especially Chicagoans — Roger was the movies. When he didn’t like a film, he was honest; when he did, he was effusive — capturing the unique power of the movies to take us somewhere magical.”</span></p>
<p>Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Harvey Weinstein <a href="http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/04/04/roger-ebert-death-spielberg-scorsese/" target="_blank">released their own statements</a> on Ebert's passing as well.</p>
<p><strong>Spielberg: </strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span><span>“Roger loved movies. They were his life. His reviews went far deeper than simply thumbs up or thumbs down.  He wrote with passion through a real knowledge of film and film history, and in doing so, helped many movies find their audiences.  Along with Gene Shalit, Joel Siegel, and of course Gene Siskel, Roger put television criticism on the map.  Roger’s passing is virtually the end of an era and now the balcony is closed forever.”</span></span></p>
<p><strong>Scorsese:</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">“The death of Roger Ebert is an incalculable loss for movie culture and for film criticism. And it’s a loss for me personally. Roger was always supportive, he was always right there for me when I needed it most, when it really counted – at the very beginning, when every word of encouragement was precious; and then again, when I was at the lowest ebb of my career, there he was, just as encouraging, just as warmly supportive. There was a professional distance between us, but then I could talk to him much more freely than I could to other critics. Really, Roger was my friend. It’s that simple.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Few <keyword id="6360040" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="people">people</keyword> I’ve known in my life loved or cared as much about movies. I know that’s what kept him going in those last years – his life-or-death passion for movies, and his wonderful wife, Chaz.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">We all knew that this moment was coming, but that doesn’t make the loss any less wrenching. I’ll miss him — my dear friend, Roger Ebert.”</p>
<p><strong>Weinstein: </strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span>“Roger Ebert was a passionate critic who understood that he needed to not only appraise films but be a champion of cinema. He was always on the side of movies that needed that extra push. The only thing that tops him as a writer was his kindness as a human being. I will miss Roger very much and my heart goes out to Chaz and the entire family.”</span></p>
<p><strong>Here's Ebert's last Tweet from April 3:</strong></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>My Leave of Presence: An updatehttp://<a href="http://t.co/aFWKEpKn3Y" title="http://j.mp/YRRHq8">j.mp/YRRHq8</a></p>
— Roger Ebert (@ebertchicago) <a href="https://twitter.com/ebertchicago/status/319316948045422593">April 3, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<p>Some of the film critic's final written words were, "see you at the movies." </p>

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Film critic Roger Ebert owned millions of dollars worth of early Google stock

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