Ebert & Siegel - Worst of 1999

0:00 Intro
1:40 Inspector Gadget
2:47 My Favorite Martian
4:13 Message in a Bottle
5:28 The Story of US
6:52 Commercials
7:53 Jakob the Liar
9:17 Forces of Nature
10:35 Lake Placid
11:45 Wild Wild West
13:02 Cruel Intentions
14:16 Jawbreaker
15:39 Commercials
16:40 Magnolia
18:31 The Messenger - The Story of Joan Arc
19:50 Commercials
20:51 Baby Geniuses
21:59 Pokémon The First Movie
23:14 The website

[@sonnyblack0870]

This episode really made me miss Gene Siskel.

[@movie-mandan]

This made me miss Gene too. But the first few years of Roeper REALLY made me miss Gene

[@brentandrew2419]

He would've appreciated Magnolia more than fucking Gene Shallit or whoever this is

[@ikd3240]

Magnolia??? That movie was fantastic! I agree with Ebert. It was a triumph, especially Tom Cruise, who I normally don’t care for. Don’t know what the other guy was talking about.

[@AndyBluebear-fi9om]

@@ikd3240 Joel Sigel was a film critic who was also respected for his work. And like Siskel, he too passed away too early (in 1997). Also, Magnolia is rather overrated.

[@squareinsquare2078]

Magnolia is a masterpiece.

[@chewey3rd]

I enjoyed message in a bottle at the theater back in 99' and still love it today. Joel Seigel had to be one of the worst movie critics...ever.

[@scottaznavourian3720]

pmagnokia is 82 and 89 percent on RT

[@czechpirc3212]

How could you be so wrong on Magnolia..I didnt like it as much as Ebert but its still consistent with PTAs talent imho

[@christopherjager4924]

Cruel Intentions and Magnolia? Siegel is having a shocker.

[@jakegarcia7156]

NOT THE POKEMON MOVIE

[@Zegeebwah]

Lolol them trashing Pokemon for "prying families apart" is some grade A+ fear mongering

[@supermariof0521]

You think that's bad, you should see their scathing review of "An American Tail".

[@JazzyUte]

Siegel just can't hit on anything lol

[@ty22guy]

Siegel was way off about Magnolia.

[@100domathon]

lol they hate pokemon 😂😂😂

[@tomhools1605]

I also dislike Magnolia. It's pretentious nonsense.

[@morgan8757]

they forgot about galaxy quest

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

I hated Magnolia and Jawbreaker was trying to be like Heather's and fell flat.

[@danerook]

Magnolia is a great movie

[@AndyBluebear-fi9om]

It isn't a Worst of list if it doesn't have Robin Williams and/or Kevin Costner.

[@scottaznavourian3720]

And usually Sylvester Stallone

[@AndyBluebear-fi9om]

@@scottaznavourian3720 Yup lol

[@LibertyRapsher]

If you back to the 80's it's going to be Chevy Chase, Sylvester Stallone and Bill Cosby.

[@frankendorfer]

Sometimes I think about the indignity of Roger Ebert having to sit through INSPECTOR GADGET as an adult man.

[@mrchopsticks3]

Being a movie reviewer sounds like the best job, but for every Godfather or Star Wars they watch, there's a Baby Geniuses or Wild, Wild West that they have to sit through as well.

[@frankendorfer]

Yeah, it’s always been a silly dream of mine I’ve never pursued, though I have some friends who do it, and the idea that they have to sit through almost everything as part of the job sounds so annoying.

[@TimfromMKE]

Wild Wild West was one of the worst movies I've ever seen

[@jlite023]

Joel Siegel lost all credibility when he panned Magnolia what a joke, a clown review

[@MrsBlaileen1]

Agreed. And he actually insults the famous frog scene because he simply didn’t understand it or its significance. Jaw dropping ignorance by a professional critic.

[@AndyBluebear-fi9om]

@@MrsBlaileen1 No, like many of us, he understood it, and still thought it was dumb.

[@MrsBlaileen1]

@@AndyBluebear-fi9om LMAO

[@Meltedcheese567]

Seeing how many bad movies robin williams was in it's no wonder he was depressed...

[@christianlucas7656]

These ads are too nostalgic

[@doylejodi7502]

I thoroughly enjoyed Cruel Intentions. It shows these kids who live very privileged lives and experience life at a level the average one will never experience or understand.

[@markrodriguez9442]

I have that on DVD because 1,I love Sarah Michelle Gellar since she was on All My Children (soap fan myself) and 2,the plot of the story.

[@Orangeflava]

Love that you kept the commercials in!

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

"Get Toy Story today, on video!"

[@diamonddoggspuppy7755]

​@JoeyArmstrong2800 love any vintage Toy Story ad. The memories and warm fuzzies wash over me!

[@CJJC]

“I kept waiting for the gadget that would allow me to walk out of the theater” Those are your legs, mate.

[@dandockendorf1955]

Damn that Eclipse commercial slaps

[@KrazyMuzik901]

Who is it slapping? I didn't see any commercial slap anyone.

[@johnclavis]

​@@KrazyMuzik901depending on your age, they were either saying it was groovy or else 🔥

[@MatthewFolger]

Sorry, but Joel Siegel was no Gene Siskel. He's more interested in bad puns and mugging then he is in criticism. Gene had quips, but he also was capable of intellectualizing his point of view. Joel was not as good at that.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

Exactly. Siegel was a more dignified Gene Shalit.

[@CJJC]

In fairness to the man, though, he *does* have a similar name.

[@LibertyRapsher]

First time I've seen him, but he's not off to a good start with me by putting Cruel Intentions in the worst of category. I personally enjoyed it, but even if one didn't, to put that in the worst of the year category is a pretty big misstep.

[@nathelm]

Seigel and his joke about the French director and Ebert's chortle is hilarious.

[@Xayjohns]

Hey listen, I liked Pokemon: The First Movie as a kid. I don't care. Fight me, lol.

[@Jbaxter85]

My worst movies of 1999 Baby Geniuses Inspector Gadget Message in a Bottle My Favorite Martian Wild Wild West Jakob the Liar Jawbreaker End of Days Gloria Idle Hands Big Daddy Bicentennial Man Body Shots Flawless Hidden Agenda 8MM Lake Placid Virus The Bachelor Friends & Lover Foolish The Mob Squad Crazy in Alabama Three to Tango

[@iankellyfuccoff69]

8mm is a dark brooding movie, good film. Two thumbs 👍

[@littlekingtrashmouth9219]

I have a soft spot for Big Daddy. Otherwise, can’t disagree

[@brentandrew2419]

Inspector Gadget was so godawful, the worst of late 90s Disney slapstick self-embarrassed humor no one found funny. Imagine if they had gone a little darker, made it like Robocop for kids.

[@cheesezee86]

End of days was fine

[@Jbaxter85]

@@iankellyfuccoff69 I've seen 8MM twice and I dislike the film

[@LibertyRapsher]

I enjoyed Cruel Intentions. That's sort of a shocking selection in the category of worst of by the fill in guy... even if one didn't like it, I can't see it being close the worst of category.

[@alexanderdickens2517]

Poor Ebert, not only did he have a guest host that panned Magnolia during the INITIAL review, but here as well.

[@matthewsmith5374]

What a terrible take by Geraldo. Magnolia was a masterpiece.

[@alexhines9128]

@@matthewsmith5374Joel Seigal. Joel and Geraldo might be the same person though

[@movie-mandan]

Geraldo doppelgänger. One is a news journalist the other was a film journalist.

[@srendanbchaub8601]

Recently watched Magnolia for the first time and it's not a perfect film but I absolutely loved it and feel like I've thought about more than most movies post watch

[@joeypieper6384]

Along with being the first worst of the year show without Gene.

[@SteveBrown-f3q]

Kudos 4 leaving the classic commercials in

[@LivingZombieJew]

no, commercials are shit and they just iritate. dafuq is wrong with you...

[@uyeda]

R.I.P Ebert and Joel Siegel.

[@Orangeflava]

What avout Gene??

[@Jbaxter85]

They will be missed 😣😣😣🙏🙏🙏

[@uyeda]

@@Orangeflava Oh, yes R.I.P Gene Siskel 1946-1999.

[@gazjones4763]

Joel died too. No way?!

[@uyeda]

@@gazjones4763 Joel passed away in 2007.

[@peanutmansemporiumofrandom7472]

7:28 even for a crappy Saturn, just pause and look at the payment information. My goodness

[@slipperysloper3721]

Not thinking Magnolia is a brilliant and interesting film is insane. It’s literally 10 movies in one that interweave perfectly. Although I do disagree with Roger that it “surpassed” Boogie Nights. Boogie Nights is a better movie.

[@RobFMDetroit]

I've just watched a bunch of these with S&E, this is the first one without Gene, and MAN do I miss their dynamic. I loved how the two of them would just get under each other's skin just for fun. Can't believe Siskel was only 53 when he died. RIP to both.

[@RobFMDetroit]

Lake Placid is hilarious, how dare you

[@XBadger1]

Man I want some prodigy internet

[@mellowc]

Pokemon the first movie was good......so was Lake Placid

[@chrisbergmanniii59]

I never liked Joel Segal and the fact that he didn't understand Magnolia kind of explains why

[@haroldjoseph8296]

You know why

[@Rayzersword]

Siegel's review of Pokémon makes me firmly believe that he also thought Harry Potter was satanic. At least Ebert's criticisms were logical.

[@brentandrew2419]

Magnolia on the WORST list?! Whoever this Siegel is, I have no interest in hearing any more of his opinions.

[@IMadeMyYoutubeNameAge17]

How can you put Magnolia AND POKEMON THE FIRST MOVIE on this list???

[@wadefackler8978]

Magnolia one of the worst of the year? WHAAAATTTT?????? That is an excellent movie and Tim cruises best ever performance.

[@nenerideout5522]

I really liked message in a bottle can watch it any time ❤

[@carl7667]

Crazy i was in high school during this time i don't remember some of these movies

[@jamesmack3314]

Yeah because they sucked

[@charlieodyssey7437]

Pokemon THE FIRST MOVIE is incoherent and not particularly adventurous. Detective Pikachu isn't much better as far as coherence - but it has a sense of adventure and a wacky neo noir plot.

[@charlieodyssey7437]

Although its not worse than Baby Geniuses

[@Kruppt808]

Ahhh they put a guy that nane sort of looks like Siskel so it would fool everyone into watching. Unfortunately its just Ebert and fast forward through 😊

[@nickyboyfox]

The first Pokémon movie was great ! Not listening to a guy who trashed magnolia anyway

[@supermariof0521]

Think that's bad? Watch Siskel and Ebert's review of "An American Tail". Their take on it was so bad it'll make Doug Walker's (Nostalgia Critic) take on "The Wall" look tame in comparison.

[@LoroTalby]

Ok, can we all agree their music gets a big two thumbs down? How can you have that as your theme and still mock movies for a living?

[@onlyrevolutions2010]

Star Wars: Episode I should have been on the list for all the reasons Pokémon was, but Ebert always kissed Lucas' ass.

[@nenerideout5522]

Also Cruel intentions was amazing

[@henn863]

Joel Siegel is awful

[@deathtoll5000x]

That take on Pokémon aged like milk in the Texas Sun

[@supermariof0521]

How so? Because they reviewed it from the perspective of parents who were trying to cancel "Pokemon" for being too popular?

[@stevechessen1478]

Critics are often wrong or overstate. Who cares about their opinions.

[@alcabane3125]

did they review candy man 3, cause that should be first on the list

[@stt5v2002]

Cruel Intentions was pretty good.

[@littlekingtrashmouth9219]

Magnolia is a strange creature. I honestly can’t tell whether or not I should recommend it. There are some head-scratching moments, and there are also moments that are memorable and downright genius. Whenever I start to like it, I see its drawbacks. Whenever I start to dislike it, I remember it’s not that bad.

[@lerm2866]

I’ll always enjoy and proudly defend every Bob Clark film-even Rhinestone and Loose Cannons-except for the Baby Genius films

[@humanice2]

I'm glad Siegel didn't replace Siskel, he was dead wrong about Magnolia and putting Pokemon at nr.1 worst movie of the year? I really enjoyed Pokemon as a child in theaters, it was a movie for kids/millennials.

[@meherenow793]

Siskel >>>>>> Siegel or Roepert

[@MrsBlaileen1]

Unbelievably ignorant take on Magnolia by Siegel. The frogs scene is clearly a fantastical event that exists outside the reality of the film and is meant to be taken as a metaphor or even a prophecy. Stunning that Siegel didn’t understand the concept of that scene and even worse that he criticizes the film because of not understanding it. Ebert certainly understood.

[@brentandrew2419]

Yeah, he didn't get that the whole point is that they use the event to change their lives, because there is only the illusion of coincidence and the only meaning is what we choose to make of things. He missed it by a mile, so deadened is he inside by watching horrible movies every week like an assembly line.

[@jamespohl-md2eq]

Unbelievable that you invented a narrative.

[@MrsBlaileen1]

@@jamespohl-md2eq It’s called having a brain. Thanks for trying.

[@jamespohl-md2eq]

@@MrsBlaileen1The cognitive dissonance is stunning.

[@MrsBlaileen1]

@@jamespohl-md2eq Sure, troll. Try reading some actual essays/criticism on the film instead of listening to the hack simpleton that Siegel was. But that would require some actual effort on your part. Even Ebert got it. I won’t waste any more time on a moron. Good luck and goodbye.

[@dhpbear2]

5:20 - Are they implying that the ending of "Message in a Bottle" was pornographic? :)

[@scottmccurdy6493]

Pokemon "prying families apart" is hilarious. Today, parents are bonding with their children over Pokemon. Sad to see Ebert wasn't immune to the "fear-monger what's popular" trend.

[@SouthJerseySam]

In fairness, The First Movie was hardly perfect, yet it led to better Pokemon films down the road. And while Pokemon was considered to be another damning piece of marketing manipulation at the time, much like every other franchise coming around from the 80s onward, it's shown to be more successful than people were initially led to believe.

[@cheesezee86]

When Ash was turned into stone 😢

[@belstar1128]

the movies and cartoons are really not good even compared to some other kids shows we mostly like Pokémon because of the games everything else is bonus

[@AndyBluebear-fi9om]

@@belstar1128 Yeah, Pokemon is a goo game but crap series/movies. Though the animation for some of the movies was pretty decent.

[@scottaznavourian3720]

He doesnt tgink costners made a good movie since dancing with wolves? Ummmmm JFK?

[@plaidchuck]

The movie was a shit conspiracy rant and basically was the end of oliver stones career

[@scottaznavourian3720]

@@plaidchuck hillarious consideriing all the awards if was nominated for and won...

[@ReelSchool]

How does a paid critic, on television, next to a legend like Roger… not understand the subtext of Magnolia?

[@Nathan-gd7xq]

No one on the show (or in the comments) has mentioned The Phantom Menace??

[@henrymockingbird9645]

Phantom menace is not that bad it not even the worst of the series especially when compared to the sequel trilogy

[@iluvmylovebirdandmybudgiet7729]

Ebert liked it..3 and 1/2 stars

[@jakemetzgar]

They were still mindblown by they effects at the time. Nowadays it looks dated

[@HubCityMan]

Bro Costner hooked it up that year!

[@matthewcrome]

Surprised The Other Sister isn't on here... seriously such an insult to humanity, dare I say offensive too. Worst movie of the best year for movies. Only redeemable part of the movie is you can see the all-star cast having existential crises in real time because they can't believe they're in a movie this godawful. Exactly what RDJ was talking about in Tropic Thunder... makes Radio look like a masterpiece.

[@tommymarx391]

Wow. Joel Siegel was a horrible replacement for Gene Siskel. And he came across as ultra-conservative - "how dare a movie suggest teenagers have sex!!!". It was rather bizarre to see classics like "Magnolia" and "Cruel Intentions" listead as the worst movies of the year, LOL.

[@gazjones4763]

Whats that morse code noise when they are talking

[@funnyguy7574]

Wild Wild West bombed so hard I think Warner Bros pulled it from theaters it had one of the worst openings in history that year opening the summer if I recall right before Episode one came out

[@RichardMcDowell-m8c]

So many years Joel did not do a worst of years.

[@MLSNYC88]

3:15 - Jeff Daniels is literally in a film where a funny car is funny - Dumb and Dumber.

[@jcollins1305]

Watching the commercials and the reviews makes me realize that 1999 may as well have been a million years ago. 😢

[@hiattgrey9161]

I wonder if Roger was about to strangle Joel about Magnolia.

[@MS-ns2pj]

The Story of Us is very good. Lake Placid is decent fun.

[@yaywhewclips242]

I found Cruel Intentions to be witty and entertaining.

[@adagiobreeze8493]

The 90s had the best dark comedies

[@MrRyan-wu4jx]

I find it to be shallow and pedantic.

[@AMERASIAN12]

Cruel Intentions!?!??? Jawbreaker!?!???!

[@Matt-bs9ym]

Cruel Intentions was awesome

[@joeconcepts5552]

That Saturn ad was better than most of the movies listed.

[@johnedwards2119]

Magnolia is brilliant.

[@neilgodfrey2669]

He hated Magnolia? Come on.

[@analiysanchez9949]

If you take all the Tom Cruise scenes out of magnolia then it is so stupid!! IMO!!!

[@mathewfuller25]

Magnolia is a masterpiece

[@analiysanchez9949]

Really? If you remove all the Tom Cruise scenes then you’ve got by far the dumbest movie of the year

[@mathewfuller25]

@@analiysanchez9949 If you remove him from any movie he's in it's the dumbest film of the year. He's a leading man in every movie he's in.

[@analiysanchez9949]

@@mathewfuller25 magnolia is 3 hours long and it’s basically like 5-6 stories in one long movie. Tom cruise doesn’t even have 30 minutes of screen time but his part of the movie was fabulous. The other 2.5 hours was embarrassingly bad IMO

[@mrchopsticks3]

How did Mystery Men not make the list? It's as bad, if not worse, than most of these movies.

[@NMC_1980]

I was born in 1980 so I appreciate this as it takes me down memory lane, I remember watching these when Siskel was still around but stopped about a year in as I didn't care about their opinions anymore and just watched movies myself, but anyway, thanks for the memories.

[@chriscarmichael4306]

Magnolia is my favorite film of all time. Joel siegel is an absolute joke of a critic for listing that masterpiece on the worst of 1999. Just shameful.

[@brentandrew2419]

It's my favorite film too. It speaks to all of my interests. I hate to say it, but they're just too old and boomerish to get it.

[@bombfog1]

I miss the days when black lesbians weren’t the stars of every commercial.

[@jamesmack3314]

Now it’s just blacks..in every commercial

[@malichitte]

On the list of movies I remember the when-and-where of seeing: Magnolia. Thanks Roger.

[@HubCityMan]

York peppermint pattys are so gross

[@sleuthentertainment5872]

Lake Placid goes to the bottom of the shame in the history of cinema One of the most disgusting pictures ever made. WWW was a little bit fun at least, and Jawbreaker is not so bad Heathers-style teen black comedy

[@neilgodfrey2669]

The director really loves to zoom in.

[@briansmith8898]

Actual Conversation I had back in 1999 My Friend: I Just Saw "Magnolia" Me: How was it? Friend: It was three hours of ass-numbing hell. Me: Really, that bad? What was it about? Friend: It was about three hours.

[@RozarSmacco]

Siegel was hilarious wow. Great job RIP

[@castlelord8995]

Lake placid was a great movie. They blew it on that one

[@blastbeatindustries3191]

fake news

[@LumpyAdams]

It's not a bad movie for what it is but it's certainly not great lol. There are some funny lines and a few scares, but there are better films to go to war for than Lake Placid.

[@ilovebrandnewcarpets]

Eh, not for me. I didn’t even like it as a campy horror flick.

[@craigrawlinson4310]

Good enough to criticize other people’s movies but not good enough to make their own movies.

[@machineofadream]

How does this apply to Ebert's career? He put together a popular show for decades. He's probably the film critic who least deserves to be criticized in this manner because he did put himself out there.

[@craigrawlinson4310]

@@machineofadream didn’t he write beyond the valley of the dolls? Enough said.

[@craigrawlinson4310]

@@machineofadream I am sorry he came off as smug and elitist. I used to watch his show as a kid. As a young adult I saw a video of what he did to Betsy Palmer because of Friday the 13th. Very unprofessional. Basically he doxxed Betsy Palmer. That is why they call it today.

[@plaidchuck]

So I guess Harold Bloom was a hack?

[@dfcintron]

Glad Joel Siegel called out "Magnolia". He and I are in the minority.

[@danerook]

You shouldn't be glad. Magnolia was perfect.

[@branagain]

I also hated Magnolia.

[@djcruiselover3827]

Love cruel intentions. Way better than dangerous liaisons.

[@thurmanwilliams7961]

Story of us is an underrated gem.

[@jae5103]

Jawbreaker & Cruel Intentions?! Those are classics...

[@jamesmcbeth4463]

Funny how the commercial guy ended up in the thumbnail 😅