Siskel & Ebert - Cutter’s Way, City of Women, I Sent a Letter to My Love, Raiders of the Lost Ark

In this episode, Siskel and Ebert review Cutter’s Way, City of Women, I Sent a Letter to My Love and Raiders of the Lost Ark. So, just to be clear, this channel is in no way associated with Gene Siskel or Roger Ebert. In no way shape or form are we trying to imitate official Siskel and Ebert content.

[@deckofcards87]

One thing I love about Raiders, and the reason I like it more than the sequels, is that it keeps racing ahead at a good pace, one great scene after another and never gets bogged down. Terrific direction and editing.

[@JamesGreenier]

Raiders was groundbreaking. I remember seeing it in the theater as a young boy. Everyone wanted to become an archaeologist after seeing this film!

[@HugoSoup57]

I love Raiders of the Lost Ark, one of my favorite movies from the 80’s and possibly the best action adventure film of all time.

[@leonardvicari2857]

I saw Raiders of the lost ark when I was 15 in 1981 I saw it again in a rerelease in 1982 what a wonderful time to be alive and see great movies in that decade

[@guidosanchez5695]

God only knows how many times I've seen "Raiders," and it only gets better upon each viewing. Amazin'!

[@commiegobbledygook3138]

Cutters Way is a classic that deserves more respect, It's a real emotional very artistic movie.

[@LocalFoe]

Pretentious tripe

[@OnlyEdandTheAlmost]

@@LocalFoe I wouldn't even honor it with "pretentious." It's simply inept.

[@hetmanjz]

Fantastic film alright.

[@timothymorris157]

Two thumbs up from Siskel and Ebert for Indiana Jones: Raiders Of The Lost Ark. Without a doubt one of the best films of 1981. 🎥🎬👍🏻👍🏻

[@Grandizer8989]

I love it when the one not on camera chuckles or gives a subtle um hum.

[@kmetcalfe]

Oh my God! This is it! This was the very first episode of Siskel and Ebert I ever saw, as I was flipping channels past PBS and saw a clip of Raiders, but really listening to why that film was good. It started my love of film criticism. Not just counting how many monsters a movie had. Or laughs or space ships blowing up. But actually discussing films intelligently as a work of art. (Of course that came much later, as here I was just so excited to see a clip of Raiders, as I had seen it in the theaters twice, but this was years before even the VHS tape was available for purchasing.)

[@TheNameisPlissken1981]

Raiders is a classic film, no one is debating that, but Ebert is completely misguided on Cutters Way. It is a wonderful, off beat thriller that's really a lot more comp!ex than you are led to believe. My opinion on it changed drastically as I grew older. Seeing it in my early 20s, I thought it was disjointed and a little too melodramatic for me. However, watching it throughout my 30s & 40s, I was able to realize how wrong I once was. That happens sometimes. Some films hit you differently throughout life. Especially, films as rich in character and plot as Cutters Way was. I think Ebert's review of the film might have changed, too, if he ever bothered to give the film a second viewing. Lord knows, it was worth it.

[@stephensimington479]

Thank you, Cutters Way is brilliant

[@mykal.7424]

Raiders of the lost Ark is my favorite film ...The best action/adventure film of all time.

[@robertrobb1290]

I agree with everything said though I think it could have added a scene or at least few lines which emphasized his lack of belief or faith behind the power of the items which he so treasured in finding, esp. the ark itself because naturally he is a sane scientific archaeologist with no time for silly superstitions. To see him with a profound shock to realize there is "more in heaven and earth" etc. would have added additional depth to his character. Siskel and Ebert were the best. Rarely missed their show and I ended up watching movies I never thought I would have watched. May they rest in peace.

[@redadamearth]

It does. He literally says to Marcus in the beginning, "I don't believe in magic, a lot of superstitious hocus pocus. I'm going after a find of incredible historical significance; you're talking about the boogie man."

[@119Agent]

I love Cutter’s Way. It is difficult. But I loved it.

[@philipcalderon3208]

“Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981) Review: 18:41 Recap: 27:26

[@YCDTI]

Ah yes, the summer of 1981. I was 10 years old and about to discover one of the greatest movies of all time…”City of Women”

[@reneedennis2011]

The only movie that I have seen on rgis episode is Raidwrs of the Lost Ark, a terrific movie.

[@hamburgareable]

I agree with you. Certainly terrific.

[@mousetreehouse6833]

Yes. Same here. Actually, I saw Raiders at least 4 times (does the drive-in count?😄) on the big screen before breaking down and buying the VHS. 🤠🤠🤠🤠

[@LannieLord]

Screamers was a STAPLE in all video stores in the 1980s (in the "horror" section) ! LOL. Dead and Buried was a quirky , weird little movie that - felt very original at the time (this was during SLASHER MANIA early 1980s ). I remember liking it a lot. I was happy that it was NOT a slasher movie .

[@gspendlove]

Dead and Buried is streaming on Shudder right now. I'm gonna have to check it out. The way they describe it, it sounds great! Grandpa Joe as an evil mortician? Yowza!

[@davidthieroff9452]

He's the best part. Great performance.

[@LannieLord]

@@davidthieroff9452 It's a fun and original movie ! I saw it at the drive in when it was new.

[@stephensimington479]

Cutter's Way is quite possibly the greatest hidden gem in film history.

[@LocalFoe]

Pretentious tripe

[@stephensimington479]

@@LocalFoe I see that's your catch phrase for everyone who appreciates this film. Get some new material champ

[@Kevon420]

City of Women is an underrated Fellini film, not one of his best (his best films are some of the very greatest films of all times though) but is a compelling self reflection of Fellini's own jagged and often troubled delusions and relationships with women. Luckily in 1983 he would make And the Ship Sails On, his final masterpiece and a great film.

[@danielkelleher2419]

Cutter’s Way is much better than Ebert thinks!!

[@LocalFoe]

Garbage

[@tfronauer]

I just finished watching Cutter’s Way and wanted to know what the boys thought of it. Ebert’s right…it sucks.

[@malichitte]

Joseph Cotton still putting in work in the 80s?

[@LannieLord]

Probably his final movie .

[@Madstsone]

Cutter's Way is a great movie. Siskel is right, Ebert is wrong.

[@Jamthecoolerator]

Yeah, I think there's more to Cutter's Way than Ebert is suggesting here.

[@seangall123]

Love that film, not a widely known movie, glad there are others!

[@LocalFoe]

Movie was pretentious tripe

[@alcd6333]

"Raiders of the Lost Ark" was not rated R, but PG.

[@JC20XX]

18:41 raiders

[@Shorty_Lickens]

1941 was not "bombing badly". it made money and a crap ton of people enjoyed it.

[@redadamearth]

Domestically, it only made its production budget back ($32m budget, $34m gross). BUT, to your point, it also made $60 million OVERSEAS, which not a lot of people talk about, so it DID make a profit for the studio. The reason it's remembered as a "bomb" is that a) hardly anyone paid attention to overseas grosses in 1979, at least in terms of the critics and general public, at least like they do now, b) it DID make SIGNIFICANTLY less than "Jaws" and "Close Encounters", so by comparison, it was a weak showing for Spielberg at the time after two massive hits, and c) critically, it was either panned or given middling reviews for the most part, which, once again, was a huge letdown after the critical reaction to "Jaws" and "Close Encounters". So while it DID end up making the studio a profit and being a success, it was big drop-off. "Jaws" made $482 million worldwide. "Close Encounters" made $340 million worldwide. "1941" made $90 million worldwide. So even while it did make a profit when overseas grosses were included, there's no debate about the fact that it was a failure in the U.S., only making its budget back (and not even touching its advertising budget) - and it was a near-catastrophic disappointment for Spielberg after those two hits. At the time, it was literally seen as a career-ending failure. But he came right back with "Raiders".

[@mousetreehouse6833]

Would've been a good movie, had it not gone on...and on...and on...for what felt like a 6 hour marathon.

[@Shorty_Lickens]

@@mousetreehouse6833Its under 2 hours. If it felt long then I guess you didnt like the pacing. But a 20 minute TV can also be poorly paced.

[@mousetreehouse6833]

@Shorty_Lickens May I inquire... Did you see this in a theater, or VHS/TV-cable/DVD? I saw it at a theater, and after - at least - 5 false endings (any of them would've been fine), I staggered into the lobby with my eyeballs hanging out of my head! The problem with Spielberg is he is so expansive, and he doesn't know when to stop. (I think the only reason JAWS got its nice little ending was because Spielberg was sick of Martha's Vineyard and couldn't wait to leave. Hence, the nice, tight movie we know and love to this day). For an excellent, under 2 hour (sans commercials), Spielberg film, I highly recommend tv's "Duel" (1971). A neat, scary-thriller - a preview of more films to come.

[@Shorty_Lickens]

@@mousetreehouse6833 HBO. No pausing. And since i did not buy a theater ticket, my viewing did not contribute to its theatrical take. It made good money in the theaters. It did not bomb. Whether YOU liked or not doesnt matter. You bought a ticket, I presume only one, and contributed to its revenue. It did not bomb. It made money. and that was the original point of this discussion which is now 8 months old and driving me crazy.

[@OnlyEdandTheAlmost]

Cutter's Way is one of the most inept films I've ever seen. Jeff Bridges seems embarrassed throughout, John Heard's drunken, disabled vet is at first poignant before he becomes a comical pirate, and the rest of the cast is B-movie material at best. "Hot mess" doesn't begin to describe the plot, the characterizations, the theme (if there is one), the directorial technique, the camera angles, the lighting, the editing, the music -- in short, everything. Sometimes a movie bombs for a very good reason. Cutter's way is so dreadful you may find yourself sticking it out till the end, simply out of morbid curiosity, or maybe because you, too, are drunk and disabled.

[@hetmanjz]

Inept opinion on your part.

[@mousetreehouse6833]

@onlyEd, Love your last line. It actually got an LOL out of me!

[@steveprice2718]

Never got into the fantasy/adventure genre. I was not buying ROTLA at all. 😜

[@nicholasjanke3476]

Raiders of The Lost Ark I liked but I didn't like Cutter's Way