Siskel & Ebert: 12-14-97

Note: This was the hardest video to combined because of the annoying tape damage that flooded around Don Gorelick's recording. Even though, it does comes clear and in higher quality. While Larry Koehn's video was decent, it does contain macroblocking, pixelization and aliasing. Trying to edited several parts of it was a nightmare and tough to remove parts of the lines appearing. So, the damage portions are still there and worse on the commercial breaks. Even by accident, I added a repeated part from "Wag The Dog" that was supposed to replaced that damage footage. Hopefully, a better copy of this episode will be found if Don or anybody else has it.

Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert reviews "Wag The Dog" (The Smartest and Prophetic Political Satirical Comedy/Drama that predicts everything! A Washington Spin Doctor and a Hollywood producer stage a fake crisis that will change everything. Written By: David Mamet and Hilary Hankin. Directed by Barry Levinson. Starring: Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Anne Heche and Kirsten Dunst.); "Home Alone 3" ("If this had a theme song, it will be "Dumbells keep falling on my Head!" LOL! And yes, the biggest shocker was Ebert being too generous and wise to give the third installment in the "Home Alone" franchise a "Thumbs Up" and stupid enough to say it's better than the first two and insult Siskel for recommending "Starship Troopers". Siskel & Ebert had praised some bad films several times ("National Born Killers", "Speed 2".etc) but this makes it like the "Carnosaur/Cop and the Half" debate all over again! On the other hand, I actually did like "Home Alone 3" as much as the first two, if not better. I saw it in theatres and laugh at how insane the traps were and other good moments! Not to mention how different it was to be set in January and has 4 spies instead of two burglars. I still rather watch this than the later abominations including "Home Alone 4!" Written and Co-produced By: John Hughes. Directed By: Raja Gosnell. Starring: Alex D. Linz, Olek Krupa, Rya Kihlstedt and Scarlett Johannsen.); "For Richer or Poorer" (While it's no "Witness" nor "Kingpin", but I had a great time with this hilarious Amish comedy Starring: Tim Allen, Kirstie Alley, Jay O' Sanders, Wayne Knight and Larry Miller.); "Deconstructed Harry" (Not one of Woody Allen's finest, but a very dark and substantial comedy about a man whose fallen into writer's block and trying to start a new novel about his life. Also stars Billy Crystal, Robin Williams (in their third collaboration with "Hamlet" (1996) and "Father's Day". Not to mention hosting "HBO's Comic Relief" with Whoopi Goldberg and are best friends!), Demi Moore, Kirstie Alley, Stanley Tucci and more.) and "Scream 2" (Simply the best Horror Sequel in the entire "Scream" film franchise! Written By: Kevin Williamson. And Directed By: Wes Craven. Starring: Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette, Jamie Kennedy, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jerry O'Connell and Liev Schreiber.)

Video Pick of the Week: Siskel's pick is "Kingpin" (Outstandingly hilarious comedy from the Farrelly Brothers! And yes, there was an R-rated version!) And a recap of Today's program.

Recorded on KATU ABC 2 in Portland, Oregon with Commercials intact.