Editing Siskel and Ebert (section)

== Review style and trademarks ==
Siskel and Ebert's reviewing style has been described as a form of midwestern populist criticism rather than the one formed through essays which other critics including [[Pauline Kael]] felt undermined and undervalued the profession of [[film criticism]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2014/07/criticwire-survey-eberts-influence-126314/|title=Criticwire Survey: Ebert|website=IndieWire|date=July 7, 2014|access-date=May 20, 2021}}</ref> They were criticized for their ability to sensationalize film criticism in an easygoing, relatable way. Together, they are credited with forming contemporary film criticism. ''[[The New York Times]]'' described Ebert's reviews as a "critic for the common man".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/movies/roger-ebert-film-critic-dies.html|title=Roger Ebert Dies at 70; a Critic for the Common Man|website=The New York Times|date=April 4, 2013|first=Douglas|last=Martin|access-date=May 20, 2021}}</ref>

The pair were also known for their intense debate, often drawing sharp criticisms at each other.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20088480,00.html|title=Tough! Tender! Gritty! Evocative! Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert Live to Dissect Films-and Each Other|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=August 20, 1984|first=Fred|last=Bernstein|access-date=June 30, 2022|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110065557/http://people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20088480,00.html|archive-date=January 10, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Zoglin|first=Richard|title="It Stinks!" "You're Crazy!"|author-link=Richard Zoglin|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=May 25, 1987|url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,964411,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131195458/https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,964411,00.html|url-status=live|archive-date=January 31, 2024|access-date=June 30, 2022}}</ref> After Siskel's death, Ebert reminisced about their close relationship saying:
{{blockquote|Gene Siskel and I were like tuning forks, Strike one, and the other would pick up the same frequency. When we were in a group together, we were always intensely aware of one another. Sometimes this took the form of camaraderie, sometimes shared opinions, sometimes hostility. But we were aware. If something happened that we both thought was funny but weren't supposed to, God help us if one caught the other's eye. We almost always thought the same things were funny. That may be the best sign of intellectual communion...We once spoke with Disney and CBS about a sitcom to be titled, "Best Enemies." It would be about two movie critics joined in a love/hate relationship. It never went anywhere, but we both believed it was a good idea. Maybe the problem was that no one else could possibly understand how meaningless was the hate, how deep was the love.<ref>{{cite news|title=Remembering Gene|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/roger-ebert/remembering-gene|url-status=dead|via=RogerEbert.com|date=February 17, 2009|first=Roger|last=Ebert|access-date=June 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207203819/http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/02/i_remember_gene.html|archive-date=February 7, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/86008/13-facts-about-siskel-and-ebert-and-movies|title= 13 Facts About Siskel and Ebert At the Movies|website= Mental Floss|date=September 13, 2016|first=Jennifer M.|last=Wood|access-date=May 20, 2021}}</ref>}}

Siskel and Ebert's professional rivalry was noted in Matt Singer's 2023 book ''Opposable Thumbs''. According to a ''Tribune'' editor quoted in the book, when Siskel would scoop his rival in print, he'd exult: "Take that, Tubby, I got him again."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vognar |first=Chris |date=2023-10-23 |title=Film critics Siskel and Ebert couldn't stand each other. That's what made their show great |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2023-10-23/film-critics-siskel-and-ebert-didnt-like-each-other-thats-what-made-their-tv-show-great |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1983, the two critics defended the ''[[Star Wars]]'' films against critic [[John Simon (critic)|John Simon]] in an episode of ''[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]'' ''[[Nightline]]''. The film ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'' (1983) had hit theaters that summer and Simon was criticizing the film for "making children dumber than they need to be". Ebert responded saying:
{{blockquote|I don't know what he did as a child, but I spent a lot of my Saturday matinees watching science fiction movies and serials and having a great time and being stimulated and having my imagination stimulated and having all sorts of visions take place in my mind that would help me to become an adult and to still stay young at heart. I wouldn’t say that I am childlike, but that [Simon] is old at heart.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/siskel-ebert-defended-star-wars-it-was-called-not-cinema-1249792/|title= When Siskel and Ebert Defended 'Star Wars' After It Was Called Not Cinema|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 25, 2019|first=Ryan|last=Parker|access-date=May 20, 2021}}</ref>}}